University of Virginia Library

The .viij. Epistle.

Hermione to Orestes.

To him that both my spouse of late
and brother was I wright:
My brother now, for of my spouse
another hath the right.
That Pyrrhus, that Achylles steps
for courage doth ensue:
Gainst law and right hath closde me vp
and keepes me fast in mue:
As much as lay in me to doe
I stoutly did withstande:
But I could doe no more than might
a weake and womans hande.
What dost thou (Pyrrhus) now quoth I?
will none reuenged bee
Thinkst thou? I am but as a May-
den seruant vnto thee.
He deffer than the ruthlesse waues
when I (Orestes) caulde:
Me by the locks with cruell hande
into his Cabbin haulde.
If Troian Dames me thrall had tane
or Lacedemon wonne:
I should no worse haue bene abusde
than now by Achylls sonne.
More friendly founde Andromache
Achaias famous soyle:
When with the gastly Greecian flame
the Troian welth did broyle.
But oh Orestes (if to mee
thou haue respect at all)
Lay hands on that which is thine owne,
and to thy bootie fall.
What? if by falshoode from thy folde
thy flock be borne away,
Wilt thou take armes? and for thy spouse
to fight in fielde wilt stay:
Let Menelaus myrrour bee
that for his rapted wife
Did vndertake such honest warre
and stirde such stately strife.
Who if had slept and slugde at home
or loytred like an Asse:
My Dame had beene to Paris linckte
as to my Syre shee was.
Thou hast no neede a thousande ships
or bending sayles to haue,
Nor any Greekish Souldiars helpe,
thy onely ayde I craue.
Yet rather so (than not at all)
I should be fet againe:
T'is famous for a man to fight
if wedlock suffer staine.
What? was not Grandsire to vs both
Atreus king Pelops sonne?
At least thou art my brother, if
the marrige were vndonne.
I pray thee Brother helpe thy Si-
ster, husbande helpe thy Feere,
A dubble title will procure
thee in my cause to steere.
My Grandsire for his aged yeares
and wisdome passing graue,
(Who of his Neece had all the rule)
mee to Orestes gaue:
To Pyrrhus not acquainted with
the match, my father vowde:
But most of both my Grandsires deade
as ealdste should be allowde.
When I with thee conioynde, I wrongde
none by my spousall right
But if I lincke with Pyrrhus, then
from thee I am not quight.
My father Menelaus will
wincke at my fact I knowe:
For cause himselfe hath felt the force
of winged Cupids bowe.
That will he graunt his sonne in lawe
which he himselfe hath looude:
My Dames example aydes my case
that Venus sportes hath prooude.
Looke what my Syre is to my Dame,
euen that art thou to mee:
The slipper practise Paris playde,
with Pyrrhus doth agree.
And he is stoute and stately for
the factes his Syre hath donne:
So thou mayst bragge and boast vpon
the spoyles thy father wonne.
Who all the troupe of Tantals traine,
Achylles eke did leade:
A chieftaine he among the Dukes,
a Souldier stout at neade.
Thy Grandsire great king Pelops was,
and Pelops worthie Sire,
And if thou coumpt aright from Ioue
thou art the fift esquire.
Thy manhoode is well knowne ynough,
thou foughtste I wote well whan:
But what shouldst thou doe in that case?
thy mother slue the man.
Would God vpon a better cause
thy stoutnesse had beene wrought:
Yet dare I vaunt the cause was giuen
to thee, and neuer sought.
But thou didst bring it to effect
that Ægythe did with gore
Of gaping wounde defile the floure
as had thy Syre before.
And therefore Pyrrhus often prates,
and to reproch doth wrye
Thy earned prayse, and yet endures
my presence with his eye.
I fret, and as my face doth puffe,
so swelles mine inwarde minde:
And burning breast with silent flame
of dolor scorcht I finde.
Before Hermions face imbray-
ded should Orestes bee?
I want but force and brainsick blade
to be reuengde for thee.
But weepe and wayle I may my fill
which lessens part of woe:
And downe on eyther side my face
my teares as conduites floe.
Them onely to commaunde I haue
and out I poure them still:
Alongst my stayned cheekes eche houre
the welling teares doe trill.
This fortune followes all our race
and to our age is brought.
And all that are of Tantals line
a seemely rape are thought.
I will not here alleadge the lyes
of false and fayned Swanne:
Ne yet complaine that Ioue in plume
did lurck both God and manne.
Where Isthmos streatching out at length
two Seas did so deuide:
Hippodamie on waxen wheeles
and counterfait cart did ride.
Faire Helen once conuaide away
by craftie Theseus traine,
By Castor and sir Pollux was
in fine restorde againe.
The selfesame Ladie through the Seas
by Troian guest was brought:
For whome the noble Greekish Peeres
in wreakefull maner fought.
I scarce remembred, yet I minde
how tho the people wept,
In mournefull moode: and dismoll dreade
into their hearts it crept.
The Gransire gronde, the sister sobde,
the brothers gan to broyle:
Lamenting Leda with the Gods
and Ioue did keepe a coyle.
And I with locks not long as then
rent all about my hed
Exclamde, O mother leauste me thus?
and from thy childe art fled?
(For then hir husbande was a lacke.)
and least I shoulde be sed
No Impe of Pelops broode, I am
a praye by Pyrrhus led.
O that Achylles had bene free
and scapte Apollos bowe:
Then woulde he blame the beastly rage
of Pyrrhus pride I knowe.
It neuer pleasde, ne now would lyke
Achylles, if he liude,
To heare a wifebounde Wight lament
of lyked looue depriude.
What guilt of mine hath made the Gods
and heauenly powres so rage?
What cursed starre might I accuse
to gouerne this my age?
My dame I was bereft in youth,
my father waged warre:
And though they both did liue, yet I
from them was kept a farre.
Not I to thee in tender yeares,
nor Cradell clowtes did crye
Deare mother mine: nor from my lippes
the lisping wordes did flye.
Ne did I with my pliaunt armes,
thy seemely neck enfolde:
Nor thou vpon thy louing lap
thy babling Brat didst holde.
No carke of clothing me, ne care
did pierce thy pensiue brest:
Ne didst thou cause a marrige bed
for Bridewife to be drest.
But when thou didst returne againe
(the troth I not denie)
I met thee, but my Mothers face
I could not then descrie.
But for thy beautie did surpasse,
for Helen thee I tooke:
And thou didst make enquirie then,
and for thy daughter looke:
Good hap in one respect I had,
that Oreste was my Make:
But he vnlesse he fight it out
Hermion must forsake.
Me Pyrrhus as a Uassell keepes
though Victor be my Sire:
This goodly guerdon haue I gainde
for Troie burnt with fire.
When golden Titan ginnes to guide
his glistring steades by day,
Then I (vnhappie wenche) some ease
of pensiue paine assay.
No sooner blackfaste night doth growe,
in howling sort I hie
Unto my cankred-carefull couche
appointed there to lie.
In place of sweete and slumbring sleepe
mine eies with teares doe floe:
And from the man in all post haste
I flee as from a foe.
Oft times mishaps doe make me muse,
vnmindefull of my case
I touch with hand proud Pyrrhus parts
vnwitting of the place.
I leaue to touch the man as soone
as euer I know the fact:
And thinke my handes polluted straight
with such a shamefull act.
Oft times for Neoptolems name
Orestes doe I call:
And loue the errour of my tongue,
right well content withall
I sweare by this vnluckie lyne
and Lord of all the race,
That land and seas yea haughtie skies
afrayes with frowning face:
And by the bones of him that was
mine Uncle and thy Sire:
Who owes thee for reuenge of those
that did his death conspire:
Or I will in these flowring yeares
abandon lothsome life:
Or I (that came of Tantals broode)
will be Orestes wife.