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THE Tragedieof Gorboduc, whereofthree Actes were writtenby ThomasNorton,and the two laſt by ThomasSackuyle.Set forth as the ſame was ſhewed before the Queenes moſt excellentMaieſty, in her highnes Court of Whitehall, by the Gentlemen of theInner Temple.

AT LONDON,Printed by EdwardAllde forIohnPerrin,and are to be ſold in Paules Church-yard atthe ſigne of theAngell. 1590.

¶The Argument of the Tragedie.

GORBODVC,kingof Brytaine,deuided his Realme in his life time to his Sonnes, Ferrexand Porrex.The Sonnes fell to deuiſion and diſſention. The yonger killed theelder. The mother that more dearely loued the elder, for reuengekilled the yonger. The people moued with the crueltie of the fact,roſe in rebellion and ſlewe both father and mother. The Nobilitieaſſembled, and moſt terribly deſtroied the Rebels. And afterwardsfor want of Iſſue of the Prince, whereby the ſucceſsion of theCrowne became vncertaine, they fell to Ciuill warre, in which boththey and many of their Iſſues were ſlaine, and the lande for along time almoſt deſolate and miſerably waſted.

The names of the Speakers.

king of great Brytaine.

Queene and wife to king Gorboduc.

Elder Sonne to king Gorboduc.

Yonger Sonne to king Gorboduc.

Duke of Cornewall,

Duke of Leagre.

Duke of Albany.

Duke of Cumberlande.

Secretarie to the king Gorboduc.

A Counſellourof king Gorboduc.

A Counſelloraſsignedby the king to his eldeſtSonne Ferrex.

A counſelloraſsignedby the king to his yonger Sonne Porrex.

Bothbeing of the old kings counſellbefore.

A Paraſiteremaining with Ferrex.

A Paraſiteremaining with Porrex.

A meſſengerof the elder brothers death.

A meſſengerof Duke Fergusriſingin Armes.

A Lady of the Queenes priuy chamber.

Foure auncient and ſagemen of Brytaine.

¶The Order of the dumbe ſhewe beforethe first Act, and the ſignificationtherof.

¶Firſt the Muſike of Violenze began to play, during which came invpon the Stage ſix wilde men, clothed in leaues. Of whome the firſtbare on his necke a fagot of ſmall ſtickes, which they all bothſeuerallye and together aſſayed with all their ſtrengths tobreake, but it could not be broken by them. At the length one of thempulled out one of the ſtickes and brake it: And the reſt pluckingout all the other ſtickes one after another, did eaſilie breake theſame beynge ſeuered, which being conioyned, they had beforeattempted in vaine. After they had this done, they departed theſtage, and the Muſike ceaſed. Hereby was ſignified, that a ſtateknit in vnitie dooth continue ſtrong againſt all force, but beingdeuided, is eaſily deſtroyed. As befell vpon Duke Gorboduc,deuiding his Lande to his two ſonnes which he before helde inMonarchie. And vpon the diſſention of the brethren to whom it wasdeuided.

The Tragedie of Gorboduc.

primus. Scenaprima.

Ferrex.

Theſilent night that bringes the quiet pauſe,
From painefulltrauailes of the wearie Daye:
Prolongs my carefull thoughtes &makes me blame
The ſlowe Aurorathat ſo for loue or ſhame
D∞thlong delay to ſhew her bluſhing face,
And now the day renewesmy griefull plainte.

Mygracious Lady and Mother déere,
Pardon my gréefe for your ſogreeued minde
To aſke what cauſe tormenteth ſo your hart.

Sogreat a wronge and ſo vniuſt deſpite,
Without all cauſeagainſt all courſe of kinde.

Suchcauſeleſſe wrong and ſo vniuſt deſpite,
May haue redreſſe,or at the leaſt reuenge.

Neithermy Sonne, ſuch is the froward will,
The perſon ſuch, ſuch mymiſhap and thine.

Mineknow I none, but gréefe for your diſtreſſe:

Yes:mine for thine my Sonne: A father? no:

kinde a Father, but not in kindelynes.

MyFather: why? I know nothing at all,
Wherin I haue miſd∞nevnto his Grace.

Therfore,the more vnkinde to thée and me,
For knowing well my (Sonne)the tender loue
That I haue borne and beare to thée,
Hegréeu’d therat, is not content alone,
To ſpoyle thée of myſight my cheefeſt Ioye,
But thée, of thy birth-right andHeritage
Cauſeleſſe, vnkindely and in wrongfull wiſe,
Againſtall Law and right he will bereaue,
Halfe of his kingdome he willgiue away.

Towhome?

Euento Porrexhis younger Sonne
Whoſe growing Pride I d∞ſo ſore ſuſpect,
That being raiſed to equall rule withthée,
Me thinkes I ſée his enuious hart to ſwell,
Fildewith diſdaine and with ambicious pride,
The end the Gods d∞knowe, whoſe Aulters I
Full oft haue made in vaine of Cattellſlaine,
To ſend the ſacred ſmoake to heauens Throne,
Forthee my Sonne if thinges ſo ſuccéede,
As now my Ielious mindemiſdéemeth ſore.

Madamleaue care and carefull plaintefor me,
Iuſt hath my Father béeneto euery wight,
His firſte vniuſtice he will not extend

me I truſt,that giueno cauſe therof,
My Brotherspride ſhall hurt him ſelfe not me.

Sograunt the Gods:But yet thy Fatherſo
Hath firmely fixed his vnmoued minde
Thatplaintesandpraiers can no whit auaile,
For thoſe haue I aſſaied, buteuen this daye,
Hewillendeuour to procure aſſent,
Ofall his Counſell to his fonde deuiſe.

TheirAunceſtours from race to race haue borne
True faithto my forefathers and their ſéede,
Itruſttheyeke willbeare the liketo me.

Therereſteth all, but if they failetherof,
And if the endbring f∞rthan euillſucceſſe
On them and theirs the miſchéefeſhall befall,
And ſo I praie the Godsrequitit them,
And ſo they will, for ſo is w∞ntto be
WhenLordes and truſted Rulers vnder Kinges
Topleaſe the preſent fancyof the Prince,
With wrong tranſpoſe the courſe ofgouernaunce
Murders, miſchéefe,or ciuillSw∞rdat length,
Or mutuall treaſon, or a iuſt reuenge,
Whenright ſuccéedingLine returnes againe
By Iouesiuſt Iudgement and deſerued wrath
Bringesthem to ciuill and reprochefull death,
And r∞testheir names andKinredsfrom the earth.

Mothercontent you, you ſhall ſee the end.

Theend:thyende I feare, Ioueendme firſt.

primus Scena ſecundus.

Aroſtus. Philander. Eubulus.

MYLordswhoſe graue aduiſe andfaithfull aide,
Hauelong vpheldemy honourand myRealme,
Andbrought me from this age and tender yeeres,
Guidingſo great eſtate with great renowne:
Nowmore importeth methe erſt to vſe
Your faith and wiſdome wherby yet Iraigne,
Thatwhen by death my lifeand rule ſhall ceaſe,
The Kingdomeyet maye with vnbroken courſe,
Haue certainePrince, by whoſe vndoubted right,
Your wealth and peace mayſtand at quiet ſtay,
Andeke that theywhomNature hath preparde,
In time to take my place in PrincelySeate,
While in their fatherstimetheir pliant youth,
Yéeldesto the frame of ſkilfull gouernaunce
Maye ſo be taught andtrainedin noble Artes,
As what their Fatherswhichhaue raigndebefore,
Hauewith great fame deriued downe to them
With honour they mayleauevnto their ſéede:
Andnot be taught for their vnw∞rthylife,
And for their laweleſſeſwaruingout of kinde,
W∞rthyto l∞ſewhat Lawand kind them gaue
But that they may preſerue the commonpeace,
The cauſe that firſt began and ſtill maintaines,

Lineallcourſe of Kingesenheritaunce,
Forme, for mine, for you, and for the ſtate
Wherof both I and youhaue charge and care.
Thus d∞I meane to vſe your w∞ntedfaith
Tome and mine,and to your natiueLand,
MyLordes be plainewithout all wryereſpect
Or poyſonscraftto ſpeake in pleaſing wiſe,
Leaſtas the blame of illſuccéedingthinges
Shall light on you, ſo light the harmes alſo.

Yourg∞dacceptaunce ſo (moſt noble King)
Ofſuchyour faithfulnes as héertofore
Wehaue emploiedin dueties to your Grace,
And to this Realme whoſe w∞rthyhead you are,
Well proues that neitheryou miſtruſtat all,
Nor we ſhall néedeno boaſting wiſe to ſhew,
Ourtrueth to you, nor yet our wakefull care
For you, for yours, andfor our natiue land,
Wherfore(O King)I ſpeake for one as all,
Sithall as one d∞beare you egall faith:
Doubt not to vſe their counſailesand their aides
Whoſe honors,g∞dsand liuesare whole auowed,
Toſerue, to aide,and to defendyour grace.

MyLordes I thankyou all. This is the caſe
Ye know, the Gods, who haue theſoueraigne care,
ForKings,for Kingdomes,and for commonweales,
Gaue me two Sonnesin my more luſtyAge,
Who nowin my deceiuingyéeresare growen
Well towardsriperſtate of minde and ſtrength,
To take in handſome greater Princely charge,

yet they liueand ſpendtheir hopefull daies,
With me and with their Mother héerein Court:
Theirage nowaſketh other place and trade,
And minealſo d∞thaſke an other change,
Theirsto more trauaile, mine to greater eaſe:
Whan fatall death ſhallendmy mortall life,
Mypurpoſe is to leaue betwéenethem twaine
The Realme deuided into two ſundrypartes:
The one,Ferrexmineelder ſonne shall haue,
The other,ſhall the other Porrexrule
That both my purpoſe may more firmelyſtand,
Andeke that they may better rule their charge,
I meane f∞rthwithto place them in the ſame:
That in my life they maye bothlearne to rule,
And I may ioyto ſéetheir rulingwell.
This is in ſumme,what I woulde haue youwey:
Firſtwhether ye allowe my whole deuice,
Andthinkit g∞dfor me, for them, for you,
And for our Country,mother of vs all:
And if ye likeit,and allowe it well,
Than for their guidingand their gouernance,
Shewſ∞rthſuchmeanes of circumſtance,
Asye thinke méeteto be both knowne and kept:
Loe, this is all, nowtell me your aduiſe.

Andthis is much,and aſketh great aduiſe,
But for my part,my SoueraigneLord and king,
ThisdoeI thinke your Maieſtie d∞thknow,
Howvnder you in Iuſtice and in peace,
Great wealth and honourlong we haue enioyed,
Soas we can not ſeeme with greedieminds

wiſhfor chaunge of prince or gouernance,
But if ye likeyour purpoſe and deuiſe,
Our likingmuſt be déemedto proceede,
Ofrightfull reaſon, and of heedfullcare,
Not for our ſelues, but for our commonſtate:
Sith our owne ſtate d∞thnéedno better chaunge,
Ithinke in all,as earſtyour Grace hath ſaide,
Firſtwhen you ſhall vnlode your aged minde,
Ofheauiecare and troubles manifolde,
Andlaythe ſame vpon my Lordsyour ſonnes,
Whoſegrowing yéeresmay bearethe burden long,
AndlongI praythe Godsto graunt it ſo:
And in your lifewhile you ſhall ſo behold
Theirrule, their vertues,and their noble déedes,
Suchas their kindbehighteth to vs all,
Great be the profitsthat ſhall growthereof,
Yourage in quiet ſhall the longer laſt,
Your laſtingage ſhallbetheir longer ſtaie,
For cares of kings,that rule as you haue rulde,
Forpublikewelth,and not for priuate ioy,
D∞waſte mans lifeand haſten cr∞kedage,
With furrowed face,and with enféebledlims,
Todrawon créepingDeath a ſwifter pace.
They two yet y∞ngſhall beare the partie reigne
With greater eaſe than one nowolde alone
Can welde the whole, for whom muchharder is
Withleſſened ſtrength the doubledweight to beare
Your eye, your counſell,and the graue regard
Offathers,yea of ſucha fathers name,
Now at beginning of their ſundredreigne,
When it is hazardof their whole ſucceſſe,

bridle ſo their force of youthfull heates,
And ſo reſtrainethe rage of inſolence,
Whichmoſtaſſailes the yongand noble minds,
And ſo ſhall guide and traine in tempredſtay
Theiryet greene bending witswith reuerentawe,
Andnow inurdewith vertues at the firſt,
Cuſtome(O king) ſhall bringe delightfulnes
By vſe of vertue,viceſhall growin hate,
But if you ſo diſpoſe it, that the day
Whichendsyour life, ſhallfirſt begin thereigne,
Greatis the perill, what ſhallbe the ende,
When ſuchbeginning of ſuche liberties
Voide of ſuchſtates as in your lifed∞lie,
Shallleaue them to free randomof their will
An open prayto traiterous flatterie,
The greateſt peſtilence of nobleyouth:
Whicheperill ſhallbe paſt,if in your life
Their tempred youthwith aged fathers awe
Be brought in vre of ſkilfullſtayednes,
Andin your life their liues diſpoſed ſo,
Shall length your noblelifein ioyfulnes:
Thusthinke I thatyour grace hath wiſelythought
And that your tender care of commonweale
Hath bred this thought, ſo to deuide your Lande,
Andplant your ſonnes to beare the preſent rule
While you yet liueto ſee their rulingwell,
That you may longer liueby ioytherein.
What furthermeanes beh∞uefullare and meete
At greater leiſure mayyour gracedeuiſe,
When all haue ſaid,and when we be agreed
If this be beſt to parte the Realme intwaine,

place your ſonnes in preſent gouernment,
Whereofas I haue plainelyſaid my minde,
SowouldI hearethe reſt of all my Lordes.

InpartI thinke as hathbeneſaide before,
In partagaine my mindis otherwiſe,
Asfor deuiding of this realmein twaine,
Andlotting out the ſame in egall partes,
To either of my Lordsyour Graces ſonnes,
That thinke I beſt for this your realmesbeh∞fe,
Forprofite and aduancementof your ſonnes,
And for your comfortand your honour eke:
But ſo to place them while your life dothlaſt,
Toyeeldto them your royallgouernance,
tobe aboue them onely in the name
Of father, not in kingly ſtatealſo,
I thinke not g∞dfor you, for them, nor vs,
thiskingdome ſince the bl∞dyciuill field
WhereMorganſlaine did yeeldhis conquered part
Vntohis C∞ſensſwordin Cumberland,
Conteinethall that whilome did ſuffiſe
threenoble ſonnes of your forefather Brute,
Soyour two ſonnes it mayalſo ſuffiſe,
themothe ſtronger, if theygree in one:
theſmaller compaſſe that the realmed∞thholde,
theeaſieris the ſwaythereofto welde,
theneererIuſtice to the wronged p∞re,
theſmaller charge, and yet inoughfor one.
And whenthe Region is deuided ſo
that brethrenbe the Lordsof either part,
Suchſtrength d∞thnature knit betwene them both

ſundrybodies by conioyned loue,
thatnotas two, but one of doubled force,
Echis to other as a ſure defence,
thenoblenesand glorie of the one
D∞thſharpe the courage of the others mind,
Withvertuous enuie to contendfor praiſe,
And ſuchan eagalneshath nature made,
Betwéenethe brethrenof one fathersſéede,
Asan vnkindlywrongit ſéemesto be,
Tothrowthe other ſubiectvnder féete
Ofhim, whoſe péerehe is by courſe of kind,
Andnature that did make this egalnes,
Oftſore pinethat ſo great a wrong,
Thatoftſhe raiſethvp a grudginggréefe,
Inyonger brethrenat the elders ſtate:
Wherby both townsand kingdomshaue béenraſed
And famous ſtocksof royallbl∞ddeſtroied:
TheBrother that ſhould be the brothersaide
And haue a wakefull care for his defence,
Gapes forhis death, & blames the lingeringyeres,
Thatbrings not f∞rthhis ende with faſter courſe,
Andoft impacient of ſo longdelayes,
Withhatefull ſlaughter he preſentsthe fates
And kéepesa iuſt rewardfor brothersbl∞d,
Withendleſſevengeanceon his ſtocke for aye:
Suchmiſcheefes heereare wiſely mette withall:
If egall ſtate maye nourishe egallloue,
Where none hath cauſe to grudge at others g∞d,
Butnowthe head to ſtoupe beneaththem both,
Nekind,ne reaſon, ne g∞dorderbeares,
And oft it hath béenſeene, that where Nature

béenepreuerted in diſordered wiſe,
When fathersceaſe to know that theyſhould rule,
Andchildrenceaſeto knowthey ſhould obey,
And often our vnkindly tendernes,
Ismotherof vnkindly ſtubbornes:
Iſpeake not this in enuie or reproch,
Asif I grudged the glorie of your ſonnes,
Whoſe honour I beſéechthe Godsto increaſe:
Noryet as if I thought there did remaine,
So filthie cankersin their noble breſtes,
WhomI esteeme(whichis their greateſt praiſe)
Vndoubtedchildren of ſo g∞da king,
OnelyI meane to ſhewmy certaineRules,
Whichkinde hath graft within the mindeof man,
ThatNature hath her orderand her courſe,
Which(being broken) d∞thcorrupt the ſtate
Of mindesand thinges euen in the beſt of all.
MyLordes your Sonnesmay learne to rule of you,
Yourowne example in your noble Courte,
Isfittest guiderof their youthfull yéeres,
Ifyou desire to ſéekeſome preſent ioye
Byſight of their well rulingin your life,
Séethem obey, ſo ſhall you ſéethem rule,
Who ſo obeyeth not with humblenes
Will rulewithoutrageand with inſolence,
Longmaythey rule I d∞beſeechthe Gods,
Butlongmay they learne ere they beginto rule
If kinde and ſaieswould ſufferI would wiſh
Themaged Princes and immortall Kinges:
Wherforemoſt noble KingI will aſſent,
Betweenyour ſonnes thatyou deuide your Realm,

as in kinde, ſo matchthem in degree
But while the Godsprolongyour royalllife
Prolongyour reigne, for therto liueyou heere,
Andtherfore haue the Godsſo longe forborne
To ioyne you to themſelues,that ſtill you might
Be Prince and Fatherof our Commonweale:
They when they ſeeyour Childrenripe to rule
Will make them r∞me,andwill remoue you hence
That yours in right enſuingof your life
Mayrightlyhonour your mortall name.

Yourw∞ntedtrue regarde of faithfull hartes,
Makesme (O King)the bolder to preſume
Toſpeakwhat I conceiue within my breſt,
Althoughthe ſame d∞not agree at all
Withthat whichother heeremy Lords haue ſaid
Norwhichyour ſelfe haue ſéemedbeſt to like,
PardonI craue,and that my wordes be deemde
toflowe from hartyzeale vnto your grace,
Andto the ſafetie of your Commonweale:
Toparte your Realme vnto my Lords your Sonnes
Ithinknot g∞dfor you, ne yet for them,
Butw∞rſtof all, for this our natiueLand:
Forwith one Land,one ſingle rule is beſt:
DeuidedRegions d∞make deuided hartes,
ButPeace preſerues the Countrye and the Prince,
Such is in man thegreedy minde to raigne,
So great is his deſire to climbealofte,
In worldly Stage the ſtatelieſt partes to beare,
thatfaith and iuſtice and all kindely loue,
D∞yeelde vnto deſire of Soueraigntie:

egall ſtate doth raiſe an egall hope
to winne the thing thateither wold atteine,
Your grace remembreth how in paſſedyeeres,
the mighty Brute,firſt Prince of all this Lande,
Poſſeſſed the ſame andruled it well in one,
He thinking that the compaſſe didſuffice
Forhis three Sonnes thrée Kingdomes eke to make
Cut it in three,as you would now in twaine:
But how much Brutiſh bl∞dhath ſithence béen ſpilt
to ioyne againe the ſundredvnitie?
What Princes ſlaine before their timely honour?
Whatwaſte of townes and people in the Land?
What treaſons heapedon murders and on ſpoyles?
Whoſe iuſt reuenge euen yet isſcarſely ceaſed,
Ruthefull remembraunce is yet had inminde:
the Gods forbyd the like to chaunce againe.
And you(O King) giue not the cauſe thereof:
My Lord Ferrexyour elder Sonne, perhappes
whome kinde and cuſtome giues arightfull hope
to be your Heire and to ſucceede yourReigne,
Shall think that he d∞thſuffer greater wrong
then he perchaunce will beare, if powerſerue:
Porrexthe yonger ſo vnpaiſed in ſtate,
Perhaps in courage will beraiſed alſo,
If Flattery then which ſailes not to aſſaile
thetender mindes of yet vnſkilfull youth,
In one ſhall kindle andencreaſe diſdaine:
If/ Enuie in the others hart enflame,
Thisfire ſhall waſte their loue, their liues, their land,
Andruthefull ruine ſhall deſtroy them both.
I wiſh not this (OKing) ſo to befall

feare the thing, that I do moſt abhorre,
Giue no beginning toſo dreadfull end,
Kéepe them in order and obedience:
Andlet them both by now obeying you,
Learne ſuch behauiour asbeſeemes their ſtate,
The Elder mildenes in hisgouernaunce,
the yonger, a yeelding contentednes:
And keepethem neere vnto your preſence ſtill,
that they reſtreined bythe awe of you,
May liue in compaſſe of well tempredſtaie,
And paſſe the perilles of their youthfull yeeres.
Youraged life drawes on to feebler time,
Wherin you ſhall leſſeable be to beare
the trauailes that in youth you haueſuſteined,
Bothin your perſons and your Realmes defence,
If planting now yourSonnes in further partes,
You ſend them furder from yourpreſent reach,
Leſſe ſhal you know how they themſeluesdemaund
traiterous corrupters of their pliant youth,
Shallhaue vnſpied a much more free acceſſe,
And of ambition andinflamed diſdaine,
Shall arme the one, the other, or themboth
to cyuill warre, or to vſurping pride.
Late ſhallyou rue, that you ne recked before:
G∞dis I graunt of all to hope the beſt,
But not to liue ſtilldreadles of the w∞rſt.
Sotruſt the one that the other be forſeene,
Arme notvnſkilfulnes with princely power
But you that longe haue wiſelyruled the reignes,
Of Royaltie within your noble Realme,
Soholde them, while the Gods for our auailes,

ſtretch the threed of your prolonged daies.
T∞ſoone he clamme, into the flaming Carte
Whoſe want of ſkilldid ſet the earth on fire,
Time and example of your nobleGrace,
Shall teache your Sonnes both to obey and rule:
Whentime hath taught them, time ſhall make them pace
the place thatnow is full: and ſo I pray
Long it remaine, to comfort of vsall.

Itake your faithfull hartes in thankfull parte
But ſith I ſeeno cauſe to draw my minde,
To feare the nature of my louingSonnes,
Or to miſdeeme that Enuie or diſdaine,
Can therew∞rkhate, where nature planteth loue,
In one ſelfe purpoſe d∞I ſtill abide,
My loue extendeth egally to both,
My Landſuffiſeth for them both 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
Thathaſten age vpon the w∞rthieſtKinges.
But leaſt the fraude that ye d∞ſéeme to feare
Of flattering tunges, corrupt their tenderyouth
And wrieth them to the waies of youthfull luſt,
Tocliming pride or to reuenging hate,
Or to neglecting of theircarefull charge
Lewdelye to liue in wanton rechleſneſſe,
Orto oppreſſing of the rightfull cauſe

notto wreke the wronges d∞neto the p∞re,
Totread downe trueth or fauour falſe deceite,
I meane to ioyne toeither of my Sonnes,
Some one of thoſe whoſe long approuedfaith,
And wiſdome tried may well aſſure my hart:
Thatmyning fraude ſhall finde no way to creepe,
Into their fencedeares with graue aduiſe:
This is the end, and ſo I pray youall
To beare my Sonnes the loue and loyaltie
That I hauefound within your faithfull breſts.

You,nor your ſonnes our ſouereigne Lord ſhall want
Our faith andſeruice while our liues d∞laſt.

Whenſetled ſtay d∞thhold the royall throne,
In ſtedfaſt place by knowne anddoubtles right:
And cheefely when diſcent on one alone
Makeſingle and vnparted reigne to light.
Ech chaunge of courſevnioints the whole eſtate
And yeeldes it thrall to ruine bydebate.
 Theſtrength that knit by laſt accord in one
Againſt all forreinepower of mightie foes,
Could of it ſelfe defend it ſelfealone,
Diſioyned once, the former force d∞thloſe
The ſticks, that ſundred brake ſo ſ∞nein twaine
In fagot bound attempted were in vaine.
 Ofttender mind that leades the partiall eye
Of erring parents intheir childrens loue,
Deſtroies the wrongfull loued childetherby:

d∞ththe proud ſonne of Apolloproue,
Who raſhely ſet in Chariot of his ſire,
Inflamdethe parched earth with heauens fire.
 Andthis great king that d∞thdeuide his Lande,
And chaungde the courſe of his deſcendingcrowne,
And yeeldes the raigne into his childrens hand,
Frombliſfull ſtate of ioy and great renowne,
A mirrour ſhallbecome to princes all
To learne to ſhunne the cauſe of ſuch afall.

¶The Order and ſignification of the dumbe ſhewbefore the ſecond Acte.

¶Firſt the Muſike of Cornets began to play, during which came invpon the ſtage a king accompanied with a number of his Nobilitie andGentlemen. And after he had placed himſelfe in a Chaire of eſtateprepared for him: there came and kneeled before him a graue and agedGentleman, and offered vp a Cuppe vnto him of wine in a glaſſe,which the king refuſed. After him comes a braue and luſtie yoongGentleman, and preſents the King with a cup of Golde filled withpoyſon, which the King accepted, and drinking the ſame, immediatelyfell downe dead vpon the ſtage, and ſo was carryed thence away byhis Lordes and Gentlemen, and then the Muſicke ceaſed. Heereby wasſignified, that as Glaſſe by nature holdeth no poyſon, but iscleare and may eaſily be ſeene through, ne boweth by any arte: So afaithfull Counſellour holdeth no treaſon, but is playne and open,ne yeeldeth to anie vndiſcrete affection, but giueth any wholeſomeCounſell, which the ill aduiſed Prince refuſeth. The delightfullGolde filled with poyſon betokeneth Flatterie, which vnder faireſeeming of pleaſaunt wordes beareth deadly poyſon, whichdeſtroyeth the Prince that receyueth it. As befell in the twoBrethren, Ferrex,and Porrex,who refuſing the wholeſome aduiſe of graue Counſellours, creditedtheſe yoong Paraſites, and brought vnto themſelues death anddeſtruction thereby.

ſecundus. Scena prima.

Hermon.Dordan.

IMeruailemuch what reaſon leade the king
My father thus without all mydeſarte
To reaue me halfe the kingdome which by courſe
Oflawe and nature ſhould remaine to me.

Ifyou with ſtubborne and vntamed pride
Had ſt∞dagainſt him in rebellious wiſe,
Or if with grudging minde youhad enuyde,
So ſlow a ſliding of his aged yéeres,
Orſought before your time to haſte the courſe
Of fatall deathvpon his Royall head,
Or ſtainde your ſtocke with murder ofyour kinne:
Some face of reaſon might perhaps haue ſéemed
Toyéeld ſome likely cauſe to ſpoile ye thus.

Thewrekefull Gods powre on my curſed heade
Eternall plagues andneuer dyinge woes:
The helliſh Prince adiudge my damnedGhoſt
To Tantalusthirſt, or proude Ixionswheele,
Or cruell Gripe to gnaw my growing hart
To duringtorments and vnquenched flames
If euer I conceiued ſo foule athought,
To wiſh 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 tender loue
Whileyet the fates d∞lend him life to rule,
(Who long might liue to ſée your rulingwell)
To you my Lorde, and to his other ſonne
Lo hereſignes his realme and royaltie,
Which neuer would ſo wiſe aprince haue d∞ne,
Ifhe had once miſdéemde that in your hart
There euer lodged ſovnkind a thought.
But tender loue (my Lord) and ſetled truſt
Ofyour g∞dnature, and your noble minde,
Made him to place you thus inroyall throne,
And now to giue you halfe his Realme toguide,
Yea and that halfe within abounding ſtore
Of thingsthat ſerue to make a welthie realme,
In ſtatelie Cities and infruitfull ſoyle,
In temperate breathing of the milderheauen,
In things of needefull vſe, which frendlySea
Tranſports by traffike from the forraine portes,
Inflowing welth, in honour and in force,

paſſe the double value of the part
That Porrexhath allotted to his reigne,
Such is your caſe, ſuch is yourfathers loue.

Ahloue my frends, loue wrongs not whom he loues.

Neyet he wrongeth you that giueth you
So large a reigne ere thatthe courſe of time
Bring you to kingdome by deſcendedright,
Which time perhaps might end your time before.

Isthis no wrong, ſay you, to reaue from me
My natiue right ofhalfe ſo great a Realme,
And thus to match his y∞ngerſonne with me
In egall power, and in as great degrée:
Yeaand what ſonne? the ſonne whoſe ſwelling pride
Would neueryeeld one point of reuerence,
When I the elder and apparantheire
St∞dein the likelyh∞dto poſſeſſe the whole,
Yea and that ſonne which from hischildiſhe age
Enuieth mine honour, and d∞thhate my life,
What will he now d∞?when his pride, his rage,
The mindfull malice of his grudginghart
Is armde with force, with welth and kingly ſtate.

Wasthis not wrong? yea ill aduiſed wrong,
To giue ſo mad a man ſoſharpe a ſworde,
To ſo great perill of ſo great miſhap,
Wideopen thus to ſet ſo large a way.

Alasmy Lord, what griefull thing is this?

of your brother you can thinke ſo ill
I neuer ſawe him vtterlikely ſigne
Whereby a man might ſee or once miſdéeme
Suchhate of you, ne such vnyeelding pride:
Illis their counſell, ſhamefull be their ende,
That raiſing ſuchmiſtruſtfull feare in you,
Sowing the ſeede of ſuch vnkindlyhate,
Trauaile by reaſon to deſtroy you both:
Wiſe isyour brother and of noble hope,
Worthie to wéeld a large andmightie realme,
Somuch a ſtronger frend haue you thereby,
Whoſe ſtrength isyour ſtrength, if you grée in one.

Ifnature and the Gods had pinched ſo
Their flowing bountie andtheir noble gifts
Of princely qualities from you my Lord,
Andpowrde them all at once in waſtfulll wiſe
Vpon your fathersy∞ngerſonne alone:
Perhaps there be that in your preiudice
Wouldſay that birth ſhould yéeld to w∞rthines:
Butſith in each g∞dgift and Princely Acte,
Ye are his match, and in the cheefe ofall
In mildenes and in ſober gouernauce,
ye far ſurmount:And ſith there is in you
Suffiſing ſkill and hopefulltowardnes,
to weld the whole and match your elders praiſe,
Iſee no cauſe why ye should l∞ſethe halfe,
Ne would I wiſh you yeelde to ſuche a loſſe:
Leaſtyour milde ſufferance of ſo great a wrong,
Be déemedcowardiſe and ſimple dread:
which ſhall giue courage to thefiery head

your yong Brother to inuade the whole,
whiles yet therforeſticks in the peoples minde
The loathed wrong of yourdiſheritaunce,
And ere your Brother haue by ſetled power,
Byguilefull cloake of an alluring ſhowe,
Got him ſome force andfauour in this Realme
And while the noble Quéene your motherliues,
To w∞rkeand practiſe all for your auaile
Attempt redreſſe by Armes,and wreak your ſelf
Vpon his life that gaineth by yourloſſe,
Who now to ſhame of you, and gréefe of vs,
Inyour owne Kingdome triumphes ouer you:
Shew now your courageméet for kinglye eſtate
that they which haue auowed to ſpendtheir g∞ds
Theirlandes, their liues & honors in your cauſe,
May be thebolder to maintain your parte
when they d∞ſée that cowarde feare in you,
Shall not betray ne ſailetheir faithfull hartes,
Ifonce the death of Porrexend the ſtrife,
And pay the price of his vſurped Reigne,
Yourmother ſhall perſwade the angry King,
the Lords your frendseke ſhal appeaſe his rage
For they be wiſe and well they canforeſee,
That ere long time your aged Fathers death
willbring a time when you ſhall well requite
Theirfréendly fauour, or their hatefull ſpite,
Yea, or theirſlacknes to auaunce your cauſe,
Wiſe men d∞not ſo hange on paſſing ſtate
Of preſent Princes, cheefelyin their age,
But they will further caſt their reaching eye
Toviewe and weigh the times and reignes to come,

is it likely though the King be wrath,
That he yet will, or thatthe Realme will beare
Extreme reuenge vpon his onely Sonne:
Orif he would, what one is he that dare
Be miniſter to ſuch anenterpriſe.
And héere you be now placed in your owne
Amidyour fréends, your vaſſailes and your ſtrength
We ſhalldefend and kéepe your perſon ſafe,
Till either Counſellturne his tender minde,
Or age, or ſorrow ende his wearydaies
But if the feare of Gods and ſecret grudge
Ofnatures Lawe, repining at the fact,
Withholde your courage fromſo great attempte:
Know ye that luſt of kingdomes hath noLawe,
The Gods d∞beare and well allow in Kinges,
The thinges they abhorre inraſcall routes.
When Kinges on ſlender quarrels run towarres,
And then in cruell and vnkindely wiſe,
Commaundthefts, rapes, murder of Innocents,
To ſpoyle of townes andreignes of mighty realms
Think you ſuch Princes d∞suppreſſe themſelues,
Subiect to Lawes of kinde and feare ofGods,
Yet none offence, but decked with glorious name
Ofnoble Conqueſts in the handes of Kinges,
Murders and violenttheftes in priuate men,
Are heinous crimes and full of foulereproche:
Butif you like not yet ſo hote deuiſe,
Ne liſt to take ſuchevauntage of the time.
But though with great perill of yourſtate,
You will not be the firſt that ſhall inuade,
Aſſembleyet your force for your defence,

for your ſafetie ſtand vpon your garde.

Oheauen was there euer heard or knowne,
So wicked Counſell to anoble Prince?
Let me (my Lord) diſcloſe vnto your grace
Thisheinous tale, what miſcheefe it conteines:
Your Fathers death,your Brothers and your owne,
Your preſent murder and eternallſhame:
Heare me (O King) and ſuffer not to ſinke,
Sohigh a treaſon in your Princely breſt.

Themighty Gods forbid that euer I,
Should once conceiue ſuchmiſcheefe in my hart,
Although my Brother hath bereft myRealme,
And beare perhaps to mee an hatefull minde,
Shall Ireuenge it, with his death therfore?
Or ſhall I ſo deſtroy myFathers life
That gaue me life, the Gods forbid I ſay,
Ceaſeyou to ſpeake ſo any more to me,
Ne you my fréend withaunſwere once repeate
So foule a tale, in ſilence let itdye:
What Lord or Subiect ſhall haue hope at all
Thatvnder me they ſafelye shall enioy
Their g∞ds,their honours, lands and liberties,
With whom, neither one onelybrother déere
Ne Father déerer, could enioy their liues?
Butſith, I feare my yonger brothers rage,
And ſith perhaps ſomeother man may giue
Some like aduiſe, to moue his grudginghead
At mine eſtate: which counſell may perchaunce
Takegreater force with him, then this with me,

will in ſecret ſo prepare my ſelfe,
As if his mallice or hisluſt to raigne,
Breakef∞rthwith Armes or ſodeine violence
I may withſtand his rage andkéepe mine owne.

Ifeare the fatall time now draweth on,
When cyuill hate ſhallende the noble lyne
Of famous Bruteand of his royall ſéede,
Great Iouedefend the miſchéefes now at hand,
Othat the Secretaries wiſe aduiſe
Had earſt beene heard whenhe beſought the King
Not to deuide his land, nor ſend hisSonnes
to further partes from preſence of his Courte,
Neyet to yéelde to them his gouernaunce.
Loe ſuch are they nowin the Royall throne
As was raſhe Phaetonin PhœbusCarre
Ne then the fiery Steedes did drawe the flame
Withwilder randon through the kindled Skies,
Then traiterouscouncell now will whirle about,
The youthfull heads of theſevnſkilfull Kinges,
But I heereof their Father will enforme,
Thereuerence of him per haps ſhall ſtay
the growing miſchéefes,while they yet are greene,
If this helpe not, then woe vntothemſelues,
The Prince, the people, the deuided Land.

ſecundus. Scena ſecunda.

Tyndar. Philander.

Andis it thus? And d∞thhe ſo prepare
Againſt his Brother as his mortall foe?
Andnow while yet his aged Father liues:
Neither regards he him? norfeares he me?
Warre would he haue? and he ſhall haue it ſo.

Iſawe my ſelfe the great prepared ſtore,
Of Horſe, of Armoursand of weapons there,
Ne bring I to my Lorde reportedtales,
Without the ground of ſeene and ſearched troth,
Loeſecret quarrelles runne about his Courte,
tobring the name of you my Lord in hate
Eche man almoſt can nowdebate the cauſe,
And aſke a reaſon of ſo great awrong,
while he ſo noble and ſo wiſe a Prince,
Is asvnw∞rthyreft his Heritage.
And why the King miſlead by craftymeanes
Deuided thus his Land from courſe of right.
Thewiſer ſort holde downe their griefull heads,
Ech manwithdrawes from talke and company
Of thoſe that haue béeneknowne to fauour you,
To hide the miſchiefe of their meaningethere.
Rumors are ſpred of your preparynge heere.
Theraſcall numbers of the vnſkilfull ſort
Are filled withmonſtrous tales of you and yours,
In ſecret I was counſailedby my frends
To haſt me thence, and brought you as youknowe
Letters from thoſe that both can truly tell,
Andwould not write vnleſſe they knew it well.

MyLord, yet ere you now vnkindly warre,
Send to your brother todemaund the cauſe:
Perhaps ſome traiterous tales haue filledhis eares
With falſe reports againſt your noble Grace:
Whichonce diſcloſde ſhall end the growing ſtrife
That els notſtaide with wiſe foreſight in time,
Shall hazard both yourkingdoms and your liues:
Send to your father eke, he ſhallappeaſe
Your kindled minds, and rid you of this feare.

Ridme of feare? I feare him not at all,
Ne will to him, ne to myfather ſend
If daunger were for one to tarrie there,
Thinkeye it ſafely to returne againe,
In miſchiefes ſuch as Ferrexnow intends,
The w∞ntedcourteous lawes to meſſengers
Are not obſerued, which in iuſtwarre they vſe,
Shall I ſo hazard anie one of mine?
ShallI betray my truſtie frende to him?
That hath diſcloſde histreaſon vnto me?
Lethim intreat that feares, I feare him not:
Or ſhall I to theking my father ſende?
Yea and ſende now while ſuch a motherliues,
That loues my brother and that hateth me.
Shall Igiue leyſure by my fond delayes
To Ferrexto oppreſſe me at vnware?
I will not, but I will inuade hisrealme
Andſeeke the traitour prince within his court,
Miſchiefe formiſchiefe is a due reward.
His wretched head ſhall pay theworthie price

this his treaſon and his hate to me,
Shall I abide, intreat,and ſend and pray?
And holde my yeelden throte to traitoursknife?
While I with valiant mind and conquering force
Mightrid my ſelfe of foes, and winne a realme,
Yet rather when Ihaue the wretches head,
Then to the king my father will Iſend,
The b∞telescaſe may yet appeaſe his wrath:
If not I will defend me as Imay.

Lohéere the end of theſe two youthfull kings,
The fathers death,the reigne of their two realms,
O moſt vnhappie ſtate ofCounſellors,
That light on ſo vnhappie Lords and times,
Thatneither can their g∞daduiſe be heard,
Yet muſt they beare the blames of illſucceſſe:
But I will to the king their father haſt,
Erethis miſcheefe come to that likely ende,
That if the mindefullwrath of wrekefull Gods
Since mightie Ilionsfall not yet appeaſed
With theſe p∞reremnant of the Troiansname
Haue not determinedlly vnm∞uedfate
Out of this realme to race the Brutiſhline
By g∞daduiſe, by awe of fathers name,
By force of wiſer Lords, thiskindled hate
May yet be quencht ere it conſume vs all.

Whenyouth not bridled with a guiding ſtay,
Is left to random oftheir owne delight,
And welds whole realms by force ofſouereigne fray

is the daunger of vnmaiſtred might,
Leaſt ſkilleſſe ragethrow downe with headlong fall
their lands, their ſtates, theirliues, themſelues & all
 Whengrowing pride doth fill the ſwelling breſt,
And greedie luſtdoth raiſe the climbing mind,
Oh hardly may the perill berepreſt,
Ne feare of angrie Gods, ne Lawes kinde,
NeCountry care can fired harts reſtraine
When force hath armedenuie and diſdaine.
 Whenkings of foreſet will neglect the réede,
Of beſt aduiſe, andyeeld to pleaſing tales,
That d∞their fancies noyſome humour feede,
Ne reaſon, nor regarde ofright auailes,
Succeeding heapes of plagues ſhall teach t∞late
To learne the miſchiefes of miſguiding ſtate.
 Fowlefall the traitour falſe that vndermines
The loue of brethren todeſtroy them both,
Woe to the prince, that pliaunt eareinclines
And yéeldes his minde to poiſenous tale thatfloweth
From flattering mouth, and woe to wretched lande
thatwaſts it ſelfe with ciuill ſword in hande.
  Loe, thus itis poiſon in golde to take,
  And wholeſome drinke inhomely cuppe forſake.

¶The Order and ſignification of the dumbe ſhewebefore the third Acte.

¶Firſt the Muſike of Fluites began to play, during which came invppon the Stage a companie of Mourners all clad in blacke, betokeningDeath and ſorrowe to enſue vpon the ill aduiſed miſgouernementand diſſention of Brethren, as befell vpon the murder of Ferrexby his yonger brother. After the Mourners had paſſed thriſe aboutthe Stage, they departed, and then the Muſike cauſed.

tertius. Scena prima.

Eubulus. Aroſtus. Philander. Nuntius.

OCruell fates, O mindfull wrath of Gods,
Whoſe vengeaunceneither Simoisſtreined ſtreames
Flowing with bl∞dof Troianprinces ſlaine,
Nor Phrygianfields made ranke with Corpſes dead
OfAſiankings and Lords can yet appeaſe,
Ne ſlaughter of vnhappiePryamsrace
Nor Ilionsfall made leuell with the ſoile,
Can yet ſuffice: but ſtillcontinued rage
Purſue our liues, and from the fartheſtſeas
D∞thchaſt the iſſues of deſtroyed Troy:
Ohno man happie till his end be ſeene,
If any flowing wealth andſéeming ioy
In preſent yéeres might make a happywight,
Happie was Hecubathe wofulleſt wretch
That euer liued to make a mirrour of,
Andhappie Pryamwith his noble ſonnes,
And happie I till nowe. Alas, I ſée

féele my moſt vnhappie wretchednes:
Behold my Lords, read yethis Letter heere,
Lo it conteines the ruine of this realme
Iftimely ſpeede prouide not haſtie helpe,
Yet, O ye Gods, ifeuer wofull king
Might moue you kings of kings, wreake it onme
And on my ſonnes, not on this giltles realme.
Senddowne your waſting flames from wrathful ſkies,
To reaue me andmy ſonnes the hatefull breath.
Read, read my Lordes: this isthe matter why
I called ye now to haue your g∞daduiſe.

¶The Letter from Dordanthe Counſellor of the elder Prince.

readeththe Letter.

Souereigne Lord, what I am loth to write
But lotheſt am to ſée,that I am forced
By Leters now to make you vnderſtand,
MyLord Ferrexyour eldeſt ſonne miſlead
By traitours framde of y∞ngvntempred wittes,
Aſſemblethforce againſt your y∞ngerſonne,
Ne can my counſell yet withdraw the heate
Andfurious pangs of his inflamed head:
Diſdaine(ſaith he) of his inheritaunce
Armes him to wreke the greatpretended wrong
With cyuill Sw∞rdvpon his Brothers life,
If preſent helpe d∞not reſtraine this rage
This flame wil waſte your ſonnes,your land & you.

YourMaieſties faithfull and moſt humble Subiect Dordan.

OKing,appeaſe your gréefe and ſtay your plaint
Great is the matterand a wofull caſe:
But timely knowledge may bring manlyhelp.
Send for them both vnto your preſence here,
Thereuerence of your honour, age, and ſtate,
Your graue aduice,the awe of Fathers name
Shall quickly knit againe this brokenpeace:
And if in either of my Lordes your Sonnes,
Be ſuchvntamed and vnyéelding pride
As will not bend vnto your nobleHeſtes.
If Ferrexthe elder Sonne can beare no peere,
Or Porrexnot content, aſpires to more
Then you him gaue aboue his natiueright:
Ioyne with the iuſter ſide, ſo ſhall you force
Themto agree: and holde the Land in ſtay.

Whatmeaneth this? loe yonder comes in haſte,
Philanderfrom my Lord your yonger Sonne.

TheGods ſend ioyfull newes.

Themighty Ioue
Preſerueyour Maieſtie, O noble King.

Philander,welcome:But how d∞thmy Sonne?

Yourſonne, ſir, liues and healthie I him left:
But yet (O King)this want of luſtfull health,
Couldnot be halfe ſo greefefull to your grace,
As theſe moſtwretched tidinges that I bring.

Oheauens yet more? no end of woes to me?

Tindar,OKing, came lately from the Courte,
Of Ferrex,to my Lord your yonger Sonne,
And made reporte of great preparedſtore
Ofwarre, and ſaith that it is wholy ment
Againſt Porrexfor high diſdaine that he
Liues now a King and egall indegrée
With him, that claimeth to ſucceede the whole,
Asby due title of diſcending right:
Porrexis now ſo ſet on flaming fier,
Partely with kindled rage ofcruell wrath,
Partely with hope to gaine a Realme therby,
Thathe in haſte prepareth to inuade
His Brothers Land, and withvnkindely warre
Threatens the murder of your elder Sonne,
Necould I him perſwade that firſt he ſhould,
Send to hisbrother to demaund the cauſe:
Nor yet to you to ſtay hishatefull ſtrife,
Wherfore ſith there no more I can be heard,
Icome my ſelfe now to enforme your Grace:
And to beſeeche youas you loue the life
And ſafetie of your Children and yourRealme,
Now to employ your wiſdome and your force
To ſtaythis miſchéefe ere it be t∞late.

Arethey in Armes? would he not ſend for me?
Is this the honour ofa Fathers name?

Invaine we trauaile to aſſwage their minds,
As if their harteswhome neither Brothers loue

Fathers awe, nor Kingdomes care can moue
Our counſells couldwithdrawe from raging heate,
Ioueſlaye them both, and end the curſed Line,
For though perhapsfeare of ſuch mighty force
As I my Lords, ioyned with yournoble aides
Maye yet raiſe, ſhall expreſſe their preſentheate,
Theſecret grudge and malice will remaine
The fier not quenched,but kept in cloſe reſtrainte
Fed ſtill within, breakes f∞rthwith double flame
Their death and mine muſt peaſe the angryGods.

Yeeldenot, O King, ſo much to weake diſpaire,
Your Sonnes yet liue,and long I truſt they ſhall:
If fates had taken you fromearthly life,
Beforebeginning of this cyuill ſtrife:
Perhaps your Sonnes in theirvnmaiſtered youth,
Loſe from regarde of any liuingwight,
Would runne on headlong, with vnbrideled Race
Totheir owne death and ruine of this Realme.
But ſith the Godsthat haue the care for Kinges,
Of thinges and times diſpoſethe order ſo
That in your life this kindled flame breakesf∞rth
Whileyet your life, your wiſdome and your power,
May ſtay thegrowing miſcheefe, and repreſſe
The fiery blaze of theirvnkindled heate
It ſeemes, and ſo ye ought to deemetherof,
That louing Iouehath tempred ſo the time
Of this debate to happen in yourdaies
That you yet liuinge may the ſame appeaze,
And addeit to the glory of your latter age
And they your Sonnes maylearne to liue in peace.

(O King) the greateſt harme of all,
Leaſt by your wailefullplaints your haſtened death
Yéelde larger r∞mevnto their growing rage:
Preſerue your life, the onely hope ofſtay:
And if your highnes héerin liſt to vſe
Wiſdomeor force, councell or Knightly aide:
Loe we our perſons, powersand liues are yours,
Vſe vs till death, O King, we are yourowne.

Loeheere the perrill that was erſt forſeene
When you (O King) didfirſt deuide your Land
And yeelde your preſent raigne vntoyour Sonnes.
But now (O noble Prince) now is no time
towaile and plaine, and waſte your wofull life,
Nowis the time for preſent g∞daduice,
Sorrow d∞thdarke the iudgement of the wit
The hart vnbroken and the couragefree
from feeble faintenes of b∞telesdiſpaire
Doth either riſe to ſafetie or renowne,
Bynoble valour of vnuanquiſhed minde:
Or yet d∞thperriſh in more happie ſorte.
YourGrace may ſend to either of your Sonnes
Some one both wiſe andnoble perſonage,
Which with g∞dcouncell and with weightye name
Of Father ſhall preſent beforetheir eyes
Your heſt, your life, your ſafetie and theirowne,
The preſent miſcheefe of their deadly ſtrife
Andin the while, aſſemble you the force
Which your commaundementand the ſpéedy haſte,
Of all my Lords héere preſent canprepare:
The terrour of your mighty power ſhall ſtaye

rage of both, or yet of one at leaſt.

OKing the greateſt gréefe that euer Prince did heare,
The euerwofull meſſenger did tell,
That euer wretched Land hath ſeenebefore
I bring to you. Porrexyour yonger Sonne
With ſudden force, inuaded hath the Land
Thatyou to Ferrexdid alotte to rule:
And with his owne moſt bloudy hand hehath
His Brother ſlaine, and d∞thpoſſeſſe his Realme.

Oheauens ſend down the flames of your reuenge,
Deſtroy I ſaywith flaſh of wreakefull fier,
The traitour Sonne, and then thewretched ſire.
But let vs goe, that yet perhaps I may,
Dyewith reuenge, and peaze the hatefull Gods.

Theluſt of Kingdomes knowes no ſacred faith,
No rule of reaſon,no regarde of right:
No kindely loue, no feare of heauenswrath:
But with contempt of Gods, and mans deſpite,
Throughbl∞dyeſlaughter d∞thprepare the waies,
To fatall Scepter and accurſed reigne.
Theſonnes ſo loathes the Fathers lingring daies,
Ne dreades hishand in Brothers bloude to ſtaine
O wretched Prince, ne d∞ſtthou yet recorde,
The yet freſhe Murthers d∞newithin the Lands
Of thy forefathers, when the cruellSw∞rd
BereftMorganhis life with Cozins hand?
Thus fatall plagues purſue theguiltie race
Whoſemurderous hand imbrued with giltles bloud

vengeance before the heauens face,
With endles miſchiefes onthe curſed br∞d,
Thewicked child this brings to wofull Sire,
The mournefull plaintsto waſt his weary life:
Thus d∞the cruell flames of ciuill fire
Deſtroy the parted reigne withhatefull ſtrife.
And hence d∞thſpring the well from which d∞thfloe,
The dead black ſtreams of mournings, plaints and woe.

¶The Order and ſignification of the dumbe ſhewebefore the fourth Acte.

¶Firſt the Muſike of Howeboies began to playe, during which therecame foorth from vnder the Stage, as though out of Hell three Furies,Alecto,Megera,and Cteſiphone,clad in blacke garments ſprinkled with bloud and flames, theirbodies girt with Snakes, their heads ſpred with Serpents in ſteedof haire, the one bearing in hir hand a Snake the other a whip, andthe third a burning firebrand: eche driuing before them a King and aQueene, which mooued by Furies, vnnaturally had ſlaine their ownechildren. The names of the Kings and Queenes were theſe, Tantalus,Medea, Athamas, Ino, Cambiſes, Althea,after that the Furies and theſe had paſſed about the Stage thriſe,they departed, and then the Muſike ceaſed: heereby was ſignifiedthe vnnaturall murders to followe, that is to ſaye, Porrexſlaine by his owne mother. And of King Gorboduc,and Queene Viden,killed by their owne Subiects.

quartus. Scena prima.

ſola.

Whyſhould I liue and linger f∞rthmy time
In longer life to double my diſtreſſe?
O méemoſt wofull wight whome no miſhap
Long ere this day could hauebereaued hence.
Mightnot theſe hands by fortune or by fate
Haue pearſt this breſtand life with iron reft,
Or in this pallace here where I ſolong
Haue ſpent my daies, could not that happie houre
Once,once haue hapt in which theſe hugie frames
With death by fallmight haue oppreſſed me,
Or ſhould not this moſt hard andcruell ſoyle,
So oft where I haue preſt my wretchedſteps,
Somtimes had ruth of myne accurſed life,
To rendin twaine and ſwallow me therein.
So had my bones poſſeſſednow in peace
Their happie graue within the cloſed ground,
Andgreedie wormes had gnawne this pined hart
Without my feelingpaine: ſo ſhould not now
This liuing breſt remaine theruthefull tombe
Wherein my hart yeelden to death is graued:
Nordriery thoughts with pangs of pining griefe
My dolefull mind hadnot afflicted thus.
O my beloued ſonne: O my ſwéet child,
Mydeare Ferrex,my ioy, my liues delight.
Is my welbeloued ſonne, is my ſweetchild,
My deare Ferrex,my ioy, my liues delight

with cruell death? O hatefull wretch,
O hainous traitour both toheauen and earth,
Thou Porrex,thouthis damned déed haſt wrought,
Thou Porrex,thou ſhalt dearely abye the ſame,
Traitour to kinne and kinde,to ſire and me,
To thine owne fleſh, and traitour to thyſelfe,
The Gods on thée in hell ſhall wreke their wrath,
Andheere in earth this hand ſhall take reuenge
On thée Porrex,thou falſe and caitife wight,
If after bloud ſo eager were thythirſt,
And murderous mind had ſo poſſeſſed thee,
Ifſuch hard hart of rocke and ſtonie flint
Liued in thy breſt,that nothing els could like
Thy cruell tyrants thought but deathand bloud,
Wild ſauage beaſts might not the ſlaughterſerue
To féede thy gréedy will, and in the middeſt
Oftheir entrailes to ſtaine thy deadly handes
Withbl∞ddeſerued, and drinke thereof thy fill:
Or if nought els butdeath and bl∞dof man
Might pleaſe thy luſt, could none in Britaineland
Whoſe hart betorne out of his louing breſt
Withthine own hand, or worke what death thou wouldſt
Suffiſe tomake a ſacrifice to appeaſe
That deadly minde and murderousthought in thée?
But he who in the ſelfe ſame wombe waswrapped
Where thou in diſmall houre receiuedſt life?
Orif needes, néedes this hand might ſlaughter make,
Mightſtthou not haue reacht a mortall wound
And with thy ſword hauepierſed this curſed wombe
That the accurſed Porrexbrought to light?
And giuen me a iuſt reward therfore.

Ferrex,if ſweet life might haue enioyed
And to his aged father comfortbrought,
With ſome yong ſonne in whome they both mightliue.
But wherevnto waſte I this ruthfull ſpeech
To théethat hath thy brothers bloud thus ſhed?
Shall I ſtill thinkethat from this wombe thou ſpr∞ng?
ThatI thee bare? or take thee for my ſonne?
No traitour, no: I theerefuſe for mine,
Murderer I thee renounce, thou art notmine:
Neuer, O wretch, this wombe conceiued thee,
Nor neuerbode I painefull throwes for thee:
Chaungeling to me thou art,and not my childe,
Nor to no wight that ſparke of pittieknewe,
Rutheles vnkind, monſter of Natures worke,
Thouneuer ſuckt the milke of womans breſt,
But from thy birth thecruell Tigres teates
Haue nurſed, nor yet of fleſh andbloud
Formed is thy hart, but of hard iron wrought.
Andwilde and deſert w∞dsbred thee to life:
But canſt thou hope to ſcape my iuſtreuenge?
Or that theſe hands will not be wrekte on thee?
D∞eſtthou not knowe that Ferrexmother liues
That loued him more dearely than her ſelfe?
Andd∞thſhe liue, and is not venged on thée?

quartus. Scena ſecunda.

Aroſtus. Eubulus. Porrex. Marcella.

WEmeruaile much whereto this lingering ſtaie

out ſo long: Porrexvnto our Court
By order of our Letters is returned,
AndEubulusreceiued from vs by heſt
At his arriuall héere to giue himcharge
Before our preſence ſtreight to make repaire,
Andyet we heare no word whereof he ſtaies.

Lowhere he comes and Eubuluswith him.

Accordingto your highnes heſt to me
Héere haue I Porrexbrought euen in ſuch ſort
As from his wearied horſe he didalight,
For that your Grace did will ſuch haſt therein.

Welike and praiſe this ſpéedie will in you
To w∞rkethe thing that to your charge we gaue.
Porrex,if we ſo farre ſhould ſwarue from kinde,
And from theſebounds which lawes of nature ſets,
As thou haſt d∞neby vile and wretched deede
In cruell murder of thy brotherslife,
Our preſent hand could ſtay no longer time,
Butſtreight ſhould bath this blade in bloud of thee,
As iuſtreuenge of thy deteſted crime.
No, we ſhould not offend thelawe of kinde
If now this ſword of ours did ſlay theehéere:
For thou haſt murdered him whoſe heinous death
Euennatures force d∞thmoue vs to reuenge
By bloud againe: But Iuſtice forceth vs
Tomeaſure Death for Death, thy due deſerte,
Yet ſithens thouart our childe, and ſith as yet
In this hard caſe what wordthou canſt alledge

thy defence, by vs hath not béene heard,
Weare content to ſtaye our will for that
Which Iuſtice bids vspreſently to w∞rke:
Andgiue thee leaue to vſe thy ſpéech at full
If ought thou haueto laye for thine excuſe.

NeitherO King, I can or will deny
But that this hand from Ferrexlife hath reft:
Which fact how much my dolefull hart d∞thwaile
Oh would it mought as full appeare to ſight
Asinward gréefe d∞thpoure it f∞rthto me,
So yet perhaps if euer ruthefull hart
Melting inteares within a manly breaſt,
Through déeperepentance of his bloudy fact,
If euer gréefe, if euer wofullm^en
Mightmoue regreite with ſorow of his faulte,
I thinke the torment ofmy mournefull caſe
Knowen to your grace, as I d∞féele the ſame,
Woulde force euen wrath her ſelfe to pittieme.
But as the water troubled with the mudde
Shewes not theface which els the eye ſhould ſée:
Euen ſo your Irefullminde with ſtirred thought,
Cannot ſo perfectly diſcerne mycauſe,
But this vnhape, amongſt ſo many heapes
I muſtcontent me with, moſt wretched man,
That to my ſelfe I muſtreferre my woe
In pining thoughtes of mine accurſedfact:
Sithence I may not ſhewe héere my ſmalleſt gréefe
Suchas it is, and as my breaſt endures,
Which I eſteeme thegreateſt miſerie
Of all miſhappes that Fortune now can ſend,

that I reſt in hope with plainte and teares
Should purchaſelife: for to the Gods I clepe
For true recorde of this myfaithfull ſpeech,
Neuer this hart ſhall haue the thoughtfulldread
To dye the death that by your graces d∞me
Byiuſt deſarte, ſhalbe pronounced to me:
Nor neuer ſhall thistung once ſpend this ſpéech,
Pardon to craue, or ſeeke byſute to liue:
I meane not this as though I were not toucht
Withcare of dreadfull death, or that I helde
Life in contempt: butthat I knowe, the minde
Stoupesto no dread, although the fleſh be fraile,
And for my guilte, Iyéelde the ſame ſo great
As in my ſelfe I finde a feare toſue
For graunt of life.

Invaine, O wretch thou ſheweſt
A wofull hart, Ferrexnow lyes in graue,
Slaine by thy hand.

Yetthis, O Father, heare:
And then I ende: Your Maieſtie wellknowes,
That when my Brother Ferrexand my ſelfe
By your owne heſt were ioyned in gouernaunce
Ofthis your Graces Realme of BrittaineLand
I neuer ſought nor trauailed for the ſame,
Nor by myſelfe, or by no freend I wrought,
But from your highnes willalone it ſprung,
Of your moſt gracious g∞dnesbent to me,
But how my Brothers hart euen than repined,
Withſwollen diſdaine againſt mine egall rule

that Realme, which by diſcent ſhould growe
Wholy to him,allotted halfe to me?
Euen in your highneſſe Courte he nowremaines,
And with my Brother then in neereſt place
Whocan recorde, what pr∞fetherof was ſhewde
And how my Brothers enuious hart appéerde
YetI that iudged it my parte to ſeeke
His fauour and g∞dwill, and loth to make
Your highneſſe know the thing whichſhould haue brought
Gréefe to your Grace, and your offence tohim,
Hoping by earneſt ſute ſhould ſ∞nehaue wonne,
A louing hart within a Brothers breſt
Wroughtin that ſorte that for a pledge of loue
And faithfull hart, hegaue to me his hand.
This made me think, that he had baniſhedquite
All rancour from his thought, and bare to me
Suchharty loue, as I did owe to him:
But after once we left yourGraces Court
And from your highneſſe preſence liuedaparte,
Thisegall rule ſtill, ſtill did grudge him ſo,
That now thoſeenuious ſparkes which erſt lay rakte
In liuing Cinders ofdiſſembling breſt,
Kindled ſo farre within his hartesdiſdaine
That longer could he not refraine from pr∞fe
Ofſecrete practiſe to depriue my life
By Poyſons force, and hadbereft me ſo,
If mine owne Seruant hired to this fact
Andmoued by troth with hate to w∞rkethe ſame,
In time had not bewraied it vnto me:
When thus Iſawe the knot of loue vnknit,
All honeſt League and faithfullpromiſe broke,

Lawe of kinde and troth thus rent in twaine,
His hart onmiſcheefe ſet, and in his breſt
Black treaſon hid then, thendid I diſpaire
That euer time could winne him freend tome,
Then ſaw I how he ſmiled with ſlaying Knife
Wrappedvnder cloake, then ſaw I déepe deceite
Lurke in his face anddeath prepared for me:
Euen nature moued me then to holde mylife
More déere to me then his, and bad this hand,
Sinceby his life my death muſt néedes enſue,
And by his death mylife to be preſerued:
To ſhed his bloud, and ſeeke my ſafetieſo,
And wiſdome willed me without protract
In ſpeedywiſe to put the ſame in vre.
Thus haue I tolde the cauſe thatmoued me
To w∞rkmy Brothers death and ſo I yeelde
My life, my death toiudgement of your grace.

Ohcruell wight, ſhould any cauſe preuaile
To make the ſtainethy handes with brothers bl∞d
Butwhat of thée we will reſolue to d∞,
Shallyet remaine vnknowen: Thou in the meane,
Shalt from our royallpreſence baniſhed be
Vntillour Princely pleaſure furder ſhall
To thee be ſhewed, departetherfore our ſight
Accurſed childe. What cruell deſtiny?
Whatfroward fate hath ſorted vs this chaunce
Thateuen in thoſe, where we ſhould comfort finde,
Where ourdelight now in our aged daies
Should reſt and be, euen thereour only gréefe
And deepeſt ſorrowes to abridge our life,

pining cares and deadly thoughts d∞graue.

YourGrace ſhould now in theſe graue yeeres of yours
Haue found erethis the price of mortall Ioyes,
How ſhorte they be, how fadinghéere in earth
How full of change, how brittle our eſtate,
Ofnothing ſure, ſaue only of the Death,
To whome both man andall the worlde d∞thowe
Their end at laſt, neither ſhall natures power
Inother ſorte againſt your hart preuaile,
Then as the naked handwhoſe ſtroke aſſaies
The armed breaſt where force d∞thlight in vaine.

Manycan yeelde right graue and ſage aduice
Of patient ſprite toothers wrapped in woe,
And can in ſpeech both rule and conquerkinde,
Who if by pr∞fe,they might feele natures force,
Would ſhew themſelues men asthey are indeede,
Which now will needes be Gods: but what d∞thmeane
The ſorry cheere that heere d∞thcome?

Ohwhere is ruthe? // where is pittie now?
Whether is gentle hartand mercie fled?
Are they exiled out of our ſtonybreaſtes
Neuer to make returne? is all the worlde
Drownedin blood, and ſuncke in crueltie?
If not in women mercy may befound,
If not (alas) within the Mothers breſt
To her ownechilde, to her owne fleſh and bloud
If ruthe be baniſhedthence, if pittie there
May haue no place, if there no gentlehart

liue and dwell, where ſhould we ſeeke it then?

Madam(alas) what meanes your wofull tale?

Oſilly woman I, why to this howre,
Haue kind and fortune thusdeferred my breath?
That I ſhould liue to ſée this dolefulldaye:
Will euer wight beléeue that ſuch hard hart
Couldreſt within the cruell Mothers breaſt,
With her owne hand toſlaye her onely Sonne?
But out (alas) theſe eyes behelde theſame,
They ſaw the driery ſight, and are become
Moſtruthefull recordes of the bloudy fact.
Porrex,alas, is by his Mother ſlaine,
And with her hand a wofull thingto tell,
While ſlumbring on his carefull bed he reſtes,
Hishart ſtalde in with knife is reft of life.

OEubulus,oh draw this Sw∞rdof ours,
And pierce this hart with ſpéede, O hatefull light,
Oloathſome life, O ſweete and welcome Death,
Deere Eubulusw∞rkethis we thee beſéeche.

Patientyour Grace, perhaps he liueth yet,
With wound receiued, but notof certaine death.

Olet vs than repaire vnto the place,
And ſee if that Porrex,or thus be ſlaine.

Alashe liueth not, it is t∞true,
That with theſe eyes of him a peereles Prince,

to a King, and in the flower of youth,
Euen with a twinke aſenceles ſtock I ſaw.

Odamned deede.

Butheare this ruthefull end.
The noble Prince pierſt with theſodaine wounds
Out of his wretched ſlumber haſtilieſtart,
Whoſe ſtrength now failing ſtreight heouerthrew,
When in the fall his eyes euen now vncloſed
Beheldthe Quéene, and cryed to her for helpe,
We then, alas, theLadies which that time
Didthere attend, ſéeing that heinous deede,
And hearing him oftcall the wretched name
Of mother, and to crie to her foraide,
Whoſe direfull hand gaue him the mortall wound
Pitiengalas (for nought els could we d∞)
Hisrufull ende, ranne to the wofull bed
Diſpoyled ſtreight hisbreſt, and all we might
Wiped in vaine with napkins next athande,
The ſodaine ſtreames of bloud that fluſhed faſt
Outof the gaping wound: O what a l∞ke,
Owhat a ruthfull ſtedfaſt eye me thought
He fixed vpon my face,which to my death
Will neuer parte from me, when with a braide
Adéepe fet ſigh he gaue, and therewithall
Claſping his hands,to heauen he caſt his ſight,
And ſtreight pale death preſſingwithin his face
The flying ghoſt his mortall corps forſ∞ke.

Neuerdid age bring f∞rthſo vile a facte.

Ohard and cruell hap, that thus aſſigned
Vnto ſo worthie awight ſo wretched ende,
But moſt hard cruell hart that couldconſent
To lend the hatefull deſtenies that hande,
Bywhich, alas, ſo heynous crime was wrought,
O Quéene ofAdamant, O marble breſt,
If not the fauour of his comelyface,
If not his princely cheare and countenance,
Hisvaliaunt actiue armes, his manly breſt,
If not his faire andſéemely perſonage,
His noble limmes in ſuch proportioncaſt,
As would haue wrapped a ſilly womans thought.
Ifthis might not haue m∞uedthe bl∞diehart,
And that moſt cruell hand the wretched weapon
Euento let fall, and kiſt him in the face,
With teares for ruth toreaue ſuch one by death
Should nature yet conſent to ſlay herſonne?
O mother, thou to murder thus thy childe,
Euen Iouewith iuſtice muſt with lightning flames
Fromheauen ſend downe ſome ſtraunge reuenge on thée.
Ah noblePrince, how oft haue I beheld
Thee mounted on thy fierce andtrampling ſtéede,
Shining in armour bright before theTilte,
And with thy miſtriſſe ſléeue tide on thy helme,
Andcharge thy ſtaffe to pleaſe thy Ladies eye,
That bowed thehead peece of thy frendly foe?
How oft in armes on horſe tobend the mace,
How oft in armes on f∞tto breake the ſworde,
Which neuer now theſe eyes may ſeeagaine.

Madame,alas, in vaine theſe plaints are ſhed,
Rather with me depart,and helpe to aſſwage
The thoughtfull griefes that in the agedking
Muſt needes by nature growe by death of this
Hisonely ſonne, whome he did hold ſo deare.

Whatwight is that which ſawe that I did ſee,
And could refraine towaile with plaint and teares,
Not I, alas, that hart is not inme,
But let vs go, for I am greeued anewe,
To call to mindethe wretched fathers woe.

Whengreedie luſt in royall ſeate to reigne
Hath reft all care ofGods and eke of men,
And cruell hart, wrath, treaſon anddiſdaine
Within the ambitious breſt are lodged then,
Beholdhow miſchiefe wide her ſelfe diſplayes,
And with the brothershand the brother ſlayes.

 Whenbloud thus ſhed d∞thſtaine this heauens face,
Crying to Ioue for vengeance of thedeede,
The mightie God euen moueth from his place
Withwrath to wreke, then ſend he f∞rthwith ſpéede
The dreadful furies, daughters of the night,
Withſerpents girt, carrying the whip of ire,
With haire of ſtingingſnakes, and ſhining bright
With flames and bloud, and with abrand of fire:
Theſe for reuenge of wretched murder done,
D∞thcauſe the mother kill her onely ſonne.

 Bloudaſketh bloud, and death muſt death requite,
Ioue by his iuſtand euerlaſting d∞me
Iuſtlyhath euer ſo requited it:
Theſe times before record, and timesto come
Shall find it true, and ſo d∞thpreſent pr∞fe,
Preſentbefore our eies for our beh∞fe.
 Ohappie wight that ſuffers not the ſnare
Of murderous mind totangle him in blood:
And happie he that can in time beware
Byothers harmes, and turne it to his g∞d.
Butwoe to him that fearing not to offend,
D∞thſerue his luſt, and will not ſee the end.

¶The Order and ſignification of the dumbe ſhewebefore the fift Acte.

¶Firſt the Drummes and Fluites began to ſounde, dvring which therecame foorth vppon the Stage a companie of Harquebuſhers and of armedmen all in order of battaile. Theſe after their peeces diſcharged,and that the armed men had three times marched about the Stage,departed, and then the Drummes and Fluites did ceaſe. Heereby wasſignified Tumultes, Rebellions, Armes, and ciuill warres to followe,as fell in the Realme of great Britayne,which by the ſpace of fiftie yeares and more continued in ciuillwarre betweene the Nobilitie after the death of King Gorboduc,and of his Iſſues, for want of certaine limitation in theſucceſsion of the Crowne, till the time of DunwalloMolmutius,who reduced the Land to Monarchie.

quintus. Scena prima.

Mandud. Gwenard. Fergus. Eubulus.

Dideuer age bring f∞rthſuch tyrants harts,
The brother hath bereft the brotherslife,
The mother ſhe hath dyde her cruell hands
In bloudof her owne ſonne, and now at laſt
The people loe forgettingtruth and loue,
Contemning quite both lawe and loyall hart,
Euenthey haue ſlaine their ſoueraigne Lord and Quéene.

Shallthis their traiterous crime vnpuniſhed reſt
Euen yet theyceaſe not carried out with rage,
In their rebellious routes, tothreaten ſtill
A new bloud ſhedde vnto the Princes Kinne
Toſlaye them all, and to vpr∞tethe race
Both of the King and Quéene, ſo are they moued
WithPorrexdeath, wherin they falſely charge
The guilteleſſe Kingwithout deſart at all.
And traiterouſly haue murdered himtherfore
And eke the Quéene.

ShallSubiects dare with force
To w∞rkreuenge vpon their Princes fact?
Admit the w∞rſtthat may: as ſure in this

déede was foule, the Quéene to ſlaye her ſonne:
Shall yetthe Subiect ſéeke to take the Sw∞rd?
Ariſeagainſt his Lord, and ſlaye his King?
O wretched ſtate wherethoſe rebellious hartes
Are not rent out euen from their liuingbreaſtes
And with the body throwen vnto the Fowles
AsCarrion f∞de,for terrour of the reſt.

Therecan no puniſhment be thought t∞great
For this ſo gréeuous crime, let ſpéede therfore
Bevſed therin for it behoueth ſo.

Yeall my Lordes I ſée conſent in one,
And I as one conſentwith ye in all:
I holde it more then néede with the ſharpeſtLawe,
to puniſhe the tumultuous bl∞dyrage:
For nothing more may ſhake the common ſtate,
thenſufferance of vproares without redreſſe:
Wherby how ſomeKingdomes of mighty power
After great Conqueſts made, andflouriſhing
In fame and wealth haue beene to ruine brought,
Ipray to Iouethat we may rather waile
Such hap in them, then witnes in ourſelues
Eke fully with the Duke my minde agrées
that nocauſe ſerues, wherby the Subiect may
Call to account thed∞ingesof his Prince,
Muchleſſe in bl∞dby ſw∞rdto woorke reuenge
No more then may the hand cut of the head,
InActe nor ſpeech, no: not in ſecret thought
The Subiect mayrebell againſt his Lord
Or Iudge of him that ſits in CæſarsSeate.

grudging minde d∞damne thoſe Hemiſlikes,
Though Kinges forget to gouerne asthey ought,
Yet Subiects muſt obey as they are bound:
Butnow my Lordes before ye farder wade
Or ſpend your ſpéech,what ſharpe reuenge ſhall fall
By iuſtice plague on theſerebellious wights,
Me thinkes ye rather ſhould firſt ſearchethe way
By which in time the rage of this vproare,
Moughtbe repreſſed, and theſe great tumults ceaſed
Euen yet thelife of BrittaineLand d∞thhang,
In Traitours Ballaunce of vnequall weight,
Think notmy Lords the death of Gorboduc
Noryet Videnaesbl∞dwill ceaſe their rage:
Euen our owne liues, our wiues andChildren,
Our Cuntry déereſt of all in danger ſtandes,
Nowto be ſpoyled, now, now made deſolate,
And by our ſelues aconqueſt t∞ enſue:
For giue once ſweye vnto the peoplesluſtes,
To ruſh f∞rthon, and ſtaye them not in time,
And as the ſtreame thatrowleth downe the hill,
So wil they headlong run with ragingthoughtes
From bloud to bloud, from miſchéefe vnto moe,
Toruine of the Realme, themſelues and all,
So giddie are thecommon peoples mindes,
So glad of change, more wauering then theSea,
Ye ſée (my Lordes) what ſtrength theſe Rebels haue
Whathugie number is aſſembled ſtill,
For though the traiterousfact, for which they roſe,
Be wrought and d∞ne,yet lodge they ſtill in féelde
So that how farre their furiesyet will ſtretch.
Great cauſe we haue to dread, that we mayſéeke
By preſent Battaile to repreſſe their power,

muſt we vſe to leuie force therfore,
For either they forthwithwill miſchéefe w∞rke,
Ortheir rebellious roares forthwith muſt ceaſe:
Theſe violentthinges may haue no laſting londe
Let vs therfore vſe this forpreſent helpe.
Perſwade by gentle ſpéech, and offergrace
With gifte of pardon ſaue vnto the cheefe.
And thatvpon condicion that forthwith
They yeelde the Captaines of theirenterpriſe,
To beare ſuch guerdon of their traiterous fact
Asmay be both due vengeance to themſelues,
And holeſome terrourto poſteritie.
This ſhall I think: flatter the greateſtparte,
That now are holden with deſire of home,
Wearied inféelde with colde of Winters nightes,
And ſome (no doubt)ſtriken with dread of Lawe
When this is once proclaimed, itſhall make
The Captaines to miſtruſt the multitude,
Whoſeſafetie bids them to betraye their heads,
And ſo much morebecauſe the raſcall routes,
In thinges of great and perilousattemptes,
Are neuer truſtie to the noble race.
And whilewe treat and ſtande on tearmes of grace
We ſhall both ſtaytheir furies rage the while,
And eke gaine time, whoſe onlyhelpe ſuffiſeth
Withouten warre to vanquiſhe Rebells power
Inthe meane while, make you in readines,
Such band 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 ſorte

ſkilliſh Rebelles, whome none other power,
But number makes tobe of dreadfull force,
With ſoddeine brunt may quickly beoppreſt,
And if this gentle meane of proffered grace
Withſtubborne hartes cannot ſo farre auaile
As to aſſwage theirdeſperate courages:
Then d∞I wiſh ſuch ſlaughter to be made,
As preſent age and ekepoſteritie
Maybe adrad with horrour of reuenge,
That iuſtly then ſhall ontheſe Rebelles fall:
This is my Lordes the ſumme of mineaduiſe.

Neitherthis caſe admittes debate at large,
And though it did: thisſpéeche that hath béene ſayde,
Hath well abridged the tale Iwould haue tolde:
Fully with Eubulusd∞I conſent
In all that he hath ſaide: and if the ſame
Toyou my Lordes, may ſéeme for beſt aduiſe,
I wiſh that itſhould ſtraight be put in vre.

MyLords than let vs preſently departe
And follow this that likethvs ſo well.

Ifeuer time to gaine a kingdome héere
Were offred man, now it isoffred me:
The Realme is reft both of their King and Quéene,
Theofſpring of the Prince is ſlaine and dead,
No iſſue nowremaines, the Heire vnknowne,
The People are in armes andmutinies,
The Nobles they are buſied how to ceaſe
Theſegreat rebellious tumultes and vproares.

BrittaineLand now deſerte left alone
Amid theſe broyles vncertainewhere to reſt,
Offers her ſelfe vnto that noble hart
thatwill or dare purſue to beare her Crowne:
Shall I that am theDuke of Albanye
Diſcendedfrom that line of noble bloud,
Which hath ſo long flouriſhedin w∞rthyfame
Of valiant hartes, ſuch as in noble Breaſts
Of rightſhould reſt aboue the baſer ſorte,
Refuſe to aduenture lifeto winne a Crowne?
Whom ſhall I finde enemies that willwithſtand
My fact héerin, if I attempt by Armes
To ſeekethe Fame now in theſe times of broyle,
Theſe Dukes power canhardly well appeaſe
The people that already are in Armes.
Butif perhaps my force be once in field,
Isnot my ſtrength in power aboue the beſt
Of all theſe Lordsnow left in Britaine land.
And though they ſhould match me withpower of men:
Yet doubtfull is the chaunce of battailesioyned,
If victors of the field we may depart,
Ours is theſcepter then of great Britaine,
Ifſlaine amid the plaine this bodie be,
Mine enemies yet ſhallnot denie me this,
But that I died giuing the noble charge
Tohazard life for conqueſt of a Crowne.
Forthwith therefore willI in poſt depart
To Albanye,and raiſe in armour there
All power I can: and here my ſecretefrends
By ſecrete practiſe ſhall ſollicite ſtill
Toſeeke to winne to me the peoples harts.

quintus. Scena ſecunda.

Clotyn.Mandud. Gwenard. Aroſtus. Nuntius.

OIoue,how are theſe peoples harts abuſde?
What blind furie thusheadlong carries them?
That though ſo many b∞kes,ſo many rolles
Of auncient time of record what greeuousplagues
Light on theſe Rebels aye, and though ſo oft
Theireares haue heard their aged fathers tell
What iuſt reward theſetraitours ſtill receiue.
Yea though themſelues haue ſeenedéepe death and bloud
By ſtrangling cord and ſlaughter of theſword
To ſuch aſſignde, yet can they not beware:
Yetcan they not ſtay their rebellious hands,
But ſuffering t∞fowle treaſon to diſtaine
Their wretched minds, forget theirloyall hart,
Reiect all truth, and riſe againſt theirprince,
A ruthfull caſe, that thoſe whom duties bound,
Whomgrafted Lawe by nature, truth and faith
Bound to preſerue theirCountry and their King,
Borne to defend their common welth andprince,
Euenthey ſhould giue conſent thus to ſubuert
TheBritaine land, and from the wombe ſhould bring
(O natiue ſoile)thoſe, that will néedes deſtroy
And ruine thee and ekethemſelues in fine:
For lo, when once the Duke had offeredGrace
Of pardon ſweet (the multitude miſled
By traiterousfraud of their vngratious heads)
One ſort that ſawe thedaungerous ſucceſſe

ſtubborne ſtanding in rebellious warre,
And knew thedifference of princes power,
From headles number of tumultuousroutes,
Whom common countries care and priuate feare
Taughtto repent the terrour of their rage,
Laid hands vpon theCaptaines of their band,
And brought them bound vnto the mightieDukes,
Another ſort not truſting yet ſo well
The truthof pardon, or miſtruſting more
Their owne offence then thatthey ſhould conceiue
Such hope of pardon for ſo fowlemiſdéede:
Or for that they their Captaines could notyéeld,
Who fearing to be yéelded fled before,
Stole homeby ſilence of the ſecrete night.
The third vnhappie andvnraged ſort
Of deſperate harts, who ſtaind in princesbloud,
From traiterous furour could not be withdrawne
Byloue, by lawe, by grace ne yet by feare,
By proffered life, neyet by threatened death,
With minds hopeles of life, dreadles ofdeath,
Careles of country, and aweles of God:
St∞debent to fight as Furies did them moue
With valiant death tocloſe their traiterous life:
Theſe all by power of horſemenwere oppreſt,
And with reuenging ſword ſlaine in thefield,
Or with the ſtrangling cord hangd on the trees,
Whereyet the carrien Carcaſes d∞proche
The fruits that rebels reape of their vproars,
Andof the murder of their ſacred prince,
But loe, where d∞approch the noble Dukes,
By whom theſe tumults haue béene thusappeaſde.

Ithinke the world will now at length beware
And feare to put onarmes againſt their prince.

Ifnot: thoſe traiterous harts that d∞rebell,
Let them behold the wide and hugie fields
Withbloud and bodie ſpred with rebels ſlaine,
The luſtie treesclothed with corpſes dead
That ſtrangled with the cord d∞hang therein.

Aiuſt reward ſuch as all times before
Haue euer lotted to thoſewretched folkes.

Butwhat meanes he that commeth here ſo faſt?

MyLords, as dutie and my troth doth m∞ue,
Andof my Country worke and care in me,
That if the ſpending of mybreath auaile
To d∞the ſeruice that my hart deſires,
I would not ſhun to imbracea preſent death,
So haue I now in that wherein I thought
Mytrauaile might perfourme ſome g∞deffect
Ventred my life to bring theſe tidings heere.
Fergusthe mightie Duke of Albany
Isnowe in armes, and lodgeth in the field
With twentie thouſandmen, hither he bends
His ſpéedie march, and minds to inuadethe crowne,
Daily he gathereth ſtrength, and ſpreadsabroad
That to this Realme no certaine heire remaines,
ThatBritaineland is left without a guide,
That he the ſcepter ſeekes, fornothing els

to preſerue the people and the land
Which now remaine as ſhippewithout a ſterne:
Loe this is that which I haue hereto ſaid.

Isthis his faith? and ſhall he falſly thus
Abuſe the vauntageof vnhappie times?
O wretched Land, if his outragious pride,
Hiscruell and vntempred wilfulnes,
His déepe diſſembling ſhewesof falſe pretence
Shouldonce attaine the Crowne of Britaine land,
Let vs my Lords, withtimely force reſiſt
The new attempt of this our common foe,
Aswe would quench the flames of common fire.

Thoughwe remaine without a certaine prince
To weeld the realme, orguide the wandring rule,
Yet now the common mother of vsall,
Our natiue lande, our country that containes
Ourwiues, children, kindred, our ſelues and all
That euer is ormay be deare to man,
Cries vnto vs to helpe our ſelues andher:
Let vs aduaunce our powers to repreſſe
This growingfoe of all our liberties.

Yealet vs ſo my Lords with haſtie ſpéede,
And ye (O Gods) ſendevs the welcome death,
To ſhed our bloud in field, and leaue vsnot
In lothſome life to linger out our liues,
To ſee thehugie heapes of theſe miſhaps,
That now roll downe vpon thewretched lande
Where emptie place of princely gouernaunce,

certaine ſtay now left of doubtles heire,
Thus leaue thisguideles realme an open pray
To endleſſe ſtormes and waſteof ciuill warre.

Thatye, my Lords, d∞ſo agrée in one
To ſaue your country from the violentraigne
And wrongfully vſurped tyrannie
Of him thatthreatens conqueſt of you all,
To ſaue your realme, and inthis realme your ſelues
From forraine thraldome of ſo proude aprince,
Much d∞I praiſe, and I beſeech the Gods
With happie honour to requiteit you.
But, O my Lords, ſith now the heauens wrath
Hathreft this lande the iſſue of their prince:
Sith of the bodieof our late ſoueraigne Lord
Remaines no mo, ſince the y∞ngkings be ſlaine,
And of the title of the deſcendedCrowne
Vncertainly the diuers mindes d∞thinke
Euen of the learned ſorte, and more vncertainlie
Willpartiall fancie and affection deeme:
But moſt vncertainly willclimbing pride
And hope of reigne withdraw from ſundrieparts
Thedoubtfull right and hopefull luſt to reigne,
When once thisnoble ſeruice is atchiued
For BrittaineLand the Mother of ye all,
When once ye haue with armed forcerepreſt,
The proud attempts of this AlbanianPrince,
That threatens thraldome to your Natiue Land,
Whenye ſhall vanquiſhers returne from feelde
And finde thePrincely ſtate an open pray,
to gréedy luſt and to vſurpingpower,

then (my Lordes) if euer kindely care
Of ancient honour of youraunceſtours,
Of preſent wealth and nobleſſe of yourſtockes:
Yea of the liues and ſafetie yet to come
Of yourdeere wiues, your Children and your ſelues
Might moue yournoble hartes with gentle ruthe,
Then, then haue pittie on thetorne eſtate,
Then helpe to ſalue the well neere hopelesſore
Which ye ſhall d∞,if you your ſelues withholde
The ſleaing knife from your ownemothers throate,
Her ſhall you ſaue, and you, and yours inher,
If ye ſhall all with one aſſent forbeare
Once tolay hand, or take vnto your ſelues,
The Crowne by colour ofpretended right:
Or by what other meanes ſo euer it be,
Tillfirſt by common counſell of you all
In Parliament the RegallDiadem,
Be ſet in certaine place of gouernaunce,
In whichyour Parliament and in your choiſe,
Preſer the right (myLordes) without reſpect
Of ſtrength of freendes, or whatſoeuercauſe
That may ſet forward any others parte,
For rightwill laſt, and wrong can not endure,
Right meane I his or hers,vpon whoſe name
The people reſt by meane of Natiue line,
Orby the vertue of ſome former Lawe,
Alreadie made their title toaduaunce:
Such one (my Lords) let be your choſen King,
Suchone ſo borne within your natiue Land
Suchone preferre, and in no wiſe admit,
The heauie yoake offorreine gouernaunce,
Let forreine titles yeelde to Publikewealth,
And with that hart wherwith ye now prepare
thus towithſtand the proude inuading foe,
With that ſame hart (myLordes) keepe out alſo
Vnnaturall thraldome of ſtrangersreigne,
Ne ſuffer you againſt the rules of kinde,
YourMother Land to ſerue a Forreine Prince,

Loeheere the end of Brutusroyall Line,
And loe the entrie to the wofull wrack
Andvtter ruine of this noble Realme.
the royall King, and eke hisSonnes are ſlaine,
No Ruler reſtes within the Regallſeate:
the Heire to whom the Scepter longes, vnknowen:
thatto the force of forreine Princes power,
Whome vauntage of yourwretched ſtate
By ſodaine Armes to gaine ſo riche aRealme,
And to the proude and gréedy minde at home
Whomeblinded luſt to reigne leades to aſpire,
Loe BrittaineRealme is left an open praye,
A preſent ſpoyle by Conqueſt toenſue,
Who ſeeeth not now how many riſing mindes
D∞feed their thoughts, with hope to reach a realme
And who willnot by force attempt to winne
So great a gaine that hopeperſwades to haue:
A ſimple colour ſhall for title ſerue,
Whowinnes the royall Crown will want no right
Nor ſuch as ſhalldiſplaye by long diſcent
A lyniall race to proue him ſelfe aKing,
In the meane while theſe cyuill armes ſhall rage,
Andthus a thouſand miſchéefes ſhall vnfolde

far and néere ſpread thee (O BrittaineLand)
All right and Law ſhall ceaſe, and he that had,
Nothingto daye, to morrow ſhall enioy
Great heapes of g∞d,and he that flowed in wealth,
Loe he ſhall be reft of life andall,
And happieſt he that then poſſeſſeth leath.
Thewiues ſhall ſuffer rape, the maidens defloured
And ChildrenFatherles ſhall weepe and waile:
With fier and Sw∞rdthy natiue folke ſhall periſhe,
One Kinſman ſhall bereaue anothers life,
The Father ſhall vnwitting ſlay the Sonne,
TheSonne ſhall ſlea the Sire and know it not:
Women and maidesthe cruell Souldiers Sw∞rd
Shallpearce to death, and ſillie Children loe
That playing in theſtreetes and feeldes are found,
By violent hand ſhall cloſetheir latter day.
Whome ſhall the fierce and bloudieSouldier
Reſerue to life, whome ſhall he ſpare fromdeath?
Euen thou (O wretched Mother) halfe aliue
Thou ſhaltbeholde thy deere and only Childe
Slaine with the ſw∞rdwhile he yet ſuckes thy breſt
Loe, giltles bloud ſhall thuseche where be ſhed:
Thus ſhall the waſted ſoyle yeelde f∞rthno fruite
But dearth and famine ſhall poſſeſſe theLand.
The Townes ſhall be conſumed and burnt with fier
Thepeopled Citties ſhall waxe deſolate,
And thou (O BrittaineLand) whilome in renowne,
Whilome in wealth and fame ſhalt thusbe torne.
Diſmembred thus, and thus be rent in twaine,
Thuswaſted and defaced, ſpoyled and deſtroyed:
Theſe be thefruits your cyuill warres will bring.
Héerto it comes whenKinges will not conſent,
To graue aduiſe, but follow wilfullwill:
This is the end, when in yong Princes hartes
Flatterypreuailes, and ſage rede hath no place:
Theſe are the plagues,when murder is the meane
To make new Heires vnto the RoyallCrowne.
Thus wreak the Gods when that y^emothers wrath
Nought but the bloud of her own childe mayſwage
Theſe miſcheefes ſpringes when rebells will ariſe,
Tow∞rkereuenge and iudge their Princes fact,
This,this enſues when noble men d∞faile
In loyall troth, and ſubiectes will be Kinges.
Andthis d∞thgrow, when loe vnto the Prince,
Whome death or ſodeyne hap oflife bereaues,
No certaine Heire remaines, ſuch certeintie
Asnot all only is the rightfull Heire,
But to the Realme is ſomade vnknowne to be
And troth therby veſted in ſubiectshartes,
to owe faith there, where right is knowen to reſt
Alas,in Parliament what hope can be,
When is of Parliament no hope atall,
Which though it be aſſembled by conſent,
Yet is itnot likely with conſent to end:
While eche one for him ſelfeor for his fréend
Againſt his foe, ſhall trauaile what hemay,
While now the ſtate left open to the man,
That ſhallwith greateſt force inuade the ſame,
Shall fill ambitiousmindes with gapinge hope:
When will they once with yeeldinghartes agree?
Or in the while, how shall the Realme be vſed?
No,no: then Parliament ſhould haue beene holden,

certaine Heires appointed to the Crowne
to ſtaye their title ofeſtabliſhed right:
And plant the people in obedience
Whileyet the Prince did liue, whoſe name and power
By lawfullSummons and authoritie
Might make a Parliament to be offorce,
And might haue ſet the Realme in quiet ſtaye:
Butnow (O happie man) what ſpéedy death
Depriues of life, ne isenforced to ſee
Theſe hugie miſcheefes and theſemiſeries,
Theſe cyuill warres, theſe murders and theſewronges,
Of Iuſtice, yet muſt Iouein fine reſtore,
This noble Crowne vnto the lawfull Heire:
Forright will alwaies liue, and riſe at length,
But wrong canneuer take deepe r∞teto laſt.

The ende of the Tragedie of King Gorboduc.