The Brazen Age, The first Act containing, The death of the Centaure Nessus, The Second, The Tragedy of Meleager: The Third The Tragedy of Iason and Medea. The Fourth. Vulcans Net. The Fifth. The Labours and death of Hercules

 Oeneus K of Calidon.

Althea,&

Her two brothers.

Deyaneira.

Meleager.

Hercules.

Achelous.

Neſſus.

Iaſon.

Atreus.

Tellamon.

Neſtor.

Medes.

Oetes.

Abſyrtus,

Adonis.

Atlanta.  

Apollo.

Aurora.

Iupiter.

Mercury.

Iuno.

Mars.

Venus.

Gallus.

Vulcan.

Lychas.

Omphale.

Her maids.

Æneas.

Anchiſes.

Laomedon.

Heſione.

Priam.

Philoctetes.

Water Nymphes.

Caſtor.

Pollux.

Pyragmon.

The Brazen Age, containing The labours and death of Hercules.

Enter Homer.  

As the world growes in yeares (‘tis the Heauens curſe

Mens ſinnes increaſe; the priſtine times were beſt:

The Ages in their growth wax worſe & worſe

The firſt was pretious, full of golden reſt.

Silver ſucceeded; good, but not ſo pure:

Then loue and harmeleſſe luſts might currant paſſe:
The third that followes we finde more obdure,
And that we title by the Age of Braſſe.
In this more groſſe and courſer mettal'd Age,
Tyrants and fierce oppreſſors we preſent.
Nephewes that 'gainſt their Vnckles wreake their rage,
Mothers againſt their children diſcontent,
A ſiſter with her brother at fierce warre,
(Things in our former times not ſeene or knowne)
But vice with vertue now begins to iarre,
And ſinnes (though not at height) yet great are growne.
Still with our hiſtory we ſhall proceed,
And Hercules viſtorious acts relate:
His marriage firſt, next many a noble deed
Perform'd by him: laſt how he yeelds to Fate.

And theſe, I hope, may (with ſome mixtures) paſſe,
So you ſit pleas'd in this our Age of Braſſe.

Actus i. Scoena i.

Enter Oeneus, King of Calidon, Queene Althea, Meleager, Deianeira, Plexippus, and Toxeus, brothers to the Queene.

 

K. Oen. Thus midſt our brothers, daughter, Queene and ſonne,
Sits Oeneus crown'd in fertill Calidon 
Whoſe age and weakeneſſe is ſupported only,
In thoſe ripe ioyes that I receiue from you.

 Plex. May we long ftand ſupporters of your royaltyes,
And glad ſpectators of your age and peace.

 Tox. The like I wiſh.

 K. Oen. We haue found you brothers royall,
And ſubiects loyall.

 Althea. They are of our line,
Of which no branch did euer periſh yet,
By Cankers, blaſtings, or dry barrenneſſe.
But Meleager let me turne to thee,
Whoſe birth the Fates themſelues did calculate,

 Mel. Pray mother how was that? I haue heard you ſay
Somewhat about my birth miraculous,
But neuer yet knew the true circumſtance.

 Althea. ’Twas thus: the very inſtant thou waſt borne,
The ſiſters, that draw, ſpinne, and clip our liues,
Entred my chamber with a fatall brand,
Which hurling in the fire, thus ſaid: One day, one date,
Betide this brand and childe, euen be their fate.
So parted they, the brand begins to burne:
And as it waſted, ſo didſt thou conſume;
Which I perceiuing, leap't vnto the flame,
And quenching that, ſtayd thy conſumption.
The brand I (as a iewell) haue reſeru'd,
And keepe it in a caſket, lock't as ſafe
As in thy boſome thou maintainſt thy heart.

Melea. Pray keepe it well: for if not with my mother,
With whom dare Meleager truſt his life?
But ſiſter Deianeira, now to you.
Two worthy Champians muſt this day contend,
And try their eminence in Armes for you,
Great Achelous, and ſtrong Hercules.

  Deia. We know it: my loue muſt be bought with blowes,
Not Oratory wins me, but the ſword:
He that can brauelieſt in the liſts contend,
Muſt Deianeira's nuptiall bed aſcend.

  Oen. Brothers, conduct theſe Champions to the liſts,
Meane time Althea ſtate thee on that hand,
On this ſide Deianeira the rich prize
Of their contention.

  Melea. Clamors from a farre,
Tell vs theſe Champions are a dreſt for warre.

Enter at one doore the riuer Achelous, his weapons borne in by Water-Nymphes. At the other Hercules.

  K. Oen. Stand forth you warlike Champions, and expreſſe
Your loues to Deianeira, in your valours.
As we are Oeneus the Aetolians King,
And vnder vs command whole Calidon.
So we conteſt we make her here the prize
Of the proud victor:

  Ache. Dares the Theban baſtard
Contend with vs, as we are eldeſt ſonne
Vnto the graue and old Oceanus,
And the Nymph Nais, borne on Pindus mount,
From whence our broad and ſpacious currents riſe?
So are we proud to coape with Hercules.
Nere let my ſtreames waſh Acarnania's bankes,
Or we confin'de in Thous, our grand ſeat,
Till (by the ruine of Alcmena's ſonne)
We lodge bright Deianeira in our armes.

  Herc. Haue we the Cleonean Lyons torne?

And deck’t our ſhoulders in their honored ſpoyles?
The Calidonian Boare cruſht with our Club?
The rude Theſſalian Centaurs ſunke beneath
Our Iuiall hand? pierc'd hell? bound Cerberus?
And buffeted ſo long, till from the fome
The dogge belch't forth ſtrong Aconitum ſpring?
And ſhall a petty riuer make our way
To Deianeira's bed impaſſable?
Know then the pettieſt ſtreame that flowes through Greece,
Il'e make thee run thy head below thy bankes,
Make red thy waters with thy vitall bloud,
And ſpill thy waues in droppes as ſmall as teares,
If thou preſum'st to coape with Hercules.

  Ache. What's Hercules that I ſhould dread his name?
Or what's he greater then Amphitrio’s ſonne?
When we aſſume the name of Demi-god
Not Proteus can tranſ-ſhape himſelfe like vs,
For we command our figure when we pleaſe.
Sometimes we like a ſerpent run along
Our medowy bankes: and ſometimes like a Bull
Graze on theſe ſtrands we water with our ſtreames.
We can tranſlate our fury to a fire,
And when we ſwell, in our fierce torrents ſwallow
The Champian plaines, and flow aboue the hils,
Drowne all the continents by which we run;
Yea Hercules himſelfe.

  Herc. Me Achelous!
I can do more then this: loue Deianeira,
Swin with her on my ſhoulders through thy ſtreames,
And with my huge Club beat thy torrents backe,
With thine owne waters quench th'infernall fires
Thy figure ſerpentine, flat on the earth:
And when th'art Bull, catch faſt hold by thy hornes,
And whirle thee 'bout my head thus into ayre.
Thou faire Aetolian dame, I cannot wooe,
Nor paint my paſſions in ſmooth Oratory,
But fight for thee I can, 'gainſt Achelous,

Or all the horrid monſters of the earth.

  Melea. When ’gins your proud and hoſtile enmity?
Behold the prize propoſ'd, the victors meed,
Champions your ſpirits inkindle at her eyes.

  Ache. It is for her this baſtard I deſpiſe.
Prepare thee Theban.

  Herc. See, I am adreſt
With this to thunder on thy captiue creſt.
I cannot bellow in thy bombaſt phraſe;
Nor deafe theſe free ſpectators with my braues.
I cut off words with deeds, and now behold
For me, the eccho of my blowes thus ſcold.

Alarme.  Achelous is beaten in, and immediatly enters in

the ſhape of a Dragon.

  Herc. Bee’ſt thou a God or hell-hound thus tranſhap't,
Thy terrour frights not me, ſerpent or diuell Il'e paſh thee.

Alarme. He beats away the dragon. Enter a Fury all fire-workes.

 Herc. Fright vs with fire? our Club ſhall quench thy flame,
And beat it downe to hell, from whence it came.

When the Fury ſinkes, a Buls head appeares.

  Herc. What, yet more monſters? Serpent, Bull, and Fire,
Shall all alike taſte great Alcides ire.

He tugs with the Bull, and pluckes off one of his horns. Enter from the ſame place Achelous with his fore-head all bloudy.

  Ache. No more, I am thy Captiue, thou my Conquerer:
I ſee, no Magicke, or inchanting ſpell
Haue power on vertue and true fortitude.
No ſleight Illuſion can deceiue the eyes
Of him that is diuinely reſolute.
I lay me at thy feet, a lowly vaſſaile,
Since thou haſt reft me of that prccious horne,
Which tearing from my head in ſhape of Bull,
Thus wounded me. Take Deianeira freely,
Onely reſtore me that rich ſpoyle thou haſt wonne,
Which all the Nymphes and graces dwelling neere,
Shall fill with redolent flowers, and delicate fruits,
And call it Cornucopiae, plenties horne,

In memory of Achelous loſſe,
And this high conqueſt won by Hercules.

  Hercu. Hadſt thou not ſtoopt thy horrid Taurine ſhape
I would haue peece-meale rent, and thy tough hide
Torne into rags as thicke as Autumne leaues:
Take thee thy life, and with thy life that ſpoile
Pluckt from thy mangled front, giue me my loue,
I'le ſtoare no hornes at winning of a wife.
Giue me bright Deyanira, take that horne,
So late from thy diſfigured Temples torne.

  Deyan. I haue my prayers, Alcides his deſires,
Both meete in loue.

  Oen. Receiue her Hercules,
The conqueſt of thy warlike fortitude.

  Herc. Wee take but what our valour purchaſt vs,
And beauteous Queene thou ſhalt aſſure his loue,
Whoſe puiſſant arme ſhall awe the triple world,
And make the greateſt Monarches of the earth
To thy diuineſt beauty tributary.

  Meleag. Will Hercules ſtay heere in Calidon,
To ſolemnize the nuptials of our ſiſter?
I Meleager, rich Aetolians heire,
Whoſe large Dominions ſtretch to Oeta Mount,
And to the bounds of fertile Theſſaly
Will grace thy Bridals with the greateſt pompe
Greece can affoord, nor is't my meaneſt honour
To be the brother to great Hercules.

  Herc. Thanks Meleager, ſoiourne heere we cannot,
My ſtep-dame luno taſks me to more dangers:
Wee take thy beauteous ſiſter in our guard,
Whom by Ioues aide wee ſtraight will beare to Thebes.

Oen. A fathers wiſhes crowne the happineſſe
Of his faire daughter.

Mel. And a brothers loue
Comfort thee where thou goeſt: If not with Hercules
Whom dare we truſt thy ſafety.

Herc. Not loues guard
Can circle her with more ſecurity.

Time cals vs hence, Aetolian Lords farewell.

  Oen. Adiew braue ſonne, and daughter, onely happy
In being thus beſtowed, come Achelous,
With you we'le feaſt, nor let your foyle deiect you,
Or Deyaniraes loſſe; he's more then man,
And needes muſt he do this, that all things can.   

Exeunt.

  Herc. Dares Deyaneira truſt her perſons ſafety
With vs a ſtranger, onely knowne by Fame.

  Deyn. Wer't gainſt the Lyons in Chimera bred,
Or thoſe rude Beares that breed in Caucaſus:
The Hyrcan Tigers or the Syrian Wolues,
Nay gainſt the Giants that aſſaulted heauen
And with their ſhoulders made thoſe baſes ſhake
That prop Olimpus: liu'd Enceladus
With whom loue wreſtled: euen againſt thoſe monſters,
I'de thinke me ſafe incircled in theſe armes.

  Herc. Thou art as ſafe as if immur'd in heauen,
Pal'd with that Chriſtall wall that girts loues houſe,
Where all the Gods inhabite, built by fate,
Stay, I ſhould know that Centaure.       

Enter Neſſus.

  Neſſ. That's Hercules I know him by his Club,
Whoſe ponderous weight I felt vpon my Skull
At the great Bridall of the Lapithes.
What louely Ladie's ſhee that in her beauty
So much exceedes faire Hypodamia?

  Herc, Oh Neſſus, thou of all thy cloud-bred race,
Alone didſt ſcape by truſting to thy heeles
At Hypodamia's Bridals, but we now
Are friends, are wee not Neſſus?

  Neſſ. Yes great Hercules,
(Till I can find fit time for iuſt reuendge)
Methinkes my braines ſtill rattle in my ſkull)
What Ladie's that in great Alcides Guard?

  Herc. Deyaneira, daughter to the Aetolian King,
Siſter to Meleager, now our Bride;
Wonne by the force of armes from Achelous,
The boyſterous floud that flowes through Calidon.

Neſſ. A double enuy burnes in all my veines,
Firſt for reuenge; next, that he ſhould enioy
That beauteous maide whom Neſſus dearely loues.
Will Hercules commande me? or his Bride?
I'le lackey by thee whereſoer'e thou goeſt,
And be the vaſſall to great Hercules.

  Herc.We are bound for Thebes, but ſoft, what torrent's this
That intercepts our way? How ſhall we paſſe
Theſe raging ſtreames?

  Neſſ. This is Euenus floud,
A dangerous current, full of whirle-pooles deepe,
And yet vnſounded: dar'ſt thou truſt thy Bride
On Neſſus backe? I'le vndertake to ſwimme her
Vnto the furtheſt ſtrond, vpon my ſhoulders,
And yet not laue her ſhooe.

  Herc. I'le pay thee for thy waftage Centaure, well,
And make thee Prince of all thy by-form'd race,
If thou willt do this grace to Hercules:
But ferry her with ſafety, for by Ioue,
If thou but make her tremble in theſe ſtreames,
Or let the leaſt waue daſh againſt her ſkirt;
If the leaſt feare of drowning pale her cheeke,
I'le pound thee ſmaller then the Autumne duſt
Toſt by the warring winds?

  Neſſ. Haue I not ſwomme
The Helleſepont, when waues high as yon hils
Toſt by the winds, haue crown'd me, yet in ſpight
Of all their briny weight I haue wrought my ſelfe
Aboue the topmoſt billow to ore-looke
The troubled maine: come beauteous Deyaneira,
Not Charon with more ſafety ferries ſoules,
Then I will thee through this impetuous foord,

  Herc. Receiue her Centaure, and in her the wealth
And potency of mighty Hercules.

  Neſſ. Now my reuenge for that inhumaine banquet,
In which ſo many of the Centaures fell,
I'le rape this Princeſſe, hauing paſt the floud

Come beauteous Deyaneira, mount my ſhoulders,
And feare not your ſafe waſtage.           

Exeunt.

Herc. That done returne for vs: faire Deianeira,
White as the garden lilly, pyren ſnow,
Or rocks of Chriſtall hardned by the Sunne:
Thou ſhalt be made the potent Queene of Thebes,
And all my Iouiall labours ſhall to thee
Be conſecrate, as to Alcides loue.
Well plundge bold Centaure, how thy boyſterous breſt
Plowes vp the ſtreames: thou through the ſwelling tides,
Sail'ſt with a freight more rich and beautifull,
Then the beſt ſhip cram'd with Pangeous gold:
With what a ſwift dexterity he parts
The mutinous waues, whoſe waters claſpe him round,
Hee plaies and wantons on the curled ſtreames,
And Deyanira on his ſhoulders fits
As ſafe, as if ſhe ſtear'd a pine-tree barke.
They grow now towards the ſhore: my club and armes
I'le firſt caſt or'e the deepe Euenus foord,
But from my ſide my quiuer ſhall not part,
Nor this my truſty bow.

  Deyan. Helpe Hercules.          Within.

  Herc. 'Twas Deyaneiraes voyce.

  Deyan. The Traytor Neſſus
Seekes to deſpoile mine honour, Ioue, you Gods:
Out trayterous Centaure: Helpe great Hercules.

  Herc. Hold, luſt-burnt Centaure, 'tis Alcides cals
Or ſwifter then Ioues lightning, my fierce vengeance
Shall croſſe Euenus.

  Deyan. Oh, oh.

  Herc. Darſt thou deuill?
Couldſt thou clime Heauen or ſinke below the Center
So high, ſo low, my vengeance ſhould perſue thee,
Hold; if I could but fixe thee in my gripes,
I de teare thy limbes into more Atomies
Then in the Summer play before the Sunne.

  Deyan. Helpe Hercules (out dog) Alcides helpe.

  Herc. I'le ſend till I can come, this poiſonous ſhaft

Shall ſpeake my fury and extract thy bloud,
Till I my ſelfe can croſſe this raging floud.

Hercules ſhoots, and goes in: Enter Neſſus with an arrow through him, and Deianeira.

  Neſſ. Thy beauty Deyaneira is my death,
And yet that Neſſus dies embracing thee
Takes from my ſences all thoſe torturing pangues
That ſhould aſſociate death: to ſhew I lou'd thee,
I'le leaue thee, in my will, a legacy;
Shall ſtead thee more, then ſhould thy father giue thee
Vnto thy Dower the Crowne of Calidon.
Of ſuch great vertue is my liuing bloud,
And of ſuch prize, that couldſt thou valew it,
Thou wouldſt not let one drop fall to the ground:
But oh I die.

  Deyan. Teach me to rate it truely.

  Neſſ. Now Neſſus, in thy death be aueng'd on him
On whom in life thou couldſt not wreake thy rage:
(My bloud is poiſon) all theſe pure drops ſaue,
Which I bequeath thee ere I take my graue:
I know thy Lord laſciuious, bent to luſt,
Witneſſe the fifty daughters of King Theſpeius,
Whom in one night he did adulterate:
And of thoſe fifty begot fifty ſonnes:
Now if in all his queſts, he be with-held
By any Ladies loue, and ſtay from thee,
Such is the vertue of my bloud now ſhed,
That if thou dipſt a ſhirt, ſteept in the leaſt
Of all theſe drops, and ſendſt it to thy Lord,
No ſooner ſhall it touch him, but his loue
Shall die to ſtrangers, and reuiue to thee,
Make vſe of this my loue.

  Deyan. Centaure, I will.

  Neſſ. And ſo, whom Neſſus cannot, do thou kill;
Still dying men ſpeake true: 'tis my laſt cry,
Saue of my bloud, ’tmay ſteede thee ere thou die.

  Deyan. hough I my loue miſtruſt not, yet this counſell

I'lenot deſpiſe: this if my Lord ſhould ſtray,
Shall to my deſolate bed teach him the way.

Enter Hercules.

  Herc. After long ſtrugling with Euenus ſtreames,
I forc't the riuer beare me on her breſt,
And land me ſafely on this further ſtrond,
To make an end of what my ſhaft begunne,
The life of Neſſus, liues the Centaure yet?

  Deyan. Behold him grouelling on the ſenceleſſe earth,
His wounded breaſt tranſfixt by Hercules.

  Herc. That the luxurious ſlaue were ſencible
Of torture; not th'infernals with more pangues
Could plague the villaine then Alcides ſhould.
Ixions bones rackt on the torturing wheele
Should be a paſtime: the three ſnake-hair'd ſiſters,
That laſh offenders with their whips of ſteele,
Should ſeeme to dally, when with euery ſtring
They cut the fleſh like razors: but the dead
Wee hate to touch, as cowardly and baſe,
And vengeance not becomming Hercules.
Come Deyaneira, firſt to conſumate
Our high ſpowſals in triumphant Thebes,
That done, our future labours wee'le perſue,
And by the aſſiſtance of the powers Diuine,
Striue to act more then luno can aſſigne.        

Exit.

Enter Homer.

Faire Deyaneira vnto, Thebes being guided,
And Hercules eſpouſals ſolemnized.
Hee for his further labours ſoone prouided,
As Iuno by Euritius had deuiſed.
The Apples of Heſperia firſt he wan,
Mauger huge Atlas that ſupports the ſpheares:
And whilſt the Gyant on his buſineſſe ran;
Alcides takes his place, and proudly beares
The heauens huge frame: thence into Scithia hies,

And their the Amazonian Baldricke gaines,
By conquering Menalip (a braue priſe)
The warlike Quene that ere the Scithians raignes.
That hee ſupported heauen, doth well expreſſe
His Aſtronomicke ſkill, knowledge in ſtarres:
They that ſuch practiſe know, what do they leſſe
Then beare heauens weight ſo of the Lernean warres.
Where he the many-headed Hydra ſlew,
A Serpent of that nature, when his ſword
Par'd off one head, from that another grew.
This ſhewed his Logicke ſkill: from euery word
And argument confuted, there ariſe
From one a multiplicity, therefore we
Poets and ſuch as are eſteemed wiſe,
Inſtruct the world by ſuch morality.
To conquer Hydra ſhowed his powerfull ſkill
In diſputation, how to argue well.
(By all that vnderſtand in cuſtome ſtill)
And in this Art did Hercules excell.
Now we the Aegyptian tyrant muſt preſent,
Bloudy Buſiris, a king fell and rude,
One that in murder plac't his ſole content,
With whoſe ſad death our firſt Act we conclude.

 Enter Buſyris with his Guard and Prieſts to ſacrifice; to them two ſtrangers, Buſyris takes them and kils them vpon the Altar: enter Hercules diſguis'd, Buſyris ſends his Guard to apprehend him, Hercules diſcouering himſelfe beates the Guard, kils Buſyris and ſacrificeth him vpon the Altar, at which there fals a ſhower of raine, the Prieſts offer Hercules the Crowne of Ægypt which he refuſeth.

Homer. . In Aegypt there of long time fellnoraine,
For which vnto the Oracle they ſent:
Anſweres return'd, that till one ſtranger ſlaine,
Immou'd ſhall be the Marble firmament.
Therefore the Tyrant all theſe ſtrangers kils
That enter Aegypt, till Alcides came

And with the tyrants bulke the Altar fils:
At whoſe red ſlaughter fell a plenteous raine.
For he that ſtranger and vſurper was,
Whoſe bloudy fate the Oracle foreſpake.
But for a while we let Alcides paſſe,
Whom theſe of Ægypt would their ſouer aigne make,
 For freeing them from ſuch a tyrants rage;
 Now Meleager next muſt fill our ſtage.

Actus 2. Scoena 2.

Enter Venus like a Huntreſſe, with Adonis.

  Venus. Why doth Adonis flye the Queene of loue?
And ſhun this Iuory girdle of my armes?
To be thus ſcarft the dreadfull God of warre
Would giue me conquered kingdomes: For a kiſſe
(But halfe like this) I could command the Sunne
Riſe 'fore his houre, to bed before his time:
And (being loue-ſicke) change his golden beames,
And make his ſace pale, as his ſiſter Moone.
Come, let vs tumble on this violet banke:
Pre'thee be wanton; let vs toy and play,
Thy Icy fingers warme betweene my breaſts;
Looke on me Adon with a ſtedfaſt eye,
That in theſe Chriſtall glaſſes I may ſee
My beauty, that charmes Gods, makes men amaz'd,
And ſtownd with wonder: doth this roſeat pillow
Offend my loue? come, wallow in my lap,
With my white fingers I will clap thy cheeke,
Whiſper a thouſand pleaſures in thine eare.

  Adonis. Madame, you are not modeſt: I affect
The vnſeene beauty that adornes the minde.
This looſeneſſe makes you fowle in Adons eye:
If you will tempt me, let me in your face
Reade bluſhfulneſſe, and feare; a modeſt bluſh
Would make your cheeke ſeeme much more beautifull.

If you will whiſper pleaſure in mine eare,
Praiſe chaſtity, or with your lowd voyce ſhrill
The tunes of hornes, and hunting; they pleaſe beſt:
Il'e to the chaſe, and leaue you to the reſt.

  Venus. Thou art not man; yet wer't thou made of ſtone,
I haue heate to melt thee. I am Queene of loue,
There is no practiue art of dalliance
Of which I am not Miſtreſſe, and can vſe.
I haue kiſſes that can murder vnkinde words,
And ſtrangle hatred, that the gall ſends forth:
Touches to raiſe thee, were thy ſpirits halfe dead:
Words that can powre affection downe thine eares.
Loue me! thou canſt not chuſe, thou ſhalt not chuſe.
Am I not Venus? Hadſt thou Cupids arrowes,
I ſhould haue tooke thee to haue beene my ſonne:
Art thou ſo like him, and yet canſt not loue?
I thinke you are brothers.

  Adonis. Madame, you wooe not well, men couet not
Theſe proffered pleaſures; but loue-ſweets deny'd:
What I command, that cloyes my appetite;
But what I cannot come by I adore.
Theſe proſtituted pleaſures ſurfet ſtill,
Wheres feare, or doubt, men ſue with beſt good will.

  Venus. Thou canſt inſtruct the Queene of loue in loue.
Thou ſhalt not (Adon) take me by the hand;
Yet if thou needs wilt force me, theres my palme.
Il'e frowne on him (alas! my brow's ſo ſmooth
It will not beare a wrinkle:) hye thee hence
Vnto the chace, and leaue me: but not yet,
Il'e ſleepe this night vpon Endimions banke,
On which the Swaine was courted by the Moone.
Dare not to come, thou art in our diſgrace;
(Yet if thou come I can affoord thee place.)

  Adonis. I muſt begone.

  Venus. Sweet whither?

  Adonis. To the Chace.

  Venus. What doeſt thou hunt?

Adonis. The Calidonian Boare,
To which the Princes and beſt ſpirits of Greece
Are now aſſembled.

  Venus. I beſhrew thee boy,
That very word ſtrooke from my heart all ioy:
It ſtartled mee, me thinkes I ſee thee dye
By that rude Boare. Hunt thou the beaſts that flye,
The wanton Squirrell, or the trembling Hare,
The crafty Fox: theſe paſtimes fearleſſe are.
The greedy Wolues, and fierce Beares arm'd with clawes,
Rough ſhouldred Lyons, ſuch as glut their iawes
With heards at once, Fell Boares, let them paſſe by,
Adon, theſe looke not with thy Venus eye.
They iudge not beauty, nor diſtinguiſh youth,
Theſe are their prey; My pitty, loue and ruth
Liues not in them. Oh to thy ſelfe be kinde,
Thou from their mouthes, my kiſſes ſhalt not find.

Winde hornes within.

Adonis. The ſummons to the chace, Venus adue.

  Ven. Leaue thoſe, turne head, chuſe thoſe thou maiſt pur-

  Adonis. I am reſolu'd, Il'e helpe to rouze yon beaſt. (ſue

  Venus. Thou art to dee// his ſauadge throat to feaſt.
Forbeare.         

Adonis. In vaine.

  Venus. Appoynt when we ſhall meet.

  Adonis. After the chace. Farewell then.

  Venus. Farewell ſweet.

  Adonis. This kiſſing.

  Venus. Adon, guard thee well, expreſſe
Thy loue to me, in being of thy ſelfe
Carefull and chary: they that raze thy ſkin
Wound me. Be wiſe my Adon.

  Adon. Neuer doubt. So then     

He kiſſeth her.

  Venus. But lip-labour, yet ill left out.        

Exeunt.

 Winde hornes. Enter with Iauelings, and in greene, Meleager, Theſeus, Telamon, Caſtor, Pollux, Iaſon, Peleus, Neſtor, Atreus, Toxeus, Plexippus.

  Melea. The cauſe of this conuention (Lords of Greece)
Needs no expreſſion; and yet briefly thus:
Oeneus our father, the Aetolians King,
Of all his fruits aud plenty, gaue due rights
To all the Gods and Goddeſſes, Ioue, Ceres,
Bacchus, and Pallas; but among the reſt,
Diana he neglects: for which inrag'd,
She hath ſent (to plague vs) a huge ſauadge Boare,
Of an vn-meaſured height and magnitude.
What better can deſcribe his ſhape and terror
Then all the pittious clamours ſhrild through Greece?
Of his depopulations, ſpoyles, and preyes?
His flaming eyes they ſparkle bloud and fire,
His briſtles poynted like a range of pikes
Ranck't on his backe: his foame ſnowes where he feeds
His tuſkes are like the Indian Oliphants.
Out of his iawes (as if Ioues lightning flew)
He ſcortches all the branches in his way,
Plowes vp the fields, treads flat the fields of graine.
In vaine the Sheepheard or his dogge ſecures
Their harmleſſe fowlds. In vaine the furious Bull
Striues to defend the heard ore which he Lords.
The Collonies into the Citties flye,
And till immur'd, they thinke themſelues not ſafe.
To chace this beaſt we haue met on Oeta mount,
Attended by the nobleſt ſpirits of Greece.

  Tela. From populous Salamine I Telamon
Am at thy faire requeſt, King Meleager,
Come to behold this beaſt of Calidon,
And proue my vertue in his ſterne purſuite.

  Iaſon. Not Meleagers loue, more then the zeale
I beare my honour, hath drawne Iaſon hither,
To this aduenture, yet both forcible
To make me try ſtrange maiſteries 'gainſt that monſter,
Whoſe fury hath ſo much amaz'd all Greece.

  Caſtor. That was the cauſe I Caſtor, with my brother
Pollux, arriu'd, and left our ſiſter Hellen

Imbrac't by our old father Tyndarus,
To rouze this beaſt.

  Pollux. Let vs no more be held
The ſonnes of Leda, and be got by Ioue,
Brothers, and cal'd the two Tyndarian twins
If we returne not crimſon'd in the ſpoiles
Of this fierce Boare.

  Neſtor. To that end Neſtor came.
Neſtor, that hath already liu'd one age,
And entred on the ſecond, to the third
May I nere reach, if part of that wilde ſwine
I bring not home to Pylos where I reigne.

  Atr. My yong ſon Agamemnon, and his brother
Prince Menclaus in his ſwathes at home,
Without ſome honour purchaſt on this Boare,
May I no more ſee, or Myeenes viſit.

  Theſ. Well ſpeakes Atreus, and his noble acts
Stil equalize his language. Shall not Theſeus
Veoter as farre as any? heauens you know
I dare as much 'gainſt any mortall foe.

  Tox. Wher's Hercules, that at this noble buſines
He is not preſent, being neere ally'd
To Meleager, hauing late eſpowſed
His ſiſter Deianeira?

  Plex. He's for Buſiris, that Aegytian tyrant,

  Mel. Elſe noble valour, he would haue bin firſt
To haue purchaſt honour in this hauty queſt.

Enter Atlanta with a Iauelin, Hornes winded.

  Atl. Haile princes, let it not offend this troop,
That I a Princeſſe and Atlanta cald,
A virgin Huntreſſe, preſſe into the field,
In hope to double guild my Iauelins poynt
In bloud of yon wilde ſwine.

  Melea. Virgineam in puero, puerilem in virgine vultum

  Aſpicio. Oh you Gods! or make her mine,
Stated with vs the Calidonian Queene,
Or let this monſtrous beaft confound me quite,

And in his vaſt wombe bury all my face.
Beauteous Atlanta welcome, grace her princes
For Meleagers honour.

  Iaſon. Come, ſhal's vncupple Lords,
Some plant the toiles, others brauely mount,
To vn-den this ſauadge.

  Melea. Time and my baſhfull loue
Admits no courtſhip, Lady ranke with vs.
Il'e be this day your guardian, and a ſhield
Betweene you and all danger.

  Atlant. We are free,
And in the chace will our owne guardian be.
Shals to the field, my Iauelin and theſe ſhafts,
Pointed with death, ſhall with the formoſt flye,
And by a womans hand the beaſt ſhall dye.

Enter Adonis winding his horne.

  Melea. As bold as faire; but ſoft, whoſe bugle's that
Which cals vs to the chace? Adonis yours?

  Adonis. Mine oh you noble Greekes, we haue discouered
The dreadfull monſter wallowing in his den:
The toyles are fixt, the huntſmen plac't on hils
Preſt for the charge, the fierce Tbeſſalian hounds
With their flagge eares, ready to ſweep the dew
From the moiſt earth: their breaſts are arm'd with ſteele,
Againſt the incounter of ſo grim a beaſt:
The hunters long to vncupple, and attend
Your preſence in the field.

  Atlanta. Follow Atlanta.
Il'e try what prince will ſecond me in field,
And make his Iauelins point ſhake euen with mine.

  Melea. That Meleagers ſhall.

  Tela. Nor Telamon
Will come behinde Atlanta, or the Prince.

  Iaſon. Charge brauely then your Iauelins, ſend them ſinging
Through the cleare aire, and aime them at yon fiend,
Den'd in the quechy bogge, the ſignall Lords.

  All. charge, charge.   

A great winding of hornes, & ſhouts.

  Meleag. Princes, ſhrill your Bugles free.
And all Atlanta's danger fall on me.

Enter Iaſon and Telamon.

  Iaſon. This way, this way, renowned Telamon,
The Boare makes through yon glade, and from the hils
He hurries like a tempeſt: In his way
He proſtrates trees, and like the bolt of Ioue,
Shatters where ere he comes.

 Tela. Diana's wrath
Sparkles grim terrour from his fiery eyes:
One Iauelin pointed with the pureſt braſſe,
I haue blunted 'gainſt his ribs, yet he vnſcar'd,
The head, as darted 'gainſt a rocke of marble,
Rebounded backe.

  Iaſon. He ſhakes off from his head
Our beſt Theſſalian dogges, like Sommer flyes:
Nor can their ſharpe phangs faſten on his hide.
Follow the cry.     

A ſhout. Enter Caſtor and Pollux.

  Caſtor. Wher's noble Telamon?

  Pollux. Or warlike Iaſon?

  Iaſon. Here you Tyndarides,
Speake, which way bends this plague of Calidon?

  Caſtor. Here may you ſtand him, for behold he comes
Like a rough torrent, ſwallowing where he ſpreads,
Ouer his head a cloud of terrour hangs
In which leane death (as in a Chariot) rides,
Darting his ſhafts on all ſides: 'mongſt the Princes
Of fertill Greece, Anceus bowels lye
Strewd on the earth, torne by his rauenous tuſkes:
And had not Neſtor (by his Iauelins helpe)
Leap’t vp into an Oke to haue ſcap't his rage,
He had now periſht in his ſecond Age.

  Pollux. Peleus is wounded, Pelegon lies ſlaine,
Eupalemon hath all his body rent
With an oblique wound: yet Meleager ſtill,
And Theſeus, and Atreus, with the reſt,

Purſue the chace, with Boare-ſpeares caſt ſo thicke,
That where they flye, they ſeeme to darke the ayre,
And where they fall, they threaten imminent ruine.

  Iaſon. To theſe wee'/ adde our fury, and our fire,
And front him, though his brow bare figured hell,
And euery wrinkle were the gulfe of Styx
By which the Gods conteſt: Come noble Telamon,
Diana's monſter by our hands ſhall fall,
Or (with the Princes ſlaine) let's periſh all.     

Exeunt.

Hornes and ſhouts. Enter Meleager, Atlanta.

  Meleag. Thou beauteous Nonacris, Arcadia's pride,
How hath thy valour with thy fortune ioyn'd,
To make thee ſtaine the generall fortitude
Of all the Princes we deriue from Greece,
Thy launces poynt hath on yon armed monſter,
Made the firſt wound, and the firſt crimſon droppe
Fell from his ſide, thy ayme and arme extracted,
Thy fame ſhall neuer dye in Calidon.

  Atl. We trifle heere, what ſhall Atlanta gaine
The firſt wounds honour, and be abſent from
The monſters death, we muſt haue hand in both.

  Melea. Thou haſt purchaſt honour and renowne enough,
Oh ſtaine not all the generall youth of Greece,
By thy too forward ſpirit. Come not neere
Yon rude blood-thirſty ſauadge, leſt he prey
On thee, as on Anceus, and the reſt,
Let me betweene thee and all dangers ſtand.     

Hornes.

Fight, but fight ſafe beneath our puiſſant hand.

  Atl. The cry comes this way, all my ſhafts Il'e ſpend.
To giue the fury that affrights vs, end.

  Melea. And ere that monſter on Atlanta pray,
This point of ſteele ſhal through his hart make way.   

Exeūt.

After great ſhouts, enter Venus.

  Venus. Adonis, thou that makeſt Venus a Huntreſſe,
Leaue Paphos, Gnidon, Eryx, Erecine,
And Amathon, with precious mettals bigge,
Mayſt thou this day liue bucklerd in our wing,

And ſhadowed in the amorous power of loue:
My ſwannes I haue vnyoakt, and from their necks
Tane of their bridles made of twiſted ſilke.
And from my chariot ſtucke with Doues white plumes
Lighted vpon this verdure, where the Boare
Hath in his fury ſnow'd his ſcattered foame.       

A cry within.

What cry was that? It was Adonis ſure.       
That pierceſant ſhrike ſhrild through the muſicall pipes
Of his ſweete voyces organs, thou Diana
If thou haſt ſent this fiende to ruin loue,
Or print the leaſt ſkarre in my Adons fleſh
Thy chaſtity I will abandon quite,
And with my looſeneſſe, blaſt thy Cinthian light.

Enter Theſeus and Neſtor, bringing in Adonis wounded to death.

  Theſ. There lie moſt beauteous of the youths of Greece,
Whoſe death I will not mourne, ere I reuenge.

  Neſt. I'le ſecond thee, thou pride of Greece adiew,
Whom too much valor in thy prime ore-threw.    

Exit.

  Ven. Y'are not mine eyes, for they to fee him dead
Would from their ſoft beds drop vpon the earth:
Or in their owne warme liquid moiſture drowne
Their natiue brightneſſe: th'art not Venus heart,
For wer't thou mine, at this ſad ſpectacle
Th'dſt breake theſe ribs though they were made of braſſe,
And leap out of my boſome inſtantly.
My ſorrowes like a populous throng, all ſtriuing
At once to paſſe through ſome inforced breach,
In ſtead of winning paſſage ſtop the way,
And ſo the greateſt haſt, breeds the moſt ſtay.
Oh mee! my multiplicity of ſorrowes,
Makes me almoſt forget to grieue at all.
Speake, ſpeake, my Adon, thou whom death hath fed on
Ere thou waſt yet full ripe; and this thy beautie's
Deuour'd ere taſted. Eye, where's now thy brightneſſe?
Or hand thy warmth? Oh that ſuch louely parts

Should be by death thus made vnſeruiceable.
That (liueſt then) had the power to intrance Ioue:
Rauiſh, amaze, and ſurfet, all theſe pleaſures
Venus hath loſt by thy vntimely fall.
And therefore for thy death eternally
Venus ſhall mourne; Earth ſhall thy trunke deuoure,
But thy liues bloud I'le turne into a flower,
And euery Month in ſollemne rights deplore,
This beauteous Greeke ſlaine by Dianaes Boare.      

Exit.

 The fall of the Boare being winded, Meleager with the head of the Boare, Atlanta, Neſtor, Toxeus, Plexippus, Iaſon, Theſus, &c. with their iauellins bloudied.

  Mel. Thus lies the terror that but once to day
Aw'd all the boldeſt hearts of Calidon
Wallowing and weltering in his natiue bloud,
Tranſfixt by vs, but brauely ſeconded,
By noble Iaſon, Theſeus, Peleus,
Telamon, Neſtor, the Tyndarides,
And our bold vnkles, al our bore-ſpeares ſtain'd
And gory hands lau'd in his reeking bloud,
To whom belongs this braue victorious ſpoile?

  All. To Meleager Prince of Calidon.

  Mel. Is that your generall ſuffrage?

  Iaſon. Let not Greece
Suffer ſuch merite vnregarded paſſe,
Or valour liue vnguerdon'd, that fel Swine
Whom yet, euen dead, th'amazed people feare,
And dare not touch but with aſtonishment
Fell by thy hand.

  Tel. Thou ſtodſt his violence,
Til thy ſharpe Iauelin grated gainſt his broines,
Beneath his ſhield thou entred'ſt to his heart.
At that we guirt him till a thouſand wounds,
Hee from a thouſand hands receiu'd at once:
And in his fall it ſeem'd the earth did groane,

And the fixt Center tremble vnder him.

  Caſtor. The ſpoile is thine, the yong Adonis death,
Anceus ſlaughter, and the maſſacre
Of Archas, Pelagon, Eupateinon
And all the Grecian Printes loſt this day,
Thou haſt reueng'd, therefore be thine the fame,
Which with a generall voyce Greece ſhall proclaime.

  Mel. Princes wee thanke you, 'tis mine giuen me free.
Which faire Atlanta we beſtow on thee.

  Tox. Ha, to a woman.

  Plex. And ſo many men,
Ingag'd in't, call backe thy gift againe.

  Caſt. Greece is by this diſparaged, and our fame
Fowly eclipſt.

  Pollux Snatch't from that emulous Dame.

  Mel. Murmur you Lords at Meleagers bounty,
We firſt beſtow'd it as our owne by guift,
Yea, and by right, but now we render it
To bright Atlanta, as her owne by due
As ſhee that from the Boare the firſt bloud drew.

  Neſt. We muſt not ſuffer this diſgrace to Greece.

  Atre. Let women claime 'mongſt women eminence,
Our Lofty ſpirits, that honour haue in chace,
Cannot diſgeſt wrongs womaniſh and baſe.

  Caſt. Reſtore this woman and thy ſex enuy
For fortitude, aime not at queſts ſo hye.

  Iaſon. Caſtor forbeare.

  Tella. Hee giues but what's his owne.

  Theſ. Tis the Kings bounty,

  Mel. By the immortall Gods,
That gaue vs this daies honour, the ſame hand
By which the Calidonian terror fell,
Shall him that frownes or murmurs lanch to hell.

 All. That will we try.

  Mel. Then reſkue for Atlanta,
This day ſhall fall for thee, that art diuine,
Monſters more ſauadge then Dianaes ſwine.

 A ſtrange confuſed fray, Toxeus and Plexippus are ſlaine by Meleager, Iaſon and Tellamon ſtand betweene the two factions.

  Iaſ. No more, no more, behold your vnkles ſlaine,
Saue in this act two Noble Gentlemen,
Purſue not fury to the ſpoile of Greece,
And death of more braue Princes: let your rage
Be here confin'de, cut off this purple ſtreame
In his mid courſe, and turne this torrent backe
Which in his fury elſe may drown'd vs all.

  Tel. I ſecond Iaſon and expoſe my ſelfe,
Betweene theſe factions to compoſe a peace.

  Mel. Wee haue done too much already, impious fury,
How boundleſſe is thy power: vncircumſcribed
By thought or reaſon, th'art all violence,
Thy end repentance, ſorrow and diſtaſt:
How will Althea take her brothers death
From her ſons hand, but raſh deeds executed
May be lamented, neuer be recal'd
Shall the ſuruiuers bee atton'd?

  Atreus. So it be done with honour on both parts
Wee haue ſwords to guard our fortunes and our liues,
And but an equall language will keepe both
Thus at the point.

  Theſ. Ioyne hands renowned Princes,
The fury of the Prince of Calidon
Hath prey'd but on his owne, there let it end,
No further by your vrgent ſpleenes extend.

  Caſtor. We are appeaſ'd.

  Iaſon. Lords freely then embrace.

  Mel. Firſt then, wee'le royally interre our vnkles,
And ſpend ſome teares vpon their funerall rites,
That done we'le in our Palace feaſt theſe Princes,
With bright Atlanta, whom wee'le make our Queene.
Our Vnkles once beſtow'de into the earth,
Our mournings ſhall expire in Bridall mirth.       

Exeunt.

Enter K. Oeneus and Althea, meeting the bodies of their two brothers borne.

  Oen. Come to the Temple there to ſacrifice
For theſe glad tydings, ſince the Boare lies dead,
That fil'd our kingdome with ſuch awe and dread.

  Alth. What ioy names Oeneus in this ſpectacle?
This of a thouſand the moſt ſad and tragicke,
Whoſe murdered trunkes be theſe?

  Seru. Your royall brothers, Prince Toxeus and Plexippus,

  Althea. Speake, how ſlaine?

  Seru. Not by the Boare, but by your ſons owne hand.

  Althea. By Meleagers, how? vpon what quarrell?
Could the proud boy ground ſuch a damned act.

  Seru. Your ſonne to faire Atlanta gaue the priſe
Of this daies trauell, which for, they with-ſtood
In mutinous armes they loſſe their vitall blouds.

  Alth. Shall I reuenge or mourne them.

  Oen. O ſtrange fate.
An obiect that muſt ſhorten Oeneus daies,
And bring theſe winter haires to a ſad Tombe
Long ere there dare; I ſinke beneath theſe ſorrowes
Into my blacke and timeleſſe monument.

  Althea. My ſorrowes turne to rage, my teares to fire,
My praiers to curſes, vowes into reuenge.    

  Oen. Peace, peace my Queene, let's beare the Gods vindiction
With patience, as wee did Dianaes wrath:
Where Gods are bent to puniſh, we may grieue
But can our ſelues nor ſuccour, nor relieue.
Come, let vs do to them their lateſt rites,
Wait on their Hearſes in our mourning blacke;
Their happy ſoules are mounted 'boue the ſpheares,
We'le waſh their bodies in our funerall teares.    

Exit.

Manet Althea.

  Althea. Althea what diſtraction's this within thee?
A ſiſter or a mother wilt thou bee?
Since both I cannot, (for theſe Princes ſlaine)

Siſter I chuſe, a mothers name diſdaine:
The fatall brand in which the murderers life
Securely lies, I'le hurle into the fire
And as it flames, ſo ſhall the ſlaue expire.
Miſcheife I'le heape on miſcheife, bad on ill,
Wrong pay with wrongs, and ſlaughter theſe that kill.
And ſince the Gods would all our glories thrall,
I will with them haue chiefe hand in our fall.
But hee's my ſonne: oh pardon me deere brothers,
Being a mother if I ſpare his life,
Though it bee fit his ſinne be plaug'd with death,
And that his life lie in yon fatall brand,
'T will not come fitly from a mothers hand.
Is this the hope of all my ten months paine,
Muſt he by th'hand of him that nurſt him now be ſlaine?
Would he had periſht in his cradle, when
I gaue him twice life: in his birth, and then
When I the brand ſnatcht from the rauenous flame,
And for this double good, haſt thou with ſhame
And iniury repaide me? I will now
A ſiſter be, no mother, for I vow
Reuenge and death; Furies, aſſiſt my hand
Whilſt in red flames I caſt his vitall brand.      

Exit.

A banquet, enter Meleager, Iaſon, Theſeus, Caſtor, Pollux, Neſtor, Peleus. Atreus, Atlanta.

  Meleag. For faire Atlanta, and your Honours, Lords
We banquet you this day: and to beginne
Our feſtiuals we'le crowne this Iouiall health
Vnto our brother, Theban Hercules
And Deyaneira, will you pledge it Lords?

  Iaſon. None but admire and loue their matchleſſe worths,
Not faire Atlanta will refuſe this health.

  Atlan. You beg of mee a pledge, I'le take it laſon,
As well for his ſake that beginnes the round,
As thoſe to whom 'tis vow'd.
  Tell. Well ſpoke Atlanta, but I wonder Lords
What Prouince now holds Theban Hercules?

  Theſ. He is the mirrour and the pride of Greece,
And ſhall in after ages be renoun'd,
But we forget his health, come Tellamon
Aime it at mee.     

A fire: Enter Althea with the brand.

  Althea. Aſſiſt my rage you ſterne Eumenides,
To you this blacke deed will I conſecrate.
Pitty away, hence thou conſanguine loue,
Maternall zeale, peccentall piety.
All cares, loues, duties, offices, affections,
That grow 'tweene ſonnes and mothers, leaue this place;
Let none but furies, murders, paracides,
Be my aſſiſtants in this dam'd attempt:
All that's good and honeſt, I confine,
Blacke is my purpoſe; Hell my thoughts are thine.

  Mel. To bright Atlanta this loud muſicke ſown'd,
Her health ſhall with our loftieſt ſtraines be crown'd.

  Althea. Drinke, quaffe, be blith; oh how this feſtiue ioy
Stirs vp my fury to reuenge and death,
Thus, thus, (you Gods aboue, abiect your eies
From this vnnaturall act) the murderer dies.

Shee fires the brand.

  Mel. Oh, oh.

  Atlan. My Lord.

  Mel. I burne, I burne.

  Iaſon. What ſuddaine paſſion's this?

  Mele. The flames of hell, and Pluto's fightleſſe fires,
Are through my entrals and my veines diſpierſt, oh!

  Tell. My Lord take courage.

  Mel. Courage Tellamon?
I haue a heart dares threate or challenge hell,
A brow front heauen; a hand to challenge both:
But this my paine's beyond all humane ſufferance,
Or mortall patience.

  Althea. What haſt thou done Althea? ſtay thy fury,
And bring not theſe ſtrange torments on thine owne

Thou haſt too much already, backe my hand,

And ſaue his life as thou conferuſt this brand.  

She takes out the brand.

  Atlan How cheeres the warlike Prince of Calidon?

  Mel. Well now, I am at eaſe and peace within,
Whither's my torture fled? that with ſuch ſuddenneſſe
Hath freed me from diſturbance, were we ill?
Come ſit againe to banquet, muſicke ſownd,
Till this to Deyaneiraes health go round.

  Althea. Shall mirth and ioy crowne his degenerate head?
Whilſt his cold Vnkles on the earth lie ſpread?
No, wretehed youth whilſt this hand can deſtroy,
I'le cut thee off in midſt of all thy ioy.   

She fires the brand.

  Mel. Againe, Againe.

  Althea. Burne, periſh, waſt, fire, ſparkle, and conſume
And all thy vitall ſpirits flie with this fume.

  Mel. ſtill, ſtill, there is an Aetna in my boſome
The flames of Stix, and fires of Acheron
Are from the blacke Chimerian ſhades remou'd,
And fixt heere, heere; oh for Euenus floud,
Or ſome coole ſtreame, to ſhoote his currents through
My flaming body, make thy channell heere
Thou mighty floud that ſtreameſt through Calidon
And quench me, all you ſprings of Theſſaly
Remoue your heads, and fixe them in my veines
To coole me, oh!

  Iaſon. Defend vs heauen, what fuddaine extaſy
Or vnexpected torture hath diſturb'd
His health and mirth?

  Mel. Worſe then my torment,
That I muſt die thus, thus, that the Boare had ſlaine me,
Happy Anceus and Adonis bleſt,
You died with fame, and honour crownes your reſt;
My flame increaſeth ſtill, oh father Oeneus
And you Althea, whom I would call mother
But that my genius prompts me th'art vnkind,
And yet farewell, Atlanta beauteous maide,
I cannot ſpeake my thoughts for torture, death,

Anguiſh and paines, all that Promethean fire
Was ſtolne from heauen, the Thiefe left in my boſome.
The Sunne hath caſt his element on me,
And in my entralls hath he fixt his Spheare,
His pointed beames he hath darted through my heart,
And I am ſtill on flame.

  Althea. So, now'tis done,
The brand conſum'd, his vitall threed quite ſpun.    

Exit.

  Meleag. Now'gins my fire waſte, and my naturall heat
To change to Ice, and my ſcortch't blood to freeze.
Farewell, ſince his blacke enſigne death diſplayes,
I dye, cut off thus in my beſt of dayes.      

He dyes.

  Iaſon. Dead is the flower and pride of Calidon.
Who would diſpleaſe the Gods? Diana's wrath
Hath ſtretch't euen to the death, and tragicke ruine
Of this faire hopefull Prince, here ſtay thy vengeance
Goddeſſe of chaſtity, and let it hang
No longer ore the houſe of Calidon:
Since thou haſt cropt the yong, ſpare theſe old branches
That yet ſuruiue.        

Enter Althea.

  Althea. She ſhall not, Iaſon no,
She ſhall not. Do you wonder Lords of Greece,
To ſee this Prince lye dead? why that's no nouell,
All men muſt dye, thou, he, and euery one,
Yea I my ſelfe muſt: but Il'e tell you that
Shall ſtiffe your haire, your eyes ſtart from heads,
Print fixt amazement in your wondring fronts,
Yea and aſtoniſh all: This was my ſonne,
Borne with ſick throws, nurſt from my tender breſt
Brought vp with femine care, cheriſht with loue:
His youth, my pride; his honour all my wiſhes,
So deere, that little leſſe he was then life.
But will you know the wonder ('laſſe) too true,
Him (all my ſonnes) this my inrag'd hand ſlue,
This hand, that Dians quenchleſſe rage to fill,
Shall with the ſlaine ſonneſ ſword the mother kill.

       Althea kils herſelfe with Meleagers ſword.

  Tela. The Queene hath ſlaine herſelfe: who'l beare theſe newes to the ſad King?      

Enter a ſeruant.

  Seru. That labour may be ſpar'd:
The King no ſooner heard of his ſonnes death,
(wrought by his mother in the fatall brand)
But he ſunke dead: ſorrow ſo chang'd his weakeneſſe,
And without word or motion he expir'd.

  Iaſon. Wee'l ſee them (ere we part from Calidon)
Inter'd with honour: But we ſoiourne long
In this curſt Clime; oh let vs not incurro
Diana's fury, our next expedition
Shall be for Colchos, and the golden Fleece,
Vnto which (Princes) we inuite you all.
Our ſtately Argoe we haue rig'd and trim'd,
And in it we will beare the beſt of Greece,
Stil'd from our ſhip by name of Argonauts.
Great Hercules will with his company,
Grace our aduenture, and renowne all Greece,
By the rich purchaſe of the Colchian Fleece.     

Exit.

Homer

     Let not euen Kings againſt the Gods conteſt,
   Leſt in this fall their ruines be expreſt.
Thinke Hercules, from clenſing the fowle ſtall
And ſtable of Augeus, in which fed
Three hundred Oxen, (neuer freed at all,
Till his arriue) return'd where he was bred,
To Thebes; there Deianeira him receiues
With glad imbraces, but he ſtaies not long,
Iaſon the Lady of her Lord bereaues:
For in the new-rig'd Argoe, with the yong
   And ſprighly Heroes, he at Colchos aimes,
   Where the rich Fleece muſt publiſh their high fames.

 Enter Deianeira and Lychas: to her Hercules, receiued with ioy, after the preſentment of ſome of his labours. To them march in all the Argonauts, Iaſon, Telamon, Atreus, Caſtor, Pollux, Theſeus, &c. Iaſon perſwades Hercules to the aduenture: hee leaues Deianeira, and marcheth off with the Argonauts.

Imagine now theſe Princes vnder ſaile,
Stearing their courſe as farre as high-rear'd Troy,
Where King Laomedon doth much bewaile
His daughter, whom a Sea-whale muſt deſtroy.
   Obſerue this well: for here begins the iarre
   Made Troy rack't after in a ten yeares warre.

Sownd.  Enter King Laomedon, Anchiſes, yong Priam, Aeneas, Heſione bound, with other Lords and Ladyes.

  Laomed. Heſione, this is thy laſt on earth,
Whoſe fortunes we may mourne, though not preuent:
Would Troy, whoſe walles I did attempt to reare,
Had nere growne higher then their ground-fils, or
In their foundation buried beene, and loſt,
Since their high ſtructure muſt be thus maintain'd,
With bloud of our bright Ladyes: Oh Heſione!
Th'onely remainder of theſe female dames
Begot by vs, I muſt be queath thy body
To be the food of Neptunes monſtrous Whale.

  Priam. Had you kept troth and promiſe with the Gods,
This had not chanc't: You borrowed of the Prieſts
Of Neptune and Apollo, Sea, and Sunne,
That quantity of gold, which to this height
And ſpacious compaſſe, hath immur'd great Troy;
But the worke finiſh't, you deny'd to pay
The Prieſts their due, for which inraged N•…ptune
Aſſembled his high tides, thinking to drowne
Our lofty buildings, and to ruine Troy:
But when the Moone, by which the Seas are gouern'd,
Retir'd his waters by her powerfull wane,
He left behind him ſuch infectious ſlime,
Which the Sunne poyſoning by his perſant beames.
They by their mutuall power, raiſ'd a hot plague,

To ſlacke this hot peſt, Neptune made demand,
Monthly a Lady to be chuſ'd by lot,
To glut his huge Sea-monſters raueno us iawes:
The lot this day fell on Heſione
Our beauteous ſiſter.

  Laom. Priam 'tis too true,
Till now Laomedon nere knew his guilt,
Or thought the Gods could puniſh.

  Heſio. Royall father,
Mourne not for me, the Gods muſt be appeaſ'd,
And I in this am happy, that my death
Is made th'attonement 'tweene thoſe angry powers
And your afflicted people, though my Innocence
Neuer deſeru'd ſuch rigor from the Gods.
Come good Anchiſes, binde me to this rocke,
And let my body glut th'inſatiate fury
Of angry Neptune, and th'offended Sunne.

  Anchis. A more vnwilling monſter neuer paſt
Anchiſes hand.

  Laom. Now, now the time drawes nye,
That my ſweet childe by Neptunes whale muſt dye,

  Priam. The very thought of it ſwallowes my heart
As deepe in ſorrow, as the monſter can
Bury my ſiſter.        

A great ſhowt within.

  Laom. Soft, what clamor's that?

  Æneas. A ſtately ſhip, well rig'd with ſwelling failes,
Enters the harbour, bound (by their report)
For Colchos;  but when they beheld the ſhores
Couered with multitudes, and ſpy'd from farre,
Your beauteous daughter faſtned to the rocke,
They made to know the cauſe; which certified,
One noble Greeke amongſt theſe Heroes ſtands,
And offers to incounter Neptunes whale,
And free from death the bright Heſione.

  Laom. Thou haſt (Æneas) quickned me from death,
And added to my date a ſecond Age.
Admit them.

Enter Hercules, Iaſon, Caſtor, Pollux, Theſeus, and all the Argonauts.

  Herc. ’Tis told vs that thy name's Laomedon,
And that thy beauteous daughter muſt this day
Feed a ſea-monſter: how wilt thou reward
The man that ſhall incounter Neptunes whale?
Tugge with that fiend vpon thy populous ſtrond,
And with my club ſowſe on his armed ſcales?
Haſt thou not heard of Theban Hercules?
I that haue aw'd the earth, and ranſack't hell,
Will through the Ocean hunt the God of ſtreames,
And chace him from the deepe Abiſmes below.
Il'e dare the Sea-god from his watery deepes
If he take part with this Leuiathan.

  Laom. Thy name and courage warlike Hercules
Aſſures her life, if thou wilt vndertake
This hauty queſt: two milke white ſteeds, the beſt
Aſia ere bred, ſhall be thy valours prize,

  Herc. We accept them; keepe thy faith Laomedon,
If thou but break'ſt with Ioue-borne Hercules,
Theſe marble ſtructures, built with virgins bloud,
Il'e raze euen with the earth. When comes the monſter?

  Heſione. Now, now, helpe Ioue.    

A cry within.

  Herc. I ſee him ſweepe the ſea's along.
Blow riuers through his noſtrils as he glides,
As if he meant to quench the Sunnes brightfire,
And bring a palped darkneſſe ore the earth:
He opes his iawes as if to ſwallow Troy,
And at one yawne whole thouſands to deſtroy.

  Lao. Fly, flye into the Citty.   

Exeunt the Troians.

  Herc. Take along
This beauteous Lady, if he muſt haue pray,
In ſtead of her Alcides here will ſtay.

  Iaſon. The heartleſſe Troians fly into the towne
At fight of yon ſea-diuell: here wee'l ſtand
To wait the conqueſt of thy Iouiall hand.

  Herc. Gramercy Iaſon, ſee he comes in tempeſt,
Il'e meet him in a ſtorme as violent,
And with one ſtroke which this right hand ſhall aime,
Ding him into th'abiſſe from whence he came.

Hercules kils the Sea-Monſter, the Troians on the walles, the Greekes below.

  Priam. The monſter's ſlaine, my beautuous ſiſter freed.

  Iaſon. Be euer for this noble deed renown'd,
Let Aſia ſpeake thy praiſe.

  Telam. The Argonauts
Are glorifi'd by this victorious act.

  Priam. All Troy ſhall conſecrate to Hercules
Temples and Altars: lets deſcend and meet him.

  Laom. Stay, none preſume to ſtirre, wee'l parly them
Firſt from the walles.

  Herc. Why doth not Troy's King from thoſe wals deſcend?
And ſince I haue redeem'd Heſione,
Preſent my trauels with two milke-white ſteeds,
The prize of my indeuours?

  Lao. Hercules we owe thee none, none will we tender thee,
Thou haſt won thee honour, a reward ſufficient
For thy attempt: our gates are ſhut againſt thee,
Nor ſhall you enter, you are Greekiſh ſpies,
And come to pry but where our land is weake.

  Priam. Oh royall father!

  Laom. Peace boy: Greekes away:
For imminent death attends on your delay.

  Herc. The Sea nere bred a monſter halfe ſo vile
As this Land-fiend. Darft threaten Hercules?
Would vniuerſall Troy were in one frame,
That I might whelme it on thy curſed head,
And crowne thee in thy ruine. Menace vs?

  Laom. Depart our walles, or we will fire your Argoe,
Lying in our harbour, and preuent your purpoſe
In the atchieuement of the golden fleece,

  Herc. Laomedon, Il'e toſſe thee from thy walles,
Batter thy gates to ſhiuers with my Club,
Nor will I leaue theſe broad Scamander plaines,
Til thy aſpiring Towers of Illium
Lye leuell with the place on which we ſtand.

  Iaſon. Great Hercules, th'aduenture fals to me,
Our voyage bent for Colchos, not for Troy,
The golden fleece, and not Laomedon:
Why ſhould we hazard here our Argonauts?
Or ſpend our ſelues on accidentall wrongs?

  Telam. Iaſon aduiſeth well, great Hercules,
We ſhould diſhonour him, and th'expectation
Greece hath of vs, delude by this delay.

  Theſ. Then let vs from this harbour launch our Argoe,
To Colchos firſt, and in our voyage home
Reuenge vs on this falſe Laomedon.

  Herc. You ſway me princes: farewell trecherous King,
Nought, ſaue thy bloud, ſhall ſatiſfie this wrong
And baſe diſhonour done to Hercules.
Expect me; for by Olimpicke Ioue I ſweare.
Nere to ſet foot within my natiue Thebes,
See Deianeira, or to touch in Greecs,
Till I'haue ſcal'd theſe mures, inuaded Troy,
Ranſack't thy Citty, ſlaine Laomedon,
And venge the Gods that gouerne Sea and Sunne.
Come valiant Heroes, firſt the fleece to enioy,
And in our backe returne to ranſacke Troy.     

Exeunt.

  Lao. We dread you not, wee'l anſwere what is done.
As well as ſtand 'gainſt Neptune and the Sunne.

Enter Oetes, King of Colchos, Medea, yong Abſyrtus, with Lords.

  Oetes. How may we glory aboue other kings
Being (by our birth) deſcended from the Gods?
Our wealth renowned through the world tripartite,
Moſt in the riches of the golden fleece,
And not the leaſt of all our happineſſe,
Medea for her powerfull magicke ſkill,
And Negromanticke exorciſmes admir'd,
And dreaded through the Colchian territories.

  Medea. I can by Art make riuers retrograde,
Alter their channels, run backe to their heads,
And hide them in the ſprings from whence they grew.
The curled Ocean with a word Il'e ſmooth,
(Or being calme) raiſe waues as high as hils,
Threatning to ſwallow the vaſt continent.
With powerfull charmes Il'e make the Sunne ſtand ſtill,
Or call the Moone downe from her arched ſpheare.
What cannot I by power of Hecate?

  Abſyr. Diſcourſe (faire ſiſter) how the golden fleece
Came firſt to Colchos.

  Medea. Let Abſyrtus know,
Phrixus the ſonne of Theban Athamas,
And his faire ſiſter Helles, being betraid
By their curſt ſtep-dame Ino, fled from Greece,
Their Innocence pittied by Mercury,
He gaue to them a golden-fleeced Ramme,
Which bore them ſafe to the Sygean ſea,
Which ſwimming, beauteous Helles there was drown'd,
And gaue that ſea the name of Helleſpont,
That which parts Seſtus and Abidos ſtill:
Phrixus arriues at Colchos, and to Mars
There ſacrific'd his Ramme in memory
Of his ſafe waſtage, fauoured by the Gods.
The golden Fleece was by the Oracle
Commanded to be fixt there, kept and guarded
By two fierce Buls, that breath inſernall fires,
And by a wakefull Dragon, in whoſe eyes
Neuer came ſleepe: for in the ſafe conſeruing
Of this diuine and worthy monument,
Our kingdomes weale and ſafety moſt conſiſts.

  Oetes. And he that ſtriues by purchaſe of this fleece,
To weaken vs, or ſhake our Royalty,

Muſt taſt the fury of theſe fiery fiends,      

A ſhoote

The nouell: ſpeake.           

Enter a Lord.

  Lord. Vpon the Cholchian ſhores
A ſtately veſſell, man'd it ſeemes from Greece
Is newly lancht, full fraught with Gentlemen
Of braue aſpects and preſence.

  Oetes. Whoſe their Generall?

  Lord. Iaſon, he ſtiles himſelfe a Prince of Greece
And Captaine o're the noble Argonautes.

  Oetes. Vſher them in, that we may know their queſt
And what aduenture drew them to theſe ſhoares.

Sound, Enter Iaſon, Hercules, Theſeus, Caſtor, Pollux, &c.

  Iaſon. Haile king of Colchos, thou beholdſt in vs
The nobleſt Heroes that inhabite Greece
Of whom I, though vnworthieſt, ſtile my ſelfe
The Generall; the intent of this our voyage
Is to reduce the rich and golden priſe
To Greece, from whence it came, know I am come
To tug and wraſtle with the infernall Buls,
And in their hot fiers double guild my armes
To place vpon their necks the feruile yoake,
And bondage, force them plow the field of Mars,
Till in the furrowes I haue ſowed the teeth
Of vipers, from which men in armour grow
To enter combat with the ſleepeleſſe Dragon,
And mauger him fetch thence the golden Fleece.
All this Oetes, I am preſt to atchieue
Againſt theſe horrid taſks my life to ingage
Buls fury, Vipers poyſon, Dragons rage.

 Medea. Such a bold ſpirit, and noble preſence linkt,
Neuer before were ſeene in Phaſis Iſle,
Colchos be proud, a Prince demands thy Fleece,
Richer then that he comes for; let the Greekes
Our Phaſian wealth and Oetes treaſure beare,
So they in liew will leaue me Iaſon here.
  Oetes. Princes, you aime at dangers more in proffe
Then in report, which if you ſhould behold
In their true figure, would amaze your ſpirits:
Yea, terifye the Gods; let me aduiſe you,
As one that knowes their terrour, to deſiſt
Ere you enwrap your ſeffe into theſe perils,
Whence there is no euaſion.

  Herc. Oetes, know
Peril's a babe, the greater dangers threaten
The greater is his honour that breaks through.
Haue we in th' Agoe rowed with ſixty oares
And at each Oare a Prince; pierc't Samo-thrace,
The Cherſoneſon ſea, the Helleſpont;
Euen to the waues that breake on Colchos ſhoares?
And Shall we with diſhonour turne to Greece?
Know Oetes, not the leaſt of ſixty Heroes
That now are in thy Confines, but thy monſters
Dare quell and baffle.

  Tellamon. Much more Hercules.

  Oetes. Hercules.

  Iaſon. Starts Oetes at the name of Hercules,
What would he do to ſee him in his eminence;
But leauing that, this muſt be Iaſons queſt,
A worke not worthy him; where be theſe monſters?

  Medea. May all inchantments be confinde to hell,
Rather then he encounter fiends ſo fell.

  Oetes. Princes, ſince you will needs attempt theſe dangers
You ſhall; and if atchieue the Golden Fleece
Tranſport it where you pleaſe, meane time, this day
Repoſe your ſelues, wel'e feaſt you in our Pallace.
To morrow morning with the riſing Sunne,
Our golden priſe ſhall be conſeru'd or wonne.      

Exit.

  Medea. If he attempts he dies, what's that to mee?
Why ſhould Medea feare a ſtrangers life?
Or what's that Iaſon I ſhould dread his fall?
If //////////, my fathers glory waines,
And all our fortunes muſt reward his paines.
Let Iaſon periſh then, and Colchos flouriſh.
Our priſtine glories let vs ſtill enioy,
And theſe our braſſe-head buls the Prince deſtroy.
Oh! what diſtraction's this within me bred,
Although he die, I would not ſee him dead?
The beſt I ſee, the worſt I follow ſtill,
Hee nere wrong'd mee, why ſhould I wiſh him ill?
Shall the Buls toſſe him whom Medea loues,
A Tygreſſe, not a Princeſſe, ſhould I proue?
To ſee him tortured whom I deerely loue?
Bee then a tortereſſe to thy fathers life,
A robber of the clime where thou waſt bred,
And for ſome ſtraggler that hath loſt his way,
Thy fathers Kingdome and his State betray.
Tuſh, theſe are nothing, firſt his faith I'le craue,
That couenant made, him by enchantments faue

Enter Iaſon.

  Iaſon. My taſk is aboue ſtrength, Duke Peleus ſent me
Not to atchieue, but die in this purſuite,
And to preuent the Oracle that told him
I muſt ſucceed; Iaſon bethinke thee then
Thou com'ſt to execution, not to act
Things aboue man; I haue obſeru'd Medea
Retort vpon me many an amorous looke,
Of which I'le ſtuddy to make proſperous vſe.
If by her art the Inchantments I can bind
Immur'd with death, I certaine ſafety find.

  Medea. Shall I o're-whelme vpon my captiue head,
The curſe of all our Nation, the Crownes ruin?
Clamours of men, and woemens loud exclaimes.
Burnings of children; the vniuerſall curſe
Of a great people, all to ſaue one man,
A ſtraggler (God knowes whence deriu'd, where borne,
Or hether where Noble? let the proud Greeke die,
Wee ſtill in Colchos ſit inſtated hye
Oh me! that looke vpon Medea caſt
Drownes all theſe feares, and hath the reſt ſurpaſt.

  Iason. Madam, becauſe I loue I pitty you,
That you a beauteous Lady, art-full wiſe,
Should haue your beauty and your wiſedome both
Inuelopt in a cloud of Barbariſme:
That on theſe barren Confines you ſhould liue,
Confin'd into an Angle of the world.
And ne're ſee that which is the world indeed,
Fertile and populous Greece, Greece that beares men,
Such as reſemble Gods, of which in vs
You ſee the moſt deiected, and the meaneſt.
How harſhly doth your wiſedome ſound in th'eares
Of theſe Barbarians, dull, vnapprehenfible,
And ſuch, in not conceiuing your hid Arts,
Depriue them of their honour; In Greece ſprings
The fountaines of Diuine Phyloſophy,
They are all vnderſtanders; I would haue you
Bright Lady with vs, enter to that world
Of which this Colchos is no part at all.
Shew then your beauty to theſe iudging eies,
Your wiſedome to theſe vnderſtanding eares.
In which they ſhall receiue their merited grace,
And leaue this barraine, cold, and ſtirrill place.

  Medea. His preſence without all this Oratory
Did much with vs, but where they both conioyne
To entrap Medea, ſhee muſt needs bee caught.

  Iaſon. I long to ſee this Colchian Lady clad
In Hymens ſtatelieſt roabes, whom the glad Matrones,
Bright Ladies, and Imperiall Queenes of Greece
Shall welcome and applaud, and with rich gifts
Preſent, for ſauing of their ſonnes and kinſmen
From theſe infernall monſters: As for Iaſon
If you Medea ſhall deſpiſe his loue,
He craues no other life then to die ſo,
Since life without you is but torturing paine,
And death to men diſtreſt is double gaine.

  Medea. That tongue more then Medeaes ſpels inchants,
And not a word, but like our exoreiſmes
And power of charmes preuailes, Oh lone! thy Maieſty
Is greater then the triple Hecates,
Bewitching Circes, or theſe hidden ſkils,
Aſcrib'd vnto th'infernall Proſerpine.
I that by incantations can remoue
Hils from their ſyts, and make huge mountaines ſhake,
Darken the Sunne at noone, call from their graues
Ghoſts long ſince dead, that can command the earth,
And affright heauen, no ſpell at all can find
To bondage loue, or free a captiue minde.

  Iaſon. Loue Iaſon then, and by thy Diuine aide,
Giue me ſuch power, that I may tug vnſcorcht
Amidſt the flames with theſe thy fiery fiends,
That I vnuenom'd may theſe Vipers teeth
Caſt from my hand, through Morpheus leaden charmes,
Ouer that wakefull ſnake that guards the Fleece,
For which liue Iaſons happy Bride in Greece.

  Medea. A match, what hearbs or ſpels, what Magicke can
Command in heauen, earth, or in hell below,
What either aire, or ſea can miniſter,
To guard thy perſon, all theſe helps I'le gather
To girdle thee with ſafety.

  Iaſon. Be thou then
For euer Iaſons, and through Greece renown'd
In whom our Heroes haue ſuch ſafety found,
Our bargaine thus I ſeale.          

He kiſſeth her.

  Medea. Which I'le make good
With Colchos fall, and with my fathers bloud.   

Enter Abſyrtus

  Abſyr. Prince Iaſon, all the Heroes at the banquet
Inquire for you, twice hath my father Oetes
Made ſearch for you; Oh ſiſter!

  Medea. No word you ſaw vs two in conference.

  Abſyr. Do you take me to be a woman, to tell all I ſee,
And blab all I know, I that am in hope one day to
Lie with a woman, will once lie for a woman,
Siſter, I ſaw you not.

  Iaſon. Remember; come Prince, will you leade the way?
  Absyr. I haue parted you that neuer parted fray
Come ſir will you follow.    

Exit. Manet Medea.

  Medea. The night growes on, and now to my black Arts,
Goddeſſe of witchcraft and darke ceremony,
To whom the elues of Hils, of Brookes, of Groues,
Of ſtanding lakes, and cauernes vaulted deepe
Are miniſters; three-headed Hecate
Lend me thy Chariot drawne with winged ſnakes,
For I this night muſt progreſſe through the Aire.
What ſimples grow in Tempe of Theſſaly,
Mount Pindus, Otheris, Oſſa, Appidane,
Olimpus, Caucaſ. or high Teneriff.
I muſt ſelect to finiſh this great worke,
Thence muſt I flye vnto Amphriſus Foords,
Aud gather plants by the ſwift Sperchius ſtreames,
Where ruſhy Bebes, and Anthedon flow,
Where hearbes of bitter iuice and ſtrong ſent grow;
Theſe muſt I with the haires of Mandrakes vſe,
Temper with Poppy-ſeeds and Hemlocke iuice:
With Aconitum that in Tartar ſprings,
With Cypreſſe, E//, and Veruin, and theſe mix
With Incantations, Spels, and Exorciſmes
Of wonderous power and vertue; oh thou night,
Mother of darke Arts hide mee in thy vaile,
Whilſt I thoſe banks ſearch, and theſe mountaines ſkale.

Sownd. Enter King Oetes, Abſyrtus, and Lords.

  Oetes. Vpon the ſafeguard of this golden Fleece
Colchos depends, and he that beares it hence
Beares with it all our fortunes; the Argonautes
Haue it in queſt, if Iaſon ſcape our monſters
I'le rather at ſome banquet poyſon him,
And quaffe to him his death, or in the night
Set fire vpon his Argoe, and in flames
Conſume the happy hope of his returne,
This purpoſe we, as we are Colchos King,

Abſyrtus where's your ſiſter?

  Abſyrtus. In her chamber.

  Oetes. When you next ſee her giue to her this noate,
The manner of our practiſe, her fell hand
Cannot be miſt in this, but it ſhall fall
Heauy on theſe that Colchos ſeekes to thrall.
The howre drawes nigh, the people throng on heapes,
To this aduenture in the field of Mars,
And noble Iaſon arm'd with his good ſhield,
Is vp already and demands the field.

Enter Iaſon, Hercules, and the Argonauts.

  Iaſon. Oetes, I come thus arm'd, demanding combat
Of all thoſe monſters that defend thy Fleece:
And to theſe dangers ſingly, I oppoſe
My perſon as thou ſeeſt, when ſetſt thou ope
The gates of hell to let thy deuils out?
Glad would I wraſtle with thy fiery Buls,
And from their throats the flaming dewlops teare.
Vnchaine them, and to Iaſon turne them looſe,
That as Alcides did to Achelous;
So from their hard fronts I may teare there hornes,
And lay the yoake vpon their vntam'd necks.

  Oetes. Yet valiant Greeke deſiſt, I, though a ſtranger
Pitty thy youth, or if thou wilt perſiſt
So dreadfull is the aduenture thou perſueſt,
That thou wilt thinke I ſhall vnbowell hell,
Vnmacle the fiends, and make a paſſage
Free for the Infernals.

  Iaſon. I ſhall welcome all.
Medea now if there be power in loue;
Or force in Magicke; if thou haſt or will
Or Art, try all the power of Characters,
Vertue of Symples, Stones, or hidden ſpels,
If earth Elues, or nimble airy Spirits,
Charmes, Incantations, or darke Exorciſmes.
If any ſtrength remaine in Pyromancy,
Or the hid ſecrets of the aire or fire.
If the Moones ſpheare can any helpe infuſe,
Or any influent Starre, collect them all
That I by thy aide may theſe monſters thrall.

  Oetes. Diſcouer them.

 Two fiery Buls are diſcouered, the Fleece hanging ouer them, and the Dragon ſleeping beneath them: Medea with ſtrange fiery-workes, hangs aboue in the Aire in the ſtrange habite of a Coniureſſe.

  Medea. The hidden power of Earth, Aire, Water, Fire,
Shall from this place to Iaſons helpe conſpire.
Fire withſtand fire, and magicke temper flame,
By my ſtrong ſpels the ſauadge monſter's tame:
So, that's perform'd, now take the Vipers teeth
And ſow them in the furrowed field of Mars.
Of which ſtrange ſeed, men ready arm'd muſt grow
To aſſault Iaſon. Already from beneath
Their deadly pointed weapons gin to appeare,
And now their heads, thus moulded in the earth,
Streight way ſhall teeme; and hauing freed their fate
(The ſtalkes by which they grow) all violently
Purſue the valiant Greeke, but by my ſorcery
I'le turne their armed points againſt themſelues
And all theſe ſlaues that would on Iaſon flie     

ſhoutes

Shall wound themſelues and by ſedition die.
Yet thriues the Greeke, now kill the ſleeping ſnake
Which I haue charm'd, and thence the Trophy take,
Theſe ſhouts witneſſe his conqueſt, Ile diſcend,
Heare Iaſons feares and all my charmes take end.

   Hercules. Oetes, now is this rich and pretious Fleece,
By Iaſons ſword repurchaſt, and muſt turne
Vnto the place whence Phrixus brought his Ramme.

  Oetes. That practiſe by your ruins; Ile preuent,
And ſooner then with that returne to Greece,
Your ſlaughtered bodies leaue with this rich fleece.

  Iaſon. Since our aduenture is atchieu'd and done,
The prize is ours, we ceize what we haue wone.

  Oetes. Enioy it Iaſon, I admire thy worth,
Which as it hath exceeded admiration,
So muſt we needs applaud it. Noble gentlemen.
Depart not Colchos, ere your worths and valour
We with ſome rich and worthy gifts preſent.
The conqueſt of our Buls, and Dragons death,
(Though we eſteem'd them) yet they ſad vs not,
Since we behold the ſafety of this prince.
Enter our palace, and your praiſe ſownd hye,
Where you ſhall feaſt, (or all by treafon dye.)      

Exeunt

  Abſyr. I haue not ſeeene my ſiſter to day, I muſe ſhe hath
not beene at this ſolemnity, me thinkes ſhe ſhould not haue
loſt this triumph; I haue a note to deliuer her from my fa-
ther. Here ſhe comes.     

Enter Medea.

Siſter, peruſe this briefe, you know the character,
It is my fathers. This is all.   

Exit. She reads.

  Medea. Iaſon with his Argonauts this night muſt periſh, the
fleece not be trāſported to Greece—Medea, your aſſiſtance.
This is my fathers plot to ouerthrow
Prince Iaſon, and the noble Argonauts,
Which Il'e preuent: I know the King is ſudden,
And if preuention be delay'd, they dye:
I that haue ventured thus farre for a loue,
Euen to theſe arts that Nature would haue hid
As dangerous and forbidden, ſhall I now
Vndoe what I haue done, through womaniſh feare,
Paternall duty, or for filiall loue?
No Iaſon, thou art mine, and my deſire,
Shall wade with thee through bloud, through ſeas, through fire.

Enter Iaſon.         

  Iaſon. Madam.

  Medea. My Lord, I know what you would ſay,
Thinke now vpon your life, the King my father
Intends your ruine, to redeeme the fleece,

And it repurchaſe with your tragicke deaths:
Therefore aſſemble all your Argonauts,
And let them (in the ſilence of the night)
Lanch from the Colchian harbour; Il'e aſſociate you
As Iaſons bride.

  Iaſon. You are my patroneſſe,
And vnder you I triumph: when the leaſt
Of all theſe graces I forget, the Gods
Reuenge on me my hated periury.
Muſt we then lanch this night? you are my directreſſe,
And by your art Il'e manage all my actions.

  Medea. Then flye, Il'e ſend to ſee your Argoe trim'd,
Rig'd and made tight: night comes, the time growes on:
Hye then aboord.     

Iaſon. I ſhall.     

Exit.

  Medea. Now populous Greece,
Thanke vs (not Iaſon) for this conquer'd fleece.  

Enter Oetes.

  Oetes. Medea, we are rob'd, deſpoil'd, diſhonored,
Our Fleece rap't hence, we muſt not ſuffer it,
Since all our ominous fortunes it includes,
I am reſolu'd Iaſon this night ſhall dye.

  Medea. Should he ſuruiue, you might be held vnworthy
The name of King; my hand ſhall be as deepe
As yours in his deſtruction.

  Oetes. A ſtrong guard
I will ſelect, and in the dead of night,
When they are ſunke in Lethe, ſet vpon them,
And kill them in their beds.

  Medea. Il'e ſecond you,
And laue my ſtain'd hands in their reeking blouds
That practiſe your diſhonour.

  Oetes. Iaſon then dyes,
When he moſt hopes for this rich Colchian prize.     

Exit.

  Medea. But ere the leaſt of all theſe ils betide,
This Colchian ſtrond ſhall with thy bloud be dy'd.
For Iaſon and his Argonauts I ſtand,
And will protect them with my art and hand.

Enter Iaſon with the Fleece, and all the Greekes muffled.
  Iaſon. Madam Medea.

  Medea. Leaue circumſtance, away,
Hoyſe vp your ſailes, death and deſtruction
Attends you on the ſhoare.

  Iaſon. You'l follow Madam.      

Exit.      

  Medea. Inſtantly: Blow gentle gales, aſſiſt them winds and tide,
That I may Greece ſee, & liue Iaſons bride.   Enter Abſyrtus.

  Abſyr. How now ſiſter, ſo ſolitary?

  Medea. Oh happy met, though it be late Abſyrtus,
You muſt along with me.     

   Abſyr. Whither pray?

  Medea. Il'e tell you as we walke.
This lad betweene me and all harme ſhall ſtand;
And if the King purſue vs with his Fleet,
His mangled limbes ſhall (ſcattered in the way)
Worke our eſcape, and the Kings ſpeed delay.
Come brother.   

  Abſyr. Any where with you ſiſter. Exeunt.

Enter Homer.

  Hom. Let none to whom true Art is not deny'd,
Our monſtrous Buls, and magicke Snakes deride.
Some thinke this rich Fleece was a golden Booke,
The leaues of parchment, or the ſkins of Rammes,
Which did inclide the Art of making gold
By Chimicke ſkill, and therfore rightly ſtild,
The Golden Fleece, which to attaine and compaſſe,
Includes as many trauels, myſteries,
Changes and Chymicke bodies, fires and monſters,
As euer Iaſon could in Colchos meet.
The ſages, and the wiſe, to keepe their Art
From being vulgar: yet to haue them taſted
With appetite and longing, giue thoſe gloſſes,
And flouriſhes to ſhadow what they write,
Which might (at once) breed wonder and delight.
So did th' Ægyptians in the Arts beſt try'd,
In Hierogliphickes all their Science hide.
But to proceed, the Argonauts are fled,
Whom the inrag'd Oetes doth purſue,
And being in ſight, Medea takes the head

Of yong Abſyrtus, whom (vnkinde) ſhe ſlue,
And all his other limbes ſtrawes in the way
Of the old father, his purſute to ſtay.

The Shew.

In memory of this inhumane deed,
Theſe Iſlands where his flaughtered limbes lye ſpred,
Were cal'd Abſyrtides: But we proceed
With King Laomedon, 'gainſt whom are led
The Argonauts, Troy by Alcides rac'd,
Aſkes the next place, and muſt in ranke be plac'd.

Enter Laomedon, Priam, Anchiſes, Æneas, Heſione, &c.

  Lao. The Argonauts return'd?

  Anchi. They are my Lord:

  Lao. And landed?

  Anchi. Landed.

  Lao. Where?

  Anchi. At Tenedos.

  Lao. Could not thoſe Colchian monſters in their bowels
Bury the Greekes, but muſt they all ſuruiue
To threat vs with inuaſion. Speake Anchiſes,
March they towards Troy?

  Anchis. In conduct of the mighty Hercules,
Waſting with ſword and fire where ere they march:
Scamander fields they haue ſtrew'd with carkaſſes,
And Simois ſtreames already purpled are
With bloud of Troians.

  Priam. Let vs giue them battell.

  Lao. In vaine, our forces are diſperſt abroad,
Nor haue we order to withſtand their fury:
Beſt were we to immure our ſelues in Troy,
And truſt vnto the vertue of our walles.    

Shouts.

  Æneas. Do not delay your ſafety, you may heare
Their cryes, and lofty clamors, threatning Troy:
They dogge vs to our gates, and without ſpeed
And expedition, they will enter with vs.
Come then, our threatned liues we will immure,
And thinke vs in our ſtrong built walles ſecure.      

Exent.

After an alarme enter Hercules, Iaſon, Theſeus, Telamon, and all the other Argonauts.

  Herc. Purſue the chace euen to the gates of Troy,
Then call th'ingrate Loamedon to parlee.

  Iaſon. The periur'd King ſhall pay vs for the wrong
Done to Alcides in his promiſ'd ſteeds.

  Telam. Better he had the monſter had deuour'd
His beauteous daughter, then t'abide our furies.

  Neſtor. He did exclude our vertue from the Citty,
And now therefore he ſhall admit our fury.

  Caſtor. Theſe wals firſt rear'd at the great Gods expence,
Wee'l ruine to the earth: let's ſummon him.

  Herc. We will call him to parlee.        

A parlee.

Enter vpon the wals, Laomedon, Anchiſes, Æneas, Priam, &c.

  Herc. Laomedon, we do not ſummon thee
To parlee, but to warne thee guard thy walles,
Which (without pauſe) we now intend to ſcale.

  Laom. Wilt heare me Hercules?

  Herc. I liſten'd thy periurious tongue too late.
Scale, batter, mount, aſſault, ſacke, and deface,
And leaue (of Troy) nought ſaue the name and place.

 Alarme. Telamon firſt mounts the walles, the reſt after, Priam flyes, Laomedon is ſlaine by Hercules, Heſione taken, Enter with victory.

  Herc. Thus is the tyrant, that but late aw'd Troy,
Buried amidſt his ruines; he chaſtiſ'd,
And we reueng'd: the ſpoyle of this rich Towne
Rated as high as Iaſons Colchian prize,
You ſhall diuide: but firſt theſe lofty walles,
Builded by periury, and maintain'd by pride,
Wee'l ruine to the earth: Who ſaw yong Priam?

  Iaſon. Hee's fled, and tooke the way to Samo-thrace,
With him Anchiſes, that on Venus got
The yong Æneas, they are fled together,
And left the ſpoyle of all the towne to vs.

  Herc. Which ſhall enrich Thebes, and the townes of Greece,
And Telamon, to do thy valour right,
For mounting firſt ouer the walles of Troy,
The firſt and choyce of all the ſpoyle be thine.

  Telam.

Then let Alcides honour Telamon
With this bright Lady, faire Heſione,
Siſter to Priam, daughter to Laomedon,
Whoſe beauty I preferre before the ſtate
And wealth of Troy.

  Herc. Receiue her Telamon,
Shee is thine owne by gift of Hercules.

  Telam. A preſent more delighting Telamon,
Then were I made Lord of high Illiums Towers,
And heire vnto the dead Laomedon.

  Heſio. I am a Princeſſe, ſhall my fathers ils
Fall on my head? If he offended Hercules,
He hath made ſatiſfaction with his life.
Oh be not ſo ſeuere, to ſtretch his puniſhment
Euen after life; haſt thou from death redeem'd me,
To giue me captiue, and to ſlaue my youth?
Things worſe then death: rather let Hercules
Expoſe me to the rocke, where firſt he found me,
To abide the wrath both of the Sea and Sunne.
Oh! rather make my body food for monſters,
Then brand my birth with bondage.

  Telam. Faire Heſione,
I will not looſe thy beauty, nor thy youth,
Nor part with this my honour, couldſt thou giue me
For ranſome of them, both our Argoes cram'd
With gold and gemmes; you are my valours prize,
And ſhall with me to populous Salamine.

  Heſione. Can you ſo wrong the daughter of a king,

To giue her as a Dukes baſe Concubine?
Touch me not Telamon, for I deuine,
Ifere my brother Priam re-build Troy,
And be the king of Aſia, hee'l reuenge
This baſe diſhonour done Heſione;
And for his ſiſter, rauiſh't hence perforce,
Do the like out-rage on ſome Grecian Queene,
In iuſt reuenge of my iniurious wrong.

  Herc. Should all the kings in Aſia, or the world,
Take part with Priam in that proud deſigne,
Like fate, like fortune with Laomedon
They ſhall abide: renowned Telamon,
She is the warlike purchaſe of thy ſword,
Enioy her as the gift of Hercules.
And now braue Grecian Hero's, lets towards Greece
With al theſe honored ſpoils from Colchos brought
And from the treaſures of defaced Troy.
Faire Deianeira longs for vs in Thebes,
Whom we will viſit next, and thence proceed
Vnto our future labours. Cacus liues
A bloudy tyrant, whom we muſt remoue:
And the three-headed Gerion ſwayes in Spaine,
Notorious for his rapes and out-rages;
Both theſe muſt periſh by Alcides hand,
And when we can the earth from tyrants cleare,
In the worlds vtmost bounds our pillers reare. exit

Homer.

Loath are we (curteous auditors) to cloy
Your appetites with viands of one taſt,
The beauteous Venus we muſt next imploy,
Whom we ſaw mourning for Adonis laſt.
Suppoſe her ſtill for the yong Adon ſad,
But cheer'd by Mars, their old loues they renue,
And ſhe, that (whil'ſt he liu'd) preferd the Lad,
Hath quite forgot him, ſince the Boare him ſlue.
Mars is in grace, a meeting they deuiſe,
Iealous of all, but fearing moſt the Sunne,
Hee that ſees all things from his firſt vp-riſe,
And like a blab, tels all that hee knowes done.
Our mortals muſt a while their ſpleenes aſſwage,
And to the Gods, for this Act, leaue the Stage.

Enter Mars and Venus.

  Mars. I knew loues Queene could not be long vnkind,
Though (whil'ſt I abſent, to teach Armes in Thrace)
You tooke th'aduangtage to forget your Mars,
To doate on Adon, and Anchiſes too;
Yet (thoſe worne out) let vs renue our loues,
And practiſe our firſt amorous dalliance.

  Venus. How can I hate; that am the Queene of loue?
Or practiſe ought againſt my natiue power?
As I one day, playd with my Cupids ſhafts,
The wanton with his arrow raz'd my ſkin.
Truſt me, at firſt I did neglect the ſmart:
At length it rankled, and it grew vnſound,
Till he that now lies wounded, cut'd my wound.

  Mars. Come ſhall we now, whilſt Vulcan plyes his forge,
Sweats at his Anuill, choakes himſelfe with duſt,
And labours at his bellowes, kiſſe and toy?

  Venus. Why met we elſe? Here is a place remote,
An obſcure caue, fit for our amorous ſport:
In this darke cauerne wee'l ſecurely reſt,
And Mars ſhall adde vnto my Vulcans creſt.
But how if we be ſpy'd?

  Mars. Whom need we feare?
Vnleſſe the Sunne, who now the lower world
Lights with his beames; I meane the Antipodes,
The tell-tale blab is buſie now elſe-where:
And I will ſet to watch at the caues doore,
My truſty groome, who (ere the Sunne ſhall riſe
With his bright beames to light our Hemiſpheare)
Shall waken vs.

  Venus. For all the world I would not haue the Sunne
Diſcouer our ſweet ſport, or ſee whats done.

  Mars. Be that my charge. Wher's Gallus?    

Enter Gallus.

   Gal. At hand fir: I am not that Gallows that is made of three trees, or one that is neuer without hangers on: nor that Gallus that is latine for a French-man; but your owne Gallus gallinacius, ſeruant and true ſquire to God Mars.

  Mars. Syrrah, you know this Lady.

   Gallus. Yes, Miſtreſſe Vulcan, ſhee is as well knowne in Paphos here for her Meretrix, as any Lady in the land, ſhee was the firſt that deuiſ'd ſtew'd meate, and proclaim'd pickle-oyſters to bee good for the backe; ſhee is the firſt that taught wenches the trade of Venery, and ſuch as were borne to nothing but beauty, ſhe taught them how to vſe their Talent: Yes, I know her I warrant you.

   Mars. Syrrah attend, this night yon Queene and I
Muſt haue ſome priuate conference, in yon caue,
Where whilſt we ſtay, 'tmuſt be thy care to watch
That no ſuſpicious eye pry through theſe chinks,
Eſpecially I warne thee of the Sunnes.

  Gallus. I ſmell knauery, if my Lady Venus play the whoore  

What am I that keepe the dore?

  Mars. See thou do call vs, e're the Sunne vpriſe,
But ſleepe not for by all my Armes I ſweare,
If by thy careleſſe floth, or negligence
We be deſcribe, thy body I'le tranſlate,
To ſome ſtrange Monſter.

  Gallus, I'me hard fauor'd enough already, you need not
Make my face worſe then it is.

  Mars. Com enter then faire Queene, we are ſecure,
Now ſafely maiſt thou claſpe the God of warre,
Spight of Sunne, Moone, or a iealous ſtarre.

  Venus. Loue anſwers loue, deſire with ardor meetes,
Both which this night ſhall taſt a thouſand ſweetes.  

Exeunt.

  Gallus. I ſee you can make ſhift to go too't without ſheetes: How ſhall I paſſe this night away till morning, I am
as drowſy as a dormouſe, the very thought that I muſt wake, charmes mee a ſleepe already, I would I durſt venture on a nap; Hey ho, ſure I may wake againe afore they riſe, and neuer the wiſer, I will ſtand to't, there is not a more ſleepy trade in the world then a watchman, nor one that is more acquainted with deeds of darkeneſſe, tell mee of the Sunne! the Sunne will not riſe this two houres; well, let them watch that will, or can, I muſt haue a nod or two, God night to you all, for here am I faſt till morning.

Enter Aurora, attended with Seaſons, Daies, and Howers.

  Aurora. The day-ſtarre ſhines and cals me bluſhing vp.
From Tithons bed to harneſſe Phoebus Steeds.
My roſeate fingers haue already ſtroakt
The element where light beginnes to appeare,
And ſtraight Apollo with his gliſtering beames,
Will guild the Eaſt, the Seaſons, Months, and Daies
Attend him in the pallace of the Sunne.
The Howers haue brought his Chariot to the gate
Of Chriſtall, where the Sunne-God mounts his throne,
His fiery Steeds haue all their traces fet,
Th'vnruly ſtalions fed with Ambroſy
(With their round hoofes ſhod with the pureſt gold)
Thunder againſt the Marble floores of Heauen,
And waite till Phoebus hath but don'd his beames,
Which I the bluſhing Morning ſtill put on.
And now's the howre (for thus time fleeteth ſtill)
That the Sunnes vp to clime the Eaſterne hill.

Enter Phoebus to them, kiſſes Aurora, and they all exeunt.

 Phoebus. Beauteous Aurora, for full twice twelue howers
Till in my ſpheare I haue compaſt round the world
Farewell, I with my beames will dry theſe teares
Thou ſhedſt at parting; we haue chac't hence night,
And frighted all the twinkling ſtarres from heauen,
And now the ſteepe Olimpus we muſt clime,
Till from the high Meridian we peruſe
The ſpatious bounds of this large vniuerſe,
And thence decline our Chariot towards the Weſt,
Till we haue waſht our Coach-ſteeds and our ſelfe
In Iſters icy ſtreames: Wee with this eye
Can all things ſee that mortals do on earth,
And what wee find inhumane, or to offend,
Wee tell to Ioue, that he may puniſh ſinnes.
For this I am term'd a tel-tale and a blab,
And that I nothing can conceale abroad.
But let ſpight ſpit the worſt and wrong me ſtill,

Day hateth ſinnes, and light deſpiſeth ill.     

Hee ſpies Mars & Venus.

 

And now behold a moſt abhorred deed,    

Mars beds with Venus, ſhall not Vulcan know it?
By my light hee ſhall; I haue ſeene, and I will tell,
The Sunne hates ſinne but crownes them that do well. Exit.

Enter Mars.

  Mars. Venus awake, wee haue ore-ſlept our ſelues,
The Sunne's aboue in his diurnall taſke,
I ſaw his piercing beames pry through a cranny,
And caſt his right eye full vpon our bed.    

Enter Venus.

  Venus. We are betraide, the blab will tell the Smith,
Our loue will come to th'eare of Iupiter
And all the other Gods, what will Diana
Say when ſhee heares of our inchaſtity?
Or how will Iuno take this ſpouſe-breach from vs?

  Mars. Nay rather, how will Vulcan taſt our ſport?
He might ſuſpect, but neuer proue till now,
Where is the villaine Gallus ſet to watch?

  Venus. See where he ſnorts, the ſlaue is dead aſleep.

  Mars. Awake thou drowſy Groome, thy chafliſement
Shall exceed torture.

  Gallus. Hey ho, what's the matter there, ha?

  Mars. Looke, haſt thou eies? is not the Sun two howres
Mounted aloft? hath he not ſeene theeſleeping
At the Caues dore, Yea beheld vs too?   

  Gallus. More ſhame for him to looke in at any bodies window.

  Mars. Speake, how canſt thou excuſe this?

  Gallus. Oh great God Mars.

  Mars. Behold, this is thy doome, thy negligence
Thus I'le chaſtice, thou ſhalt thy humane ſhape
Henceforth forgo, I will tranſlate thy body
Into a bird ſhall euer beare thy name,
Bee Gallus ſtill, a Cocke, and be thy nature
Euer hereafter this; to watch the Sunne,
And by thy crowes and clamours warne the world
Two howres before he riſe, that the Sunne comes
Clap with thy wings, and with thy ſhrieking loud,

 

Proclaime his comming when thou thrice haſt crowed.

Gallus ſinkes, and in his place riſeth a Cocke and crowes.

 Venus. The ſlaues right ſeru'd, let this his puniſhment
Liue to all ages, and let Gallus name
Thy iuſt reuenge to all the world proclaime.
But whither ſhall we now?

  Mars. I will to Thrace, go you to Lemnos.

  Venus. Will you leaue me then
To Vulcans rage, no let vs once more meete
In Paphos, and if Vulcan needs will chide
Giue him ſome cauſe.

  Mars. Content faire Queene of loue.
For more, he cannot be much more diſpleaſ'd,
Let's ſcore on ſtill, and make our reckoning full,
As yet, alas faire Queene, the debts but ſmall,
Make vp the ſumme, and anſwere once for all.

  Venus. Content ſweete Mars, and ſince that he was borne
To be a Cuckold, let's augmennt his horne.      

Exeunt.

Enter Vulcan with two Ciclops, Pyragman, and Berontes.

  Vulcan. Make haſt with that ſhield, ſee’t hammer'd well,
For when 'tis done I'le giue't my father Ioue,
'Tis of the pureſt mettall Lemnos yeelds.

  Pyrag. I ſhall ſir, muſt the plate of two cubes high,
Be put into the Forge?

  Vulcan. Pyragmon yes, that maſſe muſt be wrought well
And ſoundly temper'd, bid your fellow Cyclops
Worke luſtily, it muſt be ſoone diſpatcht.

  Pyrag. When ſaw you my Lady Venus?

  Vulcan. No matter when, the Huſwiffe's too fine finger'd,

And ſaith, the very ſmoake my Fordge doth caſt
Choakes her, the very aire of Lemnos (man)
Blaſts her white cheekes, ſhe ſcarce will let me kiſſe her,
But ſhee makes vergiſſe faces, ſaith my viſadge
Smug'd thus with cole-duſt, doth infect her beauty,
And makes her weare a beard, ſhee's, ſure, in Paphos,
Cypreſſe, or Candy, ſhee's all for play
Whilſt we Ioues thunders hammer hard all day.
  Pyrag. I heard her once mocke that polt-foote of yours
How came it pray?

  Vulcan, I'le tell thee man, I was when I was borne
A pretty ſmug knaue, and my father Ioue
Delighted much to dance me in his lap.
Vpon a time as hee was toying with mee
In his high houſe aboue, that Phaeton
Had at that inſtant ſet the world a fire,
My father when he ſaw heauens baſes ſmoake,
Th'earth burne, and Neptunes broth to ſeeth with heate;
But ſtartles vp to thunder-ſtrike the lad,
And lets me fall: downe tumbled I towards the earth:
I fell through all the Planets by degrees,
From Saturne firſt, ſo by the Moone at laſt:
And from the Moone downe into Lemnos Iſle
Where I ſtill liue, and halt vpon my fall,
No maruell if't lam'd mee, for, Pyragmon.
How high I tumbled, who can geſſe aright,
Falling a Summers day from morne to night?

  Pyrag. 'Twas maruell you did not breake your necke.

  Vulcan. Had I not bene deriu'd from God-like ſeed,
Truſt me Pyragmon I had don't indeed.    

The Cocke crows and enter Phoebus.

But to the Forge, for I Appollo ſpie,   
Hee that ſees all things with the daies bright eye.
Good morrow Phoebus, what's the newes abroad?
For thou ſeeſt all things in the world are done,
Men act by day-light, or the ſight of Sunne.

  Phoebus. Sometime I caſt mine eie vpon the ſea,
To ſee the tumbling Seale, or Porpoiſe play,
There ſee I Marchants trading, and their ſayles
Big bellied with the wind; ſea fights ſome times
Riſe with their ſmoake, thicke clouds to darke my beames.
Sometimes, I fixe my face vpon the earth
With my warme feruour, to giue mettals, trees,
Hearbes, plants, and flowers life; here in gardens walke
Looſe Ladies with their louers arme in arme,
Yonder the labouring Plow-man driues his Teeme.
Further, I may behold maine battels pitcht,
And whom I fauour moſt (by the winds helpe)
I can aſſiſt with my tranſparant raies.
Heere, ſpye I Cattell feeding, Forreſts there
Stor'd with wilde beaſts; here Shepeheards with their laſſes
Piping beneath the trees, whilſt their flockes graze.
In Citties, I ſee trading, walking, bargening,
Buying, and ſelling, goodneſſe, badneſſe, all things.
And ſhine alike on all.

  Vulcan. Thrice happy Phœbus,
That whilſt poore Vulcan is confin'd to Lemnos
Haſt euery day theſe pleaſures. What newes elſe.

  Phœbus: No Emperour walks forth, but I ſee his State,
Nor ſports, but I his paſtimes can behold,
I ſee all Coronations, Funerals,
Marts, Faires, Aſſemblies, Pageants, Sights; and Showes.
No hunting, but I better ſee the chaſe
Then they that rowſe the game, what ſee not I?
There's not a window but my beames breakes in,
No thinke or cranny but my raies pierce through,
And there I ſee (oh Vulcan) wondrous things.
Things that thy ſelfe nor any God beſides
Would giue beliefe to.

  Vul. What, good Phœbus ſpeake.

  Phœ. Here, wantons on their day-beds, I ſee ſpread
Claſping their amorous louers in their armes,
Who euen before my face, are not ſometimes
Aſham'd to ſhew all.       

  Vulcan. Could not god Phœbus bring mee to ſee this paſtime.

  Phœbus. Sometimes euen meane fellowes
A bed with noble Ladies whom they ſerue,
Seruant with ſeruant, married men with maides,
And wiues with Batchelours.

  Vulcan. There's ſimple doing.

  Phœbus. And ſhall I tell thee Vulcan, tother day
What I beheld, I ſaw the great God Mars.

  Vulcan. God Mars.
  Phœbus. As I was peeping through a cranny; a bed.

  Vulcan. A bed; with whom? ſome pretty wench I warrant.

  Phœbus. Shee was a pretty wench.

  Vulcan. Tell me good Phoebus,
That when I meete him I may floute God Mars,
Tell mee, but tell me truely on thy life.

  Phœbus. Not to diſſemble Vulcan, 'twas thy wife!

  Vulcan. Out on her whore, out on him Cuckold-maker,
Phoebus I'le be reuendge on great God Mars,
Who, whilſt I hammer here his ſwords and ſhields,
Hammers vpon my head, I will complaine
To Ioue, and all the Gods, and tell them flat
I am a Cuckold.

  Phœ. Vulcan be aduiſ'd,
I haue had notice where they vſe to meete,
Couldſt not deuiſe to catch them by ſome wile?
And lay their guilt, wide open to the Gods,
Then mightſt thou haue fit colour of complaint.

  Vulcan. Enough, I haue deuiſ'd a ſecret ſnare,
A draw-net, which I'le place vpon the Couch
Where they ſtill vſe to bed, a wire ſo temper'd,
And of ſuch fineneſſe to deceiue the eie.
So catch them when they are at it, and by this
I may preſume, and be ſure I am Cuckold.

  Phœbus. That's the way to be ſatiſfied.

  Vulcan. If I can catch them, all the Gods I'le call
To ſee my wrongs, there ſports I'le neere to marre,
And venge me on that letcherous God of warre.

Enter the Nymph, Cloris, with two more, with floures in their laps.

  1. Nym. Cloris, you are the Nymph whoſe office is
To ſtrow faire Venus bed with hearbes and flowers,
Here is the place ſhee meanes to ſport her ſelfe.

  Clo. I am the hand-maide to the Queene of loue,
And vnto all her pleaſures miniſter,

When ſhe drinkes Nectar, 'tis from Cloris hand,
If feede on ſweete Ambrotia, or thoſe fruits
That Cornu-copia yeelds, I ſerue them vp,
Come let vs with freſh Roſes ſtrow her Couch
With pances and the buds of Eglantine,
Her pillow is the purple Violet banke,
About whoſe verges the blancht Lillies grow,
Whoſe bodies twin'd about with wood-byne leaues
Make a confuſed ſweetneſſe, ſo 'tis well,
Come Venus when ſhee pleaſe to take her reſt,
Her Arbour's dight, and all things well addreſt.

Enter Vulcan and Pyragmon with his net of wire.

  Vulcan. By her baud Charis, this I know the place,
Which with adulterate paſtimes they pollute.
Here will I ſet my pit-fall for theſe birds,
And catch them in the cloſure of this wire,
So, ſo, al's fit, my ſnare in order plac't,   
Happy the time, that I this Charis trac't.     

Enter Mars and Venus.

  Mars. Once more in ſpight of Phoebus and theſe eies,
That dog our paſtimes, we are cloſely met,
And whilſt the Cuckold Vulcan blowes the fire,
Our amorous ſoules their ſportiue bliſſe conſpire.

  Venus. Hee's limping thus, and like a cripple halts
From Forge to Fornace; where were Venus eies,
When ſhe made choiſe of that foule polt-foote Smith,
He ſmels all ſmoake, and with his naſty ſweate
Tawnies my ſkinne, out on him vgly knaue,
Mars is my loue, and he my ſweets ſhall haue.

  Vulcan. Gramercy my kind wife.

  Venus. Come God of warre,
I'le teach thee a new ſkirmiſh, better farre
Then thy ſterne battails, meete me with a kiſſe
Which I retort thus, there's ſpirit in this,
What's he would play the coward and turne face,
When ſuch ſweete amorous combats are in place?
My hot incounters, leaue me wound nor ſkarre
Yet naked I dare meete the God of Warre.

  Vulcan. Out of her Whoore.

  Mars. I am arm'd for thee, prepare thee, for this night

Il'e breaſt to breaſt dare thee to ſingle fight.

  Venus. Come tumble in my lap, great Mars I dare
To do his worſt.    

Vulcan catcheth them faſt in his net.

  Vul. 'Tis well, your ſports are faire.

  Mars. Betraid? bound? catcht? releaſe me, or by Ioue,
Thou dy'ſt what ere thou art.

  Vul. God Mars, good words;
This is a fight in which you vſe no ſwords.
You haue left your ſteele behinde.

  Ven. Sweet vulcan.    

  Vulc. No more.

  Venus. Canſt thou vſe Venus thus? Vul. Away you whore,
Il'e keepe you faſt, and call the Gods to ſee
Your practiſe, Neptune, Ioue, and Mercury,
Phoebus and Iuno, from your ſpheares looke downe,
And ſee the cauſe I weare a forked crowne.

All the Gods appeare aboue, and laugh, Iupiter, Iuno, Phoebus, Mercury, Neptune.

  Mars. The Gods are all ſpectators of our ſhame,
And laugh at vs.

  Venus. Oh! I could cry for anger.
Sweet Vulcan let me looſe. Vulc. When Gods and men
Haue ſeene thy ſhame, but (ſtrumpet) not till then.

  Iup. See how Mars chafes.  Iun. But Venus weeps for rage

  Nept. Why ſhould Mars fret? if it ſo tedious be,
Good God of warre beſtow thy place on me.

  Merc. By all the Gods, would ſhe do me that grace,
I would fall too't euen before Vulcans face.

  Vul. To Gods and men let it be fully knowne
I am a Cuckold.      

All. Vulcan is no leſſe.

  Vul. Now ſince red ſhame your cheeks with bloud hath dy'd,
I am reueng'd, and ſee my net's vnti'd.       

  Phoeb. The Gods haue laught their fill, Vulcan's reueng'd,
And now all friends: ſpeake, are we?

  Iup. Mars ſtill frownes,

  Iuno. And Venus ſcarce well pleaſ'd.

  Vul. For my part (oh you Gods!) what's paſt is paſt,
And what is once done, cannot be recald:

If Vulcan in this ieaſt hath pleaſ'd the Gods,
All his owne wrongs he freely can forgiue.
Venus we are friends, to Lemnos we will haſt,
And neuer more record what's done and paſt.

  Ven. No foole, before I did offend with feare,
My guilt was but ſuſpected, but not prou'd:
And therefore I ſelected priuacy,
Cloſeneſſe of place, and baſhfully tranſgreſt;
But ſince both Gods and men now know my ſinne,
Why ſhould I dread to ſay I loue God Mars?
What helpe haſt thou in prouing thy wife falſe?
Onely to make me doe with impudence,
What I before with feare did, on thy ſelfe
Brought a moſt certaine ſhame, where it before
Was but ſuſpected.

  Vul. Venus ſpeakes good ſence,
That's certaine now, which was before ſuſpence.

  Ven. Now fare well iealous foole, for my diſgrace,
Him whom I loue, I bluſhleſſe thus imbrace,
And may all ſuch as would their wiues ſo take,
(Although they might) be ſeru'd thus for thy ſake.

  Vul. I am vndone, be warn'd by me oh men,
Although you know your wiues falſe, where and when,
Take them not in the manner, though you may:
They that with feare before, now bluſhleſſe ſtray,
Their guilt 'tis better to ſuſpect then know,
So you may take ſome part of that you owe.
Where I by ſeeking her good name to thrall,
Haue made my ſelfe a ſcorne, and quite left all.

  Iup. To Lemnos then, to make our Thunders fit,
Which againſt mortals we haue cauſe to vſe,
Mars, you to Thrace, Venus in Paphos ſtay,
Or where you pleaſe, we to our ſeuerall ſpheares.
Vulcan, thy morrall this good vſe contriues,
None ſearch too farre th'offences of their wiues.     

Exeunt

Homer.

Our laſt Act comes, which leſt it tedious grow,
What is too long in word, accept in ſhow.
Thinke Hercules his labours hauing ended,
The Spaniſh Gerion kild, and Cacus ſlaine,
As farre as Lydea he his palme extended,
Where beauteous Omphale this time doth raigne.
He that before to Deianeira ſent,
As preſents, all the ſpoyles that he could win,
Now fils her heart with iealous diſcontent,
She heares how Hercules doth card and ſpin
With Omphale, and ſerues her as a ſlaue.
(She quite forgot in Thebes) her griefe to cheare,
Th'aſſembled Princes with their Counſels graue,
Are come to comfort and remoue her feare.
By theſe all his ſtor'd labours he hath ſent
To call him home, to free her diſcontent.

 Aſhew. Enter Deianeira ſad, with Lychas: to her Iaſon, Telamon, Caſtor, Pollux, Neſtor, &c. They ſeeme to comfort her, ſhe ſends Lychas, who brings the Trophies of his twelue labours, ſhe deliuers them to the Princes, to beare to her huſband. They part ſeuerall waies.

Hom. Iaſon, and the other Hero's for her ſake,
Trauell to Lydia, to perſwade him thence
And by his twelue knowne labours, vndertake
To moue him, quite t'abandon his faire wench.
Further then this her iealouſie extends,
Afarre worſe preſent ſhe by Lychas ſends.

Enter Deianeira, and her ſeruant Lychas.

  Lych. Madam, theſe ſorrowes are too violent
For your weake ſex, I do not thinke tis true,
Your huſband can preferre that Omphale
Before your beauty.

  Deian. Hee's forgot in Greece.
Greece that was wont to clangor with his fame,
Is now all ſilent, who but Iaſon now,
And Telamon, that ſcal'd the walles of Troy,
Alcides is a name for got amongſt vs,
And Deianeira too forgot with him.
Oh! that I had the tempting ſtrumpet here
That keepes my Lord away, confining me
Vnto the coldneſſe of a widowed bed.

  Lyc. Madam, theſe preſents ſent, & ſo wel knowne
Coming from you, muſt needs preuaile with him.
Theſe Princes haue great intereſt in his loue,
And can perſwade much.

  Deia. But that ſtrumpet more.
Lychas, he doates vpon her tempting lookes,
And is ſo much with her inchantments blear'd,
That hee's turn'd woman: woman Lychas, ſpinnes,
Cards, and doth chare-worke, whilſt his miſtres ſits
And makes a cuſhion of his Lyons ſkin,
Makes of his club a rocke. I looſe my ſelfe
In thiſmy ſorrow, and forget the meanes;
I ſtill keepe by my me, to reſtore my loue,
Lychas, fetch me the ſhirt within my chamber,
I haue bethought me now.

  Lych. Madam I ſhall.

  Dei. This ſhirt (in bloud of Centaur Neſſus dipt,
And ſince waſht out) Il'e ſend my Hercules,
Which hath the power to make his hot loue dye
To any ſtranger, and reuiue to me.
This (as his laſt) the dying Centaur ſpake,   
To this Il'e truſt, all other hopes forſake.     

Enter Lychas

  Lych. Madam the ſhirt.

  Dei. This as my beſt and deereſt,
Preſent me (truſty Lychas) to my Lord,
Intreat withall, that if he haue not quite
Put off my loue, hee'l daine to put on this.
If he deſpiſe my gift, returne it backe,
And in it my death.

  Lych. Feare not faire Princeſſe,
I hope to proue as fortunate as faithfull.

  Dei. Farewell, proue as thou ſpeakeſt. If my gift faile,
I haue ſentenced all my ſorrowes to one death,
Whilſt Deianeira hath a hand to vſe,
Shee'l not liue hated where ſhe once did chuſe.    

Exit.

Enter Omphale, Queene of Lydia, with 4 or 5 maids, Hercules attired like a woman, with a diſtaffe and a ſpindle.

  Omph. Why ſo, this is a power infuſ'd in loue,
Beyond all magicke; Is't not ſtrange to ſee
A womans beauty tame the Tyrant-tamer?
And the great Monſter-maiſter ouer-match?
Haue you done your taſke?

  Herc. Beauteous Queene, not yet.

  Omph. Then I ſhall frowne.

  Herc. Before that (louely faire)
Augment my taſke, vnto a treble chare.
For one ſweet ſmile from beauteous Omphale,
Il'e lay before thee all the monſtrous heads
Of the grim tyrants that oppreſſe the earth.
I that before, at Iuno's ſtrict beheſt,
The hundred gyants of Cremona ſlue,
Will twice fiue hundred kill for Omphale.
Finde me a Cacus in a caue of fire,
Il'e dragge him from the mountaine Auentine,
And lay his bulke at thy victorious feet.
Finde me me another Gerion to captiue,
All his three heads Il'e tumble in thy ſkirt.
Bid me once more ſacke hell, to binde the furies,
Or to preſent thee with the Gods in chaines,
It ſhall be done for beauteous Omphale.

  Omph. Leaue prating, ply your worke.

  Herc. Oh what a ſweetneſſe
Liues in her lookes! no bondage, or baſe ſlauery
Seemes ſeruitude, whilſt I may freely gaze
(And vncontrold) on her: but for one ſmile,
Il'e make her Empreſſe ore the triple world,
And all the beauteous Queenes from Eaſt to Weſt,
The Lydians vaſſails, and my fellow-ſlaues.
There is no Lord but Loue, no vaſſailage

But in affection, and th'Emperious Queene
Doth tyranize ore captiue Hercules.      

Enter a maid.

  Maid. Madam, some Dukes of Greece attend without,
And craue to ſee your captiue Theban here.

  Omph. Admit them, they ſhall ſee what pompe we haue,
And that our beauty can the loftieſt ſlaue.

Enter Iaſon, Telamon, Caſtor, Pollux, Neſtor, Atreus, &c.

  Iaſon. Our buſineſſe was to Thehan Hercules,
'Twas told vs he remain'd with Omphale,
The Lydian Queene.

  Tel. Speake, which is Omphale? or which Alcides?

  Omph. We are queene of Lydia,
And this our vaſſaile. Do you know him Lords?
Stoope ſlaue, and kiſſe the foot of Omphale.

  Herc. I ſhall.

  Neſt. Oh wonderous alteration!

  Caſt. Till now I truſted this report was falſe,
And ſcarcely can I yet beleeue mine eyes.

  Pol. Lady, our purpoſe was to Hercules,
Shew vs the man.

  Omph. Behold him Greekes there.

  Atreus. Where?    

  Omph. There at his taſke.

  Iaſon. Alas! This Hercules?
This is ſome baſe effeminate groome, not hee
That with his puiſſance frighted all the earth:
This is ſome woman, ſome Hermophrodite.

  Herc. Hath Iaſon, Neſtor, Caſtor, Telamon,
Atreus, Pollux, all forgot their friend?
We are the man.

  Iaſon. Woman we know thee not.
We came to ſeeke the Ioue-borne Hercules,
That in his cradle ſtrangled Iuno's ſnakes,
And triumpht in the braue Olimpicke games.
He that the Cleonean Lyon ſlue,
The Eremanthian Boare, the Bull of Marathon,
The Lernean Hydra, and the winged Hart.
He that drag'd Cerberus from hell in chaines,

And ſtownded Pluto in his Ebon Chaire.
That Hercules, by whom the Centaurs fell.
Great Achelous, the Stymphalides,
And the Cremona giants? Where is he?

  Tel. That traiterous Neſſus with a ſhaft tranſ-fixt,
Strangled Antheus, purg'd Augeus ſtalles,
Wan the bright Apples of the Heſperides,
And whilſt the Giant Atlas eaſ'd his limbes,
Bore on his ſhoulders the huge frame of heauen.

  Herc. And are not we the man? ſee Telamon,
A woman do this? we would ſee the Theban,
That Cacus ſlue, Buſiris ſacrific'd,
And to his horſes hurl'd ſterne Diomed
To be deuour'd.

  Pol. That freed Heſione
From the Sea-whale, and after ranſackt Troy,
And with his owne hand ſlue Laomedon.

  Neſt. He by whom Dercilus and Albion fell,
He that Oecalia and Betricia wan.

  Atr. That monſtrous Gerion with his three heads vanquiſht
With Linus, Lichas that vſurp't in Thebes,
And captiu'd there his beauteous Megara.

  Iaſon. He that the Amazonian Baldricke wan,
That Achelous with his club ſubdu'd,
And wan from him the pride of Calidon
Bright Deianeira, that now mournes in Thebes
For abſenc of that noble Hercules.
To him we came, but ſince he liues not here,
Come Lords, we wil returne theſe preſents backe
Vnto the conſtant Lady, whence they came.

  Herc. Stay Lords.    

  Iaſon. ’Mongſt women?

  Herc. For that Thebans ſake
Whom you profeſſe to loue, and came to ſeeke,
Abide awhile, and by my loue to Greece,
Il'e bring before you that loſt Hercules,
For whom you came to enquire.

  Iaſon. On that condition (Princes) lets ſtay a little.
  Tela. It workes, it workes.

  Herc. How haue I loſt my ſelfe?
Did we all this? where is that ſpirit become
That was in vs? no maruell Hercules,
If thou beeſt ſtrange to them, that thus diſguiſ'd,
Art to thy ſelfe vnknowne. Hence with this diſtaffe
And baſe effeminate chares.

  Omp. How ſlaue? ſubmit and to thy taſke againe.
Dar'ſt thou rebell?

  Herc. Pardon great Omphale.

  Iaſ. Will Telamon perſwade me this is Hercules
The Libian Conquerer, now a ſlaues ſlaue.
He liu'd in midſt of battailes, this 'mongſt truls:
This welds a diſtaffe, he a conquering Club.
Shall we beſtow faire Deianeiraes preſents
On this (heauen knowes) whether man or woman?

  Herc. Who nam'd my Deianeira? Iaſon you?
How fares my loue? how fares my beauteous wife?
I know theſe preſents, did they come from her?
What ſtrumpet's this that hath detain'd my ſoule?
Captiu'd my fame, tranſ-ſhap't me to a foole?
Made me (of late) but little leſſe then God,
Now ſcarce a man? Hence with theſe womaniſh tyres,
And let me once more be my ſelfe againe.

  Tel. Keep from him Omphale, be that your charge,
Wee'l ſecond theſe good thoughts.

  Omph. Alcid s heare me.

  Caſt. By your fauour madam.

  Herc. Who ſpake?

  Iaſon. Thinke that was Deianeira's voyce,
That cals thee home to dry her widowed teares,
And to bring comfort to her deſolate bed.

  Herc. Oh Deianeira.

  Om. Heare me Hercules.   

  Herc. Ha Omphale?

  Pollux. You ſhall not trouble him.

  Iaſ. 'Twas ſhe that made Alcides womaniſh,
But Deianeira to be more then man.
For thy wiues ſake thou art renown'd in Greece,
This Strumpet hath made Greece forget thee quite,
And ſcarce remember there was ſuch a man.
Thebes that was wont to triumph in thy glories,
Is now all ſilent. Tyrants euery where
Beginne to oppreſſe, thinking Alcides dead
For ſo the fame's already. Shall a Strumpet
Do this vpon the Theban Hercules?
And Deyaneira, faire, chaſt abſolute
In all perfections, liue deſpiſ'd in Thebes?

  Herc. By Ioue ſhe ſhall not, firſt I'le rend theſe eies out,
That ſotted with the loue of Omphale
Hath tranſhapt me, and deepely iniur'd her.
Come we will ſhake off this effeminacy
And by our deeds repurchaſe our renowne.
Iaſon and you braue Greekes, I know you now,
And in your honours I behold my ſelfe
What I haue bene, hence Strumpet Omphale,
I caſt thee off, and once more will reſume
My natiue vertues, and to proue this good
This day vnto the Gods I'le ſacrifice
To grace which pompe, and that we may appeare
The ſame we were, before vs ſhall be borne
Theſe of our labours twelue, the memory,
Vnto Ioues Temple, grace vs worthy Heroes
To aſſiſt vs in this high ſollemnity.
Whilſt we vpon our manly ſhoulders beare
Theſe maſſy pillars we in Gades muſt reare.   

Exeunt.

Manet Omphale.

  Ompale. We haue loſt our ſeruant, neuer yet had Lady
One of the like ranke. All King Theſpius daughters,
Fifty in number, childed all one night,
Could not preuaile ſo much with Hercules
As we haue done; no not faire Yole
Daughter to Cacus, beauteous Megara,
Nor all the faire and amorous queenes of Greece,
Could ſlaue him like the Lydian Omphale.
Therefore where e're his labours be renown'd,
Let not our beauty paſſe vnregiſtred.
Bondaging him that captiu'd all the earth,
Nor will we leaue him, or yet looſe him thus
What either beauty, cunning, flattery, teares
Or womans Art can, we will practiſe on him.
But now the Prieſts and Princes are prepar'd
For the great ſacrifice, which we will grace
With our high preſence, and behold aloofe
Theſe rights vnto the gods perform'd and done
We'le gaine by Art, what we with beauty won.

 Enter to the ſacrifice two Prieſts to the Altar, ſixe Princes with ſixe of his labours, in the midſt Hercules bearing his two brazen pillars, ſix other Princes, with the other ſix labours, Hercules ſtaies them.

  Herc. Now Ioue behold vs from thy ſpheare of Starres,
And ſhame not to acknowledge vs thy ſonnes.
Thus ſhould Alcides march amidſt his ſpoiles,
Inguirt with ſlaughtered Lyons, Hydraes, Whales,
Boares, Buls, grim Tyrants, Hel-hounds, Monſters, Furies,
And Princes his ſpectators: oh you Gods,
To whom this day we conſecrate your praiers,
And dedicate our ſacred oriſons,
Daine vs your cies, behold theſe ſholders beare
Two brazen pillars, trophies of our fame,
That haue eaſ'd Atlas, and ſupported heauen,
And had we ſhrunke beneath that heauenly ſtructure
The Spheares, Orbs, Planets, Zeniths, Signes, and Stars,
With loues high Pallace, all confuſedly
Had ſhattered, falne, and o're-whelm'd earth and ſea,
Wee haue done that, and all theſe labours elſe,
Which we this day make ſacred, lune ſee
Theſe we ſurrender to thy loue and thee.      

ſet on.

As they march ouer the Stage, enter Lychas with the ſhirt.

  Lych. From Deianera I preſent this guift,
Wrought with her owne hand, with more kind commends
Then I haue meaſured ſteps to Lydia
From Thebes, which ſhe intreats you weare for her.

  Herc. More welcome is this guift to Hercules
Then Iaſon's Fleece, Laomedon's white Steeds,
Or ſhould Ioue grace me with eternity,
Here ſtand our pillars, with non vltra inſculpt,
Which we muſt reare beyond the Pyrene Hils
At Gades in Spaine (Alcides vtmoſt bounds)
Whilſt we put on this ſhirt, the welcome preſent
Of Deyianeira, whom we deerely loue,
Lychas thy hand, In this wee'le ſacrifice
And make our peace with her and Iupiter.

  Iaſon. Neuer was Hercules ſo much himſelfe,
How will this newes glad Deyaneiraes heart,
Or how this ſight inrage faire Omphale?

  Tell. All his dead honours he reuiues in this,
And Greece ſhall once more echoe with his fame.

Hercules puts on the ſhirt.

  Herc. With this her preſent, I put on her loue,
Witneſſe heauen, earth, and all you Peeres of Greece,
I wed her once more in this ornament,
Her loue and her remembrance ſit to me
More neere by thouſands then this roabe can cleaue.
So now before Ioues Altar let vs kneele,
And make our peace with heauen, attone our ſelfe
With beauteous Dyaneira our chaſt wife  
And caſt away the loue of Omphale.     

All the Princes knele to the Altar.

  Prieſt. Princes of Greece aſſiſt vs with your thoughts,
And let your prayers with ours aſcend the Speares,
For mortals oriſons are ſonnes to Ioue,
And when none elſe can, they haue free acceſſe
Vnto there fathers eare, haile ſonne of Saturne,
To whom when the three lots of heauen, of ſea,
And hell were caſt, the high Olimpus fell.

  Herc. Oh, oh.

  Prieſt. That with a nod canſt make heauens collomes bend,
And th'earths Center tremble, whoſe right hand
Is arm'd with lightning, and the left with feare.

  Herc. No more, are all the furies with their tortures,
Their whips and laſhes crept into my ſkin?
Hath any ſightleſſe and infernall fire
Laid hold vpon my fleſh? when did Alcides
Thus ſhake with anguiſh? thus change face, thus ſhrinke?
Shall torture pale our cheeke? no, Prieſt proceed,
We will not feele the paine, thou ſhalt not breed,

  Iaſon. What alteration's this? a thouſand pangues
I ſee euen in his viſage, in his ſilence
He doth expreſſe euen hell.

  Prieſt. Thou ſacred Ioue
Behold vs at thy Altar proſtrate here
To beg attonement 'tweene our ſins and thee,
Lend vs a gracious eare and eye.

  Herc. Prieſt no more,
I'le rend thy Typet, hurle Ioues Altars downe,
Hauock his Offerings, all his Lamps extinguiſh,
Raze his high Temples, and ſkale heauen it ſelfe
Vnleſſe he ſtay my tortures.

  Iaſon. VVarlike Theban,
VVhence comes this fury? is this madnes forc't,
That makes Alcides thus blaſpheme the Gods.

  Tell. Patient your ſelfe.

  Herc. I will not Iaſon, cannot Tellamon,
A ſtipticke poyſon boyles within my veines,
Hell is within me, for my marrow fries,
A vulture worſe then that Promotheus feeles,
Fiers on my entrails, and my bulke in flames.

  Iaſon. Yet be your ſelfe, renowned Hercules,
Striue with your torture, with yourrage contend
Seek to ore-come this anguiſh.

  Herc. VVell, I will,
See Iaſon, ſee renowned Tellamon
I will be well, I'le feele no poiſon boyle,
Though my bloud ſkal'd me, though my hot ſuſpires,
Blaſt where I breath like lightning, though my lungs
Seeth in my bloud, I will not pale a cheeke,
Nor change a brow, I will not, ſpight of torture
Anguiſh, and paine, I will not.

  Omp. What ſtrange fury
Hath late poſſeſt him to be thus diſturb'd?

  Iaſon. Why this is well, once more repaire Ioues Altar.
Kindle theſe holy Tapers and proceed.

  Herc. To plucke the Thunderer from his Chriſtall throne
And throw the Gallaxia, by the locks,
And amber treſſes, drag the Queene of heauen.

  Neſtor. Alcides.

  Herc. Princes, Iaſon, Tellamon,
Helpe me to teare of this infernall ſhirt,
Which rawes me where it cleaues, vnſkin my brawnes,
And like one nak't rowl'd in a Tun of ſpikes
Of thouſands, make one vniuerſall wound,
And ſuch is mine: oh Deyaneira falſe,
Treacherous, vnkind, diſloyall; plucke, teare, rend
Though you my bones leaue naked, and my fleſh
Frying with poyſon you caſt hence to dogs.
Dread Neptune, let me plundge me in thy ſeas,
To coole my body, that is all on flame.
Or with thy tri-ſulke thunder ſtrike me Ioue,
And ſo let fire quench fire, vnhand me Lords,
Let me ſpurne mountaines downe, and teare vp rockes
Rend by the roots huge Okes, till I haue dig'd
Away to hell, or found a ſkale to heauen.
Something I muſt, my torments are ſo great,
To quench this flame and qualify this heate.      

Exit.

  Iaſon. Let vs not leaue him Princes leaſt this out-rage
Make him lay violent hands vpon him ſelfe.
If Deyaneiraes heart, were with her hand,
She is her ſexes ſcandall, and her ſhame
Euen whilſt Time liues, ſhall euery tongue proclaime.     

Exit

  Omph. I'le follow to, and with what Art I can,
Striue this his rage and torture to allay.    

Exit.

  Lych. What's in this ſhirt vnknowne to me that brought it?
Or what hath iealous Deyaneira done?
To employ me, an vnwilling meſſenger,
In her Lords death: well, whoſoe're it proue
My innocence I know, I'le, if I may
Looke to my life, and keepe out of his way.  

Enter Hercules.

  Herc. Lychas, Lychas, where's he that brought this poyſon'd ſhirt,
That I may teare the villaine lim from lim.     
And flake his body ſmall as Winters ſnow,
His ſhattered fleſh ſhall play like parched leaues,
And dance in th'aire, toſt by the ſommer winds.

  Lychas. Defend me heauen.

  Herc. Oh that with ſtamping thus,
I could my ſelfe beneath the Center ſinke,
And tombe my tortured body beneath hell.
Had I heauens maſſy columnes in my gripes,
Then with one ſway I would or'e-turne yon frame,
And make the marble Elementall ſky
My Tombe-ſtone to enterre dead Hercules.
Oh father Ioue thou laiſt vpon thy ſonne
Torments aboue ſupporture, Lichas, oh!
I'le chaſe the villaine o're Oetaes rockes,
Till I haue nak't thoſe hils, and left no ſhade
To hide the Traytor.

  Lichas. Which way ſhall I flye
To ſcape his fury? if I ſtay I dye.     

Hercules ſees him.

  Herc. Stay, ſtay, what's he that creeps into yon caue?
Is not that Lycas Dyaneiraes ſquire,
That brought this poyſoned ſhirt to Hercules?
I thanke thee Ioue, yet this is ſome allayment
And moderation to the pangues I feele,
Nay, you ſhall out fir Lychas by the heeles.

Hercules ſwings Lychas about his head, and kils him.

Thus, thus, thy limbs about my head I twine,
Eubaean ſea receiue him, for he's thine.

Enter Iaſon, Tellamon, and all the Princes, after them Omphale.

  Iaſ. Princes, his torments are 'boue Phyſicke helpe,
And they that wiſh him well, muſt wiſh his death,
For that alone giues period to his anguiſh.

  Tell. In vaine we follow and purſue his rage,
There's danger in his madneſſe.

  Neſt. Yet aloofe,
Let's obſerue him, and great Ioue implore
To qualifie his paines.

  Phy. As I am Philoctetes I'le not leaue him,
Vntill he be immortall, Princes harke,    

Hercules within.

Cannot theſe grones peirce heauen and moue to pitty
The obdure Iuno.

  Omph. Beneath this rocke where we haue often kiſt,
I will lament the noble Thebans fall,
The Lydian Omphale will be to him
A truer Myſtreſſe, then his wife, whoſe hate
Hath brought on him this ſad and ominous fate.
Nor hence, for any force or prayer remoue,
But die with him whom I ſo deerely loue.     

cry within.

  Caſt. His torments ſtill increaſe, heare oh you Gods,
And hearing pitty.

Enter Hercules from a rocke aboue, tearing downe trees.

  Herc. Downe, downe, you ſhadowes that crowne Oeta Mount,
And as you tumble beare the Rockes along.  
I will not leaue an Oake or ſtanding Pine
But all theſe mountaines with the dales make euen,
That Oetaes ſelfe may mourne with Hercules.
Hah! what art thou?

  Omph. I am thy Omphale.

  Herc. Art thou not Deyaneira come to mocke
Alcides madneſſe, and his pangues deride?
Yes, thou art ſhe, thou, thou haſt fier'd my bones,
And mak'ſt me boyle in poyſon, for which (minion)
And for (by fate) thou haſt ſhortned my renowne,
Behold, this monſtrous rocke thy death ſhal crowne,

Hercules kils Omphale, with a peece of a rocke.

So Deyaneira and her ſquire are now
Both in their ſins extinct.

  Thes. What hath Alcides done? ſlaine Omphale,
A guiltleſſe queene that came to mourne his death.

  Herc. Torment on torment. But ſhall Hercules
Dye by a womans hand? No, ayd me Princes,
(If you haue in you any generous thoughts)
In my laſt fabricke: Come, toſſe trees on trees,
Till you haue rear'd me vp a funerall pile,
Which all that's mortall in me ſhall conſume.

  Caſt. Princes, let none deny their free aſſiſtance,
In his releaſe of torture. Ther's for me.

  Pol. My hand ſhall likewiſe helpe to bury him,
And of his torments giue him eaſe by death.

All the Princes breake downe the trees, and make a  

fire, in which Hercules placeth himfelfe.

  Her Thanks, thus I throne me in the midſt of fire,
And with a dreadleſſe brow confront my death.
Olimpicke thunderer now behold thy ſonne,
Of whoſe diuine parts make a ſtarre, that Atlas
May ſhrinke beneath the weight of Hercules.
And ſtep-dame Iuno, glut thy hatred now,
That haſt beene weary to command, when we
Haue not beene weary to performe and act.
I that Buſiris ſlue, Antheus ſtrangled,
And conquer'd ſtill at thy vnkinde beheſt,
The three-ſhap't Gerion, and the dogge of hell,
The Bull of Candy, and the golden Hart,
Augeus and the fowles of Stymphaly,
The Heſperian fruit, and bolt of Thermidon,
The Lernean Hydra, and Arcadian Boare,
The Lyon of Naemea, Steeds of Thrace,
The monſter Cacus; thouſands more then theſe,
That Hercules in death dares thee to chide,
And ſhewes his ſpirit, which torments cannot hide.
Lye there thou dread of Tyrants, and thou ſkin,     

Invulner'd ſtill, burne with thy maiſters bones:    
For theſe be armes which none but we can weild.   
My bow and arrowes Philoctetes take,     

He burns his Club, & Lyons Skin.

Reſerue them as a token of our loue,
For theſe include the vtmoſt fate of Troy,
Which without theſe; the Greekes can nere deſtroy.
You Hero's all fare-well, heape fire on fire,
And pile on pile, till you haue made a ſtructure
To flame as high as heauen, and record this
Though by the Gods and Fates we are ore-throwne,
Alcides dies by no hand but his owne.

 Iupiter aboue ſtrikes him with a thunder-bolt, his body ſinkes, and from the heauens diſcends a hand in a cloud, that from the place where Hercules was burnt, brings vp a ſtarre, and fixeth it in the firmament.

  Iaſon. Iuno thou haſt done thy worſt; he now defies
What thou canſt more, his fame ſhall mount the ſkies.
What heauenly muſicke's this?

  Tel. His ſoule is made a ſtar, and mounted heauen,
I ſee great Ioue hath not forgot his ſonne:
All that his mothers was is chang'd by fire,
But what he tooke of Ioue, and was deuine,
Now a bright ſtar in the high heauens muſt ſhine.

Enter Atreus.

  Neſt. We all haue ſeene Alcides deifi'd.
But what newes brings Atreus?

  Air. A true report of Deianeira's death,
Who when ſhe heard the tortures of her Lord,
And what effect her fatall preſent tooke,
Exclaim'd on Neſſus, and to proue herſelfe
Guiltleſſe of treaſon in her huſbands death,
Witth her owne hand ſhe boldly ſlue herſelfe.

  Pel. That noble act proclaim'd her innocent,
And cleares all blacke ſuſpition: but faire princes,
Let vniuerſall Greece in funerall blacke,
Mourne for the death of Theban Hercules.

  Iaſ. Who now ſhal monſters quel, or tyrants tame?
Th'oppreſſed free, or fill Greece with their fame.
Princes your hands, take vp these monuments

Of his twelue labours in a marble Temple
(We will erect and dedicate to him)
Reſerue them to his laſting memory:
His brazen pillers ſhall be fixt in Gades,
On which his monumentall deeds wee'l graue.
Arm'd with theſe worthy Trophies lets march on
Towards Thebes, that claimes the honour of his birth.
His body's dead, his fame ſhall nere expire,
Earth claimes his earth, heauen ſhewes his heauenly fire.

Exeunt omnes.

Homer.

He that expects fiue ſhort Acts can containe
Each circumſtance of theſe things we preſent,
Me thinkes ſhould ſhew more barrenneſſe then braine:
All we haue done we aime at your content,
Striuing to illuſtrate things not knowne to all,
In which the learnd can onely cenſure right:
The reſt we craue, whom we vnlettered call,
Rather to attend then iudge: for more then ſight
We ſeeke to pleaſe. The underſtanding eare
Which we haue hitherto moſt gracious found,
Your generall loue, we rather hope then feare:
For that of all our labours is the ground.
If from your loue in any point we ſtray,
Thinke Homer blind, and blind men miſſe their way.

FINIS