University of Virginia Library

Hyllus. Alcmena. Hercules.
AL.
O noble Impe of Hercules, (alas) my Nephew deare,
That dost of wretched Alcmens Sonne the liuely feature beare.
Refrayne my chylde thy wayling woordes, this quiet sleepe perhap
Will ouercome these plonging fits. But loe! loe in my lap.
Hee doth begin to striue agayne, his fits begin a fresh.
Sleepe gieuing vp the feeble ghost to ranckle in the flesh.

HE.
What meaneth Thrachin craggy crest to shew before myne eyes?
Or now forsaking man am I aduaunst aboue the skies.
Why do the heauens prouyde for me? the father Ioue I see,
And eake my stepdame Iuno dire appeased now with me.
What heauenly harmony is this that soundeth in myne eare.
Dame Iuno calles me sonne in law, I se the pallace cleare
(Of christal skies and beaten rakes of Phœbus flaming wheele)
I see the dumpish moary denne of glowming lady night
Here he commaundeth darknes dim to shew it self in sight.
What meaneth this, who is it that the heauens agaynst me sparres?
And am I thus O father myne brought downe againe from starres.
Euen now Apolloës sowltring car did fume about my face
So nie I past the pinch of Death, lo Thrachin top in place
Who brought me backe to ground agayne, beneath me earst it lay
And al the world was vnder me, thou smart wert worne away,
Thou forcest me confesse the same. Ah mercy, mercy now.
In stead of farther vengeance do these humble wordes allow.
Lo Hillus, to thy mothers giftes such presentes shee preparde
Ah, might my trunchion punch her puddinges once as whilom farde
The haughty Ladye Amazon wel trounsed for her pride
On thedge of ysy Caucasus afront the mountayne syde.
O noble lady Megara were thou my wretched wyfe,
When rapt in rage of franticke fittes, I rest thee of thy life
Geue me my batt and bow in hand, my wrestes I wil imbrew.
And force ye all your brages on me with blemish blacke to rue.
Thus let of Hercules exployts a woman be the last.

Hi.
Forbeare O Syre thy hateful threates, she hath it, all is past.
The vengeance that ye seke on her already hath her spedd.
With wound receiued at your hand my mother lieth dead

Her.
(O blynded anguish: dye she should of Hercles furious hand)
Thus Licas hath his marrow lost the heate of burning brest
Wil haue me on the breathlesse coarse for to reuenge the rest
Why doth shee not yet fele her force both let her want a graue
And on her cursed flesh to feede let beastes her carkasse haue.

Hil.
The silly woman was more woe then ye that bide the smart.
Ye wil release some part hereof for pitty in your hart.
For greefe of you with her owne hande, alas her selfe she slew
Thus more then ye do aske of her, she doth her doyng rewe
Yet is it not your Wyfes misdeede that brought you to this plight.
No nor my mothers traytrous hand hath wrought this deepe deceit.
This treason Nessus did contriue whom yee did pay his hire,
With arrow shot into his Ribs for rape of Deianire.
Thus father with the Centaures bloud your shyrt was sore embrewde.
At Nessus hand the vengeaunce of your deede thus haue yee rewde.

HE.
Hee hath his will: all is dispacht, our Fates themselues display.
This is the day of death to mee. Thus earst to mee did say,
A charmed Oake, and all the wood that range with yelling noyse
Of Parnass hill the Temples shooke, and thundred out this voyce.
The dead mans hand whom thou before hast slayne,
O Hercules shall murther thee agayne.
Thou hauing mot the space of gulph and grounde,
And deapth of hell, heare shall thou bee confounde.
I therefore doe bewayle no more, such should our ending bee.
That Hercles conquerde after him no man aliue may see.
Now let mee dye a manly death, a stout and excellent,
And meete for mee: this noble day shall valiauntly bee spent.
Fell all the Timber on the grounde hew down all OEta wood.
Let coales deuower Hercules, set fyer fry his blould.
But ere I dye thou noble Impe of Pëans royall race.
This dolefull duety doe for mee: See that an whole day space,
My funerall fier flaming burne. And now my tender Hill,
The last peticion of my mouth make vnto thee I will.
Among the captiue Ladies, one there is, a noble Dame,
Of royall bloud, Euritus Chylde, Iole is her name:
Accept her to thy spousall Bed, whom victour I vnkinde
Haue trayned from her natiue home and but my heart, and mynde
Poore silly mayde I gaue her nought, and now shee shall mee lose.
Loe thus the wretched woman wailes her still encreasing woes.
But let her foster that she hath conceaued as Ioues ally,
And childe to mee bee't thyne by her that earst begot haue I:
And as for thee deare mother myne your dreary dole forgoe,
Your Hercules shall liue: doe not vayne teares on him bestowe:
My manhoode made a strumpet thought a Stepdame vnto thee,
But if that eyther Hercles byrth shewe her vnsure to bee,
Or be a man my sier or els be falsified my kin.
Now let Ioues iugling cease, and let my mothers slaunder lin,
I haue deserued a father well that haue aduaunst so hye
The glory of the rolling heauens, of nature tramde was I.
To worke the wondrous prayse of Ioue, and Ioue him selfe doth Ioy,
To haue the name of Hercules, begetting such a boy.
But pardon now my strayned teares, but you as Ioue his niece.
Shall as a stately matrone bee among the Dames of Greece.
Though Iuno with the thunderer in spousall chamber lyes
And in her heauenly hand doth weilde the scepter of the skies,
When euer bare shee such a Babe, and yet though heauen she hould
In heart agaynst a mortall man she fosters mallice oulde;
For spighte that borne of womans womb becounted thus I should.
Goe Titan goe, run out thy Race, thee onely I forsake.
I that went with thee foote by foote nowe to th'infernall lake,
And Ghostes, I go yet with this prayse to'th pit down will I passe
That Hercules of open foe yet neuer foyled was.
But hee in open combats brought his conquests all to passe.