The Silver Age, Including. The loue of Iupiter to Alcmena: The birth of Hercules. and The Rape of Proserpine. Concluding, With the Arraignement of the Moone.

The Silver Age, Including. The love of Iupiter to Alcmena: The birth of Hercules. And The Rape of Proserpine. Concluding, With the Arraignement of the Moone.

Aut prodesse solent aut delectare.

London, Printed by Nicholas Okes, and are to sold by Beniamin Lightfoote at his Shop at the upper End of Graies Inne-lane in Holborne.

1613

To the Reader

Let not the Title of this booke I entreate bee any weakening of his worth, in the generall opinion. Though wee begunne with Gold, follow with Silver, proceede with Brasse, and purpose by Gods grace, to end with Iron. I hope the declining Titles shall no whit blemish the reputation of the Workes: but I rather trust that as those Mettals decrease in valew, so è contrario, their books shall encrease in substance, weight, and estimation. In this we have given Hercules birth and life: In the next wee shall lend him honour and death. Courteous Reader, it hath bene my serious labour, it now onely attends thy charitable censure.

Thine,

T.H.

Drammatis Personae.

Homer.

Acrisius.

Pretus. 

Bellerophon.

Perseus. 

Danaus.

Iupiter. 

Ganimed.

Amphitrio. 

Socia.

Euristeus. 

Hercules.

Theseus. 

Perithous.

Philoctetes. 

Mercury,    

Triton. 

Pluto.    

Cerberus. 

Rhadamantus

Asculaphus. 

Queen Aurea.

Andromeda. 

Alcmena.

Iuno. 

Iris.

Galantis. 

Hyodamia.

Ceres. 

Proserpina.

Semele. 

Tellus.

Arethusa. 

A Guard.

2 Captaines.

6 Centaures. 

Servingmen.

Swaines.

Theban Ladies.

The seven Planets.

Furies.

The Silver Age

Actus I. Scœna I.

Enter Homer.    

Since moderne Authors, moderne things have trac't,  

Serching  our Chronicles from end to end,
And all knowne Histories have  long bene grac't,
Bootlesse it were in them our time to  spend
To iterate tales oftentimes told ore,
Or subiects  handled by each common pen;
In which even they that can but  read (no more)
Can poynt before we speake, how, where, and  when
We have no purpose: Homer old and blinde,
Of  eld, by the best iudgements tearm'd divine,
That in his former  labours found you kinde,
Is come the ruder censures to  refine:
And to unlocke the Casket long time shut.
Of which  none but the learned keepe the key.
Where the rich Iewell  (Poësie) was put.
She that first search't the Heavens, Earth,  Ayre, and Sea.
We therefore begge, that since so many eyes,  
And severall iudging wits must taste our stile,
The  learn'd will grace, the ruder not despise:
Since what we do, we  for their use compile.
Why should not Homer, bee that  caught in Greece,
Unto this iudging Nation lend like  skill.

And  into England bring that golden Fleece,
For which his  country is renowned still.
The Golden past, The  Silver age begins
In Iupiter, whose sonne  of Danae borne,
We first present, and  how Acrisius sinnes
Were punish't for his cruelty and  scorne.
We enter where we left, and so proceed,
(Your  fauour still, for that must helpe at need).

 Alarme.  Enter with victory, King Pretus, Bellerephon, bringing in King  Acrisius prisoner, drum and colours.

Pretus    

Now  you that trusted to your Darreine strength,
The  brazen to wer that earst inclos'd thy childe,
Stand'st at our  grace, a captive, and we now
Are Arges King, where  thou usurp'st so late.

Acrisius    

Tis  not thy power King Pretus, but our rigor
Against my  daughter, and the Prince her sonne,
(Thus punish't by the  heavens) have made thee victor.

Pretus    

Twas  by thy valor, brave Bellerephon,
That  took'st Acrisius prisoner hand to hand.

Bellerophon    

The  duty of a service and a servant
I have exprest to Pretus.

Pretus    

By  thy valor.
We reigne sole King of Arges, where our  brother
Hath tyrannis'd, and now these brazen walles,
Built  to inmure a faire and innocent maide,
Shall be thine owne  Iayle. Gyve his legges in Irons,
Till we determine further of  his death.

Acrisius    

Oh Danae,  when I rude and pittilesse
Threw thee with thy yong infant, to  the mercy
Of the rough billowes, in a mastlesse boat,
I  then incur'd this vengeance. Iupiter,
Whose father in  those blest and happy dayes
I scorn'd to be, or ranke him in my  line,
Hath chastis'd me for my harsh cruelty.

Pretus    

We  are Ioves rod, and we will execute
The doome of  heaven with all severity:

Such  mercy as thy guardiant Beldams had,
(Who for the love  of Danae felt the fire)
Thou shalt receive from us.  Away with him:

 Acrisius  is led bound, and enters Queen Aurea.

Aurea    

Why  doth King Pretus lead his brother bound,
And keepe a  greater foe in liberty?
This, this, thou most  unchast Bellerephon,
And canst thou blushlesse gaze me in  the face?
Whom thou so lately didst attempt to force,
Or  front the Prince thy maister with such impudence,
Whose  reverent bed thou hast practis'd to defile.

Bellerophon    

Madame,  my Lord.

Aurea    

Heare  not th'adulterers tongue,
Who though he had not power to  charme mine eares,
Yet may inchaunt thine.

Pretus    

Beauteous Aurea,  
If I can prove by witnesse that rude practise,
His life  and tortures Il'e commit to thee.

Aurea    

What  greater witnesse then Queen Aurea's teares?
Or why  should I hate you Bellerephon,
That (save this practise)  never did me wrong?

Bellerophon    

Oh  woman, when thou art given up to sin
And shamelesse lusts, what  brazen impudence,
Hardens thy brow?

Aurea    

Shall  I have right of him?

Pretus    

Thou  shalt: yet let me tell my Aurea:
This knight hath seru'd  me from his infancy,
Beene partner of my breast and secret  thoughts.
His sword hath beene the guardian of my state,
And  by the vertue of his strong right hand,
I am possest of Arges.  I could reade thee
A Chronicle of his great services
Fresh  in my thoughts, then give me leave to pause,
Ere I pronounce  sad sentence of his death.

Aurea    

Grant  me my L. but a few private words
With this dissembling  hypocrite: Il'e tell him
Such instance of his heynous  enterprise,  

Shall  make him blush, and with efeminate teares,
Publish his riotous  wrongs against your bed.

Pretus    

We  grant you privacy.

Aurea    

Neare  us Bellerophon.

Bellerophon    

Oh  woman, woman.

Aurea    

We  are alone, yet wilt thou grant me love,
Put me in hope, and  say the time may come,
And my excuse to Pretus shall  unsay,
These loud exclaimes, and blanch this Æthiop scandall,  
As white as is thy native innocence:
Love mee, oh love  mee, my Bellerophon
I sigh for thee, I mourne, I die for  thee,
Give me an answere swift and peremptory;
Gaine by  thy grant, life; thy deniall, death.
Wilt thou take time and  limite mee some hope
By pointing me an houre?

Bellerophon    

Never,  oh never.
First shall the Sun-god in the Ocean quench,
The  daies bright fire, and o're the face of heaven
Spread  everlasting darknesse.

Aurea    

Say  no more.
Dogge, devill, even before my husbands face
Darst  court me, Pretus canst thou suffer this?
Iniurious  Traytor, think'st thou my chast innocence,
Is to bee mou'd  with praiers, or brib'd by promises?
Hath the King hir'd thee  to corrupt this bed?
Or is he of that slavish sufferance,  
Before his face to see nice strumpeted?
Pretus, by  heaven, and all the Gods I vow,
To abiure thy presence, and  confine my selfe
To lasting widdow-hood, unlesse with  rigor
Thou chastice this false groome.

Pretus    

Bellerophon,
Thou  hast presum'd too much upon our love,
And made too slight  account of our high power
In which thy life or death is  circumscrib'd.

Bellerophon    

My  Lord, I should transgresse a Subiects duty,  

To  lay the least grosse imputation
Upon the Queene, my beauteous  Soveraintesse,
And rather then to question her chaste  vertues
I laie my selfe ope to the strictest doome,
My  service hath bene yours, so shall my life,
I yeeld it to you  freely.

Pretus    

Aureas teares,  
Contend with thy supposed innocence
And have the upper  hand: to see thee die
My setled love will not endure: but  worse
Then death can bee, we doome thy insolence;
Go hence  an exile, and returne no more
Upon thy Knight-hood, but expose  thy selfe
Unto that monstrous beast of Cicily,
Cal'd  the Chimera, t'hath a Lyons head,
Goats belly, and a  poysonous Dragons traine.
Fight with that beast, whom Hoasts  cannot withstand,
And feede, what Armies cannot satisfie.
My  doom's irreuocable.

Bellerophon    

For  all my service
A faire reward, but by my innocence,
Vertues,  and all my honours attributes,
That savadge Monster I will  feede, or foile,
Die by his iawes, or bring home honoured  spoile.

Aurea    

Yet,  yet, thy body meedes a better grave,
And kill not mee too,  whom thy grant may save.

Bellerophon    

A  thousand fierce Chimerae's first I'le feede,
Ere  staine mine honour with that damned deed.

Aurea    

Againe  to tempt me, hence base traytor flie,
And as thy guilt's  meede, by that monster die.

Pretus    

Away  with him, 'tis our milde sufferance
Begets this impudence, come  beauteous Aurea
Thou shalt bee full revengde, I know him  honourable
In this, and will performe that enterprise
Which  in one death brings many: let us now
Inioy our conquests, hee  shall soone bee dead,
That with base sleights sought to  corrupt our bed.

 Enter  Perseus, Andromeda, and Danaus.

Perseus    

There  stay our swift and winged Pegasus,
And on the flowers of this  faire Medow grase,
Thou that first flewst out of  the Gorgons bloud,
Whose head wee by Minervaes aide  par'd off,
And since have fixt it on our Christall  sheild.
This head that had the power to change to stone,
All  that durst gaze upon't; and being plac't here
Retaines that  power to whom it is uncas'd:
Hath chandge great Atlas to  a Mount so high,
That with his shoulders hee supports the  skie.

Danaus    

Perseus,  great sonne of Iove and Danae.
Famous for your  atchievements through the world
Minervaes fauorite,  Goddesse of Wisedome,
And husband of the  sweete Andromeda.
Whom you so late from the Sea-monster  freed,
After so many deedes of Fame and Honour,
Shall we  returne to see our mother Danae?

Perseus    

Deere  brother Danaus, the renowned issue
Of King Pellonus that  in Naples raignes,
Where beauteous Danae is  created Queene,
Thither I'le beare the faire Andromeda
To  see our Princely mother.

Andromeda    

Royall Perseus,  
Truely descended from the line of Gods,
Since by the  slaughter of that monstrous Whale,
You freed me from that  rocke where I was fixt
To be deuoured and made the Monsters  prey,
And after wonne me from a thousand  hands
By Phineus arme, that was my first betroathed,  
Ingrate were I your fellowship to shunne,
Whom by the  force of Armes you twice have won.

 Enter  Bellerephon.

Perseus    

Towards Naples then,  but soft, what Knight's that

So  passionately deiect? Let us Salute him,
Whence are you gentle  Knight?

Bellerophon    

I  am of Arges.

Perseus    

But  your adventure?

Bellerophon    

The  infernall Monster,
Cal'd the Chimera bred in Cicily.

Perseus    

Thou  canst not stake thy life against such oddes,
And not be  generously deriu'd, I Perseus
The sonne of Iove and Danae,  offer thee
Assistance to this noble enterprise.

Bellerophon    

Are  you the noble Perseus, whom the world
Crownes with such  praise and royall hardinesse?
Fam'd for your winged steed, and  your Gorgons sheild,
And for release of  faire Andromeda?

Perseus    

Wee Perseus are,  and this Andromeda,
King Cepheus daughter,  rescued by our sword,
The keene-edged harpe.

Bellerophon    

Let  me do you honours
Worthy your State, and tell such newes  withall
As shall disturbe the quiet of your thoughts,
I  am of Arges where Acrisius raigned.

Perseus    

Our  Grand-sire, and raignes still.

Bellerophon    

His  brother Pretus
Hath cast him both from stile and kingdome  too,
Nor let Bellerephon himselfe belie,
It  was by vertue of this strong right arme
Which he hath thus  requited, to expose me
Unto this strange adventure, the full  circumstance
I shall relate at leasure,  

Perseus    

Dares  King Pretus
Depose Acrisius,  knowing Perseus lives?
Guide me faire Knight unto my  place of birth,
Where the great King of Arges lives  captiu'd,
That I may glaze my harpe in the bloud
Of  Tyrant Pretus.

Bellerophon    

I  am sworne by oath
To dare the rude Cycilian Monster  first,  

Whom  having slaine, I'le guide you to the rescue
Of King Acrisius.

Perseus    

Thou  hast fir'd our bloud,
And startled all our  spirits Bellerephon,
Wee'l mount our Pegasus, and  through the ayre
Beare thee, unto that fell Chimeraes den:
And  in the slaughter of that monstrous beast
Assist thy valour.  Thence to Arges flye,
Where by our sword th'usurper  next must dye.

Bellerophon    

We  are proud of your assistance, and withall
Assur'd of Conquest.

Perseus    

Faire Andromeda,  
Danaus shall be your guardiant towards Arges,
Where  after this atchievement we will meet,
To give our grand-sire  freedome. Come, lets part,
We through the ayre, you  towards Darreine towre,
Where Tragicke  ruine Pretus shall deuoure.   

 Exeunt.

 Enter  King Pretus, and Queen Aurea.

Pretus    

Aurea,  we were too hasty in our doome,
To loose that knight, whose  arme protected us,
Whose fame kept all our neighbour Kings in  awe:
Nor was our state confirm'd, but in his life.

Aurea    

Let  Traitors perish, and their plots decay,
And we still by divine  assistance sway.

Pretus    

But  say some Prince should plot Acrisius rescue,  
Invade great Arges, or siege Darreine tower,  
Then should we wish Bellerephon againe,
To  expose their fury, and their pride restraine.

Aurea    

To  cut off all these feares, cut off Acrisius,
Appeare to  him a brother full as mercilesse
As he a cruell father, to his  childe,
The beauteous Danae and her infant sonne.

Pretus    

Onely  his ruine must secure our state,
And he shall dye to cut off  future claime
Unto this populous kingdome we enioy.
Our  guard, command our captive brother hither.
Whom we this day  must sentence. Oh Bellerephon!

Thy  wrongs I halfe suspect thy doome: Repent,  

Since  all thy acts proclaime thee innocent.

 Acrisius  brought in by the guard.

Guard    

Behold  the King your brother.  

Pretus    

We  thus sentence   

Thy  life Acrisius, thou that hadst the heart

To  thrust thy childe into a mastlesse boate;

With  a faire hopefull Prince, unto the fury

And  rage of the remorslesse windes and waves:

To  doome these innocent Ladies to the fire,  

That  were her faultlesse guardians; the like sentence

Receive  from us: We doome thee imminent death

Without  delay or pause. Beare to the blocke

The  tyrant, he that could not use his raigne

With  clemency, we thus his rage restraine.

Acrisius    

Thou  shew'st thy selfe in rigor pittifull,  

And  full of mercy in thy cruelty,  

To  take away that life, which to enioy

Were  many deaths, having my Danae lost

With  her sonne Perseus: having lost my kingdome,  

All  through the vaine feares of Prophetike spelles:

Why  should I wish a wretched life to save,  

That  may rest happy in a peacefull grave?

 A  flourish and a shout. Enter a gentleman.

Pretus    

What  shout is that? the proiect?    

Gentlman    

Strange  and admirable.   

Bellerephon  and a brave strange knight,  

Both  crownd in bloud in the Chimeraes spoyle,  

Have  cleft the ayre on a swift winged steede,  

And  in your Court alighted; both their swords

Bath'd  in the Serpents bloud, they brandish still,  

As  if they yet some monster had to kill.

Pretus    

Bellerephon  return'd?

Thou  hast amaz'd us.

 Enter  Perseus  Danaus, and Bellerophon, with Andromeda. Kill Pretus and Aurea, beat  away the rest of the guard.

Perseus    

One  monster (then the rude Chimere more fell)

That's  Pretus, Danaes soone must send to hell.

Pretus    

Treason.  Our guard.

Perseus    

Lives  there a man, the tyrant Pretus dead,
Saith that the  Crowne shall not invest his head?

All    

We  all stand for the King Acrisius.

Perseus    

Then  by his generall sufferage once more raigne,
Since by our hand  th'usurper here lyes slaine.

Acrisius    

Our  hopelesse life, and new invested state,
Strikes not so deepe  into Acrisius ioyes,
As when he heares the name  of Danaes sonne.
Lives Danae?

Perseus    

Grand-sire,  thy faire daughter lives
A potent Queene: we Perseus are  her sonne,
This Danaus your hopefull grand-childe  too:
Nor let me quite forget Andromeda,
By Perseus sword  freed from the huge Sea-whale,
And now ingraft into your  royall line.

Acrisius    

Dviide  my soule amongst you, and impart
My life, my state, my  kingdome, and my heart.
Oh had I Danae here, my ioyes  to fill,
I truely then should be  immortalis'd.
Renowned Perseus, Danaus inly deere,  
And you bright Lady, faire Andromeda,
You are to me  a stronger sort of ioy
Then Darreines brasse, which  no siege can destroy.

Danaus    

My  gran-sires sight doth promise as much blisse,
As can Elisium,  or those pleasant fields,
Where the blest soules inhabite.

Andromeda    

You  are to me
As life on earth, in death eternity.

Acrisius    

Let  none presume our purpose to controwle:
For our decree is like  the doome of Gods
Fixt and unchanging: Perseus we  create
Great Arges King, crown'd with this wreath of  state.

Perseus    

With  like applause, and sufferage shall be seene,
The  faire Andromeda crown'd Arges Queene.

Acrisius    

Onely  the Darreine tower I still reserve
In that to  pennance me a life retir'd,
And I in that shall prove the  Oracle.

Faire Danaes sonne  instated in my throne,
Shall thus confine me to an Arch of  stone.
There will I live, attended by my guard,
And leave  to thee the manadge of my Realme.
Our will is law, which none  that beares us well,
Will strive by word or action to refell.

Perseus    

The  Gods behest with your resolve agree
To increase in us this  growing maiesty.
Bellerephon, we make thee next our selfe
Of  state in Arges: Danaus you shall hence,
To  cheere our mother in these glad reports,
And to  succeed Pelonnus: but first stay,
Rights due to us ere we  the state can sway.

Actus  2. Scœna. 1.

Homer

 Alacke!  earths ioyes are but short-lvi'd, and last
But like a puffe of  breath which (thus) is past.
Acrisius in his fortresse lives  retir'd,
Kept with a strong guard: Perseus reignes sole King,  
Who in himselfe one sad night long desir'd
To see his  grand-sire some gladnewes to bring,
Whom the stearne warders  (in the night) unknowne,
Seeke to keepe backe, whence all his  griefe is growne.

 A  dumbe shew.

 Enter  6 warders, “to them Perseus, Danaus, Bellerephon and Andromeda.  Perseus takes his leave of them to go towards the tower: the warders  repulse him, he drawes his sword. In the tumult enter Acrisius to  pacifie them, and in the hurly-burly is slaine by Perseus, who  laments his death. To them Bellerephon and the rest: Perseus makes  Bellerephon King of Arges, and with Danaus and Andromeda departs.

Homer    

Perseus  repulst, the stardy Warder strikes,  

This  breeds a tumult, out their weapons flye,
Acrisius heares their  clamours and their shrikes,
And downe descends this broyle to  pacifie;
  Not knowing whence it growes: and in this brall,
  Acrisius by his grand-childes hand doth fall.
The Oracle's  fulfil'd, hee's turn'd to stone,
That's to his marble grave,  by Danaes sonne;
Which in the Prince breeds such lament and  mone,
That longer there to reigne hee'l not be wonne:
 But first Bellerephon he will invest,
And after makes his  travels towards the East.
Of Iupiter now deifi'd and  made
Supreme of all the Gods, we next proceed:
Your  suppositions now must lend us ayd,
That he can all things (as  a God indeed.)
Our sceane is Thebes: here faire Alcmena dwels,  
Her husband in his warfare thrives abroad,
And by his  chivalry his foes expels.
He absent, now descends th'Olimpicke  God,
Innamored of Alcmena, and trans-shapes
Himselfe into  her husband: Ganimed
He makes assistant in his amorous rapes,  
Whil'st he preferres the earth 'fore Iunoes bed.
  Lend  us your wonted patience without scorne,
  To finde how  Hercules was got and borne.

 Enter  Amphitrio with two Captaines and Socia with drum and colours: hee  brings in the head of a crowned King, sweares the Lords to the  obeysance of Thebes. They present him with a standing bowle, which  hee lockes in a Casket, and sending his man with a letter before to  his wife, with news of his victory. He with his followers, and  Blepharo the maister of the ship, marcheth after.

Homer    

Creon  that now reignes here, the Theban King,
Alcmenaes husband  great Amphitrio made

His  Generall, who to his Lord doth bring
His enimies head that did  his land invade.
Thinke him returning home, but sends before
By  letters to acquaint his beauteous wife
Of his successe,  himselfe in sight of shore
Must land this night: where many a  doubtfull strife
  Amongst them growes, but Iove himselfe  discends,
  Cuts off my speech, and heere my Chorus ends.

 Thunder  and lightning. Iupiter discends in a cloude.

Iupiter    

Earth  before heaven, we once more have preferd:
Beauty that workes  into the hearts of Gods:
As it hath power to mad the thoughts  of men,
So even in us it hath attraction.
The  faire Alcmena like the Sea-mans Starre
Shooting her  glistering beauty up to heaven,
Hath puld from thence the  olimpick Iupiter
By vertue of thy raies, let Iuno skold,  
And with her clamours fill the eares of heaven,
Let her  bee like a Bachinall in rage,
And through our christall  pallace breath exclaimes,
With her quicke feete the galaxia  weare,
And with inquisitive voice search through the  Spheares.
Shee shall not find us here, or should she see us,  
Can shee distinguish us being thus transhapt?
Where's Ganimed?  we sent him to survey
Amphitrioes Pallace, where we meane  to lodge

 Enter  Ganimed shapt like Socia.

In  happy time return'd: now Socia.

Ganimed    

Indeed  that's my name, as sure
As your's is Amphitrio.

Iupiter    

Three  nights I have put in one to take our fill
Of daliance with this  beauteous Theban dame.
A powerfull charme is cast  or'e Phœbus eies:
Who sleepes this night within the euxine  sea,
And till the third day shall forget his charge

To  mount the golden chariot of the Sunne,
The Antipodes to us,  shall have a day
Of three daies length. Now at this houre is  fought
By Iosua Duke unto the Hebrew Nation,
(Who  are indeede the Antipodes to us)
His famous battle 'gainst  the Cananites,
And at his orison the Sunne stands still,  
That he may have there slaughter, Ganimed
Go knocke and  get us entrance.   

 Exit  Iupiter.

 Ganimed    

 Before  I knocke, let mee a little determine with my selfe, If I be  accessary to Iupiter in his amorous purpose, I am little  better then a parcell guilt baud, but must excuse my selfe thus,  Ganimed is now not Ganimed, And if this imputation be put  upon mee, let it light upon Socia, whom I am now to personate;  but I am too long in the Prologue of this merry play we are to act,  I will knocke, and the Servingmen shall enter.

1.  Servingman    

Who  knocks so late?

Ganimed    

Hee  that must in, open for Socia,
Who brings you newes home  of the Theban warres.

2.  Servingman    

Socia  returned.   

 Enter  3 Servingmen.

3.  Servingman    

Unhurt,  unslaine?

Ganimed    

Even  as you see, and how, and how?

1.  Servingman    

Socia? let  me have an armefull of thee.

Ganimed    

Armefuls,  and handfuls too, my boyes.

2.  Servingman    

The  news, the news, how doth my Lord Amphitrio?

Ganimed    

Nay,  how doth my Lady Alcmena, some of you cary her word my Lord  will be heere presently.

1.  Servingman    

I'le  be the messenger of these glad newes.

2.  Servingman    

I'le  have a hand in't too.

3.  Servingman    

I'le  not be last.   

 Exeunt  Servingmen.

 Ganimed    

 They  are gone to informe their Lady, who will bee ready to intertaine a  counterfeite Lord, Iupiter is preparing himselfe to  meet Alcmena, Alcmena, she to encounter Iupiter, her beauty  hath inchanted him, his metamorphosis must beguile her: al's put to  proofe, I'le into furnish my Lord whilst my fellow servants attend  their Lady: they come.

 Enter  at one dore Alcmena, Thessula, 4 Servingmen; at the other Iupiter  shapt like Amphitrio to Ganimed.

Alcmena    

But  are you sure you spake with Socia?
And did hee tell you  of Amphitrioes health?

1.  Servingman    

Madam,  I assure you, wee spake with Socia, and my L. Amphitrio will  be here instantly.

Alcmena    

Usher  me in a costly banquet straight
To entertaine my Lord, let all  the windowes
Glister with lights like starres, cast sweete  perfumes
To breath to heaven their odoriferous aires,
And  tell the Gods my husband's safe return'd,
If you be sure  'twas Socia.

2.  Servingman    

Madam  take my life, if it be not true.

Alcmena    

Then  praise be to the highest Iupiter,
Whose powerfull arme  gave strength unto my Lord
To worke his safety through these  dangerous warres,
Hang with our richest workes our chambers  round,
And let the roome wherein we rest to night,
Flow  with no lesse delight, then Iuno's bed
When in her  armes she claspeth Iupiter,  

Iupiter    

I'le  fill thy bed with more delighfull sweetes,
Then when  with Mars the Ciprian Venus meetes.

Alcmena    

See  how you stir for odours, lights, choise cates,
Spices, and  wines, is not Amphitrio comming
With honour from the  warres? where's your attendance?
Sweete waters, costly  ointments, pretious bathes,
Let me have all, for tast, touch,  smell, and fight,
All his five senses wee will feast this  night.

Iupiter    

'Tis  time to appeare, Alcmena:

Alcmena    

My  deere Lord.

Ganimed    

It  workes, it workes, now for Iuno to set a
Skold  betweene them.

 A  banquet brought in.

Alcmena    

Oh  may these armes that guarded Thebes and us,
Be ever  thus my girdle, that in them

I  may live ever safe, welcome Amphitrio
A banquet, lights,  attendance; good my Lord
Tell mee your warres discourse.

Iupiter    

Sit  faire Alcmena.

Alcmena    

Proceede  my dearest love.

Iupiter    

I  as great Generall to the Theban King,
March't gainst  the Teleboans: who make head
And offer us encounter: both  our Armies
Are cast in forme, well fronted, sleeeu'd and  wing'd
Wee throw our vowes to heaven, the Trumpets sound,
The  battels signall, now beginnes the incursions,
The earth  beneath our armed burdens groanes,
Shootes from each side  reverberat gainst heaven,
With Arrowes and with Darts the aire  growes darke
And now confusion ruffles, Heere the shoutes
Of  Victors sound, there groanes of death are heard,
Slaughter on  all sides; still our eminent hand
Towers in the aire a victor,  whilst the enemy
Have their despoyled helmets crown'd in  dust.
Wee stand, they fall, yet still King Ptelera
Strives  to make head, and with a fresh supply
Takes up the mid-field:  him Amphitrio fronts
With equall armes, wee the two  Generals
Fight hand to hand, but Iove omnipotent
Gave  me his life and head, which we to morrow
Must give to  King Creon.

Alcmena    

All  my orisons
Fought on your side, and with their powerfull  weight,
Added unto the ponder of your sword,
To make it  heauy on the Burgonet
Of slaughtered Ptelera.

Iupiter    

I  for my reward,
Had by the Subiects of that conquered King
A  golden cup presented, the choice boule
In which the slaughtered  Tyrant us'd to quaffe. Socia.

Ganimed    

My  Lord.

Iupiter    

The  cup, see faire Alcmena.

Ganimed    

This  cup Mercury stole out of Amphitrioes cas-
ket,  but al's one as long as it is truely delivered.

Alcmena    

In  this rich boule I'le onely quaffe your health,
Or use, when to  the Gods I sacrifice.
Is our chamber ready?

Iupiter    

Gladly  I'de to bed,
Where I will mix with kisses my discourse,
And  tell the whole proiect.

Alcmena    

Mirth  abound,
Through all these golden roofes let musicke sound,
To  charme my Lord to soft and downy rest.

Iupiter    

Come  light us to our sheetes.

Alcmena    

Amphitrioes head
Shall  heere be pillowed, light's then and to bed.

 Exeunt  with Torches.

 Ganimed    

 Alas  poore Amphitrio I pitty thee that art to be made cuckold  against thy wives will, she is honest in her worst dishonesty, and  chast in the superlative degree of inchastity: but I am set heere to  keepe the gate: now to my office.

 Enter  Socia with a letter.

 Socia    

 Heere's  a night of nights, I thinke the Moone stands stil and all the Stars  are a sleepe, he that drives Charles wayne is taking a nap in  his cart, for they are all at a stand, this night hath bene as long  as two nights already, and I
thinke 'tis now entring on the  third; I am glad yet that out of this utter darkenes I am come to  see lights in my Ladies
Pallace: there will be simple newes  for her when I shall tell her my Lord is comming home.

Ganimed    

'Tis Socia and Amphitrioes man,  sent before to tell his Lady of her husband, I must prevent him.

 Socia    

 This  night will never have an end, he that hath hired a wench to lie with  him all this night, hath time enough I thinke to take his peny  worths, but I'le knocke.

Gan.    

I  charge thee not to knock here least thou be knocked.

Socia    

What  not at my Maisters gate.

Ganimed    

I  charge thee once more, tell mee whose thou art?
whether thou  goest, and wherefore thou commest?

 Socia    

 Hither  I go, I serve my Maister, and come to speak with my Lady, what art  thou the wiser? nay, if thou beest a good fellow let me passe by  thee.

Ganimed    

Whom  dost thou serve?

Socia    

I  serve my Lord Amphitrio, and am sent in hast to my  Lady Alcmena.

Ganimed    

Thy  name?

Socia    

Socia.

 Ganimed    

 Base  counterfeit take that, can you not be content to come sneaking to  one's house in the night, to rob it, but you must likewise rob me of  my name?

Socia    

Thy  name, why, what's thy name?

Ganimed    

Socia.

Socia    

Socia,  and whom dost thou serve?

Ganimed    

My  Lord Amphitrio chiefe of the Theban Legions,  
and my Lady Alcmena, but what's that to thee?

Socia    

Ha,  ha, That's a good iest, but do you heare, If you
be Socia my  Lord Amphitrioes man, and my Lady Alcmenaes,
Where dost  thou lie.

Ganimed    

Where  do I lie? why in the Porters Lodge.

Socia    

You  are decevi'd, you lie in your throate, there's
but  one Socia belongs to this house, and that am I.

Ganimed    

Lie  slave, and wilt out-face mee from my name?
I'le use you like  your selfe a counterfeit,   

 Beats  him.

What  art thou? speake?

Socia    

I  cannot tell.

Ganimed    

Whom  dost thou serve?

Socia    

The  time.

Ganimed    

Thy  name?

Socia    

Nothing.

Ganimed    

Thy  businesse?

Socia    

To  bee beaten.

Ganimed    

And  what am I?

Socia    

What  you will.

Ganimed    

Am  not I Socia?

Socia    

If  you be not, I would you were so, to be beaten in my place.

Ganimed    

I  knew my L. had no servant of that name but me.

Socia    

Shall  I speake a few coole words, and bar buffeting.

Ganimed    

Speake  freely.

Socia    

You  will not strike.   

Ganimed    

Say  on.

 Socia    

 I  am the party you wot off, I am Socia, you may strike if you  will, but in beating me (if you be Socia) I assure you, you  shall but beate your selfe.

Ganimed    

The  fellowes mad.

 Socia    

 Mad,  am I not newly landed? sent hither by my Maister? Is not this our  house? Do I not speake? Am I not awake? Am I not newly beaten? Do I  not feele it still? And shall I doubt I am not my selfe? come, come,  I'le in and doe my message.

Ganimed    

Sirrah,  I have indured you with much impatience,
Wilt thou make me  beleeve I am not Socia?
Was not our ships launcht out off  the Persicke haven?
Did I not land this night?
Have we not  won the Towne where King Ptelera raign'd?
Have we not  orethrowne the Teleboans?
Did not my Lord Amphitrio kill  the King hand to hand?

And  did hee not send mee this night with a letter to certify my  Lady Alcmena of all these newes.

 Socia    

 I  beginne to mistrust my selfe, all this is as true as if I had told  it my selfe; but Il'e try him further: What did  the Teleboans present my Lord with after the victory.

Ganimed    

With  a golden cuppe in which the King himselfe us'd to quaffe.

Socia    

Where  did I put it.

Ganimed    

That  I know not, but I put it into a casket, sign'd by my Lords Signet.

Socia    

And  what's the Signet?

Ganimed    

The  Sun rising from the East in his Chariot,
But do you come to  undermine me you slave?

 Socia    

 I  must go seeke some other name, I am halfe hang'd already, for my  good name is lost; once more resolve me, if thou canst tell me what  I did alone I will resigne thee my name: if thou bee'st Socia,  when the battles began to ioyne, as soone as they beganne to  skirmish, what didst thou?

Ganimed    

As  soone as they began to fight I began to runne.

Socia    

Whither?

Ganimed    

Into  my Lords tent, and their hid mee under a bed.

 Socia    

 I  am gone, I am gone, somebody for charity sake either lend mee or  give me a name, for this I have lost by the way, and now I looke  better on he, me; or I, hee; as he hath got my name, hee hath got my  shape, countenance, stature, and everything so right, that he can  bee no other then I my owne selfe; but when I thinke that I am I,  the same I ever was, know my Maister, his house, have sence,  feeling, and understanding, know my message, my businesse, why  should I not in to deliver my letter to my Lady.

Ganimed    

That  letter is delivered by my hand.
My Lady knowes all, and expects  her Lord,
And I her servant Socia am set heere
To  keepe such idle raskals from the gate,  

Then  leave mee, and by faire meanes, or I'le send thee leglesse, or  armelesse hence.

 Socia    

 Nay,  thou hast rob'd me of enough already, I would bee loath to loose my  name and limbes both in one night: where have I miscaried? where  bene chang'd? Did I not leave my selfe behind in the ship when I  came away, I'le even backe to my Maister and see if hee know mee, if  hee know me, if he call me Socia,  and will beare me out in't, Il'e come backe and do my message,  spight of him saies nay, Farewell selfe.    

 Exit.

Ganimed    

This  obstacle, the father of more troubles
I have put off, and kept  him from disturbance
In their adulterate pastimes,  faire Alcmena
Is great already by Amphitrio
And  neere her time, and if shee prove by Iupiter
He by his  power and God-hood will contract
Both births in one, to make  her throwes the lesse:
And at one instant shee shall child two  issues,
Be got by Iove and by Amphitrio.
The  house by this long charm'd by Hermes rod
Are stirring  and Iove glutted  with delights,
Ready to take his leave, through satiate

With  amourous dalliance: parting's not so sweet
Betweene our lovers,  as when first they meet.

 Enter  Iupiter, Alcmena, and the servants.

Iupiter    

My  deerest love fare-well, we Generals
Cannot be absent from our  charges long:
I stole from th'Army to repose with thee,
And  must before the Sunne mount to his Chariot,
Be there againe.

Alcmena    

My  Lord, you come at midnight,
And you make haste too, to be gone  ere morne,
You rise before your bed be throughly warme.

Iupiter    

Fairest  of our Theban Dames, accuse me not,
I left the  charge of Souldiers to report
The fortune of our battailes  first to thee:
Which should the campe know, they would lay on  me
A grieuous imputation, that the beauty
Of my faire  wife, can with Amphitrio more
Then can the charge of  legions. As my comming
Was secret and conceal'd, so my returne,  
Which shall be short and sudden.

Alcmena    

That  I feare,
Better I had to keepe you beeing here.

Iupiter    

Nay  part we must sweet Lady, dry your teares.

Alcmena    

You'l  make my minuts months, and daies seeme yeares.

Iupiter    

Your  businesse ere we part?

Alcmena    

Onely  to pray
You will make haste, not be too long away. Fare-well.

Iupiter    

Fare-well.  Come Ganimed,  'tis done,
And faire Alcmena sped  with a yong sonne.  

 Exit.

 Enter  Amphitrio, Socia, two Captaines with attendants.

Amphitrio    

Oh  Gentlemen, was ever man thus crost?
So strangely flowted by an  abiect groome?
That either dreames, or's mad: one that speakes  nothing
Sauing impossibilities, and meerely
False and  absurd. Thus thou art here, and there,  

With  me, at home, and at one instant both,
In vaine are these  delirements, and to me
Most deeply incredible.

 Socia    

 I  am your owne, you may use me as you please: One would thinke I had  lost inough already, to loose my name, and shape, and now to loose  your fauour too. Oh!

1.  Captaine    

Fye Socia,  you too much forget your selfe,
And 'tis beyond all sufferance  in your Lord,
To use no violent hand.

Socia    

You  may say what you will, but a truth is a truth.

2.  Captaine    

But  this is neither true nor probable,
That this one body can  deuide it selfe,
And be in two set places. Fie Socia,  fie.

Socia    

I  tell you as it is.

Amphitrio    

Slave  of all slaves the basest: urge me not,
Persist in these  absurdities, and I vow
To cut thy tongue out, have thee  scourg'd and beaten,
Il'e have thee flay'd.

Socia    

You  may so, you may as well take my skin as another take my name and  phisnomy: all goes one way.

Amphitrio    

Tell  ore thy tale againe, make it more plaine.
Pray gentlemen your  eares.

 Socia    

 Then  as I sayd before, so I say still: I am at home; do you heare? I am  heare: do you see? I spake with my Lady at home; yet could not come  in at the gate to see her: I delivered her your letter, and yet have  it still in my hand. Is not this plaine? do you understand me? I am  neither mad nor drunke but what I speake is in sober sadnesse.

1.  Captaine    

Fie Socia,  fie, thou art much, too much too blame.

2.Captaine    

How  dare you tempt your maisters patience thus?

Amphitrio    

Thinke  not to scape thus: yet once more resolve me
And faithfully:  Do'st thou thinke it possible
Thou canst be here and there? Be  sencible,
And tell me Socia.

 Socia    

 'Tis  possible; nor blame I you to wonder: for it marvels me as much as  any heere: Nor did I beleeve that Hee, my owne selfe, that is at  home, till hee did conuince me with arguments, told me every thing I  did at the siege, remembred my arrand better then my selfe: Nor is  water more like to water, nor milke to milke, then that He and I are  to me and him: For when you sent me home about midnight—

Amphitrio    

What  then?

Socia    

I  stood there to keepe the gate a great while before I came at it.

Captaine    

The  fellow's mad.

Socia    

I  am as you see.

Amphitrio    

He  hath been strooke by some malevolent hand.

Socia    

Nay  that's certaine: for I have been soundly beaten.

Amphitrio    

Who  beat thee.

Socia    

I  my owne selfe that am at home, how oft shall I tell you?

Amphitrio    

Sirrah,  wee'l owe you this. Now gentlemen
You that have beene  co-partners in our warres,
Shall now co-part our welcome: we  will visite
Our beauteous wife; with whom (our businesse  ended)
We have leasure to conferre.

 Enter  Alcmena with her servants and Mayd.

Alcmena    

Have  you took down those hangings that were plac'd
To entertaine my  Lord?

1.  Servant    

Madame  they are.

Alcmena    

And  is our private bed-chamber dis-roab'd
Of all her beauty? to  looke ruinous,
Till my Lords presence shall repair't againe.

2.  Servant    

'Tis  done as you directed.

Alcmena    

Every  chamber,
Office and roome, shall in his absence looke,  

As  if they mist their maister, and beare part
With mee in my  resembled widow-hood.

3.  Servant    

That  needs not madame: See my Lord's return'd.

Alcmena    

And  made such haste to leave me: I misdoubt
Some tricke in this: It  is distrust or feare

Of  my prou'd vertue: value it at best,
'T can be no lesse then  idle iealousie.

Amphitrio    

See  bright Alcmena, with my sudden greeting,
Il'e rap her  soule to heaven, and make her surfet
With ioyes aboundance.  Beauteous Lady see
Amphitrio return'd a Conquerour,
Glad  to unfold in his victorious armes
Thy nine-moneth absent body,  whose ripe birth
Swels with such beauty in thy constant  wombe.
How cheeres my Lady?

Alcmena    

So,  so, wee'l do to her your kinde commends,
You may make bold to  play upon your friends.

Amphitrio    

Ha,  what language call you this, that seemes to me
Past  understanding? I conceive it not,
I reioyce to see you wife.

Alcmena    

Yet  shals have more?
You do but now, as you have done before.
Pray  flowt me still, and do your selfe that right,
To tell that ore  you told me yester-night.

Amphitrio    

What  yesternight? Alcmena this your greeting
Distastes me.  I but now, now, with these gentlemen
Landed at Thebes, and  came to do my love
To thee, before my duty to my King.
This  strangenesse much amazeth me.

Socia    

We  have found one Socia, but we are like to loose an Amphitrio.

Alcmena    

Shall  I be plaine my Lord? I take it ill,
That you, whom I recevi'd  late yester-night,
Gave you my freest welcome, feasted you,  
Lodg'd you, and but this morning, two houres since
Tooke  leave of you with teares, that your returne
So sudden, should  be furnisht with such scorne.

Amphitrio    

Gentlemen,  I feare the madnesse of my man
Is fled into her braine, be  these my witnesse,
I am but newly landed: witnesse these
With  whom I have not parted.

1.  Captaine    

In  this we needs must take our Generals part,  

And  witnesse of his side.

Alcmena    

And  bring you witnesse to suggest your wrongs,
Against you two I  can oppose all these.
Recevi'd I not Amphitrio yester-night?

1.  Servant    

I  assure you my Lord remember your selfe, you were here yester-nighr.

All    

'Tis  most certaine.

Amphitrio    

These  villaines all are by my wife suborn'd,
To seeke to mad me.  Gentlemen pray list,
Wee'l give this errour scope: Pray at  what time
Gave you me entertainement the last night?

Alcmena    

As  though you know not? Well, Il'e fit your humor,
And tell you  what you better know then I.
At mid-night.

Amphitrio    

At  mid-night: Pray observe that Gentlemen,
At mid-night we were  in discourse a boord
Of my Commission.

2.  Captaine    

I  remembr't well.

Amphitrio    

What  did we then at mid-night?

Alcmena    

Sate  to banquet.

1.  Servant    

Where  I waited.

2.  Servant    

So  did we all.

Amphitrio    

And  I was there at banquet.

3.  Servant    

Your  Lordship's merry: do you make a question of that?    

Alcmena    

At  banquet you discourst the Inter-view Betweene the Theleboans and  your hoast.

Amphitrio    

Belike  then you can tell us our successe,
Ere we that are the first  to bring these newes
Can utter it.

Alcmena    

Your  Lordship's pleasant still.
The battailes ioyn'd, cryes past on  either side,
Long was the skirmish doubtfull, till  the Thebans
Opprest the Theleboans: but the  battaile
Was by the King renewed: who face to face
And  hand to hand, met with Amphitrio:
You fought, and arme to  arme in single combat,
Troad on his head a Victor.

Amphitrio    

How  came you by this?

Alcmena    

As  though you told it not.

Amphitrio    

Well  then, after banquet?

Alcmena    

We  kist, embrac'd, our chamber was made ready.

Amphitrio    

And  then?    

Alcmena    

To  bed we went.

Amphitrio    

And  there?    

Alcmena    

You  slept in these my armes.

Amphitrio    

Strumpet,  no more.
Madnesse and impudence contend in thee,
Which  shall afflict me most.

Alcmena    

Your  iealousie
And this imposterous wrong, heapes on me  inviries
More then my sex can beare: you had best deny
The  gift you gave me too.

Amphitrio    

Oh  heaven! what gift?

Alcmena    

The  golden Cup the Theleboans King
Us'd still to quaffe  in.

Amphitrio    

Indeed  I had such purpose,
But that I keepe safe lock't. Shew me the  bowle.

Alcmena    

Thessala,  the standing cup Amphitrio gave me
Last night at  banquet, ther's the key.

Thessala

I  shall.

1.  Captaine    

 My  Lord, ther's much amazement in the opening of these strange doubts,  the more you seeke to unfold them, the more they pusle us.

2.  Captaine    

How  came she by the notice
And true recitall of the battailes  fortune?

Amphitrio    

That  hath this villaine told her, on my life.

Soc.    

Not  I, I disclaime it, unlesse it were my tother selfe, I have no hand  in it.   

 Enter  Thessala with the cup.

Thessala    

Madame,  the bowle.

Alcmena    

Restor't Amphitrio,  
I am not worthy to be trusted with it.

Amphitrio    

The  forme, the mettal, and the graving too.
'Tis somwhat  strange. Socia,  the casket streight.

Socia    

Here  sir.

Amphitrio    

What,  is my signet safe?    

Socia    

Untouch't.

Amphitrio    

Then  will I shew her streight that bowle
The Theleboans gave  me. Wher's my key?

 Socia    

 Here  sir. This is the strangest that ere I heard, I Socia have begot  another Socia, my Lord Amphitrio hath begot  another Amphitrio. Now, if this golden bowle have begot another  golden bowle, we shall be all twin'd and doubled.

Amphitrio    

Behold  an empty casket.

Alcmena    

This  notwithstanding you deny your gift,
Our meeting, banquet, and  our sportfull night.
Your mornings parting.

Amphitrio    

All  these I deny
As falce, and past all nature, yet this  goblet
Breeds in me wonder, with the true report
Of our  warres proiect: But I am my selfe
New landed with these  Captaines, and my men,
Deny all banquets and affaires of bed,  
Which thou shalt deerely answere.

Alcmena    

Aske  your servants
If I mis-say in ought.

1.  Servant  

My  Lord, there is nothing said by my Lady, but we are eye-witnesses of,  and will iustifie on our oathes.

Amphitrio    

And  will you tempt me still?
Socia, run to the ship, bring me the  maister,
And he shall with these Captaines iustifie
On my  behalfe, whilst I revenge my selfe
On these falce servants,  that support their Lady
In her adulterous practise. Villaines,  dogges.

1.  Captaine    

Patience  my Lord.    

 Amphitrio  beats in his men. Exit.

Alcmena    

Nay  let him still proceed,
That having kild them, I may likewise  bleed.
His frensie is my death, life I despise,
These are  the fruits of idle iealousies.
Yonder he comes againe,   

 Enter  Iupiter.

So  soone appeas'd,
And from his fury: I shall nere forget
This  iniury, till I have paid his debt.

Iupiter    

What  sad Alcmena? Pre'thee pardon me,
'Twas but my humour, and  I now am sorry.
Nay whither turn'st thou?

Alcmena    

All  the wit I have,  

I  must expresse: borne to be made a slave:
I wonder you can hold  your hands, not strike,
If I a strumpet be, and wrong your  bed,
Why doth not your rude hand assault this head?

Iupiter    

Oh  my sweet wife, of what I did in sport,
Condemne me not: If  needs, then chide me for't.

Alcmena    

Was  it because I was last night to free
Of courteous dalliance,  that you iniure me?
Was I too lavish of my love? Next  night
Feare not, Il'e keepe you short of your delight:
Il'e  learne to keepe you off, and seeme more coy,
You shall no more  swim in excesse of ioy,
Looke for't hereafter.

Iupiter  
Punish me I pray.

Alcmena    

Give  me my dower and Il'e be gone away:
Leave you to your harsh  humors, and base strife,
Onely the honour of a vertuous  wife
Il'e beare along; my other substance keepe:
For in a  widowed bed Il'e henceforth sleepe.

Iupiter    

By  this right hand, which you Amphitrio owe,
My wrongs  henceforth shall nere afflict you so.
Speake, are we friends?  By this soft kisse I sweare,
No Lady lviing is to me like  deare.
These nuptiall brawles oft-times more love beget:
The  ravishing pleasures, when last night we met
We will redouble.  These hands shall not part
Till we be reconcil'd.

Alcmena    

You  have my heart; nor can my anger last.

Iupiter    

Faire  love then smile.  

 Enter  Blepharo and Socia.

And  let our lips our hearts thus reconcile.

Blepharo    

Thou  tel'st me wonders.

 Socia    

 I  assure you there are two Socia's, and for ought I can heare,  there are two Amphitrio's: we were in hope to have two golden  bowles. Now if your ship can get two maisters, you wil be simply  furnish't to sea. But see my Lord and my Lady are friends; let us be  partakers of their reconcilement.

Blepharo    

Haile  to the generall: you sent to me my Lord.

Iupiter    

True Blepharo:
But  things are well made even, and we attoned,
Your chiefest  businesse is to feast with us.
Attend us Socia.  Faire Alcmena now
We are both one, combin'd by oath  and vow.   

 Exeunt.

 Socia    

 Ther's  musicke in this: If they feast Il'e feast with them, and make my  belly amends for all the blowes recevi'd
upon my backe.

 Enter  Ganimed.

 Ganimed    

 Iupiter and Alcmena are  entred at the backe gate, whil'st Amphitrio is beating his  servants out at the foregate. Als in up-rore: I do but watch to see  him out in the street, to shut the gates against him. But yonder  is Socia,  I'le passe by him without speaking.

Socia    

I  should have seene your face when I have look't my
selfe in a  glasse, your sweet phisnomy, should be of my ac-
quaintance: I  will not passe him without Conge.

 They  passe with many strange Conges.

 Enter  Amphitrio, beating before him his servants, the two Captaines, they  meet with Ganimed.

Amphitrio    

Villaines,  dogges, divels.

1.  Captaine    

Noble  Generall.

Amphitrio    

These  wrongs are too indigne. Socia return'd?
Where's Blepharo?

Ganimed    

I  have sought him a boord; but he is in the Citty to
see some of  his friends, and will not returne till dinner.
Now for a  tricke to shut the gates upon him.   

 Exit.

Amphitrio    

Patience,  if thou hast any power on earth,
Infuse it here, or I these  hypocrites,
These base suggesters of their Ladies wrongs,  
Shall to the death pursue.

2.  Captaine    

Finde  for their punishment
Some more deliberate season: sleepe  upon't,
And by an order more direct and plaine

Void  of this strange confusion, censure them.

Amphitrio    

Sir,  you advise well, I will qualify
This heate of rage: now I have  beate them forth
Let's in and see my wife, Socia stolne  hence
And the gates shut, let's knocke.    

 Knockes,  enter  Ganimed  above.

Ganimed    

What  Ruffin's that that knocks? you thinke belike
the nailes of our  dores are as sawcy as your selfe, that they
neede beating.

Amphitrio    

Socia I  am thy Lord Amphitrio.

Ganimed    

You  are a fooles head of your owne, are you not?

Amphitrio    

Ruffin  and foole.   

Ganimed    

Take  coxcombe and asse along, if you bee not satisfied.
 
 

Amphitrio    

Do  you condemne me now, pray Gentlemen
Do me but right, have I  iust cause to rage?
Can you that have perswaded mee to  peace
Brooke this? oh for some battering engine heere
To  race my Pallace walles, or some iron Ramme
To plant against  these gates,  

Ganimed    

Sirrah,  I'le make you eate these words, stay but
till I come downe,  I'le send you thence with a vengeance, I
am now comming, looke  to't, I'le tickle you with your
counterfeit companions there.     

 Exit.

1.  Captaine    

This  is too much, 'tis not to be indured.

Amphitrio    

I  wish of heaven to have no longer life then
once more to behold  him, hee shall pay for all the rest.

2.  Captaine    

He  promist to come downe.

 Enter  Socia and Blepharo.

1.  Captaine    

And  I thinke hee will, for harke, I heare the gates open.

Amphitrio    

Forbeare  a little, note the villaines humor.

Socia    

Al's  quiet within, I'le go helpe to fetch my Lords stuffe from ship, but  see, hee's out of the gates before us, which way came hee?

Blepharo    

Hee  hath made hast.

Socia    

I  thinke he hath crept through the key-hole.

Amphitrio    

Nay,  I'le be patient feare not, note my humor: Socia.

Socia    

My  Lord.

 Amphitrio    

 My  honest Blepharo I'le talke with you anone, my faithfull  servant, who past this house to you, that you have
power to  keepe the Maister out? tell me, what know you by your faire  Mistresse, that you call your Lord coxcombe and asse, (nay I am  patient still) Amphitrioes name is heere forgot, foole,  ruffin are nothing, them I pardon, now you are downe, when do you  beate me head-long from the gate, and these my counterfeit  companions hence.

Socia    

Who  I, I, is your Lordship as wise as God might have made you, I

Amphitrio    

You  see we are here still, when doe you strike, what? not: Then I'le  beginne with you.

Blepharo    

Amphitrio.

Socia    

My  Lord's mad, helpe Gentlemen.

Blepharo    

If  you be Gentlemen and love Amphitrio,
Or if you know me to  be Blepharo
Your Maister that transported you by sea
Give  not this madnesse scope, upon my credit
Socia is  guiltlesse of this falce surmise.

Amphitrio    

Is Blepharo turn'd  mad too.

Blepharo    

Generall  no,
It pitties me that left you late so milde
And in such  peacefull conference with your wise
So suddenly to finde you  lunaticke,
Pray helpe to bind him Gentlemen.

Amphitrio    

So,  so, am I abus'd or no, speake fellow souldiers.

1.  Captaine

Insufferable,  and yet forbeare your rage,
Breath, breath, upon't and find  some other leasure
These errors to determine.  

 Enter  Iupiter, Alcmena, Ganimed before, all the servants running  fearefully.

 

Amphitrio    

Well,  I will.
     

Socia    

Yonder's  my brother, my same selfe.

Blepharo    

Two Socia's,  two Amphitrioes.

1.  Captaine    

Coniuring,  witch-craft.

Iupiter    

Friends  and my fellow souldiers, you have dealt
Unfriendly with mee, to  besiedge my house

With  these exclaimes, to bring Imposters hither.
Is there no law  in Thebes? will Creon suffer me
For all my  service, to be iniur'd thus?

Amphitrio 

Bee'st  thou infernall hagge, or fiend incarnate, I coniure thee.

Iupiter    

Friends,  I appeale to you:
When have you knowne me mad? when rage and  rave?
Shall my humanity and mildnesse thus
Be recompenst?  to be out-brau'd, out-fac'd
By some deluding Fairy? To have my  servants
Beat from my gates? my Generall house disturb'd,
My  wife full growne, and groaning, ready now
To inuoke Lucina,  to be check't and scorn'd?
Examine all my deeds,  Amphitrioes mildnesse
Had never reference to this Iuglers  rage.

1.  Captaine    

Sure  this is the Generall, he was ever a milde Gentleman: Il'e follow  him.

2.  Captaine    

There  can be but one Amphitrio, and this appeares to be he by his  noble carriage.

Blepharo    

This  is that Amphitrio I conducted by sea:

1.  Servant    

My  Lord was never mad-man. This shall be my maister.

All    

And  mine.

Alcmena    

This  is my husband.

Socia    

Il'e  even make bold to go with the best.

Ganimed    

Soft  sir, the true Socia must goe with the true Amphitrio.

Amphitrio    

Oh  thou omnipotent thunder! strike Amphitrio,
And free me  from this labyrinth.

Iupiter    

Gentlemen,  
My house is free to you; onely debar'd
These Counterfets:  These gates that them exclude,
Stand open to you: Enter, and  taste our bounty,
Attend us. 'Lasse poore Amphitrio,
I  must confesse I do thee too much wrong,
To keep thee in these  maze of doubts so long;
Which here shall end: For Iuno I  espy,  

Who  all our amorous pastimes sees from hye:
As she descends, so  must I mount the spheares
To stop her, lest she thunder in our  eares.

 Exeunt  all but Amphitrio and Socia.

Amphitrio    

What  art thou?

Socia    

Nay,  what art thou?

Amphitrio    

I  am not my selfe.

Socia    

You  would not beleeve me when I sayd I was not my selfe: why should I  beleeve you?

Amphitrio    

Art  thou Socia?

 Socia    

 That's  more then I can resolve you: for the world is growne so dangerous, a  man dares scarce make bold with his owne name; but I am he was sent  with a letter to my Lady.

Amphitrio    

And  I am he that sent thee with that letter,
Yet dare not say I  am Amphitrio;
My wife, house, friends, my servants all  deny me.

Socia    

You,  have reason to love me the better, since none 
stickes to  you but I.

Amphitrio    

Let  all yon starry structure from his basses
Shrinke to the earth,  that the whole face of heaven
Falling upon forlorne Amphitrio,  
May like a marble monumentall stone,
Lye on me in my  grave Eternall sleepe
Cast a nocturnall filme before these  eyes,
That they may nere more gaze upon yon heavens,
That  have beheld my shame: or sleepe or death
Command me shut these  opticke windowes in:
My braine is coffin'd in a bed of lead,  
'Tis cold and heauy; be my pillow Socia:
For  I must sleepe.

Socia    

And  so must I, pray make no noyse, for waking me or my maister.    

 They  sleepe.

 Iuno  and Iris descend from the heavens.

Iuno    

Iris away,  I have found th'adulterer now:
Since Mercury faire Ioe's keeper  slew,
The hundred-eyed Argus, I have none

To  dogge and watch him when he leaves the heavens.
No sooner did I  misse him, but I sought
Heaven, sea, and earth: I brib'd the  sunne by day,
And starres by night; but all their iealous  eyes
He with thicke mists hath blinded, and so scap't.
Iris my  Raine-bow threw her circle round,
If he had beene on earth, to  have clasp't him in,
And kept him in the circle of her  armes
Till she had cal'd for Iuno: But her search
He  soone deluded in his slye trans-shapes.
And till I saw here  two Amphitrioes,
I had not once suspected him  in Thebes.
Roab'd all in wrath, and clad in scarlet fury,  
I come to be aveng'd upon that strumpet
That durst  presume to adulterate Iunoes bed.
Pull me from heaven  (faire Iris) a blacke cloud,
From which Il'e fashion me a  beldams shape,
And such a powerfull charme Il'e cast on her,  
As that her bastard-brats shall nere be borne;
But make  her wombe their Tombes. Iris away.

Iris    

I  flye Madame.   

 Exit  Iris.

Iuno    

No,  these are mortals, and not them I seeke.
I feare me if he heare  of me in Thebes,
He (with his Minion) streight will mount  the heavens.
But let him seat him on the loftiest spire
Heaven  hath: or place me in the lowest of hell,
Il'e reach him with  my clamours.

Socia    

Hey-ho,  now am I dream'd of a scold.

 Enter  Iris with a habit.

Iuno    

But Iris is  return'd: Rage, feast thy fill,
Till I the mother sley, the  bastards kill.   

 Exit  Iuno.

 Thunder  and lightning. All the servants run out of the house affrighted, the  two Captains and Blepharo, Amphitrio and Socia amazedly awake:  Iupiter appeares in his glory under a Raine-bow, to whom they all  kneele.

Iupiter    

The  Thunderer, Thunderers, and the Lord of feare,  

Bids  thee not feare at all Amphitrio.
Iove, that against  the Theleboans gave thee
The palme of Conquest, and  hath crown'd thy browes
With a victorious wreath, commands thy  peace
With faire Alcmena, she that never bosom'd
Mortall,  save thee; The errours of thy servants
Forbeare to punish, as  forgot by us,
And finde us to thy prayers propicious.
Thy  wife full growne, inuokes Lucinaes ayd:
Send in to  cheare her in her painefull throwes.
Hers, and thy Orisons  wee'l beare to heaven;
And they in all your greatest doubts and  feares,
Shall have accesse to our immortall eares.

Amphitrio    

Iove is  our patron, and his power our awe,
His maiesty our wonder:  will, our law.

Iupiter    

Our  Act thus ends, we would have all things even,
Smile you on  earth whilst we reioyce in heaven.

Actus 3.

 Enter  Homer one way, Iuno another.

Homer    

Behold  where Iuno comes, and with a spell
Shuts up the wombe by which  Ioves sonne must passe:
For whilst shee Crosse-leg'd sits (as  old wives tell,
And with clutch't hands) there is no way  alas
For faire Alcmena's childing. All those wives
That  heare her painfull throwes, are in dispaire:
Yet in her wombe  the Iove-bred Issue strives:
Three dayes are past, her paines  still greater are.
But note a womans wit, though Iuno smile.
A  Beldams braine the Goddesse shall beguile.

Iuno    

Ha,  ha! Now Iove with thy omnipotence,
Make (if thou  canst) way for thy bastards birth,
Whose passage I thus binde,  and in this knot
Which till their deaths, shall never be  dissolu'd,  

I  have power to strangle all the charmes of hell.
Nor powers of  heaven shall streight me, till the deaths
Of yon adulteresse  and her mechall brats.
Laugh Gods and men, sea, earth, and ayre  make ioy,
That Iuno thus Alcmena can  destroy.

 Enter  the Midwife, Galantis with two or three other aged women.

Galantis    

Have  you obseru'd her to sit crosse-leg'd ever
since my Lady began  her travell? I suspect witch-craft, Il'e
have a tricke to  rouze her.

Midwife    

No  doubt but did she open her knees and fingers,
my Lady should  have safe delivery.

Galantis    

Trust  to my wit, Il'e in and find a meanes to startle her.

Beldame    

Note  how the Beldame smiles, and in her clutches
Strangles my Ladies  birth: some friend remove her.

Iuno    

Ha,  ha, he, their teares my griefes recure,
Thus I revenge me of  their deeds impure.

 Enter  Galantis merry.

Galantis    

Now Iove be  prais'd, and Ladies dry your teares,
And gentle Madame come  reioyce with us.

Iuno    

Why,  what's the matter?

Galantis    

I  cannot hold my ioy: thankes faire Lucina
Goddesse of  child-birth, Iove and all be prais'd,
Alcmena is  delivered, brought to bed
Of a fine chopping boy.   

 Iuno  riseth.

Iuno    

Is  my spell faild? how could I curse and teare?

Midwife    

The  witch is rouz'd, in and see what newes.

Galantis    

Stay  stay, Il'e go see what cofort's within: for when I came out I left  my poore Lady in midst of all her torment.

Iuno    

What  edge of steele, or Adamantine chaine,
Hath forc'd in two the  vertue of my charme?
Which Gods and divels gave unite  consent
To be infract? Oh powerfull Iupiter!
I feare  thy hand's in this.

 Enter  Galantis extreamely laughing.

Beldame    

How  the witch stormes!

Iuno    

What  meanes the wretch to hold her sides and laugh,
And still to  point at me? How now Galantis?

Galantis    

That's  my name indeed: (hold heart, hold) you are a
witch, are you?  you sat crosse-leg'd, did you? my Lady could
not bee brought  to bed, could she? And now Gallantis hath
gul'd you,  hath she?   

Iuno    

The  morrall.

 Galantis    

 Il'e  tell thee; I suspecting thy trechery to my Lady, brought in  counterfet newes she was brought to bed, which you (gooddy witch) no  sooner heard, but rose up; and no sooner you had cast your armes  abroad, but my Lady was deli-
vered of two goodly boyes, one  like my Lord Amphitrio, but the other the bravest chopping lad—  laugh the beldam
out of her skin, and then returne to comfort  my Lady.  

 Exeunt.

Iuno    

Oh  that we should be subiect to the Fates!
And though being Gods,  yet by their power be crost.
Galantis, Il'e be first reveng'd  on thee
For this derision, and trans-forme thy shape
To  some fowle monster, that shall beare thy name.
And are the  bastards borne? They have past the wombe,
They shall not passe  the cradle. 

Iris 

Ho.    

 Enter  Iris.

Iris    

Madame.

Iuno    

Fly  into Affricke, from the mountaines there
Chuse me two  venemous serpents, of the blood
That Perseus dropt  out of the Gorgons head
When on his winged horse, with that new  spoyle
He crost the Affricke climate: thou shalt know  them
By their fell poyson, and their fierce aspect. When Iris?

Iris    

I  am gone.

Iuno    

Haste Iris,  flye with expeditions wings,
These brats shall dye by their  invenomed stings.

Homer    

The  iealous Goddesse in the Chamber throwes
The poysonous serpents,  who soone wound and kill
Yong Ipectetes, whom Amphitrio  owes.
But Hercules, whom Iove with power doth fill,  

You  first shall in his infant-cradle see,
Ere growne a man, famous  for chivalrie.

 The  Nurses bring yong Hercules in his Cradle, and leave him. Enter Iuno  and Iris  with two snakes, put them to the childe
and depart: Hercules  strangles them: to them Amphitrio,  admiring the accident.

Homer    

He  that could in his cradle serpents kill,
Will (being growne)  the world with wonders fill.
Imagine him full growne, and nobly  train'd
By King Euristeus, the bold youth proclaimes
Pastimes  of exercise, where he hath gain'd
Chiefe praise and palme in  these Olimpicke games.
Them we must next, as his first grace  present
With Iuno, to his fame maleuolent:

 Enter,  after great shouts and flourishes, Iuno and King Euristeus.

Iuno    

Harke,  harke Euristeus, how the yelling throats
Of the rude  rabble, deifie his praise:
Their lofty clamours, and their  shrill applauses
Strike 'gainst the cleare and azure floores of  heaven,
And thence against the earth reverberate,  
That Iuno can nor rest above nor here,
But  still his honours clangor strikes mine eare.

Euristeus    

Patience  celestiall Goddesse, as I wish
Your powerfull aidance when I  need it most,
So for your sake I will impose him dangers,  
Such and so great, that without Ioves owne hand,
He  shall not have the power to scatter them.

Iuno    

If  neither tyrants, monsters, savages,
Giants nor hell-hounds,  can the bastard quell;
Let him be pasht, stab'd, strangled,  poisoned,    

 Shouts  within.

Or  murdered sleeping. Harke Euristeus still    

How  their wide throates his high applauses shrill.

Euristeus    

Th'earth  shall not breed a monster, nor the heavens
Threaten a danger  shall not taske his life.

Iuno    

Thou  chim'st me spheare-like musicke, I have rouz'd
A monstrous  Lyon, that doth range these woods:
My deere Euristeus,  make him tugge with him.  

 Shouts.

Still  doth his praise make the heaven resound;
Farewell Euristeus,  Il'e not see him crown'd.  

 Exit  Iuno.

 Enter  the Kings of Greece to Euristeus with Garlands, Hercules, Theseus,  Perithous, Philoctetes, with others from the games of Olimpus.

1.  King    

These  honoured pastimes on Olimpus mount,
Begun by thee  the Theban Hercules,
Shall last beyond all time and  memory.
Thou art unpeer'd, all Greece resounds thy  praise,
And crowne thy worth with these greene wreaths of  Baies.

Hercules    

More  deere to me then the best golden Arch
That ere crown'd Monarkes  brow, we have begun
In pastimes, wee'le proceed to acts more  dreadfull,
To expresse our power and hardiment:
Though by  your sufferage, we have best deseru'd;
Yet merit we not all,  these Grecian Princes,
Although degree'd below us,  did excell,
Though not as best, receive as those did  well.
Theseus, Perithous, Philoctetes, take
Your valours  meeds, your praises lowd did sound,
Then each one take  from Hercules a crowne.

Theseus    

Brave Theban youth,  no lesse then Ioves owne son,
Give Theseus leave  both to admire and love thee:
Lets henceforth have one soule.

Hercules    

Theseus commands  the heart of Hercules,
And all my deeds,  next Iove omnipotent,  
Il'e consecrate to thee and to thy love.

Perithous    

Though  all unworthy to be stil'd the friend
Of great Alcides,  give Perithous leave
To do thee honour, and admire  thy worth.

Philoctetes    

That Philoctetes begges  of Hercules.
Thy curtesie equals thy active power:
And  then in both art chiefe and patternelesse.

Hercules    

We  prize you as the deerest gemmes of Greece,
And all the  honours of Alcmenaes sonne
You shall partake, whil'st  these brave Argive Kings,
That rang us plaudits for  the Olimpike games,
Shall clap our triumphes 'gainst the  dreadful'st monsters
Heaven can send downe, or  deepe Averno belch forth.
As for the earth-bred  monsters, we have power
Infus'd by Iove, to calme their  insolence.
Nor will we cease, till we have purchas'd us
The  name of Tyrant-tamer through the world.

Euristeus    

It  glads Euristeus to be made so happy
As to be Tutor to  this noble youth.
Thou hast (witnesse Olimpus) prou'd thy  selfe
The swiftest, actiu'st, ablest, strongest, conning'st
In  shaft or dart; which when thy step-dame Iuno
Shall  understand how much thou do'st excell,
As 'twill please Iove,  it will content her well.

Hercules    

May  we renowne Euristeus by our fame,
As we shall strive  to please that heavenly dame.

Euristeus    

Set  on then Princes to the further honours
Of this bold Theban:  may he still proceed
To crowne great Greece with many  a noble deed.

 Enter  a Heardsman wounded.

Theseus    

Stay  Lords: what meanes this Tragicke spectacle?

Herdsman    

If Greece,  that whilome was esteem'd the spring
Of valor, and the well of  chivalry,
Can yeeld an army of resolved spirits,
Muster  them all against one dreadfull beast,
That keeps the forrests  and the woods in awe:
Commands the Cleonean continent,  
Unpeoples townes; And if not interdicted,
In time will  make all Greece a wildernesse.

Hercules    

Hearesman,  thou hast exprest a monstrous beast,
Worthy the taske  of Iove-borne Hercules.

What  is the savadge? speake.

Herdsman    

Whether  some God,
With Greece offended, sends him as a  murreine,
To strike our heards; or as a worser plague,
Your  people to destroy: But a fierce Lyon
Lives in the neighbour  forrest, preying there
On man and beast, not satisfied with  both.
Ten Heardsmen of my traine at once he slew,
And me  thus wounded; yet his maw unstaunch't,
He still the  thicke Nemean groves doth stray,
As if the world  were not sufficient pray.

Euristeus    

This  Lyon were a taske worthy Ioves sonne,
Oh free us  from this feare great Hercules.

Hercules    

If  he be den'd, Il'e rouze the monstrous beast;
If seeking prey,  Il'e chace him through the groves,
And having over-run the  fugitive,
Dare him to single warre: It  fits Ioves sonne
Wrastle with Lyons, and to tugge  with Beares,
Grapple with Dragons, and incounter Whales.
Be  he (as Ioves owne shield) invulnerable,
Or be his  breast hoop't in with ribbes of brasse,
Be his teeth raser'd,  and his tallons keepe,
Sending at every blow, fire from his  bones,
Yet I ere night will case me in his skin.
This is  a sport———
Above th'Olimpiads; we will hunt to day
Yon  fierce Nemean terror, as a game
Becomming Hercules.  Winde hornes, away:
For now a generall hunting we proclaime,  
Follow us Princes, you that love the game.   

 Exeunt.

 Windhornes.  Enter Iuno and Iris above in a cloud.

Iuno    

Yon  cheerefull noyse of hunting tels mine eare
Hee's in the Chace:  Redouble Ire on Ire,
And teare the bastard Theban limbe  from limbe.
Where art thou Iris? tell me from the cloud,  

Where  I have plac'd thee to behold the Chace.

Iris  (aloft)  

Great Hercules
Pursues  him through the medowes, mountaines, rockes.

Iuno    

And  flyes the savadge? will he not turne head,
Knowing his skin  (save by Ioves Thunderbolt)
Not to be pierc'd? base  trembling coward beast.

Iris  Now doth the Lyon turne 'gainst Hercules
With violent  fury: 'lasse poore Hercules.

Iuno    

Gramercy Iris,  I will crowne thy brow
With a new case of starres, for these  good newes.    

 Shouts  within.

Iris    

Oh!  well done Hercules. 
He shakes him from his shoulders  like a feather.
And hurles the Lyon flat: The beast  againe
Leaps to his throat; Alcides grapples with  him.
The Lyon now: Now Hercules againe.
And now  the beast; me thinkes the combat's even.

Iuno    

Not  yet destroyd?    

 Shouts  within.

 

Iris    

Well,  wrastled Hercules:     

He  gave the monstrous Lyon such a fall,
As if a mountaine should  ore-whelme withall.
Above him still: he chokes him with his  gripes,
And with his ponderous buffets stownds the beast.

Iuno    

Thus  is my sorrow, and his fame increast.

Iris    

Now  he hath strangled him.

Iuno    

Iris discend.
But  though this faile, Il'e other dangers store,
My Lyon slaine, I  will provide a Boare.

 Enter  to them at one doore, Euristeus, and the Kings of Greece: at the  other Hercules, with the Lyons head and skinne, Theseus, Perithous,  Philoctetes.

Hercules    

Thus Hercules begins  his Ioviall taskes:
The horrid beast I have torne out  of his skin,
And the Nemean terror naked lyes,  
Despoyl'd of his invinced coat of Armes.

Iuno    

This  head (O wer't the head of Hercules)

Doth  grace Alcides shoulders, and me thinkes,
Deck'd in  these spoyles, thou dar'st the God of Armes.

Hercules    

To  you great Iuno, doth Alcmena's sonne
His high  laborious valour dedicate.
You might have heard the Lyon roare  to heaven;
Even to the high tribunall in the Shpeares,
Where  you sit crown'd in starres. We fac'd the beast,
And when he  fixt his tallons in our flesh,
We catch't the monster in our  manly gripes,
And made him thrice breake hold. Long did we  tugge
For eminence; but when we prou'd his skin
To be  wound-free, not to be pierc'd with steele,
We tooke the  savadge monster by the throat,
And with our sinowy puissance  strangled him.

Euristeus    

Alcides honours Thebes,  and fames whole Greece.

Hercules    

There  shall not breath a monster here unawed,
We shall the world  affoord a wonderment,
Unparalel'd by Theban  Hercules.
This Lyons case shall on our shoulders hang,
Wee'l  arme our body with th'unvulner'd skin;
And with this massy Club  all monsters dare:
And these shall like a bloudy meteor  shew
More dreadfull then Orions flaming lockes,  
T'affright the Gyants that oppresse the earth.

Euristeus    

Let Hercules meane  time abide with us,
Till King Euristeus new  atchievements finde,
Worthy his valour.

Theseus    

Honour  me great Prince,
To grace my friend Perithous, and his  ayd,
To be at their high spowsals.

Perithous    

Hypodamia
Shall  in this suit assist Perithous,
With us the Lapithes,  the Centaurs meete,
Those whom Ixion got  upon a cloud.
They live amongst the groves of Thessaly,  
And in their double shapes will grace our feast.

Hercules    

Perithous,  we will meet the Centaurs there,    

And  quaffe with them to Hypodamia's health.
But wherefore  stands bright Iuno discontent?

Iuno    

Oh  blame me not, an uncoth savadge Boare
Devasts the fertill  plaines of Thessaly:
And when the people come to implore  our ayd,
Their lives no mortall that dare undertake
To  combat him; The rough Nemean Lyon
Was milde to this:  he plowes the forrests up,
His snowy foame he scatters ore the  hils,
And in his course or-turnes the Dordan okes:
Oh  let him dye by mighty Hercules.

Hercules    

Eternall  Goddesse, were his sharpned teeth
More dreadfull then the  phangs of Cerberus,
Or were his  bristled-hide Ioves Thunder proofe,
Were his head  brasse, or his breast doubly plated
With  'best Vulcanian armour Lemnos yeelds;
Yet  shall his braines rattle beneath my Club.
The Eremanthian forrest  where he den's,
Shall quake with terrour when we beat the  beast:
And when we cast his backe against the earth,
The  ground shall groane and reele with as much terror
As when the  Gyant Typhon shakes the earth.

Iuno    

Oh  may'st thou live the Theban Conquerour.
(Dye by the  fury of that savadge swine,
And with thy carkasse glut his  ravenous maw.)

Hercules    

Perithous,  I will bring thee to thy Bridals
This huge wilde swine, to  feast the Centaurs with.
Diana's wrath shall  be Alcides dish,
Which hee'l present  to Hypodamia.
Theseus and Philoctetes, you  consort
Perithous, and assist the Lapythes
In these  high preparations: We will take
The Eremanthian forrest  in our way.
Let's part, and sacred Goddesse wish us well
In  our atchievements.

Iuno    

To  be damn'd in hell.   

 Exeunt.

 Enter  Ceres  and Proserpine attired like the Moone, with a company of Swaines,  and country Wenches: They sing.

 

Song

 With  faire Ceres Queene of graine

 The  reaped fields we rome, rome, rome,  

 Each  Countrey Peasant, Nimph and Swaine
Sing their harvest home,  home, home;

 Whilst  the Queene of plenty hallowes  

 Growing  fields as well as fallowes.

Eccho double all our Layes,  
Make the Champians sound, sound, sound
To the Queene of  harvest praise,
That sowes and reapes our ground, ground,  ground.
Ceres Queene of plenty hallowes,
Growing fields  as well as fallowes.

Ceres    

As  we are Ceres, Queene of all fertility,
The earthes  sister, Aunt to higest Iupiter,
And mother to this  beauteous childe the Moone,
So will we blesse your harvests,  crowne your fields
With plenty and increase: your bearded  cares
Shall make their golden stalkes of wheat to bend
Below  their laden riches: with full sickles
You shall receive the  usury of their seeds.
Your fallowes and your gleabes our selfe  will till
Frow every furrow that your plow-shares raze
Upon  the plenteous earth, our sisters breast,
You shall cast up  aboundance for your gratitude
To Ceres and the  chaste Proserpina.

Proserpine    

Whil'st  with these swaines my mother merry-makes,
And from their hands  eates cakes of newest wheate,
The firstlings of their vowed  sacrifice,
Leave me behinde to make me various garlands
Of  all the choycest flowers these medowes yeeld,
To decke my  browes, and keep my face from scorches

Of Phœbus raies.