University of Virginia Library

Orestes the Son of Agamemnon.

Suffer what the Conqueror did] See Note 1. Act 2. Scene 1.

Mothers treacheries, yea wiles of goddesses, I have undone] Clytemnestra's when he got from her Iphigenia. See Note 1. Act. 2. Scene 1. And Thetis's, when he gain'd Achilles to the Wars. See Note 2. Act 2. Scene 2. And also Pallas's when he brought away her Palladium out of Troy.

Telemachus] The Son of Ulysses.

Pelasgians] Grecians, from Pelasgia a part of Greece adjoyning to Macedonia, which was so denominated from Pelasgus the Son of Jupiter.

Lightly on Hector spread] See Note 21. Act. 2. Scene 2.

So so he's caught] This Ulysses most cunningly feigns, the better to detect the Mothers fear, and by her sudden surprisal, judges that Astyanax is alive.

Thus Chalcas saith] This is also feigned by Ulysses, the better to arrive at the end of his project, which was

to gain Astyanax into his power; for as their Augur Chalcas had said, their ships could not be loosed from those shores, nor the Greeks return home, till Hector's Son was thrown from the top of a high tower.

Thy Ghosts] The Ancients gave divine honors to the manes of their friends, and chiefly worship'd their lares or houshold gods, above others.

That which you sold] Hector ransom'd by Priamus, as is shew'd before, Note 9. Act 2. Scene 1.

Of Deities your friends] Of Pallas who was helpful to the Greeks, and took part with them against the Trojans, when he took her Palladium.

Amazon] Queen Penthesilea, as before,

Menas] Agave the Daughter of Cadmus and Hermione, the Mother of Pentheus, who with other Bacchis frows tore her own Son to peices, because he despis'd their Rites.

Prima videt, prima est insano concita cursu,
Prima suum misso violavit Penthea Thyrso
Mater:—Membra viri manibus direpta nefandis.
His Mother frantickly first to him ran,
First through her own Son thrust her greedy spear,
And limb-meal him with cruel hands doth tear.
Ovid. Met. 3.

Thyrsus] The Insignis of Bacchus, it was a spear wreathed about with Vine and Ivy-leaves, which his Mænades or Priestesses carried about in his Orgia.

Chaste wife] Penelope, who continued chaste twenty yeers in her Husbands absence, notwithstanding the daily enticements of her woers.