Nor.0002_SD

Document TypeSemi-diplomatic
CodeNor.0002
PrinterJohn Day
Typeprint
Year1570
PlaceLondon
Other editions:
  • semi-diplomatic
  • semi-diplomatic
  • diplomatic
  • diplomatic
  • diplomatic
  • modernised

TheTragidie of Ferrex and Porrex, ſet forth without addition oralteration but altogether as the ſame was ſhewed on ſtage beforethe Queenes Maieſtie, about nine yeares paſt, vz.the xviij. day of Ianuarie. 1561. by the gentlemen of the InnerTemple.Seen and allowed. &c.


❧ Imprintedat London by Iohn Daye, dwelling ouer Alderſgate.



¶The argument of the Tragedie.


Gorboducking of Brittaine, diuided his realme in his life time to his ſonnes,Ferrexand Porrex.The ſonnes fell to diſcention. The yonger killed the elder. Themother that more dearely loued the elder, for reuenge killed theyonger. The people moued with the crueltie of the fact, roſe inrebellion and ſlew both father and mother. The nobilitie aſſembledand moſt terribly deſtroyed the rebels. And afterwardes for want ofiſſue of the prince whereby the ſucceſſion of the crowne becamevncertaine, they fell to ciuill warre, in which both they and many ofof their iſſues were ſlaine, and the land for a long time almoſtdeſolate and miſerably waſted.



¶The P. to the Reader.


Wherethis Tragedie was for furniture of part of the grand Chriſtmaſſein the Inner Temple firſt written about nine yeares agoe by theright honourable Thomas now Lorde Buckherſt, and by T. Norton, andafter ſhewed before her Maieſtie, and neuer intended by the authorstherof to be publiſhed: yet one W. G. getting a copie therof at ſomeyongmans hand that lacked a little money and much diſcretion, in thelaſtgreat plage. an. 1565.about v. yeares paſt, while the ſaid Lord was out of England, andT. Norton farre out of London, and neither of themboth made priuie, put it forth excedingly corrupted: euen as if bymeanes of a broker for hire, he ſhould haue entiſed into his houſea faire maide and done her villanie, and after all to beſcratchedher face, torne her apparell, berayed and diſfigured her, and thenthruſt her out of dores diſhoneſted. In ſuch plight after longwandring ſhe came at length home to the ſight of her frendes whoſcant knew her but by a few tokens and markes remayning. They, theauthors I meane, though they were very much diſpleaſed that ſhe ſoranne abroad without leaue, whereby ſhe caught her ſhame, as manywantons do, yet ſeing the caſe as it is remedileſſe, haue forcommon honeſtie and ſhamefaſtneſſe new apparelled, trimmed, andattired her in ſuch forme as ſhe was before. In which better formeſince ſhe hath come to me, I haue harbored her for her frendes ſakeand her owne, and I do not dout her parentes the authors will not nowbe diſcontent that ſhe goe abroad among you good readers, ſo it bein honeſt companie. For ſhe is by my encouragement and othersſomewhat leſſe aſhamed of the diſhoneſtie done to her becauſeit was by fraude and force. If ſhe be welcome among you and gentlyenterteined, in fauor of the houſe from whenſe ſhe is deſcended,and of her owne nature courteouſly diſpoſed to offend no man, herfrendes will thanke you for it. If not, but that ſhe ſhall be ſtillreproched with her former miſſehap, or quarelled at by enuiousperſons, ſhe poore gentlewoman wil ſurely play Lucreces part, &of her ſelf die for ſhame, and I ſhall wiſhe that ſhe had tariedſtill at home with me, where ſhe was welcome: for ſhe did neuerput me to more charge, but this one poore blacke gowne lined withwhite that I haue now geuen her to goe abroad among you withall.



The names of the speakers.


Gorboduc,

King of great Brittaine.

Videna,

Queene and wife to king Gorboduc.

Ferrex,

elder ſonne to king Gorboduc.

Porrex,

yonger ſonne to king Gorboduc.

Cloyton,

Duke of Cornewall.

Fergus,

Duke of Albanye.

Mandud,

Duke of Loegris.

Gwenard,

Duke of Cumberland.

Eubulus,

Secretarie to the king.

Aroſtus,

a counſellor to the king.

Dordan,

acounſellor aſſigned by the king to his eldeſt ſonne Ferrex.

Philander,

a counſellor aſſigned by the king to his yongeſt ſonne Porrex.

Bothbeing of the olde kinges counſell before.

Hermon,

a paraſite remaining with Ferrex.

Tyndar,

a paraſite remaining with Porrex,

Nuntius,

a meſſenger of the elder brothers death.

Nuntius,

a meſſenger of Duke Fergusriſing in armes.

Marcella,

a lady of the Queenes priuie chamber.

Chorus,

foure auncient and ſage men of Brittaine.



¶The order of the domme ſhew before the firſt act, and theſignification therof.


¶Firſt the Muſicke of Violenze began to play, during which came invpon the ſtage ſixe wilde men clothed in leaues. Of whom the firſtbare in his necke a fagot of ſmall ſtickes, which they all bothſeuerally and together aſſayed 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 pluckingout all the other ſtickes one after an other did eaſely breakethem, the ſame being ſeuered: which being conioyned they had beforeattempted in vaine. After they had this done, they departed theſtage, and the Muſicke ceaſed. Hereby was ſignified, that a ſtateknit in vnitie doth continue ſtrong againſt all force. But beingdiuided, is eaſely deſtroyed. As befell vpon Duke Gorboduc diuidinghis land to his two ſonnes which he before held in Monarchie. Andvpon the diſcention of the brethren to whom it was diuided.



Actus

primus. Scena prima.


Viden.

Ferrex.


Viden.

Theſilent night, that bringes the quiet pawſe,

From

painefull trauailes of the wearie day,

Prolonges

my carefull thoughtes, and makes me blame

The

ſlowe Aurore,that ſo for loue or ſhame

Doth

long delay to ſhewe her bluſhing face,

And

now the day renewes my griefull plaint.


Ferrex.

Mygracious lady and my mother deare,

Pardon

my griefe for your ſo grieued minde,

To

aſke what cauſe tormenteth ſo your hart.


Viden.

Sogreat a wrong, and ſo vniuſt deſpite,

Without

all cauſe, againſt all courſe of kinde!


Ferrex.

Suchcauſeleſſe wrong and ſo vniuſt deſpite,

May

haue redreſſe, or at the leaſt, reuenge.


Viden.

Neither,my ſonne: ſuch is the froward will,

The

perſon ſuch, ſuch my miſſehappe and thine.


Ferrex.

Mineknow I none, but grief for your diſtreſſe.


Viden.

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

In

kinde a father, not in kindlineſſe.


Ferrex.

Myfather? why? I know nothing at all,

Wherein

I haue miſdone vnto his grace.


Viden.

Therefore,the more vnkinde to thee and mee.

For,

knowing well (my ſonne) the tender loue

That

I haue euer borne and beare to thee,

He

greued thereat, is not content alone,

To

ſpoile thee of my ſight my chiefeſt ioye,

But

thee, of thy birthright and heritage

Cauſeleſſe,

vnkindly, and in wrongfull wiſe,

Againſt

all lawe and right, he will bereaue:

Halfe

of his kingdome he will geue away.


Ferrex.

Towhom?


Viden.

Euento Porrexhis yonger ſonne,

Whoſe

growing pride I do ſo ſore ſuſpect,

That

being raiſed to equall rule with thee,

Mee

thinkes I ſee his enuious hart to ſwell,

Filled

with diſdaine and with ambicious hope,

The

end the Goddes do know, whoſe altars I

Full

oft haue made in vaine, of cattell ſlaine

To

ſend the ſacred ſmoke to heauens throne,

For

thee my ſonne, if thinges do ſo ſuccede,

As

now my ielous minde miſdemeth ſore.


Ferrex.

Madame,leaue care & carefull plaint for me,

Iuſt

hath my father bene to euery wight:

His

firſt vniuſtice he will not extend

To

me I truſt, that geue no cauſe therof:

My

brotherſ pride ſhall hurt him ſelfe, not me.


Viden.

Sograunt the Goddes: But yet thy father ſo

Hath

firmely fixed his vnmoued minde,

That

plaintes and prayers can no whit auaile,

For

thoſe haue I aſſaied, but euen this day,

He

will endeuour to procure aſſent

Of

all his counſell to his fonde deuiſe.


Ferrex.

Theiranceſtors from race to race haue borne

True

fayth to my forefathers and their ſeede:

I

truſt they eke will beare the like to me.


Viden.

Therereſteth all. But if they faile thereof,

And

if the end bring forth an ill ſucceſſe:

On

them and theirs the miſchiefe ſhall befall,

And

ſo I pray the Goddes requite it them,

And

ſo they will, for ſo is wont to be.

When

lordes, and truſted rulers vnder kinges,

To

pleaſe the preſent fancie of the prince,

With

wrong tranſpoſe the courſe of gouernance,

Murders,

miſchiefe, or ciuill ſword at length,

Or

mutuall treaſon, or a iuſt reuenge,

When

right ſucceding line returnes againe,

By

Iouesiuſt iudgement and deſerued wrath,

Bringes

them to cruell and reprochfull death,

And

rootes their names and kindredes from the earth.


Ferrex.

Mother,content you, you ſhall ſee the end.


Viden.

Theend? thy end I feare, Ioueend me firſt.


Actus

primus. Scena ſecunda.


Gorboduc.

Aroſtus.Philander. Eubulus.


Gorb.

Mylords, whoſe graue aduiſe & faithful aide,

Haue

long vpheld my honour and my realme,

And

brought me to this age from tender yeres,

Guidyng

ſo great eſtate with great renowme:

Nowe

more importeth mee, than erſt, to vſe

Your

fayth and wiſedome, whereby yet I reigne:

That

when by death my life and rule ſhall ceaſe,

The

kingdome yet may with vnbroken courſe,

Haue

certayne prince, by whoſe vndoubted right,

Your

wealth and peace may ſtand in quiet ſtay,

And

eke that they whome nature hath preparde,

In

time to take my place in princely ſeate,

While

in their fathers tyme their pliant youth

Yeldes

to the frame of ſkilfull gouernance,

Maye

ſo be taught and trayned in noble artes,

As

what their fathers which haue reigned before

Haue

with great fame deriued downe to them,

With

honour they may leaue vnto their ſeede:

And

not be thought for their vnworthy life,

And

for their lawleſſe ſwaruynge out of kinde,

Worthy

to loſe what lawe and kind them gaue:

But

that they may preſerue the common peace,

The

cauſe that firſt began and ſtill mainteines

The

lyneall courſe of kinges inheritance.

For

me, for myne, for you, and for the ſtate,

Where

of both I and you haue charge and care,

Thus

do I meane to vſe your wonted fayth

To

me and myne, and to your natiue lande.

My

lordes be playne without all wrie reſpect

Or

poyſonous craft to ſpeake in pleaſyng wiſe,

Leſt

as the blame of yll ſuccedyng thinges

Shall

light on you, ſo light the harmes alſo.


Aroſtus.

Yourgood acceptance ſo (moſt noble king)

Of

ſuche our faithfulneſſe as heretofore

We

haue employed in dueties to your grace,

And

to this realme whoſe worthy head you are,

Well

proues that neyther you miſtruſt at all,

Nor

we ſhall neede in boaſting wiſe to ſhewe,

Our

trueth to you, nor yet our wakefull care

For

you, for yours, and for our natiue lande.

Wherefore

(O kyng) I ſpeake as one for all,

Sithe

all as one do beare you egall faith:

Doubt

not to vſe our counſells and our aides,

Whoſe

honours, goods and lyues are whole auowed

To

ſerue, to ayde, and to defende your grace.


Gorb.

Mylordes, I thanke you all. This is the caſe.

Ye

know, the Gods, who haue the ſoueraigne care

For

kings, for kingdomes, and for common weales,

Gaue

me two ſonnes in my more luſty age.

Who

nowe in my decayeng yeres are growen

Well

towardes ryper ſtate of minde and ſtrength,

To

take in hande ſome greater princely charge.

As

yet they lyue and ſpende hopefull daies,

With

me and with their mother here in courte.

Their

age nowe aſketh other place and trade,

And

myne alſo doth aſke an other chaunge:

Theirs

to more trauaile, myne to greater eaſe.

Whan

fatall death ſhall ende my mortall life,

My

purpoſe iſ to leaue vnto them twaine

The

realme diuided into two ſondry partes:

The

one Ferrexmyne elder ſonne ſhall haue,

The

other ſhall the yonger Porrexrule.

That

both my purpoſe may more firmely ſtande,

And

eke that they may better rule their charge,

I

meane forthwith to place them in the ſame:

That

in my life they may both learne to rule,

And

I may ioy to ſee their ruling well.

This

is in ſumme, what I woulde haue ye wey:

Firſt

whether ye allowe my whole deuiſe,

And

thinke it good for me, for them, for you,

And

for our countrey, mother of vs all:

And

if ye lyke it, and allowe it well,

Then

for their guydinge and their gouernaunce,

Shew

forth ſuch meanes of circumſtance,

As

ye thinke meete to be both knowne and kept.

Loe,

this is all, now tell me your aduiſe.


Aros.

Andthis is much, and aſketh great aduiſe,

But

for my part, my ſoueraigne lord and kyng,

This

do I thinke. Your maieſtie doth know,

How

vnder you in iuſtice and in peace,

Great

wealth and honour, long we haue enioyed,

So

as we can not ſeeme with gredie mindes

To

wiſſhe for change of Prince or gouernaunce:

But

if we lyke your purpoſe and deuiſe,

Our

lyking muſt be deemed to proceede

Of

rightfull reaſon, and of heedefull care,

Not

for our ſelues, but for the common ſtate,

Sithe

our owne ſtate doth neede no better change:

I

thinke in all as erſt your Grace hath ſaide.

Firſte

when you ſhall vnlode your aged mynde

Of

heuye care and troubles manifolde,

And

laye the ſame vpon my Lordes your ſonnes,

Whoſe

growing yeres may beare the burden long,

And

long I pray the Goddes to graunt it ſo,

And

in your life while you ſhall ſo beholde

Their

rule, their vertues, and their noble deedes,

Suche

as their kinde behighteth to vs all,

Great

be the profites that ſhall growe therof,

Your

age in quiet ſhall the longer laſt.

Your

laſting age ſhalbe their longer ſtay,

For

cares of kynges, that rule as you haue ruled,

For

publique wealth and not for priuate ioye,

Do

waſt mannes lyfe, and haſten crooked age,

With

furrowed face and with enfeebled lymmes,

To

draw on creepyng death a ſwifter pace.

They

two yet yong ſhall beare the parted reigne

With

greater eaſe, than one, nowe olde, alone,

Can

welde the whole, for whom muche harder is

With

leſſened ſtrength the double weight to beare.

Your

eye, your counſell, and the graue regarde

Of

Father, yea of ſuch a fathers name,

Nowe

at beginning of their ſondred reigne,

When

is the hazarde of their whole ſucceſſe,

Shall

bridle ſo their force of youthfull heates,

And

ſo reſtreine the rage of inſolence,

Whiche

moſt aſſailes the yonge and noble minds,

And

ſo ſhall guide and traine in tempred ſtay

Their

yet greene bending wittes with reuerent awe,

As

now inured with vertues at the firſt,

Cuſtome

(O King) ſhall bring delightfulneſſe.

By

vſe of vertue, vice ſhall growe in hate,

But

if you ſo diſpoſe it, that the daye,

Which

endes your life, ſhall firſt begin their reigne,

Great

is the perill what will be the ende,

When

ſuch beginning of ſuch liberties

Voide

of ſuche ſtayes as in your life do lye,

Shall

leaue them free to randon of their will,

An

open praie to traiterous flatterie,

The

greateſt peſtilence of noble youthe.

Whiche

perill ſhalbe paſt, if in your life,

Their

tempred youthe with aged fathers awe,

Be

brought in vre of ſkilfull ſtayedneſſe.

And

in your life their liues diſpoſed ſo,

Shall

length your noble life in ioyfulneſſe.

Thus

thinke I that your grace hath wiſely thought,

And

that your tender care of common weale,

Hath

bred this thought, ſo to diuide your lande,

And

plant your ſonnes to beare the preſent rule,

While

you yet liue to ſee their rulinge well,

That

you may longer lyue by ioye therein.

What

furder meanes behouefull are and meete

At

greater leiſure may your grace deuiſe,

When

all haue ſaid, and when we be agreed

If

this be beſt to part the realme in twaine,

And

place your ſonnes in preſent gouernement.

Whereof

as I haue plainely ſaid my mynde,

So

woulde I here the reſt of all my Lordes.


Philand.

Inpart I thinke as hath bene ſaid before,

In

parte agayne my minde is otherwiſe,

As

for diuiding of this realme in twaine,

And

lotting out the ſame in egall partes,

To

either of my lordes your graces ſonnes,

That

thinke I beſt for this your realmes behofe,

For

profite and aduauncement of your ſonnes,

And

for your comforte and your honour eke.

But

ſo to place them, while your life do laſt,

To

yelde to them your royall gouernaunce,

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 bloudie ciuill fielde

Where

Morganſlaine did yeld his conquered parte

Vnto

his coſins ſworde in Camberland,

Conteineth

all that whilome did ſuffice

Three

noble ſonnes of your forefather Brute.

So

your two ſonnes, it maye ſuffice alſo.

The

moe, the ſtronger, if they gree in one.

The

ſmaller compaſſe that the realme doth holde,

The

eaſier is the ſwey thereof to welde,

The

nearer Iuſtice to the wronged poore,

The

ſmaller charge, and yet ynoughe for one.

And

whan the region is diuided ſo,

That

brethren be the lordes of either parte,

Such

ſtrength doth nature knit betwene them both,

In

ſondrie bodies by conioyned loue,

That

not as two, but one of doubled force,

Eche

is to other as a ſure defence.

The

nobleneſſe and glory of the one

Doth

ſharpe the courage of the others mynde,

With

vertuous enuie to contende for praiſe.

And

ſuche an egalneſſe hath nature made,

Betwene

the brethren of one fathers ſeede,

As

an vnkindly wrong it ſeemes to bee,

To

throwe the brother ſubiect vnder feete

Of

him, whoſe peere he is by courſe of kinde,

And

nature that did make this egalneſſe,

Ofte

ſo repineth at ſo great a wrong,

That

ofte ſhe rayſeth vp a grudginge griefe,

In

yonger brethren at the elders ſtate:

Wherby

both townes and kingdomes haue ben raſed,

And

famous ſtockes of royall bloud deſtroied:

The

brother, that ſhoulde be the brothers aide,

And

haue a wakefull care for his defence,

Gapes

for his death, and blames the lyngering yeres

That

draw not forth his ende with faſter courſe:

And

oft impacient of ſo longe delayes,

With

hatefull ſlaughter he preuentes the fates,

And

heapes a iuſt rewarde for brothers bloode,

With

endleſſe vengeaunce on his ſtocke for aye.

Suche

miſchiefes here are wiſely mette withall,

If

egall ſtate maye nouriſhe egall loue,

Where

none hath cauſe to grudge at others good.

But

nowe the head to ſtoupe beneth them bothe,

Ne

kinde, ne reaſon, ne good ordre beares.

And

oft it hath ben ſeene, where natures courſe

Hath

ben peruerted in diſordered wiſe,

When

fathers ceaſe to know that they ſhould rule,

The

children ceaſe to know they ſhould obey.

And

often ouerkindly tenderneſſe

Is

mother of vnkindly ſtubborneneſſe.

I

ſpeake not this in enuie or reproche,

As

if I grudged the glorie of your ſonnes,

Whoſe

honour I beſech the Goddes encreaſe:

Nor

yet as if I thought there did remaine,

So

filthie cankers in their noble breſtes,

Whom

I eſteeme (which is their greateſt praiſe)

Vndoubted

children of ſo good a kyng.

Onelie

I meane to ſhewe by certeine rules,

Whiche

kinde hath graft within the mind of man,

That

nature hath her ordre and her courſe,

Which

(being broken) doth corrupt the ſtate

Of

myndes and thinges, euen in the beſt of all.

My

lordes your ſonnes may learne to rule of you.

Your

owne example in your noble courte

Is

fitteſt guyder of their youthfull yeares.

If

you deſire to ſee ſome preſent ioye

By

ſight of their well rulynge in your lyfe,

See

them obey, ſo ſhall you ſee them rule,

Who

ſo obeyeth not with humbleneſſe

Will

rule with outrage and with inſolence.

Longe

maye they rule I do beſeche the Goddes,

But

longe may they learne, ere they begyn to rule.

If

kinde and fates woulde ſuffre, I would wiſſhe

Them

aged princes, and immortall kinges.

Wherfore

moſt noble kynge I well aſſent,

Betwene

your ſonnes that you diuide your realme,

And

as in kinde, ſo match them in degree.

But

while the Goddes prolong your royall life,

Prolong

your reigne: for therto lyue you here,

And

therfore haue the Goddes ſo long forborne

To

ioyne you to them ſelues, that ſtill you might

Be

prince and father of our common weale.

They

when they ſee your children ripe to rule,

Will

make them roume, and will remoue you hence,

That

yours in right enſuynge of your life

Maye

rightly honour your immortall name.


Eub.

Yourwonted true regarde of faithfull hartes,

Makes

me (O kinge) the bolder to preſume,

To

ſpeake what I conceiue within my breſt,

Although

the ſame do not agree at all

With

that which other here my lordes haue ſaid,

Nor

which your ſelfe haue ſeemed beſt to lyke.

Pardon

I craue, and that my wordes be demed

To

flowe from hartie zeale vnto your grace,

And

to the ſafetie of your common weale.

To

parte your realme vnto my lordes your ſonnes,

I

thinke not good for you, ne yet for them,

But

worſte of all for this our natiue lande,

Within

one land, one ſingle rule is beſt:

Diuided

reignes do make diuided hartes.

But

peace preſerues the countrey and the prince.

Suche

is in man the gredy minde to reigne,

So

great is his deſire to climbe alofte,

In

worldly ſtage the ſtatelieſt partes to beare,

That

faith and iuſtice and all kindly loue,

Do

yelde vnto deſire of ſoueraignitie,

Where

egall ſtate doth raiſe an egall hope

To

winne the thing that either wold attaine.

Your

grace remembreth how in paſſed yeres

The

mightie Brute,firſt prince of all this lande,

Poſſeſſed

the ſame and ruled it well in one,

He

thinking that the compaſſe did ſuffice,

For

his three ſonnes three kingdoms eke to make,

Cut

it in three, as you would now in twaine.

But

how much Brittiſh bloud hath ſince bene ſpilt,

To

ioyne againe the ſondred vnitie?

What

princes ſlaine before their timely houre?

What

waſt of townes and people in the lande?

What

treaſons heaped on murders and on ſpoiles?

Whoſe

iuſt reuenge euen yet is ſcarcely ceaſed,

Ruthefull

remembraunce iſ yet rawe in minde.

The

Gods forbyd the like to chaunce againe:

And

you (O king) geue not the cauſe therof.

My

Lord Ferrexyour elder ſonne, perhappes

Whome

kinde and cuſtome geues a rightfull hope

To

be your heire and to ſuccede your reigne,

Shall

thinke that he doth ſuffre greater wrong

Than

he perchaunce will beare, if power ſerue.

Porrex

the younger ſo vpraiſed in ſtate,

Perhappes

in courage will be rayſed alſo.

If

flatterie then, which fayles not to aſſaile

The

tendre mindes of yet vnſkilfull youth,

In

one ſhall kindle and encreaſe diſdaine,

And

enuie in the others harte enflame,

This

fire ſhall waſte their loue, their liues, their land,

And

ruthefull ruine ſhall deſtroy them both.

I

wiſhe not this (O kyng) ſo to befall,

But

feare the thing, that I do moſt abhorre.

Geue

no beginning to ſo dreadfull ende.

Kepe

them in order and obedience:

And

let them both by now obeying you,

Learne

ſuch behauiour as beſeemes their ſtate,

The

elder, myldeneſſe in his gouernaunce,

The

yonger, a yelding contentedneſſe.

And

kepe them neare vnto your preſence ſtill,

That

they reſtreyned by the awe of you,

May

liue in compaſſe of well tempred ſtaye,

And

paſſe the perilles of their youthfull yeares.

Your

aged life drawes on to febler tyme,

Wherin

you ſhall leſſe able be to beare

The

trauailes that in youth you haue ſuſteyned,

Both

in your perſones and your realmes defence.

If

planting now your ſonnes in furder partes,

You

ſende them furder from your preſent reach,

Leſſe

ſhall you know how they them ſelues demeane:

Traiterous

corrupters of their plyant youth,

Shall

haue vnſpied a muche more free acceſſe,

And

if ambition and inflamed diſdaine

Shall

arme the one, the other, or them both,

To

ciuill warre, or to vſurping pride,

Late

ſhall you rue, that you ne recked before.

Good

is I graunt of all to hope the beſt,

But

not to liue ſtill dreadleſſe of the worſt.

So

truſte the one, that the other be forſene.

Arme

not vnſkilfulneſſe with princely power.

But

you that long haue wiſely ruled the reignes

Of

royaltie within your noble realme,

So

holde them, while the Gods for our auayles

Shall

ſtretch the thred of your prolonged daies.

To

ſoone he clambe into the flaming carre,

Whoſe

want of ſkill did ſet the earth on fire.

Time

and example of your noble grace,

Shall

teach your ſonnes both to obey and rule,

When

time hath taught them, time ſhal make them place,

The

place that now is full: and ſo I pray

Long

it remaine, to comforte of vs all.


Gorboduc.

Itake your faithful harts in thankful part.

But

ſithe I ſee no cauſe to draw my minde,

To

feare the nature of my louing ſonnes,

Or

to miſdeme that enuie or diſdaine,

Can

there worke hate, where nature planteth loue:

In

one ſelfe purpoſe do I ſtill abide.

My

loue extendeth egally to both,

My

lande ſuffiſeth for them both alſo.

Humber

ſhall parte the marches of theyr realmes:

The

Sotherne part the elder ſhall poſſeſſe:

The

Notherne ſhall Porrexthe yonger rule:

In

quiet I will paſſe mine aged dayes,

Free

from the trauaile and the painefull cares,

That

haſten age vpon the worthieſt kinges.

But

leſt the fraude, that ye do ſeeme to feare,

Of

flattering tongues, corrupt their tender youth,

And

wrythe them to the wayes of youthfull luſt,

To

climyng pride, or to reuenging hate,

Or

to neglecting of their carefull charge,

Lewdely

to lyue in wanton reckleſſneſſe,

Or

to oppreſſing of the rightfull cauſe,

Or

not to wreke the wronges done to the poore,

To

treade downe truth, or fauour falſe deceite:

I

meane to ioyne to eyther of my ſonnes

Some

one of thoſe, whoſe long approued faith

And

wiſdome tryed, may well aſſure my harte:

That

mynyng fraude ſhall finde no way to crepe

Into

their fenſed eares with graue adiuſe.

This

is the ende, and ſo I pray you all

To

beare my ſonnes the loue and loyaltie

That

I haue founde within your faithfull breſtes.


Aroſtus.

You,nor your ſonnes, our ſoueraign lord ſhal want,

Our

faith and ſeruice while our liues do laſt.


Chorus.

Whenſettled ſtay doth holde the royall throne

In

ſtedfaſt place, by knowen and doubtles right,

And

chiefely when diſcent on one alone

Makes

ſingle and vnparted reigne to light:

Eche

chaunge of courſe vnioynts the whole eſtate,

And

yeldes it thrall to ruyne by debate.

The

ſtrength that knit by faſte accorde in one,

Againſt

all forrein power of mightie foes,

Could

of it ſelfe defende it ſelfe alone,

Diſioyned

once, the former force doth loſe.

The

ſtickes, that ſondred brake ſo ſoone in twaine,

In

faggot bounde attempted were in vaine.

Oft

tender minde that leades the parciall eye

Of

erring parentes in their childrens loue,

Deſtroyes

the wrongly loued childe therby.

This

doth the proude ſonne of Apolloproue,

Who

raſſhely ſet in chariot of his ſire,

Inflamed

the parched earth with heauens fire.

And

this great king, that doth deuide his land,

And

chaunge the courſe of his diſcending crowne,

And

yeldes the reigne into his childrens hande,

From

bliſfull ſtate of ioye and great renowne,

A

myrrour ſhall become to Princes all,

To

learne to ſhunne the cauſe of ſuche a fall.



¶The order and ſignification of the domme ſhew before the ſecondacte.


¶Firſt the Muſicke of Cornettes began to playe, during which came invpon the ſtage a King accompanied with a nombre of his nobilitie andgentlemen. And after he had placed him ſelf in a chaire of eſtateprepared for him: there came and kneled before him a graue and agedgentelman and offred vp a cuppe vnto him of wyne in a glaſſe, whichthe the King refuſed. After him commes a braue and luſtie yonggentleman and preſentes the King with a cup of golde filled withpoyſon, which the King accepted, and drinking the ſame, immediatlyfell downe dead vpon the the ſtage, and ſo was carried thence awayby his Lordes and gentelmen, and then the Muſicke ceaſed. Herebywas ſignified, that as glaſſe by nature holdeth no poyſon, but isclere and may eaſely be ſeen through, ne boweth by any arte: So afaythfull counſellour holdeth no treaſon, but is playne and open,ne yeldeth to any vndiſcrete affection, but geueth holſomecounſell, which the yll aduiſed Prince refuſeth. The delightfullgolde filled with poyſon betokeneth flattery, which vnder faireſeeming of pleaſaunt wordes beareth deadly poyſon, which deſtroyedthe Prince that receyueth it. As befell in the two brethren Ferrexand Porrex, who refuſing the holſome aduiſe of graue counſellours,credited theſe yong Paracites, and brought to them ſelues death anddeſtruction therby.



Actus

ſecundus. Scena prima.


Ferrex.

Hermon.Dordan.


Ferrex.

Imeruaile much what reaſon ledde the king

My

Father, thus without all my deſert,

To

reue me halfe the kingdome, which by courſe

Of

law and nature ſhould remayne to me.


Hermon.

Ifyou with ſtubborne and vntamed pryde

Had

ſtood againſt him in rebelling wiſe,

Or

if with grudging minde you had enuied

So

ſlow a ſlidyng of his aged yeres,

Or

ſought before your time to haſte the courſe

Of

fatall death vpon his royall head,

Or

ſtained your ſtocke with murder of your kyn:

Some

face of reaſon might perhaps haue ſeemed,

To

yelde ſome likely cauſe to ſpoyle ye thus.


Ferrex.

Thewrekeful Gods powre on my curſed head

Eternall

plagues and neuer dying woes,

The

helliſh prince, adiudge my dampned ghoſt

To

Tantalesthirſte, or proude Ixionswheele,

Or

cruell gripe to gnaw my growing harte,

To

during tormentes and vnquenched flames,

If

euer I conceyued ſo foule a thought,

To

wiſſhe his ende of life, or yet of reigne.


Dordan.

Neyet your father (O moſt noble Prince)

Did

euer thinke ſo fowle a thing of you.

For

he, with more than fathers tendre loue,

While

yet the fates do lende him life to rule,

(Who

long might lyue to ſee your ruling well)

To

you my Lorde, and to his other ſonne:

Lo

he reſignes his realme and royaltie:

Which

neuer would ſo wiſe a Prince haue done,

If

he had once miſdemed that in your harte

There

euer lodged ſo vnkinde a thought.

But

tendre loue (my Lorde) and ſetled truſte

Of

your good nature, and your noble minde,

Made

him to place you thus in royall throne,

And

now to geue you half his realme to guide,

Yea

and that halfe which in abounding ſtore

Of

things that ſerue to make a welthy realme,

In

ſtately cities, and in frutefull ſoyle,

In

temperate breathing of the milder heauen,

In

thinges of nedefull vſe, which frendly ſea,

Tranſportes

by traffike from the forreine partes,

In

flowing wealth, in honour and in force,

Doth

paſſe the double value of the parte,

That

Porrexhath allotted to his reigne.

Such

is your caſe, ſuch is your fathers loue.


Ferrex.

Ahloue, my frendes? loue wrongs not whom he loues.


Dordan.

Neyet he wrongeth you, that geueth you

So

large a reigne, ere that the courſe of time

Bring

you to kingdome by diſcended right,

Which

time perhaps might end your time before.


Ferrex.

Isthis no wrong, ſay you, to reaue from me

My

natiue right of halfe ſo great a realme?

And

thus to matche his yonger ſonne with me

In

egall power, and in as great degree?

Yea

and what ſonne? the ſonne whoſe ſwelling pride

Woulde

neuer yelde one poinct of reuerence,

Whan

I the elder and apparaunt heire

Stoode

in the likelihode to poſſeſſe the whole,

Yea

and that ſonne which from his childiſh age

Enuieth

myne honour and doth hate my life.

What

will he now do, when his pride, his rage,

The

mindefull malice of his grudging harte,

Is

armed with force, with wealth, and kingly ſtate?


Hermon.

Wasthis not wrong, yea yll aduiſed wrong,

To

giue ſo mad a man ſo ſharpe a ſworde,

To

ſo great perill of ſo great miſſehappe,

Wide

open thus to ſet ſo large a waye?


Dordan.

Alasmy Lord, what griefull thing is this,

That

of your brother you can thinke ſo ill?

I

neuer ſaw him vtter likelie ſigne,

Whereby

a man might ſee or once miſdeme

Such

hate of you, ne ſuch vnyelding pride.

Ill

is their counſell, ſhamefull be their ende,

That

rayſing ſuch miſtruſtfull feare in you,

Sowing

the ſeede of ſuch vnkindly hate,

Trauaile

by treaſon to deſtroy you both.

Wiſe

iſ your brother, and of noble hope,

Worthie

to welde a large and mightie realme.

So

much a ſtronger frende haue you therby,

Whoſe

ſtrength is your ſtrength, if you gree in one.


Hermon.

Ifnature and the Goddes had pinched ſo

Their

flowing bountie, and their noble giftes

Of

princelie qualities, from you my Lorde,

And

powrde them all at ones in waſtfull wiſe

Upon

your fathers yonger ſonne alone:

Perhappes

there be that in your preiudice

Would

ſay that birth ſhould yeld to worthineſſe.

But

ſithe in eche good gift and princelie arte

Ye

are his matche, and in the chiefe of all

In

mildeneſſe and in ſobre gouernaunce

Ye

farre ſurmount: And ſith there is in you

Sufficing

ſkill and hopefull towardneſſe

To

weld the whole, and match your elders prayſe:

I

ſee no cauſe why ye ſhould looſe the halfe.

Ne

would I wiſſhe you yelde to ſuch a loſſe:

Leſt

your milde ſufferaunce of ſo great a wronge,

Be

deemed cowardiſhe and ſimple dreade:

Which

ſhall geue courage to the fierie head

Of

your yonge brother to inuade the whole.

While

yet therfore ſtickes in the peoples minde

The

lothed wrong of your diſheritaunce,

And

ere your brother haue by ſettled power,

By

guile full cloke of an alluring ſhowe,

Got

him ſome force and fauour in the realme,

And

while the noble Queene your mother lyues,

To

worke and practiſe all for your auaile,

Attempt

redreſſe by armes, and wreake your ſelf

Upon

his life, that gayneth by your loſſe,

Who

nowe to ſhame of you, and griefe of vs,

In

your owne kingdome triumphes ouer you.

Shew

now your courage meete for kingly ſtate,

That

they which haue auowed to ſpend theyr goods,

Their

landes, their liues and honours in your cauſe,

May

be the bolder to mainteyne your parte,

When

they do ſee that cowarde feare in you,

Shall

not betray ne faile their faithfull hartes.

If

once the death of Porrexende the ſtrife,

And

pay the price of his vſurped reigne,

Your

mother ſhall perſwade the angry kyng,

The

Lords your frends eke ſhall appeaſe his rage.

For

they be wiſe, and well they can forſee,

That

ere longe time your aged fathers death

Will

bryng a time when you ſhall well requite

Their

frendlie fauour, or their hatefull ſpite,

Yea,

or their ſlackeneſſe to auaunce your cauſe.

Wiſe

men do not ſo hang on paſſing ſtate

Of

preſent Princes, chiefely in their age,

But

they will further caſt their reaching eye,

To

viewe and weye the times and reignes to come.

Ne

is it likely, though the kyng be wrothe,

That

he yet will, or that the realme will beare,

Extreme

reuenge vpon his onely ſonne.

Or

if he woulde, what one is he that dare

Be

miniſter to ſuch an enterpriſe?

And

here you be now placed in your owne,

Amyd

your frendes, your vaſſalles and your ſtrength.

We

ſhall defende and kepe your perſon ſafe,

Till

either counſell turne his tender minde,

Or

age, or ſorrow end his werie dayes.

But

if the feare of Goddes, and ſecrete grudge

Of

natures law, repining at the fact,

Withholde

your courage from ſo great attempt:

Know

ye, that luſt of kingdomes hath no law.

The

Goddes do beare and well allow in kinges,

The

thinges they abhorre in raſcall routes.

When

kinges on ſlender quarrells runne to warres,

And

then in cruell and vnkindely wiſe,

Commaund

theftes, rapes, murders of innocentes,

The

ſpoile of townes, ruines of mighty realmes:

Thinke

you ſuch princes do ſuppoſe them ſelues

Subiect

to lawes of kinde, and feare of Gods?

Murders

and violent theftes in priuate men,

Are

hainous crimes and full of foule reproch,

Yet

none offence, but deckt with glorious name

Of

noble conqueſtes, in the handes of kinges.

But

if you like not yet ſo hote deuiſe,

Ne

liſt to take ſuch vauntage of the time,

But

though with perill of your owne eſtate,

You

will not be the firſt that ſhall inuade:

Aſſemble

yet your force for your defence,

And

for your ſafetie ſtand vpon your garde.


Dordan.

Oheauen was there euer heard or knowen,

So

wicked counſell to a noble prince?

Let

me (my Lorde) diſcloſe vnto your grace

This

hainous tale, what miſchiefe it containes,

Your

fathers death, your brothers and your owne,

Your

preſent murder and eternall ſhame.

Heare

me (O King) and ſuffer not to ſinke

So

high a treaſon in your princely breſt.


Ferrex.

Themightie Goddes forbid that euer I

Should

once conceaue ſuch miſchiefe in my hart.

Although

my brother hath bereft my realme,

And

beare perhappes to me an hatefull minde:

Shall

I reuenge it, with his death therefore?

Or

ſhall I ſo deſtroy my fathers life

That

gaue me life? the Gods forbid, I ſay.

Ceaſe

you to ſpeake ſo any more to me.

Ne

you my frend with anſwere once repeate

So

foule a tale. In ſilence let it die.

What

lord or ſubiect ſhall haue hope at all,

That

vnder me they ſafely ſhall enioye

Their

goods, their honours, landes and liberties,

With

whom, neither one onely brother deare,

Ne

father dearer, could enioye their liues?

But

ſith, I feare my yonger brothers rage,

And

ſith perhappes ſome other man may geue

Some

like aduiſe, to moue his grudging head

At

mine eſtate, which counſell may perchaunce

Take

greater force with him, than this with me,

I

will in ſecrete ſo prepare my ſelfe,

As

if his malice or his luſt to reigne

Breake

forth in armes or ſodeine violence,

I

may withſtand his rage and keepe mine owne.


Dordan.

Ifeare the fatall time now draweth on,

When

ciuil hate ſhall end the noble line

Of

famous Bruteand of his royall ſeede.

Great

Iouedefend the miſchiefes now at hand.

O

that the Secretaries wiſe aduiſe

Had

erſt bene heard when he beſought the king

Not

to diuide his land, nor ſend his ſonnes

To

further partes from preſence of his court,

Ne

yet to yelde to them his gouernaunce.

Lo

ſuch are they now in the royall throne

As

was raſhe Phaetonin Phebuscarre.

Ne

then the fiery ſtedes did draw the flame

With

wilder randon through the kindled ſkies,

Than

traitorous counſell now will whirle about

The

youthfull heades of theſe vnſkilfull kinges.

But

I hereof their father will enforme.

The

reuerence of him perhappes ſhall ſtay

The

growing miſchiefes, while they yet are greene.

If

this helpe not, then woe vnto them ſelues,

The

prince, the people, the diuided land.


Actus

ſecundus. Scena ſecunda.


Porrex.

Tyndar. Philander.


Porrex.

Andis it thus? And doth he ſo prepare,

Againſt

his brother as his mortall foe?

And

now while yet his aged father liues?

Neither

regardes he him? nor feares he me?

Warre

would he haue? and he ſhall haue it ſo.


Tyndar.

Iſaw my ſelfe the great prepared ſtore

Of

horſe, of armour, and of weapon there,

Ne

bring I to my lorde reported tales

Without

the ground of ſeen and ſearched trouth.

Loe

ſecrete quarrels runne about his court,

To

bring the name of you my lorde in hate.

Ech

man almoſt can now debate the cauſe,

And

aſke a reaſon of ſo great a wrong,

Why

he ſo noble and ſo wiſe a prince,

Is

as vnworthy reft his heritage?

And

why the king, miſſeledde by craftie meanes,

Diuided

thus his land from courſe of right?

The

wiſer ſort holde downe their griefull heades.

Eche

man withdrawes from talke and company,

Of

thoſe that haue bene knowne to fauour you.

To

hide the miſchiefe of their meaning there,

Rumours

are ſpread of your preparing here.

The

raſcall numbers of vnſkilfull ſort

Are

filled with monſtrous tales of you and yours.

In

ſecrete I was counſelled by my frendes,

To

haſt me thence, and brought you as you know

Letters

from thoſe, that both can truely tell,

And

would not write vnleſſe they knew it well.


Philand.

Mylord, yet ere you moue vnkindly warre,

Send

to your brother to demaund the cauſe.

Perhappes

ſome traitorous tales haue filled his eares

With

falſe reportes againſt your noble grace:

Which

once diſcloſed, ſhall end the growing ſtrife,

That

els not ſtayed with wiſe foreſight in time

Shall

hazarde both your kingdomes and your liues.

Send

to your father eke, he ſhall appeaſe

Your

kindled mindes, and rid you of this feare.


Porrex.

Riddeme of feare? I feare him not at all:

Ne

will to him, ne to my father ſend.

If

danger were for one to tary there,

Thinke

ye it ſafetie to returne againe?

In

miſchiefes, ſuch as Ferrexnow intendes,

The

wonted courteous lawes to meſſengers

Are

not obſerued, which in iuſt warre they vſe.

Shall

I ſo hazard any one of mine?

Shall

I betray my truſty frendes to him,

That

haue diſcloſed his treaſon vnto me?

Let

him entreate that feares, I feare him not.

Or

ſhall I to the king my father ſend?

Yea

and ſend now, while ſuch a mother liues,

That

loues my brother, and that hateth me?

Shall

I geue leaſure, by my fonde delayes,

To

Ferrexto oppreſſe me all vnware?

I

will not, but I will inuade his realme,

And

ſeeke the traitour prince within his court.

Miſchiefe

for miſchiefe is a due reward.

His

wretched head ſhall pay the worthy price

Of

this his treaſon and his hate to me.

Shall

I abide, and treate, and ſend and pray,

And

holde my yelden throate to traitours knife?

While

I with valiant minde and conquering force,

Might

rid my ſelfe of foes: and winne a realme?

Yet

rather, when I haue the wretches head,

Then

to the king my father will I ſend.

The

booteleſſe caſe may yet appeaſe his wrath:

If

not, I will defend me as I may.


Philand.

Lohere the end of theſe two youthful kings,

The

fathers death, the ruine of their realmes.

O

moſt vnhappy ſtate of counſellers,

That

light on ſo vnhappy lordes and times,

That

neither can their good aduiſe be heard,

Yet

muſt they beare the blames of ill ſucceſſe.

But

I will to the king their father haſte,

Ere

this miſchiefe come to the likely end,

That

if the mindfull wrath of wrekefull Gods,

Since

mightie Ilionsfall not yet appeaſed

With

theſe poore remnantes of the Troian name,

Haue

not determined by vnmoued fate

Out

of this realme to raſe the Brittiſhe line,

By

good aduiſe, by awe of fathers name,

By

force of wiſer lordes, this kindled hate

May

yet be quentched, ere it conſume vs all.


Chorus.

Whenyouth not bridled with a guiding ſtay

Is

left to randon of their owne delight,

And

welds whole realmes, by force of ſoueraign ſway,

Great

is the daunger of vnmaiſtred might,

Leſt

ſkilleſſe rage throwe downe with headlong fall

Their

lands, their ſtates, their liues, them ſelues & al.

When

growing pride doth fill the ſwelling breſt,

And

gredy luſt doth rayſe the climbing minde,

Oh

hardlie maye the perill be repreſt,

Ne

feare of angrie Goddes, ne lawes kinde.

Ne

countries care can fiered hartes reſtrayne,

Whan

force hath armed enuie and diſdaine.

When

kinges of foreſettewill neglect the rede

Of

beſt aduiſe, and yelde to pleaſing tales,

That

do their fanſies noyſome humour feede,

Ne

reason, nor regarde of right auailes.

Succeding

heapes of plagues ſhall teach to late,

To

learne the miſchiefes of miſguided ſtate.

Fowle

fall the traitour falſe, that vndermines

The

loue of brethren to deſtroye them both.

Wo

to the prince, that pliant eareenclynes,

And

yeldes his mind to poyſonous tale, that floweth

From

flattering mouth. And woe to wretched land

That

waſtes it ſelfe with ciuil ſworde in hand.

Loe,

thus it is, poyſon in golde to take,

And

holſome drinke in homely cuppe forſake.



¶The order and ſignification of the domme ſhewe before the thirdeact.


¶Firſte the muſicke of flutes began to playe, during which came invpon the ſtage a company of mourners all clad in blacke betokeningdeath and ſorowe to enſue vpon the ill aduiſed miſgouernement anddiſcention of bretherne, as befell vpon the murderer of Ferrex byhis yonger brother. After the mourners had paſſed thryſe about theſtage, they departed, and than the muſicke ceaſed.


Actus

tertius. Scena prima.


Gorboduc.

Eubulus. Aroſtus. Philander. Nuntius.


Gorb:

Ocruel fates, O mindful wrath of Goddes,

Whoſe

vengeance neither Simoisſtayned ſtreames

Flowing

with bloud of Troianprinces ſlaine,

Nor

Phrygianfieldes made ranck with corpſes dead

Of

Aſiankynges and lordes, can yet appeaſe,

Ne

ſlaughter of vnhappie Pryamsrace,

Nor

Ilionsfall made leuell with the ſoile.

Can

yet ſuffice: but ſtill continued rage

Purſues

our lynes, and from the fartheſt ſeas

Doth

chaſe the iſſues of deſtroyed Troye.

Oh

no man happie, till his ende be ſeene.

If

any flowing wealth and ſeemyng ioye

In

preſent yeres might make a happy wight,

Happie

was Hecubathe wofulleſt wretch

That

euer lyued to make a myrrour of,

And

happie Pryamwith his noble ſonnes.

And

happie I, till nowe alas I ſee

And

feele my moſt vnhappye wretchedneſſe.

Beholde

my lordes, read ye this letter here.

Loe

it conteins the ruine of our realme,

If

timelie ſpeede prouide not haſtie helpe.

Yet

(O ye Goddes) if euer wofull kyng

Might

moue ye kings of kinges, wreke it on me

And

on my ſonnes, not on this giltleſſe realme.

Send

down your waſting flames from wrathful ſkies,

To

reue me and my ſonnes the hatefull breath.

Read,

read my lordes: this iſ the matter why

I

called ye nowe to haue your good aduyſe.


The letter from Dordanthe Counſellour of the elder prince.


Eubulus

readeth the letter.


MY

ſoueraigne lord, what I am loth to write,

But

lotheſt am to ſee, that I am forced

By

letters nowe to make you vnderſtande.

My

lord Ferrexyour eldeſt ſonne miſledde

By

traitorous fraude of yong vntempred wittes,

Aſſembleth

force agaynſt your yonger ſonne,

Ne

can my counſell yet withdrawe the heate

And

furyous panges of hys enflamed head.

Diſdaine

(ſayth he) of his diſheritance

Armes

him to wreke the great pretended wrong,

With

ciuyll ſword vpon his brothers life.

If

preſent helpe do not reſtraine this rage,

This

flame will waſt your ſonnes, your land, & you.

Yourmaieſties faithfull and moſt humble ſubiect Dordan.


Aroſtus.

Oking, appeaſe your griefe and ſtay your plaint.

Great

is the matter, and a wofull caſe.

But

timely knowledge may bring timely helpe.

Sende

for them both vnto your preſence here.

The

reuerence of your honourage, and ſtate,

Your

graue aduice, the awe of fathers name,

Shall

quicklie knit agayne this broken peace.

And

if in either of my lordes your ſonnes,

Be

ſuche vntamed and vnyelding pride,

As

will not bende vnto your noble heſtes:

If

Ferrexthe elder ſonne can beare no peere,

Or

Porrexnot content, aſpires to more

Than

you him gaue aboue his natiue right:

Ioyne

with the iuſter ſide, ſo ſhall you force

Them

to agree, and holde the lande in ſtay.


Eub.

Whatmeaneth this? Loe yonder comes in haſt

Philander

from my lord your yonger ſonne.


Gorb.

TheGoddes ſende ioyfull newes.


Phil.

Themightie Ioue

Preſerue

your maieſtie, O noble king.


Gorb.

Philander,welcome: but how doth my ſonne?


Phil.

Yourſonne, ſir, lyues, and healthie I him left.

But

yet (O king) the want of luſtfull health

Could

not be halfe ſo griefefull to your grace,

As

theſe moſt wretched tidynges that I bryng.


Gorb.

Oheauens, yet more? not ende of woes to me?


Phil.

Tyndar,O king, came lately from the court

Of

Ferrex,to my lord your yonger ſonne,

And

made reporte of great prepared ſtore

For

warre, and ſayth that it is wholly ment

Agaynſt

Porrex,for high diſdayne that he

Lyues

now a king and egall in degree

With

him, that claimeth to ſuccede the whole,

As

by due title of diſcending right.

Porrex

is nowe ſo ſet on flaming fire,

Partely

with kindled rage of cruell wrath,

Partely

with hope to gaine a realme thereby,

That

he in haſt prepareth to inuade

His

brothers land, and with vnkindely warre

Threatens

the murder of your elder ſonne,

Ne

could I him perſwade that firſt he ſhould

Send

to his brother to demaunde the cauſe,

Nor

yet to you to ſtaie this hatefull ſtrife.

Wherfore

ſithe there no more I can be hearde,

I

come my ſelfe now to enforme your grace,

And

to beſeche you, as you loue the life

And

ſafetie of your children and your realme,

Now

to employ your wiſdome and your force

To

ſtay this miſchiefe ere it be to late.


Gorb.

Arethey in armes? would he not ſende to me?

Is

this the honour of a fathers name?

In

vaine we trauaile to aſſwage their mindes,

As

if their hartes, whome neither brothers loue,

Nor

fathers awe, nor kingdomes cares, can moue,

Our

counſels could withdraw from raging heat.

Ioue

ſlay them both, and end the curſed line.

For

though perhappes feare of ſuch mightie force

As

I my lordes, ioyned with your noble aides,

Maye

yet raiſe, ſhall repreſſe their preſent heate,

The

ſecret grudge and malice will remayne,

The

fire not quenched, but kept in cloſe reſtraint,

Fedde

ſtill within, breakes forth with double flame.

Their

death and myne muſt peaze the angrie Gods


Phil.

Yeldenot, O king, ſo much to weake diſpeire.

Your

ſonnes yet lyue, and long I truſt, they ſhall.

If

fates had taken you from earthly life,

Before

beginning of this ciuyll ſtrife:

Perhaps

your ſonnes in their vnmaiſtered youth,

Looſe

from regarde of any lyuing wight,

Would

runne on headlong, with vnbridled race,

To

their owne death and ruine of this realme.

But

ſith the Gods, that haue the care for kinges,

Of

thinges and times diſpoſe the order ſo,

That

in your life this kindled flame breakes forth,

While

yet your lyfe, your wiſdome, and your power.

May

ſtay the growing miſchiefe, and repreſſe

The

fierie blaze of their inkindled heate:

It

ſeemes, and ſo ye ought to deeme thereof,

That

louyng Iouehath tempred ſo the time

Of

this debate to happen in your dayes,

That

you yet lyuing may the ſame appeaze,

And

adde it to the glory of your latter age,

And

they our ſonnes may learne to liue in peace.

Beware

(O king) the greateſt harme of all,

Leſt

by your waylefull plaints your haſtened death

Yelde

larger roume vnto their growing rage.

Preſerue

your life, the onely hope of ſtay.

And

if your highnes herein liſt to vſe

Wiſdome

or force, counſell or knightly aide:

Loe

we, our perſons, powers and lyues are yours,

Vſe

vs tyll death, O king, we are your owne.


Eub.

Loehere the perill that was erſt foreſene,

When

you, (O king) did firſt deuide your lande,

And

yelde your preſent reigne vnto your ſonnes,

But

now (O noble prince) now is no time

To

waile and plaine, and waſt your wofull life.

Now

is the time for preſent good aduiſe.

Sorow

doth darke the iudgement of the wytte.

The

hart vnbroken and the courage free

From

feble faintneſſe of booteleſſe deſpeire,

Doth

either ryſe to ſafetie or renowme

By

noble valure of vnuanquiſht minde,

Or

yet doth periſhe in more happy ſort.

Your

grace may ſend to either of your ſonnes

Some

one both wiſe and noble perſonage,

Which

with good counſell and with weightie name,

Of

father, ſhall preſent before their eyes

Your

heſt, your life, your ſafetie and their owne,

The

preſent miſchiefe of their deadly ſtrife.

And

in the while, aſſemble you the force

Which

your commaundement and the ſpedy haſt

Of

all my lordes here preſent can prepare.

The

terrour of your mightie power ſhall ſtay

The

rage of both, or yet of one at leſt.


Nun.

Oking the greateſt griefe that euer prince dyd heare,

That

euer wofull meſſenger did tell,

That

euer wretched lande hath ſene before,

I

bryng to you. Porrexyour yonger ſonne

With

ſoden force, inuaded hath the lande

That

you to Ferrexdid allotte to rule,

And

with his owne moſt bloudy hand he hath

His

brother ſlaine, and doth poſſeſſe his realme.


Gorb.

Oheauens ſend down the flames of your reuenge,

Deſtroy

I ſay with flaſh of wrekefull fier

The

traitour ſonne, and then the wretched ſire.

But

let vs go, that yet perhappes I may

Die

with reuenge, and peaze the hatefull gods.


Chor.

Theluſt of kingdome knowes no ſacred faith,

No

rule of reaſon, no regarde of right,

No

kindely loue, no feare of heauens wrath:

But

with contempt of Goddes, and mans deſpite,

Through

blodie ſlaughter, doth prepare the waies

To

fatall ſcepter and accurſed reigne.

The

ſonne ſo lothes the fathers lingering daies,

Ne

dreades his hand in brothers blode to ſtaine.

O

wretched prince, ne doeſt thou yet recorde

The

yet freſh murthers done within the lande

Of

thy forefathers, when the cruell ſworde

Bereft

Morganhis life with coſyns hand?

Thus

fatall plagues purſue the giltie race,

Whoſe

murderous hand imbrued with giltleſſe blood

Askes

vengeaunce ſtill before the heauens face,

With

endleſſe miſchiefes on the curſed broode.

The

wicked childe thus bringes to wofull ſire

The

mournefull plaintes, to waſt his very life.

Thus

do the cruell flames of ciuyll fier

Deſtroy

the parted reigne with hatefull ſtrife.

And

hence doth ſpring the well from which doth flow

The

dead black ſtreames of mourning, plaints & woe.



¶The order and ſignification of the domme ſhew before the fourthact.


¶Firſt the muſick of Howboies began to plaie, during which therecame from vnder the ſtage, as though out of hell three furies.Alecto, Megera, and Cteſiphone, clad in black garmentes ſprinkledwith bloud and flames, their bodies girt with ſnakes, their hedsſpred with ſerpentes in ſtead of heare, the one bearing in herhand a Snake, the other a Whip, and the third a burning Firebrand:ech driuing before them a king and a queene, which moued by furiesvnnaturally had ſlaine their owne children. The names of the kingsand queenes were theſe. Tantalus, Medea, Athamas, Ino, Cambiſes,Althea, after that the furies and theſe had paſſed about the ſtagethriſe, they departed and than the muſicke ceaſed: hereby wasſignified the vnnaturall murders to follow, that is to ſay. Porrexſlaine by his owne mother. And of king Gorboduc and queene Viden,killed by their owne ſubiectes.



Actus

quartus. Scena prima.


Viden

ſola.


Vid.

Whyſhould I lyue, and linger forth my time

In

longer life to double my diſtreſſe?

O

me moſt wofull wight, whom no miſhappe

Long

ere this day could haue bereued hence.

Mought

not theſe handes by fortune, or by fate,

Haue

perſt this breſt, and life with iron reft?

Or

in this palace here, where I ſo long

Haue

ſpent my daies, could not that happie houre

Once,

once haue hapt in which theſe hugie frames

With

death by fall might haue oppreſſed me?

Or

ſhould not this moſt hard and cruell ſoile,

So

oft where I haue preſt my wretched ſteps,

Sometime

had ruthe of myne accurſed life,

To

rende in twayne ſwallow me therin?

So

had my bones poſſeſſed now in peace

Their

happie graue within the cloſed grounde,

And

greadie wormes had gnawen this pyned hart

Without

my feeling payne: ſo ſhould not now

This

lyuing breſt remayne the ruthefull tombe,

Wherein

my hart yelden to death is graued:

Nor

driery thoughtſ with panges of pining griefe

My

dolefull minde had not afflicted thus.

O

my beloued ſonne: O my ſwete childe,

My

deare Ferrex,my ioye, my lyues delyght.

Is

my beloued ſonne, is my ſweete childe,

My

deare Ferrex,my ioye, my lyues delight.

Murdered

with cruell death? O hatefull wretch,

O

heynous traitour both to heauen and earth.

Thou

Porrex,thou this damned dede haſt wrought,

Thou

Porrex,thou ſhalt dearely bye the ſame.

Traitour

to kinne and kinde, to ſire and me,

To

thine owne fleſhe, and traitour to thy ſelfe.

The

Gods on thee in hell ſhall wreke their wrath,

And

here in earth this hand ſhall take reuenge,

On

thee Porrex,thou falſe and caitife wight.

If

after bloud, ſo eigre were thy thirſt,

And

murderous minde had ſo poſſeſſed thee,

If

ſuch hard hart of rocke and ſtonie flint

Liued

in thy breſt, that nothing els could like

Thy

cruell tyrantes thought but death and bloud:

Wilde

ſauage beaſts, mought not their ſlaughter ſerue

To

fede thy gredie will, and in the middeſt

Of

their entrailes to ſtaine thy deadly handes

With

bloud deſerued, and drinke thereof thy fill?

Or

if nought els but death and bloud of man

Mought

pleaſe thy luſt, could none in Brittaine land,

Whoſe

hart betorne out of his panting breſt

With

thine owne hand, or worke what death thou wouldeſt,

Suffice

to make a ſacrifice to peaze

That

deadly minde and murderous thought in thee?

But

he who in the ſelfe ſame wombe was wrapped,

Where

thou in diſmall hower receiuedſt life?

Or

if nedes, nedes, thy hand muſt ſlaughter make,

Moughteſt

thou not haue reached a mortall wound,

And

with thy ſword haue pearſed this curſed wombe,

That

the accurſed Porrexbrought to light,

And

geuen me a iuſt reward therefore?

So

Ferrexyet ſweete life mought haue enioyed,

And

to his aged father comfort brought,

With

ſome yong ſonne in whom they both might liue.

But

whereunto waſte I this ruthfull ſpeche,

To

thee that haſt thy brothers bloud thus ſhed?

Shall

I ſtill thinke that from this wombe thou ſprong?

That

I thee bare? or take thee for my ſonne?

No

traitour, no: I thee refuſe for mine,

Murderer

I thee renounce, thou art not mine.

Neuer,

O wretch, this wombe conceiued thee,

Nor

neuer bode I painfull throwes for thee.

Changeling

to me thou art, and not my childe,

Nor

to no wight, that ſparke of pitie knew.

Rutheleſſe,

vnkinde, monſter of natures worke,

Thou

neuer ſuckt the milke of womans breſt,

But

from thy birth the cruell Tigers teates

Haue

nurſed thee, nor yet of fleſhe and bloud

Formde

is thy hart, but of hard iron wrought,

And

wilde and deſert woods bredde thee to life.

But

canſt thou hope to ſcape my iuſt reuenge?

Or

that theſe handes will not be wrooke on thee?

Doeſt

thou not know that Ferrexmother liues

That

loued him more dearly than her ſelfe?

And

doth ſhe liue, and is not venged on thee?


Actus

quartus. Scena ſecunda.


Gorboduc.

Aroſtus. Eubulus. Porrex. Marcella.


Gorb.

Wemaruell much wherto this lingring ſtay

Falles

out ſo long: Porrexvnto our court

By

order of our letters is returned,

And

Eubulusreceaued from vs by heſt

At

his arriuall here to geue him charge

Before

our preſence ſtraight to make repaire,

And

yet we haue no worde whereof he ſtayes.


Aroſtus.

Lowhere he commes & Eubuluswith him.


Eubulus.

Accordingto your highneſſe heſt to me,

Here

haue I Porrexbrought euen in ſuch ſort

As

from his weried horſe he did alight,

For

that your grace did will ſuch haſt therein.


Gorboduc.

Welike and praiſe this ſpedy will in you,

To

worke the thing that to your charge we gaue.

Porrex,

if we ſo farre ſhould ſwarue from kinde,

And

from thoſe boundes which lawe of nature ſets,

As

thou haſt done by vile and wretched deede,

In

cruell murder of thy brothers life,

Our

preſent hand could ſtay no longer time,

But

ſtraight ſhould bathe this blade in bloud of thee

As

iuſt reuenge of thy deteſted crime.

No:

we ſhould not offend the lawe of kinde,

If

now this ſworde of ours did ſlay thee here:

For

thou haſt murdered him, whoſe heinous death

Euen

natures force doth moue vs to reuenge

By

bloud againe: and iuſtice forceth vs

To

meaſure death for death, thy due deſert.

Yet

ſithens thou art our childe, and ſith as yet

In

this hard caſe what worde thou canſt alledge

For

thy defence, by vs hath not bene heard,

We

are content to ſtaye our will for that

Which

iuſtice biddes vs preſently to worke,

And

geue thee leaue to vſe thy ſpeche at full

If

ought thou haue to lay for thine excuſe.


Porrex.

NeitherO king, I can or will denie

But

that this hand from Ferrexlife hath reft:

Which

fact how much my dolefull hart doth waile,

Oh

would it mought as full appeare to ſight

As

inward griefe doth poure it forth to me.

So

yet perhappes if euer ruthefull hart

Melting

in teares within a manly breſt,

Through

depe repentance of his bloudy fact,

If

euer griefe, if euer wofull man

Might

moue regreite with ſorrowe of his fault,

I

thinke the torment of my mournefull caſe

Knowen

to your grace, as I do feele the ſame,

Would

force euen wrath her ſelfe to pitie me.

But

as the water troubled with the mudde

Shewes

not the face which els the eye ſhould ſee.

Euen

ſo your irefull minde with ſtirred thought,

Can

not ſo perfectly diſcerne my cauſe.

But

this vnhappe, amongeſt ſo many heapes,

I

muſt content me with, moſt wretched man,

That

to my ſelfe I muſt reſerue my woe

In

pining thoughtes of mine accurſed fact,

Since

I may not ſhewe here my ſmalleſt griefe

Such

as it is, and as my breſt endures,

Which

I eſteeme the greateſt miſerie

Of

all miſſehappes that fortune now can ſend,

Not

that I reſt in hope with plaint and teares

To

purchase life: for to the Goddes I clepe

For

true recorde of this my faithfull ſpeche,

Neuer

this hart ſhall haue the thoughtfull dread

To

die the death that by your graces dome

By

iuſt deſert, ſhall be pronounced to me:

Nor

neuer ſhall this tongue once ſpend the ſpeche

Pardon

to craue, or ſeeke by ſute to liue.

I

meane not this, as though I were not touchde

With

care of dreadfull death, or that I helde

Life

in contempt: but that I know, the minde

Stoupes

to no dread, although the fleſhe be fraile,

And

for my gilt, I yelde the ſame ſo great

As

in my ſelfe I finde a feare to ſue

For

graunt of life.


Gorboduc.

Invaine, O wretch, thou ſheweſt

A

wofull hart, Ferrexnow lies in graue,

Slaine

by thy hand.


Porrex.

Yetthis, O father, heare:

And

then I end. Your maieſtie well knowes,

That

when my brother Ferrexand my ſelfe

By

your owne heſt were ioyned in gouernance

Of

this your graces realme of Brittaine land,

I

neuer ſought nor trauailled for the ſame,

Nor

by my ſelfe, nor by no frend I wrought,

But

from your highneſſe will alone it ſprong,

Of

your moſt gracious goodneſſe bent to me.

But

how my brothers hart euen then repined

With

ſwollen diſdaine againſt mine egall rule,

Seing

that realme, which by diſcent ſhould grow

Wholly

to him, allotted halfe to me?

Euen

in your highneſſe court he now remaines,

And

with my brother then in neareſt place,

Who

can recorde, what proofe thereof was ſhewde,

And

how my brothers enuious hart appearde.

Yet

I that iudged it my part to ſeeke

His

fauour and good will, and loth to make

Your

highneſſe know, the thing which ſhould haue brought

Grief

to your grace, & your offence to him,

Hoping

my earneſt ſute ſhould ſoone haue wonne

A

louing hart within a brothers breſt,

Wrought

in that ſort that for a pledge of loue

And

faithfull hart, he gaue to me his hand.

This

made me thinke, that he had baniſht quite

All

rancour from his thought and bare to me

Such

hartie loue, as I did owe to him.

But

after once we left your graces court,

And

from your highneſſe preſence liued apart,

This

egall rule ſtill, ſtill, did grudge him ſo

That

now thoſe enuious ſparkes which erſt lay raked

In

liuing cinders of diſſembling breſt,

Kindled

ſo farre within his hart diſdaine,

That

longer could he not refraine from proofe

Of

ſecrete practiſe to depriue me life

By

poyſons force, and had bereft me ſo,

If

mine owne ſeruant hired to this fact

And

moued by trouth with hate to worke the ſame,

In

time had not bewrayed it vnto me.

Whan

thus I ſawe the knot of loue vnknitte,

All

honeſt league and faithfull promiſe broke,

The

law of kinde and trouth thus rent in twaine,

His

hart on miſchiefe ſet, and in his breſt

Blacke

treaſon hid, then, then did I deſpeire

That

euer time could winne him frend to me.

Then

ſaw I how he ſmiled with ſlaying knife

Wrapped

vnder cloke, then ſaw I depe deceite

Lurke

in his face and death prepared for me:

Euen

nature moued me than to holde my life

More

deare to me than his, and bad this hand,

Since

by his life my death muſt nedes enſue,

And

by his death my life to be preſerued,

To

ſhed his bloud, and ſeeke my ſafetie ſo.

And

wiſedome willed me without protract

In

ſpedie wiſe to put the ſame in vre.

Thus

haue I tolde the cauſe that moued me

To

worke my brothers death and ſo I yeld

My

life, my death, to iudgement of your grace.


Gorb.

Ohcruell wight, ſhould any cauſe preuaile

To

make thee ſtaine thy hands with brothers bloud?

But

what of thee we will reſolue to doe,

Shall

yet remaine vnknowen: Thou in the meane

Shalt

from our royall preſence baniſht be,

Untill

our princely pleaſure furder ſhall

To

thee be ſhewed. Depart therefore our ſight

Accurſed

childe. What cruell deſtenie,

What

froward fate hath ſorted vs this chaunce,

That

euen in thoſe where we ſhould comfort find,

Where

our delight now in our aged dayes

Sould

reſt and be, euen there our onely griefe

And

depeſt ſorrowes to abridge our life,

Moſt

pyning cares and deadly thoughts do grow?


Aros.

Yourgrace ſhould now in theſe graue yeres of yours

Haue

found ere this yeprice of mortall ioyes,

How

ſhort they be, how fading here in earth,

How

full of chaunge, how brittle our eſtate,

Of

nothing ſure, ſaue onely of the death,

To

whom both man and all the world doth owe

Their

end at laſt, neither ſhould natures power

In

other ſort againſt your hart preuaile,

Than

as the naked hand whoſe ſtroke aſſayes

The

armed breſt where force doth light in vaine.


Gorbod.

Manycan yelde right ſage and graue aduiſe

Of

pacient ſprite to others wrapped in woe,

And

can in ſpeche both rule and conquere kinde,

Who

if by proofe they might feele natures force,

Would

ſhew them ſelues men as they are in dede,

Which

now wil nedes be gods. But what doth meane

The

ſory chere of her that here doth come?


Marcella.

Ohwhere is ruth? or where is pitie now?

Whether

is gentle hart and mercy fled?

Are

they exiled out of our ſtony breſtes,

Neuer

to make returne? is all the world

Drowned

in bloud, and ſoncke in crueltie?

If

not in women mercy may be found,

If

not (alas) within the motherſ breſt,

To

her owne childe, to her owne fleſhe and bloud,

If

ruthe be baniſhed thence, if pitie there

May

haue no place, if there no gentle hart

Do

liue and dwell, where ſhould we ſeeke it then?


Gorb.

Madame(alas) what meanes your woful tale?


Marcella.

Oſillie woman I, why to this houre

Haue

kinde and fortune thus deferred my breath,

That

I ſhould liue to ſee this dolefull day?

Will

euer wight beleue that ſuch hard hart

Could

reſt within the cruell mothers breſt,

With

her owne hand to ſlay her onely ſonne?

But

out (alas) theſe eyes behelde the ſame,

They

ſaw the driery ſight, and are becomen

Moſt

ruthfull recordes of the bloudy fact.

Porrex

(alas) is by his mother ſlaine,

And

with her hand, a wofull thing to tell,

While

ſlumbring on his carefull bed he reſtes

His

hart ſtabde in with knife is reft of life.


Gorboduc.

OEubulus,oh draw this ſword of ours,

And

pearce this hart with ſpeed. O hatefull light,

O

lothſome life, O ſweete and welcome death.

Deare

Eubulusworke this we thee beſech.


Eubulus.

Pacientyour grace, perhappes he liueth yet.

With

wound receaued, but not of certaine death.


Gorboduc.

Olet vs then repayre vnto the place,

And

ſee if Porrexliue, or thus be ſlaine.


Marcella.

Alashe liueth not, it is to true,

That

with theſe eyes of him a pereleſſe prince,

Sonne

to a king, and in the flower of youth,

Euen

with a twinke a ſenſeleſſe ſtocke I ſaw.


Aroſtus.

Odamned deede.


Marcella.

Butheare hys ruthefull end.

The

noble prince, pearſt with the ſodeine wound,

Out

of his wretched ſlumber haſtely ſtart,

Whoſe

ſtrength now fayling ſtraight he ouerthrew,

When

in the fall his eyes euen new vncloſed

Behelde

the Queene, and cryed to her for helpe.

We

then, alas, the ladies which that time

Did

there attend, ſeing that heynous deede,

And

hearing him oft call the wretched name

Of

mother, and to crye to her for aide,

Whoſe

direfull hand gaue him the mortall wound,

Pitying

(alas) for nought els could we do)

His

ruthefull end, ranne to the wofull bedde,

Diſpoyled

ſtraight his breſt, and all we might

Wiped

in vaine with napkins next at hand,

The

ſodeine ſtreames of bloud that fluſhed faſt

Out

of the gaping wound. O what a looke,

O

what a ruthefull ſtedfaſt eye me thought

He

fixt vpon my face, which to my death

Will

neuer part fro me, when with a braide

A

deepe fet ſigh he gaue, and therewithall

Claſping

his handes, to heauen he caſt his ſight.

And

ſtraight pale death preſſing within his face

The

flying ghoſt his mortall corpes forſooke.


Aroſtus.

Neuerdid age bring forth ſo vile a fact.


Marcella.

Ohard and cruell happe, that thus aſſigned

Vnto

ſo worthy a wight ſo wretched end:

But

moſt hard cruell hart, that could conſent

To

lend the hatefull deſtenies that hand,

By

which, alas, ſo heynous crime was wrought.

O

Queene of adamant, O marble breſt.

If

not the fauour of his comely face,

If

not his princely chere and countenance,

His

valiant actiue armes, his manly breſt,

If

not his faire and ſeemely perſonage,

His

noble limmes in ſuch proportion caſt

As

would haue wrapt a ſillie womans thought,

If

this mought not haue moued thy bloudy hart.

And

that moſt cruell hand the wretched weapon

Euen

to let fall, and kiſte him in the face,

With

teares for ruthe to reaue ſuch one by death:

Should

nature yet conſent to ſlay her ſonne?

O

mother, thou to murder thus thy childe?

Euen

Iouewith iuſtice muſt with lightning flames

From

heauen ſend downe ſome ſtrange reuenge on thee.

Ah

noble prince, how oft haue I behelde

Thee

mounted on thy fierce and traumpling ſtede,

Shining

in armour bright before the tilt,

And

with thy miſtreſſe ſleue tied on thy helme,

And

charge thy ſtaffe to pleaſe thy ladies eye,

That

bowed the head peece of thy frendly foe?

How

oft in armes on horſe to bend the mace?

How

oft in armes on foote to breake the ſworde,

Which

neuer now theſe eyes may ſee againe.


Aroſtus,

Madame,alas, in vaine theſe plaints are ſhed,

Rather

with me depart, and helpe to ſwage,

The

thoughtfull griefes that in the aged king

Muſt

needes by nature growe, by death of this

His

onely ſonne, whom he did holde ſo deare.


Marcella.

Whatwight is that which ſaw yeI did ſee,

And

could refraine to waile with plaint and teares?

Not

I, alas, that hart is not in me.

But

let vs goe, for I am greued anew,

To

call to minde the wretched fathers woe.


Chorus.

Whangreedy luſt in royall ſeate to reigne

Hath

reft all care of Goddes and eke of men,

And

cruell hart, wrath, treaſon, and diſdaine

Within

ambicious breſt are lodged, then

Beholde

how miſchiefe wide her ſelfe diſplayes,

And

with the brothers hand the brother ſlayes.

When

bloud thus ſhed, doth ſtaine the heauens face,

Crying

to Iouefor vengeance of the deede,

The

mightie God euen moueth from his place,

With

wrath to wreke: then ſendes he forth with ſpede

The

dreadfull furies, daughters of the night,

With

ſerpentes girt, carying the whip of ire,

With

heare of ſtinging Snakes, and ſhining bright

With

flames and bloud, and with a brand of fire.

Theſe

for reuenge of wretched murder done,

Do

make the mother kill her onely ſonne.

Blood

aſketh blood, and death muſt death requite.

Ioue

by his iuſt and euerlaſting dome

Iuſtly

hath euer ſo requited it.

The

times before recorde, and times to come

Shall

finde it true, and ſo doth preſent proofe

Preſent

before our eyes for our behoofe.

O

happy wight that ſuffres not the ſnare

Of

murderous minde to tangle him in blood.

And

happy he that can in time beware

By

others harmes and turne it to his good.

But

wo to him that fearing not to offend

Doth

ſerue his luſt, and will not ſee the end,



¶The order and ſignification of the domme ſhew before the fifth act.


¶Firſt the drommes & fluites, began to ſound, during which therecame forth vpon the ſtage a company of Hargabuſiers 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 drommes and fluits did ceaſe. Hereby wasſignified tumults, rebellions, armes and ciuill warres to follow, asfell in the realme of great Brittayne, which by the ſpace of fiftieyeares & more continued in ciuill warre betwene the nobilitieafter the death of king Gorboduc, and of his iſſues, for want ofcertayne limitacion in ſucceſſion of the crowne, till the time ofDunwallo Molmutius, who reduced the land to monarchie.



Actus

quintus. Scena prima.


Clotyn.

Mandud.Gwenard. Fergus. Eubulus.


Clot.

Dideuer age bring forth ſuch tirants harts?

The

brother hath bereft the brothers life,

The

mother ſhe hath died her cruell handes

In

bloud of her owne ſonne, and now at laſt

The

people loe forgetting trouth and loue,

Contemning

quite both law and loyall hart,

Euen

they haue ſlaine their ſoueraigne lord & queene.


Mand.

Shallthis their traitorous crime vnpuniſhed reſt?

Euen

yet they ceaſe not, caryed on with rage,

In

their rebellious routes, to threaten ſtill

A

new bloud ſhed vnto the princes kinne,

To

ſlay them all, and to vproote the race

Both

of the king and queene, ſo are they moued

With

Porrexdeath, wherin they falſely charge

The

giltleſſe king without deſert at all,

And

traitorouſly haue murdered him therfore,

And

eke the queene.


Gwena.

Shallſubiectes dare with force

To

worke reuenge vpon their princes fact?

Admit

the worſt that may, as ſure in this

The

deede was fowle, the queene to ſlay her ſonne,

Shall

yet the ſubiect ſeeke to take the ſworde,

Ariſe

agaynſt his lord, and ſlay his king?

O

wretched ſtate, where thoſe rebellious hartes

Are

not rent out euen from their liuing breaſtes,

And

with the body throwen vnto the foules

As

carrion foode, for terrour of the reſt.


Ferg.

Therecan no puniſhment be thought to great

For

this ſo greuous cryme: let ſpede therfore

Be

vſed therin for it behoueth ſo.


Eubulus.

Yeall my lordes, I ſee, conſent in one

And

I as one conſent with ye in all.

I

holde it more than neede with ſharpeſt law

To

puniſh this tumultuous bloudy rage.

For

nothing more may ſhake the common ſtate,

Than

ſufferance of vproares without redreſſe,

Wherby

how ſome kingdomes of mightie power

After

great conqueſtes made, and floriſhing

In

fame and wealth, haue ben to ruine brought,

I

pray to Iouethat we may rather wayle

Such

happe in them than witneſſe in our ſelues.

Eke

fully with the duke my minde agrees,

Though

kinges forget to gouerne as they ought,

Yet

ſubiectes muſt obey as they are bounde.

But

now my lordes, before ye farder wade,

Or

ſpend your ſpeach, what ſharpe reuenge ſhall fall

By

iuſtice plague on theſe rebellious wightes,

Me

thinkes ye rather ſhould firſt ſearch the way,

By

which in time the rage of this vproare

Mought

be repreſſed, and theſe great tumults ceaſed.

Euen

yet the life of Brittayneland doth hang

In

traitours balaunce of vnegall weight.

Thinke

not my lordes the death of Gorboduc,

Nor

yet Videnaesbloud will ceaſe their rage:

Euen

our owne lyues, our wiues and children deare,

Our

countrey deareſt of all, in daunger ſtandes,

Now

to be ſpoiled, now, now made deſolate,

And

by our ſelues a conqueſt to enſue.

For

geue once ſwey vnto the peoples luſtes,

To

ruſh forth on, and ſtay them not in time,

And

as the ſtreame that rowleth downe the hyll,

So

will they headlong ronne with raging thoughtes

From

bloud to bloud, from miſchiefe vnto moe,

To

ruine of the realme, them ſelues and all,

So

giddy are the common peoples mindes,

So

glad of chaunge, more wauering than the ſea.

Ye

ſee (my lordes) what ſtrength theſe rebelles haue,

What

hugie nombre is aſſembled ſtill,

For

though the traiterous fact, for which they roſe

Be

wrought and done, yet lodge they ſtill in field

So

that how farre their furies yet will ſtretch

Great

cauſe we haue to dreade. That we may ſeeke

By

preſent battaile to repreſſe their power,

Speede

muſt we vſe to leuie force therfore.

For

either they forthwith will miſchiefe worke,

Or

their rebellious roares forthwith will ceaſe.

Theſe

violent thinges may haue no laſting long.

Let

vs therfore vſe this for preſent helpe,

Perſwade

by gentle ſpeach, and offre grace

With

gift of pardon ſaue vnto the chiefe,

And

that vpon condicion that forthwith

They

yelde the captaines of their enterpriſe,

To

beare ſuch guerdon of their traiterous fact,

As

may be both due vengeance to them ſelues,

And

holſome terrour to poſteritie.

This

ſhall, I thinke, ſcatter the greateſt part,

That

now are holden with deſire of home,

Weried

in field with cold of winters nightes,

And

ſome (no doubt) ſtriken with dread of law.

Whan

this is once proclamed, it ſhall make

The

captaines to miſtruſt the multitude,

Whoſe

ſafetie biddes them to betray their heads,

And

ſo much more bycauſe the raſcall routes,

In

thinges of great and perillous attemptes,

Are

neuer truſtie to the noble race.

And

while we treate and ſtand on termes of grace,

We

ſhall both ſtay their furies rage the while,

And

eke gaine time, whoſe onely helpe ſufficeth

Withouten

warre to vanquiſh rebelles power

In

the meane while, make you in redynes

Such

band of horſemen as ye may prepare.

Horſemen

(you know) are not the commons ſtrength,

But

are the force and ſtore of noble men,

Wherby

the vnchoſen and vnarmed ſort

Of

ſkilleſſe rebelles, whome none other power

But

nombre makes to be of dreadfull force,

With

ſodeyne brunt may quickely be oppreſt.

And

if this gentle meane of proffered grace,

With

ſtubborne hartes cannot ſo farre auayle,

As

to aſſwage their deſperate courages.

Then

do I wiſh ſuch ſlaughter to be made,

As

preſent age and eke poſteritie

May

be adrad with horrour of reuenge,

That

iuſtly then ſhall on theſe rebelles fall.

This

is my lord the ſumme of mine aduiſe.


Clotyn.

Neitherthis caſe admittes debate at large,

And

though it did, this ſpeach that hath ben ſayd

Hath

well abridged the tale I would haue tolde.

Fully

with Eubulusdo I conſent

In

all that he hath ſayd: and if the ſame

To

you my lordes, may ſeeme for beſt aduiſe,

I

wiſh that it ſhould ſtreight be put in vre.


Mandud.

Mylordes than let vs preſently depart,

And

follow this that liketh vs ſo well.


Fergus.

Ifeuer time to gaine a kingdome here

Were

offred man, now it is offred mee.

The

realme is reft both of their king and queene,

The

ofſpring of the prince is ſlaine and dead,

No

iſſue now remaines, the heire vnknowen,

The

people are in armes and mutynies,

The

nobles they are buſied how to ceaſe

Theſe

great rebellious tumultes and vproares,

And

Brittayneland now deſert left alone

Amyd

theſe broyles vncertayne where to reſt,

Offers

her ſelfe vnto that noble hart

That

will or dare purſue to beare her crowne.

Shall

I that am the duke of Albanye

Diſcended

from that line of noble bloud,

Which

hath ſo long floriſhed in worthy fame,

Of

valiaunt hartes, ſuch as in noble breſtes

Of

right ſhould reſt aboue the the baſer ſort,

Refuſe

to venture life to winne a crowne?

Whom

ſhall I finde enmies that will withſtand

My

fact herein, if I attempt by armes

To

ſeeke the ſame now in theſe times of broyle?

Theſe

dukes power can hardly well appeaſe

The

people that already are in armes.

But

if perhappes my force be once in field,

Is

not my ſtrength in power aboue the beſt

Of

all theſe lordes now left in Brittayneland?

And

though they ſhould match me with power of men,

Yet

doubtfull is the chaunce of battailles ioyned.

If

victors of the field we may depart,

Ours

is the ſcepter then of great Brittayne.

If

ſlayne amid the playne this body lye,

Mine

enemies yet ſhall not deny me this,

But

that I dyed geuing the noble charge

To

hazarde life for conqueſt of a crowne.

Forthwith

therefore will I in poſt depart

To

Albanye,and raiſe in armour there

All

power I can: and here my ſecret friendes,

By

ſecret practiſe ſhall ſollicite ſtill,

To

ſeeke to wynne to me the peoples hartes.


Actus

quintus. Scena ſecunda.


Eubulus.

Clotyn.Mandud. Gwenard. Aroſtus. Nuntius.


Evb.

OIoue, how are theſe peoples harts abuſde?

What

blind fury, thus headlong caries them?

That

though ſo many bookes, ſo many rolles

Of

auncient time recorde, what greuous plagues

Light

on theſe rebelles aye, and though ſo oft

Their

eares haue heard their aged fathers tell,

What

iuſte reward theſe traitours ſtill receyue,

Yea

though them ſelues haue ſene depe death & bloud,

By

ſtrangling cord and ſlaughter of the ſword,

To

ſuch aſſigned, yet can they not beware,

Yet

can not ſtay their lewde rebellious handes,

But

ſuffring loe fowle treason to diſtaine

Their

wretched myndes, forget their loyall hart,

Reiect

all truth and riſe againſt their prince.

A

ruthefull caſe, that thoſe, whom duties bond,

Whom

grafted law by nature, truth, and faith,

Bound

to preſerue their countrey and their king,

Borne

to defend their common wealth and prince,

Euen

they ſhould geue conſent thus to ſubuert

Thee

Brittaine land, & from thy wombe ſhould ſpring

(O

natiue ſoile) thoſe, that will needs deſtroy

And

ruyne thee and eke them ſelues in fine.

For

lo, when once the dukes had offred grace

Of

pardon ſweete, the multitude miſſledde

By

traitorous fraude of their vngracious heades,

One

ſort that ſaw the dangerous ſucceſſe

Of

ſtubborne ſtanding in rebellious warre,

And

knew the difference of princes power

From

headleſſe nombre of tumultuous routes,

Whom

common countreies care, and priuate feare,

Taught

to repent the errour of their rage,

Layde

handes vpon the captaines of their band,

And

brought them bound vnto the mightie dukes.

And

other ſort not truſting yet ſo well

The

truth of pardon, or miſtruſting more

Their

owne offence than that they could conceiue

Such

hope of pardon for ſo foule miſdede,

Or

for that they their captaines could not yeld,

Who

fearing to be yelded fled before,

Stale

home by ſilence of the ſecret night,

The

thirde vnhappy and enraged ſort

Of

deſperate hartes, who ſtained in princes bloud

From

trayterous furour could not be withdrawen

By

loue, by law, by grace, ne yet by feare,

By

proffered life, ne yet by threatned death,

With

mindes hopeleſſe of life, dreadleſſe of death,

Careleſſe

of countrey, and aweleſſe of God,

Stoode

bent to fight, as furies did them moue,

With

violent death to cloſe their traiterous life.

Theſe

all by power of horſemen were oppreſt,

And

with reuenging ſworde ſlayne in the field,

Or

with the ſtrangling cord hangd on the tree,

Where

yet their carryen carcases do preach

The

fruites that rebelles reape of their vproares,

And

of the murder of their ſacred prince.

But

loe, where do approche the noble dukes,

By

whom theſe tumults haue ben thus appeaſde.


Clotyn.

Ithinke the world will now at length beware

And

feare to put on armes agaynſt their prince.


Mand.

Ifnot? thoſe trayterous hartes that dare rebell,

Let

them beholde the wide and hugie fieldes

With

bloud and bodies ſpread of rebelles ſlayne,

The

lofty trees clothed with the corpſes dead

That

ſtrangled with the corde do hang theron.


Aroſtus.

Aiuſt rewarde, ſuch as all times before

Haue

euer lotted to thoſe wretched folkes.


Gwen.

Butwhat meanes he that commeth here ſo faſt?


Nun.

Mylordes, as dutie and my trouth doth moue

And

of my countrey worke a care in mee,

That

if the ſpending of my breath auailed

To

do the ſeruice that my hart deſires,

I

would not ſhunne to imbrace a preſent death:

So

haue I now in that wherein I thought

My

trauayle mought performe ſome good effect,

Ventred

my life to bring theſe tydinges here.

Fergus

the mightie duke of Albanye

Is

now in armes and lodgeth in the fielde

With

twentie thouſand men, hether he bendes

His

ſpedy marche, and mindes to inuade the crowne.

Dayly

he gathereth ſtrength, and ſpreads abrode

That

to this realme no certeine heire remaines,

That

Brittayne land is left without a guide,

That

he the ſcepter ſeekes, for nothing els

But

to preſerue the people and the land,

Which

now remaine as ſhip without a ſterne.

Loe

this is that which I haue here to ſay.


Cloyton.

Isthis his fayth? and ſhall he falſely thus

Abuſe

the vauntage of vnhappie times?

O

wretched land, if his outragious pride,

His

cruell and vntempred wilfulneſſe,

His

deepe diſſembling ſhewes of falſe pretence,

Should

once attaine the crowne of Brittaine land.

Let

vs my lordes, with timely force reſiſt

The

new attempt of this our common foe,

As

we would quench the flames of common fire.


Mand.

Thoughwe remaine without a certain prince,

To

weld the realme or guide the wandring rule,

Yet

now the common mother of vs all,

Our

natiue land, our countrey, that conteines

Our

wiues, children, kindred, our ſelues and all

That

euer is or may be deare to man,

Cries

vnto vs to helpe our ſelues and her,

Let

vs aduaunce our powers to repreſſe

This

growing foe of all our liberties.


Gwenard.

Yealet vs ſo, my lordes, with haſty ſpeede.

And

ye (O Goddes) ſend vs the welcome death,

To

ſhed our bloud in field, and leaue vs not

In

lotheſome life to lenger out our dayes,

To

ſee the hugie heapes of theſe vnhappes,

That

nowroll downe vpon the wretched land,

Where

emptie place of princely gouernaunce,

No

certaine ſtay now left of doubtleſſe heire,

Thus

leaue this guideleſſe realme an open pray,

To

endleſſe ſtormes and waste of ciuill warre.


Aroſtus.

Thatye (my lordes) do ſo agree in one,

To

ſaue your countrey from the violent reigne

And

wrongfully vſurped tyrannie

Of

him that threatens conqueſt of you all,

To

ſaue your realme, and in this realme your ſelues,

From

forreine thraldome of ſo proud a prince,

Much

do I prayſe, and I beſech the Goddes,

With

happy honour to requite it you.

But

(O my lordes) ſith now the heauens wrath

Hath

reft this land the iſſue of their prince,

Sith

of the body of our late ſoueraigne lorde

Remaines

no moe, ſince the yong kinges be ſlaine,

And

of the title of diſcended crowne

Vncertainly

the diuerſe mindes do thinke

Euen

of the learned ſort, and more vncertainly

Will

parciall fancie and affection deeme:

But

moſt vncertainly will climbing pride

And

hope of reigne withdraw to ſundry partes

The

doubtfull right and hopefull luſt to reigne:

When

once this noble ſeruice iſ atchieued

For

Brittaine land the mother of ye all,

When

once ye haue with armed force repreſt

The

proude attemptes of this Albanian prince,

That

threatens thraldome to your natiue land,

When

ye ſhall vanquiſhers returne from field,

And

finde the princely ſtate an open pray

To

gredie luſt and to vſurping power,

Then,

then (my lordes) if euer kindly care

Of

auncient honour of your aunceſters,

Of

preſent wealth and nobleſſe of your ſtockes,

Yea

of the liues and ſafetie yet to come

Of

your deare wiues, your children, and your ſelues,

Might

moue your noble hartes with gentle ruth,

Then,

then, haue pitie on the torne eſtate,

Then

helpe to ſalue the welneare hopeleſſe ſore

Which

ye ſhall do, if ye your ſelues withholde

The

ſlaying knife from your owne mothers throate.

Her

ſhall you ſaue, and you, and yours in her,

If

ye ſhall all with one aſſent forbeare

Once

to lay hand or take vnto your ſelues

The

crowne, by colour of pretended right,

Or

by what other meanes ſo euer it be,

Till

firſt by common counſell of you all

In

Parliament the regall diademe

Be

ſet in certaine place of gouernaunce,

In

which your Parliament and in your choiſe,

Preferre

the right (my lordes) with reſpect

Of

ſtrength or frendes, or what ſoeuer cauſe

That

may ſet forward any others part.

For

right will laſt, and wrong can not endure.

Right

meane I his or hers, vpon whoſe name

The

people reſt by meane of natiue line,

Or

by the vertue of ſome former lawe,

Already

made their title to aduaunce.

Such

one (my lordes) let be your choſen king,

Such

one ſo borne within your natiue land,

Such

one preferre, and in no wiſe admitte

The

heauie yoke of forreine gouernance,

Let

forreine titles yelde to publike wealth.

And

with that hart wherewith ye now prepare

Thus

to withſtand the proude inuading foe,

With

that ſame hart (my lordes) keepe out alſo

Vnnaturall

thraldome of ſtrangers reigne,

Ne

ſuffer you againſt the rules of kinde

Your

mother land to ſerue a forreine prince.


Eubulus.

Loehere the end of Brutusroyall line,

And

loe the entry to the wofull wracke,

And

vtter ruine of this noble realme.

The

royall king, and eke his ſonnes are ſlaine,

No

ruler reſtes within the regall ſeate,

The

heire, to whom the ſcepter longes, vnknowen,

That

to eche force of forreine princes power,

Whom

vauntage of our wretched ſtate may moue

By

ſodeine armes to gaine ſo riche a realme,

And

to the proud and gredie minde at home,

Whom

blinded luſt to reigne leades to aſpire,

Loe

Brittaine realme is left an open pray,

A

preſent ſpoyle by conqueſt to enſue.

Who

ſeeth not now how many riſing mindes

Do

feede their thoughts, with hope to reach a realme?

And

who will not by force attempt to winne

So

great a gaine, that hope perſwades to haue?

A

ſimple colour ſhall for title ſerue.

Who

winnes the royall crowne will want no right,

Nor

ſuch as ſhall diſplay by long diſcent

A

lineall race to proue him lawfull king.

In

the meane while theſe ciuel armes ſhall rage,

And

thus a thouſand miſchiefes ſhall vnfolde,

And

farre and neare ſpread thee (O Brittaine land)

All

right and lawe ſhall ceaſe, and he that had

Nothing

to day, to morrowe ſhall enioye

Great

heapes of golde, and he that flowed in wealth,

Loe

he ſhall be bereft of life and all,

And

happieſt he that then poſſeſſeth leaſt,

The

wiues ſhall ſuffer rape, the maides defloured,

And

children fatherleſſe ſhall weepe and waile,

With

fire and ſworde thy natiue folke ſhall periſhe,

One

kinſman ſhall bereaue an others life,

The

father ſhall vnwitting ſlay the ſonne,

The

ſonne ſhall ſlay the ſire and know it not,

Women

and maides the cruell ſouldiers ſword

Shall

perſe to death, and ſillie children loe,

That

play in the ſtreetes and fieldes are found,

By

violent hand ſhall cloſe their latter day.

Whom

ſhall the fierce and bloudy ſouldier

Reſerue

to life? whom ſhall he ſpare from death?

Euen

thou (O wretched mother) halfe aliue,

Thou

ſhalt beholde thy deare and onely childe

Slaine

with the ſworde while he yet ſuckes thy breſt.

Loe,

giltleſſe bloud ſhall thus eche where be ſhed.

Thus

ſhall the waſted ſoile yelde forth no fruite,

But

dearth and famine ſhall poſſeſſe the land.

The

townes ſhall be conſumed and burnt with fire,

The

peopled cities ſhall waxe deſolate,

And

thou, O Brittaine, whilome in renowme,

Whilome

in wealth and fame, ſhalt thus be torne,

Diſmembred

thus, and thus be rent in twaine,

Thus

waſted and defaced, ſpoyled and deſtroyed,

Theſe

be the fruites your ciuil warres will bring.

Hereto

it commes when kinges will not conſent

To

graue aduiſe, but followe wilfull will.

This

is the end, when in fonde princes hartes

Flattery

preuailes, and ſage rede hath no place.

Theſe

are the plages, when murder is the meane

To

make new heires vnto the royall crowne.

Thus

wreke the Gods, when that the mothers wrath

Nought

but the bloud of her owne childe may ſwage.

Theſe

miſchiefes ſpring when rebells will ariſe,

To

worke reuenge and iudge their princes fact.

This,

this enſues, when noble men do faile

In

loyall trouth, and ſubiectes will be kinges.

And

this doth growe when loe vnto the prince,

Whom

death or ſodeine happe of life bereaues,

No

certaine heire remaines, ſuch certaine heire,

As

not all onely is the rightfull heire,

But

to the realme is ſo made knowen to be,

And

trouth therby veſted in ſubiectes hartes.

To

owe fayth there where right is knowen to reſt.

Alas,

in Parliament what hope can be,

When

is of Parliament no hope at all?

Which,

though it be aſſembled by conſent,

Yet

is not likely with conſent to end,

While

eche one for him ſelfe, or for his frend,

Againſt

his foe, ſhall trauaile what he may.

While

now the ſtate left open to the man,

That

ſhall with greateſt force inuade the ſame,

Shall

fill ambicious mindes with gaping hope,

When

will they once with yelding hartes agree?

Or

in the while, how ſhall the realme be vſed?

No,

no: then Parliament ſhould haue bene holden,

And

certeine heires appointed to the crowne,

To

ſtay the title of eſtabliſhed right,

And

in the people plant obedience,

While

yet the prince did liue, whoſe name and power

By

lawfull ſommons and authoritie

Might

make a Parliament to be of force,

And

might haue ſet the ſtate in quiet ſtay.

But

now O happie man, whom ſpedie death

Depriues

of life, ne is enforced to ſee

Theſe

hugie miſchiefes and theſe miſeries,

Theſe

ciuil warres, theſe murders & theſe wronges.

Of

iuſtice,yet muſt God in fine reſtore

This

noble crowne vnto the lawfull heire:

For

right will alwayes liue, and riſe at length,

But

wrong can neuer take deepe roote to laſt.


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