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 | Hercules Furens, Thyestes, Troas |  |
Atreus, Thyestes.
I coulde excuse my selfe, except thou wert as now thou art.
But (Atreus) now I graunt, the faulte was myne in euery part:
And I offended haue in all, my cause the worse to bee,
Your this dayes kindnes makes: in deede a guilty wight is hee,
That would so good a brother hurt as you, in any whit.
But now with teares I must entreate, and first I me submit.
These handes that at thy feete doe lye, doe thee beseeche and pray,
That yre and hate be layde aside, and from thy bosome may
Be scraped out: and cleere forgot for pledges take thou these
O brother deere, these guiltles babes.
Atr.
thy hands yet from my kneese
Remoue, and rather me to take in armes, vpon me fall
And yee Daydes of elders age, yee litle infants all.
Mee clyp and coll about the necke: this fowle attyre forsake,
And spare myne eyes that pity it, and fresher vesture take
Lyke myne to see. and you with ioy, the halfe of emperie
Deere brother take: the greater prayse shall come to mee thereby,
Our fathers seate to yelde to you, and brother to relieue.
To haue a kingdome is but chaunce, but vertue it to geeue.
Thy.
I iust reward for such deserts, the Gods (O brother deare)
Repay to thee: but on my head a regall crowne to weare,
My lothsome lyfe denyes: and farre doth from the sceptor flee
My hand vnhappy: in the mydst let leefull be for mee
Of men to lurke.
Atre.
this kingdome can with twayne full well agree.
Thy.
What euer is (O brother) yours, I count it myne to bee.
Atr.
Who would dame fortunes gifts refuse, if shee him rayse to raigne?
Thy.
The gyfts of hir eche man it wotes, how soone they passe againe.
Atr.
Yee me depryue of glory great, except yee th'empyre take.
Thy.
You haue your prayse in offring it, and I it to forsake.
And full perswaded to refuse the kingdome, am I still.
Atre.
Except your part yee will susteine myne owne forsake I will.
Thy.
I take it then. and beare I will the name there of alone:
The ryghts and armes, as well as myne they shall be yours eche one.
Atre.
The regall crowne as you beseemes vpon your head then take:
And I th'appoyncted sacrifice for Gods, will now goe make.
Entrapt
in trayne the beast is caught and in the snare doth fall:
Both him, and eke of hated stocke with him the ofspryng all,
About the fathers syde I see: and nowe in saufety stands
And surest ground my wrathfull hate: nowe comes into my hands
At length Thyestes: yea hee comes and all at once to mee.
I scant refrayne my selfe, and scant may anger brydled bee.
So when the Bloudhound seekes the beast, by step and quick of sent
Drawes in the leame, and pace by pace to wynde the wayes hee went,
With nose to soyle doth hunt, while he the Boare aloofe hath founde
Farre of by sent, he yet refraynes and wanders through the grounde
With silent mouth: but when at hand he once perceiues the pray,
With all the strength he hath he striues, with voyce and calls away
His lingring maister, and from him by force out breaketh hee.
When Ire doth hope the present bloud, it may not hydden bee.
Yet let it hydden be. beholde with vgly hayre to sight
How yrkesomely deform'de with filthe his fowlest face is dight,
How lothsome lyes his Bearde vnkempt: but let vs friendship fayne.
To see my brother me delights: geue now to me agayne
Embracing long desyred for: what euer stryfe there was
Before this time betwene vs twayne, forget and let it pas:
Fro this day forth let brothers loue, let bloud, and lawe of kinde
Regarded be, let all debate be slakte in eythers mynde.
Thy.
Both him, and eke of hated stocke with him the ofspryng all,
About the fathers syde I see: and nowe in saufety stands
And surest ground my wrathfull hate: nowe comes into my hands
At length Thyestes: yea hee comes and all at once to mee.
I scant refrayne my selfe, and scant may anger brydled bee.
So when the Bloudhound seekes the beast, by step and quick of sent
Drawes in the leame, and pace by pace to wynde the wayes hee went,
With nose to soyle doth hunt, while he the Boare aloofe hath founde
Farre of by sent, he yet refraynes and wanders through the grounde
With silent mouth: but when at hand he once perceiues the pray,
With all the strength he hath he striues, with voyce and calls away
His lingring maister, and from him by force out breaketh hee.
When Ire doth hope the present bloud, it may not hydden bee.
Yet let it hydden be. beholde with vgly hayre to sight
How yrkesomely deform'de with filthe his fowlest face is dight,
How lothsome lyes his Bearde vnkempt: but let vs friendship fayne.
To see my brother me delights: geue now to me agayne
Embracing long desyred for: what euer stryfe there was
Before this time betwene vs twayne, forget and let it pas:
Fro this day forth let brothers loue, let bloud, and lawe of kinde
Regarded be, let all debate be slakte in eythers mynde.
I coulde excuse my selfe, except thou wert as now thou art.
But (Atreus) now I graunt, the faulte was myne in euery part:
And I offended haue in all, my cause the worse to bee,
Your this dayes kindnes makes: in deede a guilty wight is hee,
[29]
But now with teares I must entreate, and first I me submit.
These handes that at thy feete doe lye, doe thee beseeche and pray,
That yre and hate be layde aside, and from thy bosome may
Be scraped out: and cleere forgot for pledges take thou these
O brother deere, these guiltles babes.
Atr.
thy hands yet from my kneese
Remoue, and rather me to take in armes, vpon me fall
And yee Daydes of elders age, yee litle infants all.
Mee clyp and coll about the necke: this fowle attyre forsake,
And spare myne eyes that pity it, and fresher vesture take
Lyke myne to see. and you with ioy, the halfe of emperie
Deere brother take: the greater prayse shall come to mee thereby,
Our fathers seate to yelde to you, and brother to relieue.
To haue a kingdome is but chaunce, but vertue it to geeue.
Thy.
I iust reward for such deserts, the Gods (O brother deare)
Repay to thee: but on my head a regall crowne to weare,
My lothsome lyfe denyes: and farre doth from the sceptor flee
My hand vnhappy: in the mydst let leefull be for mee
Of men to lurke.
Atre.
this kingdome can with twayne full well agree.
Thy.
What euer is (O brother) yours, I count it myne to bee.
Atr.
Who would dame fortunes gifts refuse, if shee him rayse to raigne?
Thy.
The gyfts of hir eche man it wotes, how soone they passe againe.
Atr.
Yee me depryue of glory great, except yee th'empyre take.
Thy.
You haue your prayse in offring it, and I it to forsake.
And full perswaded to refuse the kingdome, am I still.
Atre.
Except your part yee will susteine myne owne forsake I will.
Thy.
I take it then. and beare I will the name there of alone:
The ryghts and armes, as well as myne they shall be yours eche one.
Atre.
The regall crowne as you beseemes vpon your head then take:
And I th'appoyncted sacrifice for Gods, will now goe make.
| Hercules Furens, Thyestes, Troas | |