University of Virginia Library

THE THIRDE ACTE.

THE FIRST SCENE.

Oedipus.
Creon.
Though that thy Face where sadnes sits in heauy mourning guise,
Nought els portend, but dedly griefes, and mischiefes stil to ryse:
Yet tel some meanes wherby at length the Gods we may appease,
And purchase to our Kingdomes wast, some hope of health and ease.

Cre.
Alas you byd me that disclose which feare doth byd me hyde.

Oed.
If that the Thebane Citties great, by doleful plagues destryde.
Perce not thy hast: yet oughtest thou, these Kingdomes for to rue,
Which were vnto thy brothers house, of auncient title due.

Cre.
You wish ye thing to know, which you wil wish vnknown at length.

Oed.
Why so? a simple remedy of litle force and strength
Is ignoraunce of our estate when daungers vs betyde.
But what? wilt thou so great a good for common safety hide?

Cre.
Irkesome Medcines and perilous in sicknes I abhorre:

Oed.
And I likewyse at Subiects hands disdayne to take a dorre,
Speake out with speed, or else by proofe of torment thou shalt find
How daungerous a case it is to gawle a Princes mynd.

Cre.
Kinges often vse to wish vntolde, which they bad tel before.

Oed.
Go to, dispatch and cease in time to vexe me any more.
Except that thou forthwith to me this veinous deede disclose:
The gods I do protest, to death for al thou onely goes.

Cre.
O pardon me most noble king. O let me hold my pes,
Of al the gracis Princes graunt, what fauour may be lesse?

Oed.
As though ye silence hurts not more both king and countries weale:
Then spech oft tymes: which subiects thoughts to Prīces doth reueale?
Dispatch at once, stir me no more thou knowst my guise of olde.

CRE.
Silence denied, what priuiledge may silly Subiect holde?

OED.
A traytor he is, who silēce keepes, whē king cōmaunds to speake.

CRE.
Then pardon my constrayned speach, sith silence for to breake
You me compell. A dolefull tale (O king) my tongue must tell,
And which I feare your maiesty will not interpret well.

OED.
Was euer man rebukt for that, that he was bid to say?

CRE.
Well than since needes I must: I am contented to obay.
A wood there is from City farre, enhaunst with stately trees:
Where many a plant, and herbe doth grow, which Phœbus neuer sees:
With euerduring bushes greene, the Cypresse there doth ryse,
And puts his olde and loffty head within the cloudy Skyes.
The auncient Time-eaten Oke with crooked bended lims.
The Teal tree fine: The Alder which in Neptunes kingdoms swims,
The Bayes with bitter beries eke the Elmes deere friends to Uynes,
And many a noble tree besides, as Mirtels, Firres, and Pynes.
Amidst them all, one tree there is with large out stretched armes,
Whose roring sound, & craking noyse the lesser woods Icharmes,
And ouershades them all: a Tree of monstrous huge estate,
Beset with fearefull woods: there is that dyre, and dreadfull gate,
That leades to lothsome Lymbo Lake, and pyts that euer flowe.
Where choked miry mud doth streame with slimy course full slowe.
Here when the priest was entred in, with comely aged pace,
He stayed not: No neede there was, for night was still in place.
Than all the ground wyde open gapes, & smouthering vapours ryse,
And fyre and smoke, & styfling stink, mounts vp vnto the Shyes.
The Priest with wayling werde iclad, his fatall red out tooke:
And entring to, in blacke Aray, full often times it shooke.
With heauy cheere and dolful pace: his hoary haire was twynde
With bowes of mortall Ewe. A tree wherewith the mourners winde,
Theyr mourning heads, & Garlands make. In this guise all arayde,
The sacred Priest doth enter in, with trembling lims dismayde:
Than in the Sheepe, and Oxen blacke, by backwarde course are drawn.
And odoures sweete, & Frankencence, on flaming fyres are thrown.
The beasts on burning Altars cast, do quake with schorched lims:
And bloudy streames with fyre mixt, about the Aultars swims.
Than on the darke infernall Gods, and him that rules them all:
With deadly shriking voyce aloude, the Prophet gins to call.
And rouls the Magick verse in mouth, and hidden Artes doth proue:
Which eyther power haue to appease or els the Gods to moue.
Than bloudy streaming Lycours black, with broyling heate doe boyle:
And all the Beasts consume and burn. The Prophet than to toyle
Begins. And mixed wyne and Mylke vpon the Aultars throwes.
And all the Dongeon darke, and wyde with streaming bloud it flowes.
Than put with thundring voyce agayne the Prophet calles and cryes.
And straight as much wt mumbling mouth he champs in secret wyse
The trees do turne. The Riuers stād. The ground with roring shakes.
And all the world as seemes to mee, with fearefull trembling quakes.
I am heard, I am heard, than out aloude the Priest began to cry:
Whan all the dampned, soules by heapes abrode outrushing fly.
Then woods with rumbling noyse, doe oft resounding make.
And Heauen, and Earth together goe. And bowes and trees do crake.
And Thūders roore. And Lightnings flash. And waues aloft doe fly.
And ground retyres: and Dogs doe bawl: and Beastes are heard to cry.
And whyther long of Acheron, that lothsom Flud that flowes
All stinking streames: or of the earth, that out her Bowels throwes,
Free place to Sprights to geue: or of that fierce infernall Hound,
That at such times doth bustling make wt chayns, & railing sound.
The Earth as wide it open gapes. And I did see on ground,
The Gods with colour pale and wan, that those dark kingdoms keepe.
And very night I saw in deede, and thousand shapes to creepe,
From out those filthy stinking Lakes, and lothsom pits of Hell.
Where all the euils vnder Son, in darksom shades doe dwell.
So quaking all for feare I stoode with minde right sore apalde,
Whilst on those Gods wt trembling mouth the Priest full often calde.
Who all at once, out of theyr dens did skip with griesly Face.
And Monsters grim, and stinging Snakes seemd wander in that place.
And all the fowlest Feendes of Hell, and Furies all were theare.
And all trāsformed Ghosts & sprights, that euer Hell did beare.
With Cares, and all Diseases vyle, that mortall mynds doe crush,
All those, and more I sawe out of those Dongeons deepe to rush.
And Age I sawe, with riueled Face, and Neede, & Feare, and Death,
And Fyre, and flames, & thousand ills out fro those Pits to breath.
Then I was gon: and quight amazd. The wenche in worser case.
And yet of olde, acquaynted with her Fathers Artes she was.
The Priest himselfe vnmooued stoode, and boldly cited owt:
Whole Armies of king Ditis men, who clustring in a Rowt:
All flittring thin like Cloudes, disperst abrode in Ayre doe fly.
And bearing sundry shapes and formes doe scud aboue in Sky,
A thousand woods I thinke haue not so many leaues on trees.
Ten thousand medowes fresh haue not so many flowers for bees.
Ten hundred thousand riuers not so many Foule can show:
Nor all the drops and streams, and gulphes that in the Seas do flow,
If that they might be wayed, can sure so great a number make
As could those shapes and formes that flew from out of Limbo lake.
Both Tantalus and Zetus too, and pale Amphions Ghost:
And Agaue, and after her ten thousand Sprightes do post.
Than Pentheus, and more and more, in like estate ensue:
Til out at length comes Laius with foule and grisly hue:
Uncomly drest in wretched plight with fylth all ouergrowne:
All perst with wounds, (I loth to speake) with bloud quight ouerflown
A Miser ryght as seemd to me, and most of Misers all:
Thus in this case, at length he spake, and thus began to call.
O Cadmus cruel Citty vyle, that stil delightste in bloud,
O Cadmus thou, which kinsmens death, accountst as chiefest good.
Teare out the bloudy Bowels of your Children, learne of me,
Do that, and rather more, then you would byde the day to see
Like ills as late on mee are light. Loe mothers loue (alas)
Hath causd the greatest misery that ere in Theba was.
The Countrey with the wrath of Gods at this tyme is not tost.
Nor yearth nor ayre infect is not the cause that all bene lost.
No No. A bloudy King is cause of all these mischiefes great:
A bloudy wretch: A wretched child that sits in Fethers Seate:
And Mothers bed defyles (O wretch) and entreth in agayne,
In places whence he came from once and doubleth so her payne,
Whilst that hee fils the haples wombe wher in himselfe did lie
With graceles seede and causeth her twise childbirthes pangues to try:
Unhappy Sonne, but Father worse and most vnhappy hee,
By whom the lawes of sacred shame so sore confounded bee.
For that that very bestes (almost) do all abherre to do,
Euen of his mothers body he hath brothers gotten two.
O mischiefe great: O dredful deede, then Sphinx, O mōster more:
Example vnto ages all of Gods foretold before.
But I thee, thee, that Scepter holdst, thy Father wil pursue,
And wreacke my selfe on thee and thyne with plagues & vengeance due.
All restles rage of spite and paine I will vppon thee blow,
And all the furies foule of hell vppon thee I will throw.
I wil subuert thy Houses cleane, for this thy lothsome lust:
I wil do this thou wretch: And thee, and thyne consume to dust.
Wherfore dispatch at once (I say) into exile driue your King.
That ground yt first of all he leaues, with fresh grene grasse shall spring,
And sweete, and pleasaunt Ayre, and healthfull blasts shall ryse,
And all the euills vnder Sun, that mortall men surprise:
The Pocks, the Piles, the Botch, the blaine, & death with him shall fly,
And with him mischiefs all shall passe, and Monsters vnder Sky.
And as for him I know hee would depart with willing mynde:
But I will clog his Feete, and hands, his way he shall not finde.
But groping with his aged staffe, shall passe from place to place.
This shall he doe. And none shall rue vpon his ruthfull case.
Rid you the Monster from the Earth, for Heauen let mee alone.
No sooner sayd, but straight away, his dreadfull Ghost was gone.
And fast by thousands after him, th'other Sprights in hyde:
Than Cold & trembling feare began through all my bones to glyde.

OED.
The thing I alwayes fearde, I see vpon mee now is layde:
But slender props they are (God wot) whereby your Treason is stayde.
Meropa my Mother deare, shall mee from this defend:
Polybius eke shall purge mee quight, from Actions all, that tend
To murder, or to incest vile, they both shall mee excuse,
In such a case no meanes at all of tryall I refuse,
Lay what you can vnto my charge. No fault in mee remayns.
The Thebanes long or I came heere, of Laius death complayns,
My Mother yet alyue, my Father still in like estate.
No, no, this is some doltishe drift, of yon false Prophets pate,
Or else some mighty God aboue, doth beare me no good will,
And seekes by Plagues on mee to wreke, his wrathfull vengeaunce stil.
Ah Sir I am glad at length I smell your drifts and fetches fyne.
I know the whole confederacy your sleights I can vntwyne.
That beastly Priest, that bleareyed wretch beelyes the Gods and mee:
And thee thou Traytour in my place hath promist king to bee.

CRE.
Alas would I my Sister of, her lawfull kingdome spoyle?
Thinke you such treason may haue place in brothers breast to boyle?
Yf that myne Oth could me not keepe content with my degree:
But that contemning meane estate, I would clime aloft to bee.
Yet should ill Fortune mee deter, from such attempts I trowe:
Whose guise it is on Princes heads, huge heapes of Cates to throwe.
I would aduise your grace betimes this charge from you to cast:
Least lingring long all vnawares, you be opprest at last.
Assure your selfe, in baser state, more safer you may liue:
And shun a thousand Cares, & Griefs: which Princes hearts doe riue.

OED.
And dost thou me exhort thou slaue my kingdome for to leaue?
O faythlesse head, O shamelesse heart, yt could such treasons weaue?
Barst thou attempt thou villayne vile this thing, to me to breake?
And fearst thou not in such a cause so boldly for to speake.

CRE.
I would perswade them so (O King) who freely might possesse
Their Realmes such piteous cares I see, do Prynces hearts oppresse:
But as for you of force you must your Fortunes chainge abyde.

OED.
The surest way for them that gape for kingdoms large, & wyde,
Is first things meane, and rest, and peace, and base estate to prayse:
And yet with Tooth and Nayle, to toyle to mount aloft alwayes.
So often times, most restlesse beastes doe chiefly rest commend.

CRE.
Shall not my seruice long suffice my truth for to defend?

OED.
Time is the onely meanes for such, as thou to worke theyr will.

CRE.
It is so syr, but as for mee, of goods I haue my fill.
A great resort. A pleasaunt life: from Princely cares exempt.
All these might (surely) mee disswade from such a foule attempt.
There is no day almost (O King) the whale yeare thorow out,
Where in some royall gyfts are not from countreys round about
Unto mee sent, both Golde, and pearles, and things of greater cost,
Which I let passe, least I should seeme but vainly for to bost.
Besides the life of many a man hath bin preserude by mee.
In such a blisfull state (O King) what can there wanting bee?

(OE.
Good Fortune can no meane obserue, but stil she preaseth higher.)

CRE.
Shall I than guiltlesse die (alas,) my cause and all vntryde?

OED.
Were vnto you at any time my life, my deedes discride?
Did any man defend mee yet? or els my causes pleade?
And guiltlesse yet I am condemn'de to this you doe mee leade,
And mee expresse example giue, which I entend to take.
What measure you doe meat to mee, lyke measure must I make.

CRE.
The minde which causelesse dred appawls, true cause of feare bewraies
That cōsciēce is not guiltles sure, which euery blast dismaies.

OED.
Hee that in midst of perilles deepe, and daūgers hath bene cast,
Doth seeke all meanes to shun like ills as hee hath ouerpast.

CR.
So hatreds ryse.

OE.
Hee that to much doth vse ill will to feare,
Unskilfull is: and knowes not how, hee ought him selfe to beare
In kings estate. For feare alone doth Kingdomes chiefly keepe.
Than hee that thus doth arme himselfe from feare all free may sleepe.

CRE.
Who so the cruell tyrant playes, and guiltlesse men doth smight,
Hee dreadeth them that him doe dread, so feare doth chiefly light
On causers chiefe. A iust reuenge for bloudy mindes at last.

OED.
Come take this traytor vile away, In dongeon deepe him fast
Enclose. There for his due deserts, let him abide such payne
And scourge of minde (as meete it is) false traytors to sustayne.

Chorus.
See , see, the myserable State, of Prynces carefull lyfe.
What raging storms? what bloudy broyles? what toyle? what endlesse stryfe
Doe they endure? (O God) what plagues? what griefe do they sustayne?
A Princely lyfe: No. No. (No doubt) an euer duringe payne.
A state ene fit for men on whom Fortune woulde wreke her will.
A place for Cares to couch them in. A doore wyde open still
For griefes and daungers all that ben to enter when they list.
A king these Mates must euer haue, it bootes not to resist.
Whole fluds of priuy pinching feare, great anguishe of the minde:
Apparant plagues, & dayly griefes. These playfayres Princes finde.
And other none, with whom they spend, and passe theyr wretched dayes.
Thus hee that Princes liues, and base Estate together wayes:
Shall finde the one a very hell, a perfect infelicity:
The other eke a heauen right, exempted quight from mysery.
Let OEdipus example bee of this vnto you all,
A Mirrour meete. A Patern playne, of Princes carefull thrall.
Who late in perfect Ioy as seem'de, and euerlasting blis,
Triumphantly his life out led, a Myser now hee is,
And most of wretched Misers all, euen at this present tyme,
With doubtfull waues of feare Itost, subiect to such a Cryme
Whereat my tongue amased stayes, God graunt that at the last,
It fall not out as Creon tolde. Not yet the worst is past,
(I feare.)