The
Tragedy of Ferrex and Porrex,
set
forth without addition or alteration but altogether as the same was
showed on stage before the Queen’s Majesty, about nine years past,
vz. the 18 day of January 1561, by the gentlemen of the Inner Temple.
Seen and allowed, etc. Imprinted
at London by John Day, dwelling over Aldersgate.
The
Argument of the Tragedy.
Gorboduc,
King of Britain, divided his realm in his lifetime to his sons,
Ferrex and Porrex. The sons fell to dissension.
The
younger killed the elder. The mother, that more dearly loved the
elder, for revenge killed the younger. The people, moved with the
cruelty of the fact,
rose in rebellion and slew both father and mother. The nobility
assembled and most terribly destroyed the rebels. And afterwards for
want of issue of the prince whereby the succession of the crown
became uncertain, they fell to civil war, in which both they and many
of their issues were slain, and the land for a long time almost
desolate and miserably wasted.
The
P[rinter]
to the Reader.
Where
this tragedy was for furniture of part of the grand Christmas in the
Inner Temple first written about nine years ago
by
the right honourable Thomas now Lord Buckhurst,
and by T. Norton,
and after showed before her Majesty,
and never intended by the authors thereof to be published: yet one W.
G.
getting a copy thereof at some young man’s hand that lacked a
little money and much discretion, in the last great plague an[no]
1565, about five years past, while the said Lord was out of England,
and T. Norton far out of London, and neither of them both made privy,
put it forth exceedingly corrupted: even as if by means of a broker
for hire, he should have enticed into his house a fair maid and done
her villainy, and after all to bescratched her face, torn her
apparel, berayed
and disfigured her, and then thrust her out of doors dishonested.
In
such plight after long wandering she came at length home to the sight
of her friends who scant knew her but by a few tokens and marks
remaining. They, the authors I mean, though they were very much
displeased that she so ran abroad without leave, whereby she caught
her shame, as many wantons do, yet seeing the case as it is
remediless, have for common honesty and shamefastness new apparelled,
trimmed, and attired her in such form as she was before. In which
better form since she hath come to me, I have harboured her for her
friends’ sake and her own, and I do not doubt her parents the
authors will not now be discontent that she go abroad among you good
readers, so it be in honest company. For she is by my encouragement
and others’ somewhat less ashamed of the dishonesty done to her
because it was by fraud and force. If she be welcome among you and
gently entertained, in favour of the house from whence she is
descended, and of her own nature courteously disposed to offend no
man, her friends will thank you for it. If not, but that she shall be
still reproached with her former mishap, or quarrelled at by envious
persons, she poor gentlewoman will surely play Lucrece’s
part, and of herself die for shame, and I shall wish that she had
tarried still at home with me, where she was welcome: for she did
never put me to more charge, but this one poor black gown lined with
white that I have now given her to go abroad among you withal.
Names of the Speakers.
King of Great Britain.
Queen and wife to king Gorboduc.
elder son to King Gorboduc.
younger son to King Gorboduc.
Duke
of Cornwall.
Duke of Albany.
Duke of Loegris.
Duke of Camberland.
Secretary
to the king.
a counsellor to the king.
a counsellor assigned by the king to his eldest son Ferrex.
a counsellor assigned by the king to his youngest
son Porrex.
Both
being of the old king’s counsel before.
a parasite remaining with Ferrex.
a parasite remaining with Porrex.
a messenger of the elder brother’s death.
a messenger of Duke Fergus rising in arms.
a lady of the Queen’s privy chamber.
four ancient and sage men of Britain.
The
Order of the Dumb Show Before the First Act, and the Signification
Thereof.
First
the music of violins began to play, during which came in upon the
stage six wild men clothed in leaves. Of whom the first bare in
his
neck a fagot of small sticks, which they all both severally and
together assayed with all their strengths to break, but it could not
be broken by them. At the length one of them plucked
out one of the sticks and brake it. And the rest plucking out all the
other sticks one after another did easily break them,
the
same being severed: which being conjoined they had before attempted
in vain. After they had this done, they departed the stage, and the
music ceased. Hereby was signified, that a state knit in unity doth
continue strong against all force; but being divided, is easily
destroyed. As befell upon Duke
Gorboduc dividing his land to his two sons which he before held in
monarchy, and upon the dissention of the brethren to whom it was
divided.
Actus
primus. Scena prima.
VIDEN[A
and]
FERREX.
silent night, that brings the quiet pause
painful travails of the weary day,
my careful thoughts, and makes me blame
slow Aurore,
that so for love or shame
long delay to show her blushing face,
now the day renews my griefful
plaint.
My gracious lady and my
mother dear,
my grief for your so grieved mind,
ask what cause tormenteth so your heart.
great a wrong, and so unjust despite,
all cause, against all course of kind!
Such causeless wrong and so unjust despite,
have redress, or at the least, revenge.
my son: such is the froward will,
person such, such my mishap and thine.
Mine know I none, but grief for your distress.
mine for thine my son. A father? No:
kind a father, not
in
kindliness.
father? Why? I know nothing at all,
I have misdone unto his grace.
Therefore,
the more unkind to thee and me.
knowing well (my son) the tender love
I have ever
borne and bear to thee,
grieved thereat, is not content alone
spoil
thee
of my sight,
my
chiefest joy,
thee, of thy birthright and heritage,
unkindly, and in wrongful wise,
all law and right, he will bereave:
of his kingdom he will give away.
whom?
Even to Porrex, his younger son,
growing pride I do so sore suspect,
being raised to equal rule with thee,
I see his envious heart to swell,
with disdain and with ambitious hope;
end the gods do know, whose altars I
oft have made in vain of cattle slain
send the sacred smoke to heaven’s throne,
thee my son, if things do
so succeed,
now my jealous mind misdeemeth
sore.
leave care and careful plaint for me;
hath my father been to every wight:
first unjustice he will not extend
me I trust, that give no cause thereof:
brother’s pride shall hurt himself, not me.
grant the gods: but yet thy father so
firmly fixed his unmoved mind,
plaints and prayers can no whit avail,
those have I assayed, but even this day,
will endeavour to procure assent
all his council to his fond device.
ancestors from race to race have borne
faith to my forefathers and their seed:
trust they eke
will bear the like to me.
resteth all. But if they fail thereof,
if the end bring forth an ill
success:
them and theirs the mischief shall befall,
so I pray the gods requite it them,
so they will, for so is wont to be.
lords, and trusted rulers under kings,
please the present fancy of the prince,
wrong transpose the course of governance,
mischief, or civil sword at length,
mutual treason, or a just revenge,
right succeeding line returns again,
Jove’s
just judgement and deserved wrath,
them to cruel
and
reproachful death,
roots their names and kindreds from the earth.
content you, you shall see the end.
end? Thy end I fear, Jove end me first.
VIDENA and
FERREX.]
Actus
primus. Scena secunda.
GORBODUC,
AROSTUS, PHILANDER [and]
EUBULUS.
lords, whose grave advice and faithful aid
long upheld my honour and my realm,
brought me to
this age from
tender years,
so great estate with great renown:
more importeth me, than
erst, to use
faith and wisdom, whereby yet I reign:
when by death my life and rule shall cease,
kingdom yet may with unbroken course
certain prince, by whose undoubted right,
wealth and peace may stand in
quiet stay;
eke that they whom nature hath prepared
time to take my place in princely seat,
in their father’s time their pliant youth
to the frame of skilful governance,
so be taught and trained in noble arts,
what their fathers which have reigned before
with great fame derived down to them,
honour they may leave unto their seed:
not be thought
for their unworthy life,
for their lawless swerving out of kind,
to lose what law and kind them gave:
that they may preserve the common peace,
cause that first began and still maintains
lineal course of kings’ inheritance.
me, for mine, for you, and for the state,
both I and you have charge and care,
do I mean to use your wonted faith
me and mine, and to your native land.
lords, be plain without all wry
respect
poisonous
craft to speak in pleasing wise,
as the blame of ill-succeeding things
light on you, so light the harms also.
good acceptance so (most noble King)
such our
faithfulness
as heretofore
have employed in duties to your grace
to this realm whose worthy head you are,
proves that neither you mistrust at all,
we shall need in
boasting
wise to show,
truth to you, nor yet our wakeful care
you, for yours, and for our native land.
(O King) I speak as one for
all,
all as one do bear you egall
faith:
not to use our
counsels
and our
aids,
honours, goods and lives are whole avowed
serve, to aid, and to defend your grace.
lords, I thank you all. This is the case:
know, the gods, who have the sovereign care
kings, for kingdoms, and for commonweals,
me two sons in my more lusty age.
now in my decaying
years
are grown
towards riper state of mind and strength,
take in hand some greater princely charge.
yet they live and spend hopeful
days,
me and with their mother here in court.
age now asketh other place and trade,
mine also doth ask another change:
to more travail, mine to greater ease.
fatal death shall end my mortal life,
purpose is to leave unto
them twain
realm divided into two sundry parts:
one, Ferrex mine elder son shall have,
other shall the younger
Porrex rule.
both my purpose may more firmly
stand,
eke that they may better rule their charge,
mean forthwith to place them in the same:
in my life they may both learn to rule,
I may joy to see their ruling well.
is in sum, what I would have ye
weigh:
whether ye allow my whole device,
think it good for me, for them, for you,
for our country, mother of us all:
if ye like it, and allow it well,
for their guiding and their governance,
forth such means of circumstance,
ye think meet
to be both known and kept.
this is all, now tell me your advice.
this is much, and asketh great advice,
for my part, my sovereign lord and King,
do I think. Your Majesty doth know,
under you in justice and in peace,
wealth and honour long we have enjoyed,
as we cannot seem with greedy minds
wish for change of prince or governance:
if we
like your purpose and device,
liking must be deemed to proceed
rightful reason, and of heedful care,
for ourselves, but for the
common
state,
our own state doth need no better change:
think in all as erst your grace hath said.
when you shall unload your aged mind
heavy care and troubles manifold,
lay the same upon my lords your sons,
growing years may bear the burden long,
long I pray the gods to grant it so,
in your life while you shall so behold
rule, their virtues, and their noble deeds,
as their kind behighteth
to us all,
be the profits that shall grow thereof;
age in quiet shall the longer last.
lasting age shall be their longer stay,
cares of kings, that rule as you have ruled,
public wealth and not for private joy,
waste man’s life, and hasten crooked age,
furrowed face and with enfeebled limbs,
draw on creeping death a swifter pace.
two, yet young, shall bear the parted
reign
greater ease, than one, now old, alone,
wield the whole, for whom much harder is
lessened strength the double
weight
to bear.
eye, your counsel, and the grave regard
father, yea of such a father’s name,
at beginning of their sundered reign,
is the
hazard
of their whole success,
bridle so their force of youthful heats,
so restrain the rage of insolence
most assails the young and noble minds,
so shall guide and train in tempered stay
yet green bending wits with reverent awe,
now
inured with virtues at the first,
(O King) shall bring delightfulness.
use of virtue, vice shall grow in hate;
if you so dispose it, that the day
ends your life, shall first begin their
reign,
is the peril what will
be the end,
such beginning of such liberties
of such stays
as in your life do lie,
leave them free to
random
of their will,
open prey to traitorous flattery,
greatest pestilence of noble youth.
peril shall be past, if in your life,
tempered youth with aged father’s awe,
brought in ure
of skilful stayedness.
in your life their lives disposed so,
length
your noble life in joyfulness.
think I that your grace hath wisely thought,
that your tender care of commonweal,
bred this thought, so to divide your land,
plant your sons to bear the present rule,
you yet live to see their ruling well,
you may longer live by joy therein.
further means behoveful
are and meet
greater
leisure may your grace devise,
all have said, and when we be agreed
this be best to part the realm in twain,
place your sons in present government.
as I have plainly said my mind,
would I hear the rest of all my lords.
part I think as hath
been said before,
part again my mind is otherwise;
for dividing of this realm in twain,
lotting out the same in egall parts,
either of my lords, your grace’s sons,
think I best for this your realm’s behoof,
profit and advancement of your sons,
for your comfort and your honour eke.
so to place them, while your life do
last,
yield to them your royal governance,
be above them only in the name
father, not in kingly state also,
think not good for you, for them, nor us.
kingdom since the bloody civil field
Morgan
slain
did yield his conquered part
his cousin’s sword in Camberland,
all that whilom did suffice
noble sons of your forefather Brute.
your two sons, it may suffice also.
mo,
the stronger, if they gree
in one.
smaller compass that the realm doth hold,
easier is the sway thereof to wield,
nearer justice to the wronged poor,
smaller charge, and yet enough for one.
when the region is divided so,
brethren be the lords of either part,
strength doth nature knit between them both,
sundry bodies by conjoined love,
not as two, but one of doubled force,
is to other as a sure defence.
nobleness and glory of the one
sharp the courage of the other’s mind,
virtuous envy to contend for praise.
such an egalness
hath
nature made,
the brethren of one father’s seed,
an unkindly wrong it seems to be,
throw the brother
subject under feet
him, whose peer he is by course of kind,
Nature that did make this egalness,
so
repineth
at so great a wrong,
oft she raiseth up a grudging grief
younger brethren at the elder’s state:
both towns and kingdoms have been razed,
famous stocks of royal blood destroyed:
brother, that should be the brother’s aid,
have a wakeful care for his defence,
for his death, and blames the lingering years
draw
not forth his end with faster course:
oft impatient of so long delays,
hateful slaughter he prevents
the
fates,
heaps
a
just reward for brother’s blood,
endless vengeance on his stock for aye.
mischiefs here are wisely met withal,
egall state may nourish egall love,
none hath cause to grudge at other’s good.
now the head to stoop beneath them both,
kind, ne reason, ne good order bears.
oft it hath been seen, where nature’s course
been perverted in disordered wise,
fathers cease to know that they should rule,
children cease to know they should obey.
often overkindly
tenderness
mother of unkindly stubbornness.
speak not this in envy or reproach,
if I grudged the glory of your sons,
honour I beseech the gods increase:
yet as if I thought there did remain,
filthy cankers in their noble breasts,
I esteem (which is their greatest praise)
children of so good a king.
I mean to show by
certain rules,
kind hath graft within the mind of man,
Nature hath her order and her course,
(being broken) doth corrupt the state
minds and things, even in the best of all.
lords, your sons, may learn to rule of you.
own example in your noble court
fittest guider of their youthful years.
you desire to see
some
present joy
sight of their well ruling in your life,
them obey, so shall you see them rule,
obeyeth not with humbleness
rule with outrage
and with insolence.
may they rule I do beseech the gods,
long may they learn, ere they begin to rule.
kind and fates
would
suffer, I would wish
aged princes, and immortal kings.
most noble King I well
assent,
your sons that you divide your realm,
as in kind, so match them in degree.
while the gods prolong your royal life,
your reign: for thereto live you here,
therefore have the gods so long forborne
join you to themselves, that still you might
prince and father of our commonweal.
when they see your children ripe to rule,
make them room, and will remove you hence,
yours in right ensuing of your life
rightly honour your immortal
name.
wonted true regard of faithful hearts,
me (O King) the bolder to presume,
speak what I conceive within my breast,
the same do not agree at all
that which other here my lords have said,
which yourself have seemed best to like.
I crave, and that my words be deemed
flow from hearty zeal unto your grace,
to the safety of your commonweal.
part your realm unto my lords, your sons,
think not good for you, ne yet for them,
worst of all for this our native land;
one land, one single rule is best:
reigns
do make divided hearts.
peace preserves the country and the prince.
is in man the greedy mind to reign,
great is his desire to climb aloft,
worldly stage the stateliest parts to bear,
faith and justice and all kindly love,
yield unto desire of sovereignty,
egall state doth raise an egall hope
win the thing that either would attain.
grace remembreth how in passed years
mighty Brute, first prince of all this land,
the same and ruled it well in one,
thinking that the compass did suffice,
his three sons three kingdoms eke to make,
it in three, as you would now in twain.
how much British
blood hath since
been
spilt,
join again the sundered unity?
princes slain before their timely hour?
waste of towns and people in the land?
treasons heaped on murders and on spoils?
just revenge even yet is scarcely ceased,
remembrance is yet raw
in mind.
gods forbid the like to chance again:
you (O King) give not the cause thereof.
Lord Ferrex, your elder son, perhaps
kind and custom gives a rightful hope
be your heir and to succeed your reign,
think that he doth suffer greater wrong
he perchance will bear, if power serve.
the younger so upraised
in state,
in courage will be raised also.
flattery then, which fails not to assail
tender minds of yet unskilful youth,
one shall kindle and increase disdain,
envy in the other’s heart enflame,
fire shall waste their love, their lives, their land,
ruthful ruin shall destroy them both.
wish not this (O King) so to befall,
fear the thing, that I do most abhor.
no beginning to so dreadful end.
them in order and obedience:
let them both by now obeying you,
such behaviour as beseems their state;
elder, mildness in his governance,
younger, a yielding contentedness.
keep them near unto your presence still,
they, restrained by the awe of you,
live in compass of well-tempered stay,
pass the perils of their youthful years.
aged life draws on to feebler time,
you shall less able be to bear
travails that in youth you have sustained,
in your person’s and your realm’s defence.
planting now your sons in further parts,
send them further from your present reach,
shall you know how they themselves demean:
corrupters of their pliant youth,
have unspied a much more free access,
if
ambition and inflamed disdain
arm the one, the other, or them both
civil war, or to usurping pride,
shall you rue that you ne recked before.
is, I grant, of all to hope the best,
not to live still dreadless of the worst.
trust the one, that the other be foreseen.
not unskilfulness with princely power.
you that long have wisely ruled the reins
royalty within your noble realm,
hold them, while the gods for our avails
stretch the thread of your prolonged days.
soon he
clamb
into
the flaming car,
want of skill did set the earth on fire.
and example of your noble grace,
teach your sons both to obey and rule;
time hath taught them, time shall make them place,
place that now is full: and so I pray
it remain, to comfort of us all.
take your faithful hearts in thankful part.
sith I see no cause to draw my mind
fear the nature of my loving sons,
to misdeem that envy or disdain,
there work hate, where nature planteth love:
one self purpose do I still abide.
love extendeth egally
to
both,
land sufficeth for them both also.
shall part the marches of their realms:
southern part the elder shall possess:
northern shall Porrex, the younger, rule:
quiet I will pass mine aged days,
from the travail and the painful cares,
hasten age upon the worthiest kings.
lest the fraud, that ye do seem to fear,
flattering tongues, corrupt their tender youth,
writhe
them
to the ways of youthful lust,
climbing pride, or to revenging hate,
to neglecting of their careful charge,
to live in wanton recklessness,
to oppressing of the rightful cause,
not to wreak
the wrongs done to the poor,
tread down truth, or favour false deceit:
mean to join to either of my sons
one of those, whose long-approved faith
wisdom tried, may well assure my heart:
mining fraud shall find no way to creep
their fenced ears with grave advice.
is the end, and so I pray you all
bear my sons the love and loyalty
I have found within your faithful breasts.
nor your sons, our sovereign lord, shall want,
faith and service while our lives do last.
GORBODUC,
AROSTUS, PHILANDER, and
EUBULUS.]
Chorus]
settled stay doth hold the royal throne
steadfast place, by known and doubtless right,
chiefly when descent on one alone
single and unparted reign to light:
change of course unjoints the whole estate,
yields it thrall to ruin by debate.
strength that, knit by fast
accord in one,
all foreign power of mighty foes
of itself defend itself alone,
once, the former force doth lose.
sticks, that sundered brake so soon in twain,
faggot bound attempted were in vain.
tender mind that leads the partial eye
erring parents in their children’s love,
the wrongly
loved child thereby.
doth the proud son of Apollo
prove,
rashly set in chariot of his sire,
the parched
earth
with heaven’s fire.
this great king, that doth divide his land,
change
the
course of his descending crown,
yields the reign into his children’s hand,
blissful state of joy and great renown,
mirror shall become to princes all,
learn to shun the cause of such a fall.
The
Order and Signification of the Dumb Show Before the Second Act.
First
the music of cornets began to play, during which came in upon the
stage a king accompanied with a number of his nobility and gentlemen.
And after he had placed himself in a chair of estate prepared for
him, there came and kneeled before him a grave and aged gentleman and
offered up a cup unto him of wine in a glass, which the
king refused. After him comes a brave and lusty young gentleman and
presents the king with a cup of
gold filled with poison, which the king accepted, and drinking the
same, immediately fell down dead upon the
stage, and so was carried thence away by his lords and gentlemen, and
then the music ceased. Hereby was signified, that as glass by nature
holdeth no poison, but is clear and may easily be seen through, ne
boweth by any art: so a faithful counsellor holdeth no treason, but
is plain and open, ne yieldeth to any undiscreet
affection, but giveth wholesome
counsel, which the ill-advised prince refuseth. The delightful gold
filled with poison betokeneth flattery, which under fair seeming of
pleasant words beareth deadly poison, which destroyed
the prince that receiveth it. As befell in the two brethren Ferrex
and Porrex, who refusing the wholesome advice of grave counsellors,
credited these young parasites, and brought to
themselves
death and destruction thereby.
Actus secundus. Scena prima.
FERREX,
HERMON
[and]
DORDAN.
marvel much what reason led the king
father, thus without all my desert,
reave
me half the kingdom, which by course
law and nature should remain to me.
you with stubborn and untamed pride
stood against him in rebelling
wise,
if with grudging mind you had envied
slow a sliding of his aged years,
sought before your time to haste the course
fatal death upon his royal head,
stained your stock with murder of your kin:
face of reason might perhaps have seemed
yield some likely cause to spoil ye thus.
wreakful
gods pour on my cursed head
plagues and never-dying woes,
hellish prince
adjudge
my damned ghost
Tantale’s
thirst, or proud Ixion’s
wheel,
cruel gripe
to gnaw my growing
heart,
during torments and unquenched flames,
ever I conceived so foul a thought,
wish his end of life, or yet of reign.
yet your father (O most noble Prince)
ever think so foul a thing of you.
he, with more than father’s tender love,
yet the Fates do lend him life to rule
long might live to see your ruling well),
you my lord, and to his other son,
he resigns his realm and royalty:
never would so wise a prince have done,
he had once misdeemed that in your heart
ever lodged so unkind a thought.
tender love (my lord) and settled trust
your good nature, and your noble mind,
him to place you thus in royal throne,
now to give you half his realm to guide,
and that half which in
abounding
store
things that serve to make a wealthy realm,
stately cities, and in fruitful soil,
temperate breathing of the milder heaven,
things of needful use, which friendly sea,
by traffic from the foreign parts,
flowing wealth, in honour and in force,
pass the double value of the part,
Porrex hath allotted to his reign.
is your case, such is your father’s love.
love, my friends? Love wrongs not whom he loves.
yet he wrongeth you, that giveth you
large a reign, ere that the course of time
you to kingdom by descended right,
time perhaps might end your time before.
this no wrong, say you, to reave from me
native right of
half so great a realm?
thus to match his younger son with me
egall power, and in as great degree?
and what son? The son whose swelling pride
never yield one point of reverence,
I the elder and apparent heir
in the likelihood to possess the whole,
and that son which from his childish age
mine honour and doth hate my life.
will he now do, when his pride, his rage,
mindful malice of his grudging heart,
armed with force, with wealth, and kingly state?
this not wrong, yea ill-advised wrong,
give so mad a man so sharp a sword,
so great peril of so great mishap,
open thus to set so large a way?
my Lord, what griefful thing is this,
of your brother you can think so ill?
never saw him utter likely sign,
a man might see or once misdeem
hate of you, ne such unyielding pride.
is their counsel, shameful be their end,
raising such mistrustful fear in you,
the seed of such unkindly hate,
by treason
to destroy you both.
is your brother, and of noble hope,
to wield a large and mighty realm.
much a stronger friend have you thereby,
strength is your strength, if you gree
in
one.
nature and the gods had pinched so
flowing bounty, and their noble gifts
princely qualities, from you my lord,
poured them all at once in wasteful wise
your father’s younger son alone:
there be that in your prejudice
say that birth should yield to worthiness.
sith in each good gift and
princely
art
are his match, and in the chief of all
mildness and in sober governance
far surmount: and sith there is in you
skill and hopeful towardness
wield the whole, and match your elders’
praise:
see no cause why ye should lose the half.
would I wish you yield to such a loss:
your mild sufferance of so great a wrong,
deemed cowardish
and simple dread:
shall give courage to the fiery head
your young brother to invade the whole.
yet therefore sticks in the people’s mind
loathed wrong of your disheritance,
ere your brother have by settled power,
guileful cloak of an alluring show,
him some force and favour in the
realm,
while the noble queen your mother lives,
work and practise all for your avail,
redress by arms, and wreak yourself
his life, that gaineth by your loss,
now to shame of you, and grief of us,
your own kingdom triumphs over you.
now your courage meet for kingly state,
they which have avowed to spend their goods,
lands, their lives and honours in your cause,
be the bolder to maintain your part,
they do see that coward fear in you,
not betray ne fail their faithful hearts.
once the death of Porrex end the strife,
pay the price of his usurped reign,
mother shall persuade the angry king,
lords, your friends, eke shall appease his rage.
they be wise, and well they can foresee,
ere long time your aged father’s death
bring a time when you shall well requite
friendly favour, or their hateful spite,
or their slackness to avaunce
your cause.
men do not so hang on passing state
present princes, chiefly in their age,
they will further cast their reaching eye,
view and weigh the times and reigns to come.
is it likely, though the king be wroth,
he yet will, or that the realm will bear,
revenge upon his only son.
if he would, what one is he that dare
minister to such an enterprise?
here you be now placed in your own,
your friends, your vassals and your strength.
shall defend and keep your person safe,
either counsel turn his tender mind,
age, or sorrow end his weary days.
if the fear of gods, and secret grudge
nature’s law, repining at the fact,
your courage from so great attempt:
ye, that lust of kingdoms hath no law.
gods do bear and well allow in kings,
things they abhor in rascal routs.
kings on slender quarrels run to wars,
then in cruel and unkindly wise,
thefts, rapes, murders
of innocents,
spoil
of towns, ruins
of mighty realms:
you such princes do suppose
themselves
to laws of kind, and fear of gods?
and violent thefts in private men
heinous crimes and full of foul reproach,
none offence, but decked with glorious name
noble conquests, in the hands of kings.
if you like not yet so hot device,
list to take such vantage of the time,
though with peril
of your own estate,
will not be the first that shall invade:
yet your force for your defence,
for your safety stand upon your guard.
heaven, was there ever heard or known,
wicked counsel to a noble prince?
me (my lord) disclose unto your grace
heinous tale, what mischief it contains;
father’s death, your brother’s and your own,
present murder and eternal shame.
me (O King) and suffer not to sink
high a treason in your princely breast.
mighty gods forbid that ever I
once conceive such mischief in my heart.
my brother hath bereft my realm,
bear perhaps to me an
hateful mind:
I revenge it with his death therefore?
shall I so destroy my father’s life
gave me life? The gods forbid, I say.
you to speak so any more to me.
you, my friend, with answer once repeat
foul a tale. In silence let it die.
lord or subject shall have hope at all,
under me they safely shall enjoy
goods, their honours, lands and liberties,
whom, neither one only brother dear,
father dearer, could enjoy their lives?
sith I fear my younger brother’s rage,
sith perhaps some other man may give
like advice, to move his grudging head
mine estate, which counsel may perchance
greater force with him, than this with me,
will in secret so prepare myself,
if his malice or his lust to reign
forth in
arms
or sudden violence,
may withstand his rage and keep mine own.
FERREX
and
HERMON.]
fear the fatal time now draweth on,
civil hate shall end the noble line
famous Brute and of his royal seed.
Jove defend the mischiefs now at hand.
that the Secretary’s wise advice
erst been heard when he besought the king
to divide his land, nor send his sons
further parts from presence of his court,
yet to yield to them his governance.
such are they now in the royal throne
was rash
Phaeton in Phoebus’ car.
then the fiery steeds did draw the flame
wilder random through the kindled skies,
traitorous counsel now will whirl about
youthful heads of these unskilful kings.
I hereof their father will inform.
reverence of him perhaps shall stay
growing mischiefs, while they yet are green.
this help not, then woe unto themselves,
prince, the people, the divided land.
Actus
secundus. Scena secunda.
PORREX, TYNDAR [and]
PHILANDER.
is it thus? And doth he so prepare,
his brother as his mortal foe?
now, while yet his aged father lives?
regards he him? Nor fears he me?
would he have? And he shall have it so.
saw myself the great prepared store
horse, of armour, and of weapon
there,
bring I to my lord reported tales
the ground of seen and searched truth.
secret quarrels run about his court,
bring the name of you my lord in hate.
man almost can now debate the cause,
ask a reason of so great a wrong,
he
so noble and so wise a prince,
as unworthy reft
his heritage?
why the king, misled by crafty means,
thus his land from course of right?
wiser sort hold down their griefful heads.
man withdraws from talk and company
those that have been known to favour you.
hide the mischief of their meaning there,
are spread of your preparing here.
rascal numbers of unskilful
sort
filled with monstrous tales of you and yours.
secret I was counselled by my friends,
haste me thence, and brought you as you know
from those, that both can truly tell,
would not write unless they knew it well.
lord, yet ere you move
unkindly war,
to your brother to demand the cause.
some traitorous tales have filled his ears
false reports against your noble grace:
once disclosed, shall end the growing strife,
else not stayed with wise foresight in time
hazard both your kingdoms and your lives.
to your father eke, he shall appease
kindled minds, and rid you of this fear.
me of fear? I fear him not at all:
will to him, ne to my father send.
danger were for one to tarry there,
ye it safety
to
return again?
mischiefs, such as Ferrex now intends,
wonted courteous laws to messengers
not observed, which in just war they use.
I so hazard any one of mine?
I betray my trusty friends
to
him,
have
disclosed his treason unto me?
him entreat that fears, I fear him not.
shall I to the king my father send?
and send now, while such a mother lives,
loves my brother, and that hateth me?
I give leisure, by my fond delays,
Ferrex to oppress me all
unware?
will not, but I will invade his realm,
seek the traitor prince within his court.
for mischief is a due reward.
wretched head shall pay the worthy price
this his treason and his hate to me.
I abide, and treat,
and send and pray,
hold my yielden
throat to traitor’s knife?
I with valiant mind and conquering force,
rid myself of foes: and win a realm?
rather, when I have the wretch’s head,
to the king, my father, will I send.
bootless case may yet appease his wrath:
not, I will defend me as I may.
PORREX and
TYNDAR.]
here the end of these two youthful kings,
father’s death, the ruin
of
their realms.
most unhappy state of counsellors,
light on so unhappy lords and times,
neither can their good advice be heard,
must they bear the blames of ill success.
I will to the king, their father, haste,
this mischief come to the
likely end,
if the mindful wrath of wreakful gods,
mighty Ilion’s
fall
not yet appeased
these poor remnants
of the Trojan
name,
not determined by
unmoved fate
of this realm to raze the British
line,
good advice, by awe of father’s name,
force of wiser lords, this kindled hate
yet be quenched, ere it consume us all.
PHILANDER.]
Chorus.]
youth not bridled with a guiding stay
left to random of their own delight,
wields whole realms, by force of sovereign sway,
is the danger of unmastered might,
skilless rage throw down with headlong fall
lands, their states, their lives, themselves and all.
growing pride doth fill the swelling breast,
greedy lust doth raise the climbing mind,
hardly may the peril be repressed,
fear of angry gods, ne laws kind,
country’s
care can fired hearts restrain,
force hath armed envy and disdain.
kings of foreset
will
neglect the rede
best advice, and yield to pleasing tales,
do their fancies’ noisome humour feed,
reason, nor regard of right avails.
heaps of plagues shall teach too late,
learn the mischiefs of misguided
state.
fall the traitor false, that undermines
love of brethren to destroy them both.
to the prince, that pliant ear inclines,
yields his mind to poisonous tale, that floweth
flattering mouth. And woe to wretched land
wastes itself with civil sword in hand.
thus it is, poison in gold to take,
wholesome drink in homely cup forsake.
The
Order and Signification of the Dumb Show Before the Third Act.
First
the music of flutes began to play, during which came in upon the
stage a company of mourners all clad in black betokening death and
sorrow to ensue upon the ill-advised misgovernment and dissension of
brethren, as befell upon the murderer
of Ferrex by his younger brother. After the mourners had passed
thrice about the stage, they departed, and then the music ceased.
Actus tertius. Scena prima.
GORBODUC,
EUBULUS
[and]
AROSTUS.
cruel fates, O mindful wrath of gods,
vengeance neither Simois’
stained
streams
with blood of Trojan princes slain,
Phrygian
fields made rank with corpses dead
Asian kings and lords, can yet appease,
slaughter of unhappy Priam’s
race,
Ilion’s fall made level with the soil,
yet suffice: but still continued rage
our lines,
and from the farthest seas
chase
the issues of destroyed Troy.
no man happy, till his end be seen.
any flowing wealth and seeming joy
present years might make a happy wight,
was Hecuba
the woefullest wretch
ever lived to make a mirror of,
happy Priam with his noble sons.
happy I, till now; alas I see
feel my most unhappy wretchedness.
my lords, read ye this letter here.
it contains the ruin of our
realm,
timely speed provide not hasty help.
(O ye gods) if ever woeful king
move ye
kings
of kings, wreak it on me
on my sons, not on this guiltless realm.
down your wasting flames from wrathful skies,
reave me and my sons the hateful breath.
read, my lords: this is the matter why
called ye now to have your good advice.
letter from
DORDAN the
counsellor of the elder prince.
readeth
the letter.
sovereign lord, what I am loath to write,
loathest am to see, that I am forced
letters now to make you understand.
Lord Ferrex, your eldest son, misled
traitorous fraud
of young untempered
wits,
force against your younger son,
can my counsel yet withdraw the heat
furious pangs of his inflamed head.
(saith he) of his disheritance
him to wreak the great pretended wrong,
civil sword upon his brother’s life.
present help do not restrain this rage,
flame will waste your sons, your land, and you.
Your
Majesty’s faithful and most
humble subject, Dordan.”
King, appease your grief and stay your plaint.
is the matter, and a woeful case.
timely knowledge may bring timely
help.
for them both unto your presence here.
reverence of your honourage,
and state,
grave advice, the awe of father’s name,
quickly knit again this broken peace.
if in either of my lords your sons,
such untamed and unyielding pride,
will not bend unto your noble hests:
Ferrex the elder son can bear no peer,
Porrex not content, aspires to more
you him gave above his native right:
with the juster side, so shall you force
to agree, and hold the land in stay.
meaneth this? Lo yonder comes in haste
from my lord your younger son.
PHILANDER.]
gods send joyful news.
mighty Jove
your majesty, O noble King.
welcome: but how doth my son?
son, sir, lives, and healthy I him left.
yet (O King) the
want of lustful health
not be half so griefful to your grace,
these most wretched tidings that I bring.
heavens, yet more? Not
end of woes to me?
O King, came lately from the court
Ferrex, to my lord your younger son,
made report of great prepared store
war, and saith that it is wholly meant
Porrex, for high disdain that he
now a king and egall in degree
him, that claimeth to succeed the whole,
by due title of descending right.
is now so set on flaming fire,
with kindled rage of cruel wrath,
with hope to gain a realm thereby,
he in haste prepareth to invade
brother’s land, and with unkindly war
the murder of your elder son,
could I him persuade that first he should
to his brother to demand the cause,
yet to you to stay this
hateful strife.
sith there no more I can be heard,
come myself now to inform your grace,
to beseech you, as you love the life
safety of your children and your realm,
to employ your wisdom and your force
stay this mischief ere it be too late.
they in arms? Would he not send to
me?
this the honour of a father’s name?
vain we travail to asswage their minds,
if their hearts, whom neither brother’s love,
father’s awe, nor kingdom’s cares
can move,
counsels could withdraw from raging heat.
slay them both, and end the cursed line.
though perhaps fear of such mighty force
I my lords, joined with your noble aids,
yet raise, shall repress
their present heat,
secret grudge and malice will remain,
fire not quenched, but kept in close restraint,
still within, breaks forth with double flame.
death and mine must pease
the angry gods.
not, O King, so much to weak despair.
sons yet live, and long I trust, they shall.
Fates had taken you from earthly life,
beginning of this civil strife:
your sons in their unmastered youth,
from regard of any living wight,
run on headlong, with unbridled race,
their own death and ruin of this realm.
sith the gods, that have the care for kings,
things and times dispose the order so,
in your life this kindled flame breaks forth,
yet your life, your wisdom, and your power,
stay the growing mischief, and repress
fiery blaze of their enkindled
heat:
seems, and so ye ought to deem thereof,
loving Jove hath tempered so the time
this debate to happen in your days,
you yet living may the same appease,
add it to the glory of your latter age,
they our
sons may learn to live in peace.
(O King) the greatest harm of all,
by your wailful plaints your hastened death
larger room unto their growing rage.
your life, the only hope of stay.
if your highness herein list to use
or force, counsel or knightly aid:
we, our persons, powers and lives are yours,
us till death, O King, we are your own.
here the peril that was erst foreseen,
you (O King) did first divide your land,
yield your present reign unto your sons,
now (O noble prince) now is no time
wail and plain, and waste your woeful life.
is the time for present good advice.
doth dark the judgement of the wit.
heart unbroken and the courage free
feeble faintness of bootless despair,
either rise to safety or renown
noble valure
of
unvanquished mind,
yet doth perish in more happy sort.
grace may send to either of your sons
one both wise and noble personage,
with good counsel and with weighty name,
father, shall present before their eyes
hest, your life, your safety and their own,
present mischief of their deadly strife.
in the while, assemble you the force
your commandment and the speedy haste
all my lords here present can prepare.
terror of your mighty power shall stay
rage of both, or yet of one at least.
NUNTIUS.]
King, the greatest grief that ever prince did hear,
ever woeful messenger did tell,
ever wretched land hath seen before,
bring to you. Porrex your younger son
sudden force, invaded hath the land
you to Ferrex did allot to rule,
with his own most bloody hand he hath
brother slain, and doth possess his realm.
heavens send down the flames of your revenge,
I say with flash of wreakful fire
traitor son, and then the wretched sire.
let us go, that yet perhaps I may
with revenge, and pease
the
hateful gods.
GORBODUC,
EUBULUS, AROSTUS, PHILANDER, and
NUNTIUS.]
lust of kingdom
knows
no sacred faith,
rule of reason, no regard of right,
kindly love, no fear of heaven’s wrath:
with contempt of gods, and man’s despite,
bloody slaughter, doth prepare the ways
fatal sceptre and accursed reign.
son
so loathes the father’s lingering days,
dreads his hand in brother’s blood to stain.
wretched prince, ne dost thou yet record
yet fresh murders done within the land
thy forefathers, when the cruel sword
Morgan
his
life with cousin’s hand?
fatal plagues pursue the guilty race,
murderous hand imbrued with guiltless blood
vengeance still
before the heavens’ face,
endless mischiefs on the cursed brood.
wicked child thus
brings to woeful sire
mournful plaints, to waste his very
life.
do the cruel flames of civil fire
the parted reign with hateful strife.
hence doth spring the well from which doth flow
dead black streams of mourning,
plaints and woe.
The
Order and Signification of the Dumb Show Before the Fourth Act.
First
the music of hautboys
began
to play, during which there came from
under the stage, as though out of hell, three Furies, Alecto, Megera,
and Ctesiphone,
clad
in black garments sprinkled with blood and flames, their bodies girt
with snakes, their heads spread with serpents instead of hair, the
one bearing in her hand a snake, the other a whip, and the third a
burning firebrand: each driving before them a king and a queen, which
moved by Furies unnaturally had slain their own children. The names
of the kings and queens were these: Tantalus,
Medea,
Athamas, Ino,
Cambyses,
Althea;
after that the Furies and these had passed about the stage thrice,
they departed and then the music ceased: hereby was signified the
unnatural murders to follow, that is to say, Porrex slain by his own
mother; and of king Gorboduc and queen Viden[a], killed by their own
subjects.
[4.1]
Actus quartus. Scena prima.
VIDEN[A]
sola.
should I live, and linger forth my time
longer life to double my distress?
me most woeful wight, whom no mishap
ere this day could have bereaved hence.
not these hands by fortune, or by fate,
pierced this breast, and life with iron reft?
in this palace here, where I so long
spent my days, could not that happy hour
once have happed in which these hugy
frames
death by fall might have oppressed me?
should not this most hard and cruel soil,
oft where I have pressed my wretched steps,
had ruth of mine accursed life,
rend in twain and
swallow me therein?
had my bones possessed now in peace
happy grave within the closed ground,
greedy worms had gnawn this pined heart
my feeling pain: so should not now
living breast remain the ruthful tomb,
my heart yielden to death is graved:
dreary thoughts with pangs of pining grief
doleful mind had
not afflicted thus.
my beloved son: O my sweet child,
dear Ferrex, my joy, my life’s delight.
my beloved
son,
is my sweet child,
dear Ferrex, my joy, my life’s delight,
with cruel death? O hateful wretch,
heinous traitor both to heaven and earth.
Porrex, thou this damned deed hast wrought,
Porrex, thou shalt dearly bye
the
same.
to kin and kind, to sire and me,
thine own flesh, and traitor to thyself.
gods on thee in hell shall wreak their wrath,
here in earth this hand shall take revenge,
thee Porrex, thou false and caitiff wight.
after blood so eager were thy thirst,
murderous mind had so possessed thee,
such hard heart of rock and stony flint
in thy breast, that nothing else could like
cruel tyrant’s thought but death and blood:
savage beasts, mought not their
slaughter
serve
feed thy greedy will, and in the midst
their entrails to stain thy deadly hands
blood deserved, and drink thereof thy fill?
if nought else but death and blood of man
please thy lust, could none in Britain land,
heart betorn out of his panting
breast
thine own hand, or work what death thou wouldst,
to make a sacrifice to pease
deadly mind and murderous thought in thee?
he who in the self-same womb was wrapped,
thou in dismal hour receivedst life?
if needs, needs, thy
hand
must
slaughter make,
thou not have reached a mortal wound,
with thy sword have pierced this cursed womb,
the accursed Porrex brought to light,
given me a just reward therefore?
Ferrex yet
sweet life mought have enjoyed,
to his aged father comfort brought,
some young son in whom they both might live.
whereunto waste I this ruthful speech,
thee that hast
thy
brother’s blood thus shed?
I still think that from this womb thou sprung?
I thee bare? Or take thee for my son?
traitor, no: I thee refuse for mine,
I thee renounce, thou art not mine.
O wretch, this womb conceived thee,
never bode I painful throes for thee.
to me thou art, and not my child,
to no wight, that spark of pity knew.
unkind, monster of nature’s work,
never sucked the milk of woman’s breast,
from thy birth the cruel tiger’s teats
nursed thee,
nor
yet of flesh and blood
is thy heart, but of hard iron wrought,
wild and desert woods bred thee to life.
canst thou hope to scape my just revenge?
that these hands will not be wroke
on
thee?
thou not know that Ferrex’ mother lives
loved him more dearly than herself?
doth she live, and is not venged on thee?
VIDENA.]
Actus quartus. Scena secunda.
GORBODUC [and]
AROSTUS.
marvel much whereto this ling’ring stay
out so long: Porrex unto our court
order of our letters is returned,
Eubulus received from us by hest
his arrival here to give him charge
our presence straight to make repair,
yet we have
no word whereof he stays.
where he comes and Eubulus with him.
EUBULUS
and
PORREX.]
to your Highness’ hest to me,
have I Porrex brought even in such sort
from his wearied horse he did alight,
that your grace did will such hast therein.
like and praise this speedy will in you,
work the thing that to your charge we gave.
if we so far should swerve from kind,
from those
bounds which law
of
nature sets,
thou hast done by vile and wretched deed,
cruel murder of thy brother’s life,
present hand could stay no longer time,
straight should bathe this blade in blood of thee
just revenge of thy detested crime.
we should not offend the law of kind,
now this sword of ours did slay thee here:
thou hast murdered him, whose heinous death
nature’s force doth move us to revenge
blood again: and
justice
forceth us
measure death for death, thy due desert.
sithens
thou art our child, and sith as yet
this hard case what word thou canst allege
thy defence, by us hath not been heard,
are content to stay our will for that
justice bids us presently to work,
give thee leave to use thy speech at full
aught thou have to lay for thine excuse.
O King, I can or will deny
that this hand from Ferrex life hath reft:
fact how much my doleful heart doth wail,
would it mought as full appear to sight
inward grief doth pour it forth to me.
yet perhaps if ever ruthful heart
in tears within a manly breast,
deep repentance of his bloody fact,
ever grief, if ever woeful man
move regret with sorrow of his fault,
think the torment of my mournful case
to your grace, as I do feel the same,
force even Wrath herself to pity me.
as the water troubled with the mud
not the face which else the eye should see;
so your ireful mind with stirred thought,
so perfectly discern my cause.
this unhap,
amongst so many heaps,
must content me with, most wretched man,
to myself I must reserve
my
woe
pining thoughts of mine accursed fact,
I
may not show here my smallest grief
as it is, and as my breast endures,
I esteem the greatest misery
all mishaps that fortune now can send,
that I rest in hope with plaint
and
tears
purchase life: for to the gods I clepe
true record of this my faithful speech,
this heart shall have the thoughtful dread
die the death that by your grace’s doom
just desert, shall be pronounced to me:
never shall this tongue once spend the
speech
to crave, or seek by suit to live.
mean not this, as though I were not touched
care of dreadful death, or that I held
in contempt: but that I know the mind
to no dread, although the flesh be frail,
for my guilt, I yield the same so great
in myself I find a fear to sue
grant of life.
vain, O wretch, thou showest
woeful heart; Ferrex now lies in grave,
by thy hand.
this, O father, hear:
then I end. Your Majesty well knows,
when my brother Ferrex and myself
your own hest were joined in governance
this your grace’s realm of Britain land,
never sought nor travailed for the same,
by myself, nor
by no friend I wrought,
from your Highness’ will alone it sprung,
your most gracious goodness bent to me.
how my brother’s heart even then repined
swollen disdain against mine egall rule,
that realm, which by descent should grow
to him, allotted half to me!
in your Highness’ court he now remains,
with my brother then in nearest place,
can record, what proof thereof was showed,
how my brother’s envious heart appeared.
I that judged it my part to seek
favour and good will, and loath to make
highness know, the thing which should have brought
to your grace, and your offence to him,
my
earnest
suit should soon have won
loving heart within a brother’s breast,
in that sort that for a pledge of love
faithful heart, he gave to me his hand.
made me think, that he had banished quite
rancour from his thought and bare to me
hearty love, as I did owe to him.
after once we left your grace’s court,
from your Highness’ presence lived apart,
egall rule still, still, did grudge him so
now those envious sparks which erst lay raked
living cinders of dissembling breast,
so far within his heart
disdain,
longer could he not refrain from proof
secret practice to deprive me
life
poison’s force, and had bereft me so,
mine own servant hired to this fact
moved by truth with hate to work the same,
time
had not bewrayed it unto me.
thus I saw the knot of love unknit,
honest league and faithful promise broke,
law of kind and truth thus rent in twain,
heart on mischief set, and in his breast
treason hid, then, then did I despair
ever time could win him friend to me.
saw I how he smiled with slaying knife
under cloak, then saw I deep deceit
in his face and death prepared for me:
nature moved me then to hold my life
dear to me than his, and bade this hand,
by his life my death must needs ensue,
by his death my life to be preserved,
shed his blood, and seek my safety so.
wisdom willed me without protract
speedy wise to put the same in ure.
have I told the cause that moved me
work my brother’s death, and so I yield
life, my death, to judgement of your grace.
cruel wight, should any cause prevail
make thee stain thy hands with brother’s blood?
what of thee we will resolve to do,
yet remain unknown. Thou in the mean
from our royal presence banished be,
our princely pleasure further shall
thee be showed. Depart therefore our sight
child.
PORREX.]
What
cruel destiny,
froward fate hath sorted us this chance,
even in those where we should comfort find,
our delight now in our aged days
rest and be, even there our only grief
deepest sorrows to abridge our life,
pining cares and deadly thoughts do grow?
grace should now in these grave years of yours
found ere this the price of mortal joys,
short they be, how fading here in earth,
full of change, how brittle our estate,
nothing sure, save only of the death,
whom both man and all the world doth owe
end at last, neither should
nature’s power
other sort against your heart prevail,
as the naked hand whose stroke assays
armed breast where force doth light in vain.
can yield right sage and grave
advice
patient sprite to others wrapped in woe,
can in speech both rule and conquer kind,
if by proof they might feel nature’s force,
show themselves men as they are in deed,
now will needs be gods. But what doth mean
sorry cheer of her
that here doth come?
MARCELLA.]
where is ruth? Or where is pity now?
is gentle heart and mercy fled?
they exiled out of our stony breasts,
to make return? Is all the world
in blood, and sunk in cruelty?
not in women mercy may be found,
not (alas) within the mother’s breast,
her own child, to her own flesh and blood,
ruth be banished thence, if pity there
have no place, if there no gentle heart
live and dwell, where should we seek it then?
(alas) what means your woeful tale?
silly
woman I, why to this hour
kind and fortune thus deferred my breath,
I should live to see this doleful day?
ever wight believe that such hard heart
rest within the cruel mother’s breast,
her own hand to slay her only son?
out (alas) these eyes beheld the same,
saw the dreary sight, and are becomen
ruthful records of the bloody fact.
(alas) is by his mother slain,
with her hand, a woeful thing to tell,
slumb’ring on his careful bed he rests
heart stabbed
in
with knife is reft of life.
Eubulus, oh draw this sword of ours,
pierce this heart with speed. O hateful light,
loathsome life, O sweet and welcome death.
Eubulus work this we thee beseech.
your grace, perhaps he liveth yet;
wound received, but not of certain death.
let us then repair unto the place,
see if Porrex live,
or thus be slain.
GORBODUC
and
EUBULUS.]
he liveth not, it is too true,
with these eyes, of him a peerless prince,
to a king, and in the flower of youth,
with a twink a senseless stock I saw.
damned deed.
But hear his
ruthful end.
noble prince, pierced with the sudden wound,
of his wretched slumber hastily start,
strength now failing straight he overthrew,
in the fall his eyes even new
unclosed
the queen, and cried to her for help.
then, alas, the ladies which that time
there attend, seeing that heinous deed,
hearing him oft call the wretched name
mother, and to cry to her for aid,
direful hand gave him the mortal wound,
(alas) for nought else could we do
ruthful
end, ran to the woeful bed,
straight his breast, and all we might
in vain with napkins next at hand,
sudden streams of blood that flushed fast
of the gaping wound. O what a look,
what a ruthful steadfast eye methought
fixed upon my face, which to my death
never part fro
me,
when with a braid
deep-fet
sigh he gave, and therewithal
his hands, to heaven he cast his sight.
straight, pale death pressing within his face
flying ghost his mortal corpse forsook.
did age bring forth so vile a fact.
hard and cruel hap, that thus assigned
so worthy a wight so wretched end:
most hard cruel heart, that could consent
lend the hateful Destinies that hand,
which, alas, so heinous crime was wrought.
queen of adamant, O marble breast.
not the favour of his comely face,
not his princely cheer and countenance,
valiant active arms, his manly breast,
not his fair and seemly personage,
noble limbs in such proportion
cast
would have rapt
a silly woman’s thought;
this mought not have moved thy
bloody heart,
that most cruel hand the wretched weapon
to let fall, and kissed him in the face,
tears for ruth to reave such one by death:
nature yet consent to slay her son?
mother, thou to murder thus thy child?
Jove with justice must with lightning flames
heaven send down some strange revenge on thee.
noble prince, how oft have I beheld
mounted on thy fierce and trampling steed,
in armour bright before the tilt,
with thy mistress’ sleeve tied on thy helm,
charge thy staff to please thy lady’s eye,
bowed the head piece of thy friendly foe?
oft in arms on horse to bend the mace?
oft in arms on foot to break the sword,
never now these eyes may see again.
alas, in vain these plaints are shed,
with me depart, and help to swage
thoughtful griefs that in the aged king
needs by nature grow, by death of this
only son, whom he did hold so dear.
wight is that which saw that I did see,
could refrain to wail with plaint and tears?
I, alas, that heart is not in me.
let us go, for I am grieved anew,
call to mind the wretched father’s woe.
AROSTUS
and
MARCELLA.]
Chorus.]
greedy lust in royal seat to reign
reft all care of gods and eke of men,
cruel heart, wrath, treason, and disdain
ambitious
breast are lodged, then
how mischief wide herself displays,
with the brother’s hand the brother slays.
blood thus shed, doth stain the
heavens’ face,
to Jove for vengeance of the deed,
mighty god even moveth from his place,
wrath to wreak: then sends
he forth with speed
dreadful Furies, daughters of the night,
serpents girt, carrying the whip of ire,
hair of stinging snakes, and shining bright
flames and blood, and with a brand of fire.
for revenge of wretched murder done,
make
the mother kill her only son.
asketh blood, and death must death requite.
by his just and everlasting doom
hath ever so requited it.
times before record, and times to come
find it true, and so doth present proof
before our eyes for our behoof.
happy wight that suffers not the snare
murderous mind to tangle him in blood.
happy he that can in time beware
other’s harms and turn it to his good.
woe to him that fearing not to offend
serve his lust, and will not see the end.
The
Order and Signification of the Dumb Show Before the Fifth Act.
First
the drums and flutes began to sound, during which there came forth
upon the stage a company of hargabusiers
and of armed men all in order of battle. These, after their pieces
discharged, and that the armed men had three times marched about the
stage, departed, and then the drums and flutes did cease. Hereby was
signified tumults, rebellions, arms and civil wars to follow, as fell
in the realm of Great Britain, which by the space of fifty years and
more continued in civil war between the nobility after the death of
King Gorboduc, and of his issues, for want of certain limitation in
succession
of the crown, till the time of Dunwallo Molmutius,
who reduced the land to monarchy.
Actus quintus. Scena prima.
CLOTYN, MANDUD, GWENARD, FERGUS [and]
EUBULUS.
ever age bring forth such tyrants’ hearts?
brother hath bereft the brother’s life,
mother she hath dyed her cruel hands
blood of her own son, and now at last
people lo forgetting truth and love,
quite both law and loyal heart,
they have slain their sovereign lord and queen.
this their traitorous crime unpunished rest?
yet they cease not, carried on
with
rage,
their rebellious routs, to threaten still
new bloodshed unto the princes’ kin,
slay them all, and to uproot the race
of the king and queen, so are they moved
Porrex’ death, wherein they falsely charge
guiltless king without desert at all,
traitorously have murdered him therefore,
eke the queen.
subjects dare with force
work revenge upon their prince’s fact?
the worst that may, as sure in this
deed was foul, the queen to slay her son,
yet the subject seek to take the sword,
against his lord, and slay his king?
wretched state, where those rebellious hearts
not rent out even from their living breasts,
with the body thrown unto the fowls
carrion food, for terror of the rest.
can no punishment be thought too great
this so grievous crime: let speed therefore
used therein, for it behoveth so.
all, my lords, I see consent in one
I as one consent with ye in all.
hold it more than need with sharpest
law
punish this
tumultuous bloody rage.
nothing more may shake the common state,
sufferance of uproars without redress,
how some kingdoms of mighty power
great conquests made, and flourishing
fame and wealth, have been to ruin brought;
pray to Jove that we may rather wail
hap in them than witness in ourselves.
fully with the duke my mind agrees,
kings forget to govern as they ought,
subjects must obey as they are bound.
now my lords, before ye farther wade,
spend your speech, what sharp revenge shall fall
justice’ plague on these rebellious wights,
ye rather should first search the way,
which in time the rage of this uproar
be repressed, and these great tumults ceased.
yet the life of Britain land doth hang
traitor’s balance of unegal
weight.
not my lords the death of Gorboduc,
yet Videna’s blood will cease their rage:
our own lives, our wives and children dear,
country dearest of all, in danger stands,
to be spoiled, now, now made desolate,
by ourselves a conquest to ensue.
give once sway unto the people’s lusts,
rush forth on, and stay them not in time,
as the stream that rolleth down the hill,
will they headlong run with raging thoughts
blood to blood, from mischief unto mo,
ruin of the realm, themselves and all,
giddy are the common people’s minds,
glad of change, more wavering than the sea.
see (my lords) what strength these rebels have,
hugy number is assembled still,
though the traitorous fact, for which they rose
wrought and done, yet lodge they still in field
that how far their furies yet will stretch
cause we have to dread. That we may seek
present battle to repress their power,
must we use to levy force therefore.
either they forthwith will mischief work,
their rebellious roars forthwith will
cease.
violent things may have no lasting long.
us therefore use this for present help,
by gentle speech, and offer grace
gift of pardon save unto the chief,
that upon condition that forthwith
yield the captains of their enterprise
bear such guerdon
of
their traitorous fact,
may be both due vengeance to themselves,
wholesome terror to posterity.
shall, I think, scatter
the
greatest part,
now are holden with desire of home,
in field with cold of winter’s nights,
some (no doubt) stricken with dread of law.
this is once proclaimed, it shall make
captains to mistrust the multitude,
safety bids them to betray their heads,
so much more because the rascal routs,
things of great and perilous attempts,
never trusty to the noble race.
while we treat and stand
on terms of grace,
shall both stay their fury’s rage the while,
eke gain time, whose only help sufficeth
war to vanquish rebels’ power
the meanwhile, make you in readiness
band of horsemen as ye may prepare.
(you know) are not the commons’ strength,
are the force and store of noble men,
the unchosen and unarmed sort
skilless
rebels, whom none other power
number makes to be of dreadful force,
sudden brunt may quickly be oppressed.
if this gentle mean of proffered grace,
stubborn hearts cannot so far avail
to asswage their desperate courages;
do I wish such slaughter to be made,
present age and eke posterity
be adrad
with
horror of revenge,
justly then shall on these rebels fall.
is my lord
the sum of mine advice.
this case admits debate at large,
though it did, this speech that hath been said
well abridged the tale I would have told.
with Eubulus do I consent
all that he hath said: and if the same
you my lords, may seem for best advice,
wish that it should straight be put in ure.
lords, then let us presently depart,
follow this that liketh us so well.
CLOTYN,
MANDUD, GWENARD, and
EUBULUS.]
ever time to gain a kingdom here
offered man, now it is offered me.
realm is reft both of their king and queen,
offspring of the prince is slain and dead,
issue now remains, the heir unknown,
people are in arms and mutinies,
nobles they are busied how to cease
great rebellious tumults and uproars,
Britain land now desert,
left alone
these broils uncertain where to rest,
herself unto that noble heart
will or dare pursue to bear her crown.
I that am the Duke of Albany
from that line of noble blood,
hath so long flourished in worthy fame,
valiant hearts, such as in noble breasts
right should rest above the
baser sort,
to venture
life to win a crown?
shall I find en’mies that will withstand
fact herein, if I attempt by arms
seek the same
now
in these times of broil?
dukes’ power can hardly well appease
people that already are in arms.
if perhaps my force be once in field,
not my strength in power above the best
all these lords now left in Britain land?
though they should match me with power of men,
doubtful is the chance of battles joined.
victors of the field we may depart,
is the sceptre then of Great Britain.
slain amid the plain this body lie,
enemies yet shall not deny me this,
that I died giving the noble charge
hazard life for conquest of a crown.
therefore will I in post
depart
Albany, and raise in armour there
power I can: and here my secret friends,
secret practice shall solicit still,
seek to win to me the people’s hearts.
Actus quintus. Scena secunda.
EUBULUS.
Jove, how are these people’s hearts abused!
blind fury thus headlong carries them!
though so many books, so many rolls
ancient time record,
what grievous plagues
on these rebels aye, and though so oft
ears have heard their aged fathers tell
just reward these traitors still receive,
though themselves have seen deep death and blood,
strangling cord and slaughter of the sword
such assigned, yet can they not beware,
cannot
stay their lewd
rebellious hands,
suff’ring lo
foul
treason to distain
wretched minds, forget their loyal heart,
all truth
and rise against their prince.
ruthful case, that those, whom duty’s bond,
grafted law by nature, truth, and faith,
to preserve their country and their king,
to defend their commonwealth and prince,
they should give consent thus to subvert
Britain land, and from thy
womb should spring
native soil) those, that will needs destroy
ruin thee and eke themselves in fine.
lo, when once the dukes
had offered grace
pardon sweet, the multitude, misled
traitorous fraud of their ungracious heads,
sort that saw the dangerous success
stubborn standing in rebellious war,
knew the difference of princes’ power
headless number of tumultuous routs,
common country’s care, and private fear,
to repent the error
of their rage,
hands upon the captains of their band,
brought them bound unto the mighty dukes.
other
sort
not trusting yet so well
truth of pardon, or mistrusting more
own offence than that they could
conceive
hope of pardon for so foul misdeed,
for that they their captains could not yield,
fearing to be yielded fled before,
home by silence of the secret night;
third unhappy and enraged
sort
desperate hearts, who stained in princes’ blood
traitorous furor
could not be withdrawn
love, by law, by grace, ne yet by fear,
proffered life, ne yet by threatened death,
minds hopeless of life, dreadless of death,
of country, and aweless of God,
bent to fight, as Furies did them move,
violent
death to close their traitorous life.
all by power of horsemen were oppressed,
with revenging sword slain in the field,
with the strangling cord hanged on the tree,
yet their
carrion carcasses do preach
fruits that rebels reap of their uproars,
of the murder of their sacred prince.
lo, where do approach the noble dukes,
whom these tumults have been thus appeased.
CLOTYN,
MANDUD, GWENARD, and
AROSTUS.]
think the world will now at length beware
fear to put on arms against their prince.
not? Those traitorous hearts that dare
rebel,
them behold the wide and hugy fields
blood and bodies
spread
of
rebels slain,
lofty
trees clothed with the
corpses dead
strangled with the cord do hang thereon.
just reward, such as all times before
ever lotted to those wretched folks.
what means he that cometh here so fast?
NUNTIUS.]
lords, as duty and my troth doth move
of my country work a
care in me,
if the spending of my breath availed
do the service that my heart desires,
would not shun to embrace a present death:
have I now in that wherein I thought
travail mought perform some good effect,
my life to bring these tidings here.
the mighty duke of Albany
now in arms and lodgeth in the field
twenty thousand men; hither he bends
speedy march, and minds to invade the crown.
he gathereth strength, and spreads abroad
to this realm no certain heir remains,
Britain land is left without a guide,
he the sceptre seeks, for nothing else
to preserve the people and the land,
now remain as ship without a stern.
this is that which I have here to say.
this his faith? And shall he falsely thus
the vantage of unhappy times?
wretched land, if his outrageous pride,
cruel and untempered
wilfulness,
deep dissembling shows of false pretence,
once attain the crown of Britain land.
us my lords, with timely force resist
new attempt of this our common foe,
we would quench the flames of common fire.
we remain without a certain prince,
wield the realm or guide the wand’ring rule,
now the common mother of us all,
native land, our country, that contains
wives, children, kindred, ourselves and all
ever is or may be dear to man,
unto us to help ourselves and her,
us advance our powers to repress
growing foe of all our liberties.
let us so, my lords, with hasty speed.
ye (O gods) send us the welcome death,
shed our blood in field, and leave us not
loathsome life to linger out our days,
see the hugy heaps of these unhaps,
now
roll down upon the wretched land,
empty place of princely governance,
certain stay now left of doubtless heir,
leave this guideless realm an open prey,
endless storms and waste of civil war.
ye (my lords) do so agree in one,
save your country from the violent reign
wrongfully usurped tyranny
him that threatens conquest of you all,
save your realm, and in this realm yourselves,
foreign thraldom of so proud a prince,
do I praise, and I beseech the gods,
happy honour to requite it you.
(O my lords) sith now the heavens’ wrath
reft this land the issue of their prince,
of the body of our late sovereign lord
no mo, since the young kings be slain,
of the title of descended
crown
the diverse minds do think
of the learned sort, and more uncertainly
partial fancy and affection deem:
most uncertainly will climbing pride
hope of reign withdraw to
sundry
parts
doubtful right and hopeful lust to reign:
once this noble service is achieved
Britain land the mother of ye all,
once ye have with armed force repressed
proud attempts of this Albanian
prince,
threatens thraldom to your native land,
ye shall vanquishers return from field,
find the princely state an open pray
greedy lust and to usurping power,
then (my lords) if ever kindly care
ancient honour of your ancestors,
present wealth and noblesse of your stocks,
of the lives and safety yet to come
your dear wives, your children, and yourselves,
move your noble hearts with gentle ruth,
then, have pity on the torn estate,
help to salve the well-near hopeless sore
ye shall do, if ye
yourselves withhold
slaying knife from your own mother’s throat.
shall you save, and you, and yours in her,
ye shall all with one assent forbear
to lay hand or take unto yourselves
crown, by colour of pretended right,
by what other means soever it be,
first by common counsel of you all
parliament the regal diadem
set in certain place of governance,
which your parliament and in your choice,
the
right (my lords) with[out]
respect
strength or
friends,
or whatsoever cause
may set forward any other’s part.
right will last, and wrong cannot endure.
mean I his or hers, upon whose name
people rest by mean of native line,
by the virtue of some former law
made their title to advance.
one (my lords) let be your chosen king,
one so born within your native land,
one prefer, and in no wise admit
heavy yoke of foreign governance,
foreign titles yield to public wealth.
with that heart wherewith ye now prepare
to withstand the proud invading foe,
that same heart (my lords) keep out also
thraldom of strangers’ reign,
suffer you against the rules of kind
motherland to serve a foreign prince.
here the end of Brutus’ royal line,
lo the entry to the woeful wrack
utter ruin of this noble realm.
royal king, and eke his sons are slain,
ruler rests within the regal seat,
heir, to whom the scepter longs,
unknown,
to each
force of foreign prince’s power,
vantage of our
wretched state may move
sudden arms to gain so rich a realm,
to the proud and greedy mind at home,
blinded lust to reign leads to aspire,
Britain realm is left an open prey,
present spoil by conquest to ensue.
seeth not now how many rising minds
feed their thoughts, with hope to reach a realm?
who will not by force attempt to win
great a gain, that hope persuades to have?
simple colour shall for title serve.
wins the royal crown will want no right,
such as shall display by long descent
lineal race to prove him lawful
king.
the meanwhile these civil arms shall rage,
thus a thousand mischiefs shall unfold,
far and near spread thee (O Britain land)
right and law shall cease, and he that had
today, tomorrow shall enjoy
heaps of gold,
and he that flowed in wealth,
he shall be bereft
of life and all,
happiest he that then possesseth least;
wives shall suffer rape, the maids
deflowered,
children fatherless shall weep and wail;
fire and sword thy native folk shall perish,
kinsman shall bereave another’s
life,
father shall unwitting slay the son,
son shall slay the sire and know it not,
and maids the cruel soldier’s sword
pierce to death, and silly children lo,
play
in the streets and fields are found,
violent hand shall close their latter day.
shall the fierce and bloody soldier
to life? Whom shall he spare from death?
thou (O wretched mother) half alive,
shalt behold thy dear and only child
with the sword while he yet sucks thy breast.
guiltless blood shall thus each where be shed.
shall the wasted soil yield forth no fruit,
dearth and famine shall possess the land.
towns shall be consumed and burnt with fire,
peopled cities shall wax desolate,
thou, O Britain,
whilom in renown,
in wealth and fame, shalt thus be torn,
thus, and thus be rent in twain,
wasted and defaced, spoiled and destroyed,
be the fruits your civil wars will bring.
it comes when kings will not consent
grave advice, but follow wilful will.
is the end, when in fond
princes’ hearts
prevails, and sage rede hath no place.
are the plagues, when murder is the mean
make new heirs unto the royal crown.
wreak the gods, when that the mother’s wrath
but the blood of her own child may swage.
mischiefs spring
when
rebels will arise,
work revenge and judge their prince’s fact.
this ensues, when noble men do fail
loyal troth, and subjects will be kings.
this doth grow when lo unto the prince,
death or sudden hap of life bereaves,
certain heir remains, such certain heir,
not all only is the rightful heir,
to the realm is so made known
to
be,
troth thereby vested in subjects’ hearts,
owe faith there where right is known to rest.
in parliament what hope can be,
is of parliament no hope at all?
though it be assembled by consent,
is not
likely with consent to end,
each one for himself, or for his friend,
his foe, shall travail what he may.
now the state, left open to the man,
shall with greatest force invade the same,
fill ambitious minds with gaping hope,
will they once with yielding hearts agree?
in the while, how shall the realm be used?
no: then parliament should have been holden,
certain heirs appointed to the crown,
stay the
title
of established right,
in the people plant
obedience,
yet the prince did live, whose name and power
lawful summons and authority
make a parliament to be of force,
might have set the state
in quiet stay.
now, O happy man, whom
speedy death
of life, ne is enforced to see
hugy mischiefs and these miseries,
civil wars, these murders and these wrongs.
justice yet must God
in
fine restore
noble crown unto the lawful heir:
right will always live, and rise at length,
wrong can never take deep root to last.