University of Virginia Library

Actus primus

Scœna prima.

Enter King Priamus, Queene Hecuba, Hector, Troilus, Æneas, Deiphobus, &c.
Priamus.
Princes and Sonnes of Priam, to this end
Wee cal'd you to this solemne Parleance.
There's a deuining spirit prompts mee still.
That if we new begin Hostility,
The Grecians may be forc't to make repayre
Of our twice ruin'd walls, and of the rape
Done to our sister faire Hesione.

Æneas.
I am my princely Soueraigne of your minde,
And can by grounded arguments approoue
Your power and potency: what they twice demolish't,
Is now with strength and beauty rear'd againe.
Your Kingdome growne more populous and rich,
The youth of Troy irregular and vntam'd,
Couetous of warre and martiall exercise.
From you and siluer tressed Hecuba
Fifty faire sonnes are lineally deriu'd,
All Asiaes Kings are in your loue and league,
Their royalties as of your Empire held.
Hector and Hectors brothers are of power
To fetch your sister from the heart of Greece,
Where she remaines imbrac't by Telamon.

Pria.
Æneas, your aduise assents with vs.
How stand our sonnes vnto these wars inclin'd?

Hect.
In mine opinion we haue no iust cause
To rayse new tumults, that may liue in peace:
Warre is a fury quickly coniured vp,
But not so soone appeased.

Par.
What iuster cause
When the whole world takes note to our disgrace,
Of this our Troy, twice rac't by Hercules.

Troy.
And faire Hesione rapt hence to Greece,
Where she still liues coopt vp in Salamine.

Hect.
Troy, was twice rac't, and Troy deseru'd that wracke,
The valiant (halfe Diuine bred) Hercules,
Redeem'd this Towne from blacke mortality,
And my bright Aunt from death, when he surcharg'd
The virgin fedde, Sea-monster with his club.
For my owne Grand-sire great Laomedon,
Denied the Heroe, both the meede propos'd,
And most (ingratefull) shut him from the Gates:
Troy therefore drew iust ruine on itselfe:
Tis true, our Aunt was borne away to Greece,
Who with more iustice might transport her hence,
Then he whose prise she was? bold Telamon
For ventring first vpon the wals of Troy,
Alcides gaue her to the Salmine Duke.
Detayning her? whom keepes he but his owne?
Were she my prisoner I should do the like.
By Ioue she's worth the keeping.

Par.
Then of force,
Shee must be worth the fetching.

Hect.
Fetch her that list: my reuerent King and father,
If you pursue this expedition,
By the vntaunted honor of these armes
That liue imblazon'd on my burnish't shield,
It is without good cause, and I deuine
Of all your flourishing liue, by which the Gods
haue rectified your fame aboue all Kings,
Not one shal liue to meate your Sepulchre,
Or trace your funerall Heralds to the Tombes
Of your great Aucestours: oh for your honour
Take not vp vniust Armes.

Æne.
Prince Hectors words
Will draw on him the imputation
Of feare and cowardesie.

Troi.
Fie brother Hector,
If our Aunts rape, and Troyes destruction
Bee not reueng'd, their seuerall blemishes
The aged hand of Time can neuer wipe
From our succession.
'Twill be registred
That all King Priams sonnes saue one were willing
And forward to reuenge them on the Greekes,
Onely that Hector durst not.

Hect.
Ha, durst not didst thou say? effeminate boy,
Go get you to your Sheepe-hooke and your Scrip,
Thou look'st not like a Souldier, there's no fire
Within thine eyes, nor quills vpon thy chinne,
Tell me I dare not? go, rise, get you gone:
Th'art fitter for young Cenons company
Then for a bench of souldiers: here comes one,
Antenor is returned.

Enter Antenor.
Pri.
Welcome Antenor, what's the newes from Greece?

Ante.
Newes of dishonour to the name of Priam,
Your Hignesse Sister faire Hesiones
Esteem'd there as a strumpet, and no Queene;
(After complaint) when I propos'd your Maiesty
would fetch her thence perforce, had you but seene
With what disdainefull pride, and bitter taunts
They tost my threats: 'twould haue inflam'd your spleene
With more then common rage, neuer was Princesse
So basely vs'd: neuer Embassadour
With such dishonour sent from Princes Court,
As was then from that of Telamons,
Of Agamemnons and the Spartan Kings.

Priam.
I shall not dye in peace, if these disgraces
Liue vnreueng'd.

Hect.
By Ioue wee'le fetch her thence,
Or make all populous Greece a Wildernesse,
Paris a hand, wee are friends, now Greece shall finde
And thou shalt know what mighty Hector dares.
When all th'vnited Kings in Armes shall rue
This base dishonour done to Priams blood.

Par.
Heare Gracious sir, my dreame in Ida Mount,
Beneath the shadow of a Cedar sleeping.
Celestiall Iuno, Venus, and the Goddesse
Borne from the braine of mighty Iupiter.
These three present me with a golden Ball,
On which was writ, Detur pulcherrimæ,
Giue't to the fairest: Iuno proffers wealth,
Scepters and Crownes: saith, she will make me rich.
Next steps forth Pallas with a golden Booke,
Saith, reach it me, I'le teach the Litterature,
Knowledge and Arts, make thee of all most wise.
Next smiling Venus came, with such a looke
Able to raiush mankinde: thus bespake mee,
Make that Ball mine? the fairest Queene that breathes,
I'le in requitall, cast into thine armes.
How can I stand against her golden smiles,
When beautie promist beauty? shee preuayl'd:
To her I gaue the prise, with which shee mounted
Like to a Starre from earth shott vp to Heauen.
Now if in Greece (as some report) be Ladies
Peerelesse for beauty, wherefore might not Paris
By Venus ayde sayle hence to Grecia,
And quit the rape of faire Hesione,
By stealing thence the Queene most beautifull,
That feedes vpon the honey of that ayre?

Pri.
That amorous Goddesse borne vpon the waues
Assist thee in thy voyage, we will rigge
A royall fleete to waft thee into Greece.
Æneas with our sonne Deiphobus,
And other Lords shall beare thee company.
What thinke our sonnes Hector and Troylus
Of Paris expedition?

Hect.
As an attempt the Heauens haue cause to prosper.
Go brother Paris, if thou bring'st a Queene,
Hector will be her Champion; then let's see
What Greeke dare fetch her hence.

Pri.
Sraight giue order
To haue his Fleet made ready.

Enter Cassandra with her haire about her eares.
Cassan.
Stay Priam, Paris cease, stay Troian Peeres
To plot your vniuersall ouerthrow.
What hath poore Troy deseru'd, that you should kindle
Flames to destroy it?

Pa.
What intends Cassandra?

Cass.
To quench bright burning Troy, to secure thee,
To saue old Priam and his fifty sonnes.
(The royal'st issue, that e're King I enioy'de)
To keepe the reuerent haires of Hecuba,
From being torne off by her owne sad hands.

Pri.
Cassandra's madde.

Cass.
You are mad, all Troy is madde.
And railes before it's ruine.

Hect.
What would my sister?

Cass.
Stay this bold youth my brother, who by water
Would sayle to bring fire which shall burne all Troy.
Stay him, oh stay him, ere their golden roofes
Melt o're our heads before these glorious Turrets
Bee burnt to ashes. Ere cleare Simois streames
Runne with bloud royall, and Scamander Plaine,
In which Troy stancis bee made a Sepulchre
To bury Troy, and Troians.

Pri.
Away with her, some false deuining spirit
Enuying the honour we shall gaine from Greece,
Would trouble our designements.

Hect.
Royall sir,
Cassandra is a Vestall Prophetesse,
And consecrate to Pallas; oft inspir'd,
Then lend her gracious audience.

Troil.
So let our Aunt
Bee still a slaue in Greece, and wee your sonnes
Bee held as cowards.

Æne.
Let Antenors wrongs
Bee basely swallowed, and the name of Troy
Be held a word of scorne.

Cass.
Then let Troy burne,
Let the Greekes clap their hands, and warme themselues
At this bright Bone-fire: dream'd not Hecuba
The night before this fatall Youth was borne,
That shee brought forth a fire-brand?

Hecu.
'Tis most true.

Cass.
And when King Priam to the Preist reueal'd
This ominous dreame, hee with the Gods consulted,
And from the Oracle did this returne,
That the Childe borne should stately Islion burne.

Par.
And well the Prophet guest, for my desire
To visit Greece, burnes with a quenchlesse fire:
Nor from this flaming brand shall I be free,
Till I haue left rich Troy, and Sparta see.

Cass.
Yet Hecuba, ere thou thy Priam loose,
And Priam ere thou loose thy Hecuba,

Pri.
Away with her.

Cass.
Why speakes not in this case Andromache?
Thou shalt loose a Hector, who's yet thine.
Why good Æneas dost thou speech forbeare?
Thou hop'st in time another Troy to reare,
When this is sackt, and therefore thou standst mute,
All strooke with silence; none assist my suite.

Pri.
Force her away and lay her fast in hold.

Cass.
Then Troy, no Troy, but ashes; and a place
Where once a Citty stood: poore Priam, thou
That shalt leaue fatherlesse fifty faire sonnes,
And this thy fruitfull Queene, a desolate widdow,
And Ilium now no Pallace for a King,
But a confused heape of twice burnt bricke.
They that thy beauty wondred, shall admire
To see thy Towers defac'd with Greekish fire.

Exit.
Pri.
Thou art no Sibill, but from fury speak'st,
Not inspiration we reguard thee not.
Come valiant sonnes, wee'le first prepare our ships,
And with a royall Fleete well rigg'd to sea
Seeke iust reuenge for faire Hestone.

Exeunt omnes, manet Paris, to him Oenon who in his goign out plucks her backe.
Oen.
Know you not mee?

Par.
Who art thou?

Oen.
View mee well.
And what I am, my lookes and teares will teach thee.

Par.
Oenon? what brought thee hither?

Oen.
To see Ida bare
Of her tall Cedars, to see shipwrights square
The trunks of new feld Pines: Asking the cause,
So many Hatchets, Hammers, Plowes and Sawes
Were thither brought: They gan mee thus to greete,
With these tall Cedars we must build a fleete
For Paris; who in that must sayle to Greece,
To fetch a new wife thence.

Par.
And my faire Oenon,
Know that they told truth, for 'tis decreed
Euen by the Gods behest, that I should speed
Vpon this new aduenture: The Gods all,
That made mee iudge to giue the golden Ball.
Harke, harke, the Saylers cry aboard, aboard;
The Winde blowes faire, fare-well.

Oenon.
Heare me one word.
By our first loue, by all our amorous kisses,
Courtings, imbraces, and ten thousand blesses
I coniure thee, that thou in Troy may'st stay.

Par.
They cry aboard, and Paris must away.

Oen.
What need'st thou plowe the seas to seeke a wife,
Hauing one here, to hazard thy sweete life,
Seeking a Strumpet through warres fierce alarmes,
And haue so kind a wife lodg'd in thine armes.

Par.
Sweete Oenon, stay me not, vnclaspe thine hold.

Oen.
Not for Troyes crowne or all the Sun-gods Gold.
Canst thou? oh canst thou thy sweete life indanger,
And leaue thine owne wife to seeke out a stranger?

Pa.
I can, farewell.

Oen.
Oh yet a little stay.

Pa.
Let go thine hold, or I shall force my way.

Oen.
Oh do but looke on me, yet once againe.
Though now a Prince, thou wast an humble swaine,
And then I was thine Oenon. (Oh sad fate)
I craue thy loue, I couet not thy state;
Still I am Oenon: still thou Paris art
The selfe-same man, but not the selfe-same heart:

Par.
Vatie, or I shall breake thy charming band,
Neptune assist my course: thou Ioue my hand.

Exit.
Oen.
Most cruell, most vnkind, hadst thou thus said
The night before thou hadst my Maiden-head,
I had beene free to chuse, and thou to wiue;
Not widdowed now, my husband still aliue.

Enter King Menelaus, King Diomed, Thersites, a Lord Embassadour with Attendants.
Mene.
King Diomed. Sparta is proud to see you,
Your comming at this time's more seasonable,
In that wee haue imployment for your wisedome
And royall valour.

Diom.
The Chritian Scepter now in contrauersie
(As this Embassadour hath late inform'd)
Despising that vsurping hand, which long
Hath against Law and Iustice swayd and borne it,
Offers it selfe to your protection.
Is it not so my Lord?

Embassa.
You truely vnderstand our Embasie.

Ther.
Menelaus!

Mene.
What saith Thersites?

Ther.
That Heauen hath many Starres in't, but no eyes,
And cannot see desert. The Goddesse Fortune
Is head-winkt, why else should she proffer thee
Another Crowne that hath one: (Grand Sir Ioue)
What a huge heape of businesse shalt thou haue,
Hauing another Kingdome? being in Creete,
Sparta will go to wracke, being in Sparta,
Creete will to ruine: To haue more then these
Such a bright Lasse as Hellen: Hellen? oh!
'Must haue an eye to her too, fie, fie, fie,
Poore man how thou'lt bee pufl'd!

Mene.
Why thinkes Thersites my bright Hellens beauty
Is not with her faire vertues equaliz'd?

Ther.
Yes, I thinke so, and Hellen is an asse,
But thou beleeu'st so too.

Diom.
Thersites is a rayler.

Ther.
No, I disclaim't, I am a Counsellor
I haue knowne a fellow matcht to a faire wife,
That hath had ne're a Kingdome: thou hast two
To looke to, (searce a house) thou many Pallaces,
Hee scarce a Page, and thou a thousand seruants:
Yet hee hauing no more, yet had too much
To looke to one faire wife.

Diom.
Were not the King
Well grounded in the vertues of his Queene,
Thy words Thersites might set odds betwixt them.

Mene.
My Hellen? therein am I happiest.
Know Diomed, her beauty I preferre
Before the Crownes of Sparta, and of Creete.
Musicke within.
Musicke! I know my Lady then is comming,
To giue kind welcome to King Diomed,
Strowe in her way sweete powders, burne Perfume,
And where my Hellen treads no feete presume.

Ther.
'Twere better strowe horne-shauings.

Enter Hellen with waiting Gentlewomen and Seruants.
Hel.
'Tis told vs this Embassadour doth stay
To take my husband, my deare Lord away.

Men.
True Hellen, 'tis a Kingdome calls me hence.

Hel.
A Kingdome! hath your Hellen such small grace,
That you preferre a Kingdome 'fore her face?
You value me too cheape, and doe not know
The worth and value of the face you owe.

Ther.
I had rather haue a good Calues face.

Hess.
Theseus, that in my non-age did assaile mee,
And being too young for pastime, thence did haile me:
Hee, to haue had the least part of your blisse
Oft proffered mee a Kingdome for a kisse.
You surfeit in your pleasures, swimme in sport,
But sir, from henceforth I shall keepe you short.

Dio.
Faire Queene, 'tis honour calls him hence away.

Hel.
What's that to Hellen, if shee'le haue him stay?
Say I should weepe at parting, (which I feare)
Some for ten Kingdomes would not haue a teare
Fall from his Hellens eye, but hee's vnkind,
And cares not though I weepe my bright eyes blind.

Enter a Spartan Lord.
Sp. L.
Great King, we haue discouer'd from the shoare
A gallant Fleete of ships, that with full sayle
Make towards the Port.

Mene.
What number?

Sp. L.
Some two and twenty Sayle.

Men.

Discouer them more amply, and make good the Hauen
against them, till we know th'intent of their arriue.

Sp. L.
My Royall Lord I shall.

Men.
Embassadour this busines once blowne o're,
You shall receiue your answer instantly.

Hel.
You shall not goe and leaue your Hellen here,
Can I a Kingdome gouerne in your absence,
And guide so rude a people as yours is?
How shall I doe my Lord, when you are gone,
So many bleake cold nights to lye alone?
Y'haue vs'd mee so to fellowship in bed,
That should I leaue it, I should soone be dead:
Troth I shall neuer indure it.

Men.
My sweete Hellen,
Was neuer King blest with so chaste a wife.

Enter the Spartan Lord.
Men.
The newes? whence is their Fleete?

Sp. L.
From Troy.

Men.
The Generall?

Sp. L.
Priams sonne.

Men.
Their expedition?

Sp. L.
To seeke aduentures and strange Lands abroad,
And though now weather-beat, yet brauer men,
More rich in Iewells, costlier araide,
Or better featur'd ne're eye beheld,
Especially the Prince their Generall,
Paris of Troy one of King Priams sonnes.

Hel.
Brauer then these our Lacedemons are?

Sp. L.
Madam, by much.

Hel.
How is the Prince of Troy
To Menelaus mighty Spartans King?

Sp. L.
Prince Menelaus is my Soueraigne Madam,
But might I freely speake without offence,
(Excepting Menelaus) neuer breath'd
A brauer Gallant then the Troian Prince.

Men.
What Intertainment shall wee giue these strangers?

Hel.
What? but the choyce that Lacedemon yeelds,
If they come braue, our brauery let vs show,
That what our Sparta yeelds, their Troy may know:
Let them not say they found vs poore and bare.
Or that our Grecian Ladies are lesse faire
Then theirs: giue them occasion to relate
At their returne, how wee exceede their state.

Mene.
Hellen hath well aduis'd, and for the best
Her counsell with our honour doth agree,
All Spartaes pompe is for the Troians free.

Hell.
Oh had I known their Landing one day sooner,
That Hellen might haue trim'd vp her attire
Against this meeting, then my radiant beauty
I doubt not, might in Troy be tearm'd as faire,
As through all Greece I am reputed rare.

A flourish. Enter Paris, Æneas, Deiphobus, Antenor, Menelaus and Diomed embrace Paris and the rest: Paris turnes from them and kisseth Hellen, all way shee with her hand puts him backe.
Hell.
'Tis not the Spartan fashion thus to greet
Vpon the lips, when royall strangers meete.
I know not what your Asian Court-ship is.
Oh Ioue, how sweetely doth this Troian kisse?

Par.
Beare with a stranger Lady, though vnknowne;
That's practis'd in no fashion saue his owne.
Hee that his fault confesseth ne're offends,
Nor can hee iniure, that no wrong intends,

Hell.
To kisse mee! why before so many eyes
The King could do no more: would fortune bring
This stranger there where I haue met the King,

Mene.
Patience, sweet Hellen, Troians welcome all,
You shall receiue the princeliest entertaine
Sparta can yeeld you, but some late affaires
About the Cretan scepter calls vs hence,
That businesse once determin'd wee are yours,
In the meane time faire Hellen bee't your charge
To make their welcome in my absence large.

They all goe off with a flourish, onely Paris and Hellen keepe the Stage.
Par.
Oh Ioue my dreame! sweete Venus ayde my prayer,
And keepe thy word: behold a face more faire
Then thou thy selfe canst shewe, this is the same
Thou promist me in Ida, this I claime.
Giue me this face faire Uenus, and that's all
I'le aske in guerdon of the golden Ball.

Hel.
Of what rare mettall is this Troian made?
That one poore kisse hath power so to perswade,
Here at my lips the sweetnesse did beginne,
And since hath past through all my powers within:
Oh kisse mee if thou lou'st me once againe,
I feele the first kisse thrill through euery veine.

Par.
Queene I must speake with you,

Hell.
Must?

Par.
Hellen, I,
I haue but two wayes to take, to speake, or dye:
Grant my tongue pardon then, or turne your head
And say you will not, and so strike me dead.

Hel.
Liue and say on, but if your words offend,
If my tongue can destroy, you're neare your end.

Par.
Oh Ioue, that I had now an Angels voyce
As you an Angels shape haue, that my words
Might sound as spheare-like musicke in your eare.
That Ioue himselfe whom I must call to witnesse,
Would now stand forth in person to approoue
What I now speake, Hellen, Hellen I loue.
Chide mee, I care not; tell, your husband, doe,
Fearelesse of death, behold, I boldly woe,
For let mee liue, bright Hellen to inioy,
Or let mee neuer backe resayle to Troy:
For you I came, your fame hath hither driuen mee,
Whom golden Venus hath by promise giuen mee.
I lou'd you ere I saw you by your fame,
Report of your rare beauty to Troy came.
But more then bruite can tell, or fame emblazon
Are these diuine perfections that I gaze on.

Hel.
Insolent stranger, is my Name so light
Abroad in Troy, that thou at the first sight
Shouldst hope to strumpet vs? thinks Priams sonne,
The Spartan Queene can be so easily wonne?
Because once Theseus rauisht vs from hence,
And did to vs a kind of violence:
Followes it therefore wee are of such price,
That stolne hence once, we should be rauish't twice?

Par.
That Theseus stole you hence (by Heauen) I praise him,
And for that act I to the skies will raise him.
That hee return'd you backe by Ioue I wonder,
Had I beene Theseus, hee that should asunder
Haue parted vs, and snatcht you from my bed:
First from my should shoulders haue tane this head.
Oh that you were the prize of some great strife,
And hee that winnes might claime you as his wife,
Your selfe should finde, and all the world should see
Hellen, a prise alone ordain'd for mee.

Hel.
I am not angry; who can angry be
With him that loues her? they that Paris see,
And heares the wonders and rare deedes you boast,
And warlike spoyles in which you glory most:
By which you haue attaind 'mongst souldiers grace,
None can beleeue you that beholds your face.
They that this louely Troian see, will say;
Hee was not made for warre, but amorous play.

Pa.
Loue amorous Paris then.

Hel.
My fame to endanger?

Par.
I can be secret Lady.

Hel.
And a stranger?
Say I should grant thee loue, as thou shouldst clime
My long wisht bed; if at th'appointed time
The Winde should alter, and blow faire for Troy,
Thou must breake off in midd'st of all thy Ioy.

Par.
Not for great Spartaes Crowne, or Asiaes Treasure,
(That exceedes Spartaes) would I loose such pleasure.

Hel.
would it were come to that.

Par.
Your Husband Menelaus hither bring,
Compare our shapes, our youth and euery thing,
I make you Iudgesse, wrong me if you can:
You needes must say I am the properer man.

Hel.
I must confesse that too.

Par.
Then loue mee Lady.

Hel.
Had you then sett sayle,
When my virginity, and bed to enioy
A thousand gallant princely Suiters came?
Had I beheld thee first, I here proclaime,
Your feature should haue borne mee from the rest.
You come too late, and couet goods possest.

Par.
I came from Hellen, Hellens loue I craue,
Hellen I loue, and Hellen I must haue:
Or in this Prouince where I vent my mones,
I'le begge a Tombe for my exiled bones.

A flourish. Enter. Menelaus, Diomed, Thersites with Spartan Lords: Æneas, Deiphobus, Antenor, &c.
A banquet is brought in.
Men.
Now Prince of Troy, our businesse being o're
This day in Lacedemon, you shall feast
Paris, wee are proud of such a Princely guest.

Ther.
Thus euery man is borne to his owne Fate.
Now it raines Hornes, let each man shield his Pate.

Hel.
This royalty extended to the welcome
Of Priams sonne, is more then Asiaes King
Would yeeld vnto the greatest Prince of Greece.
What is this Paris whom you honour so?

Men.
Why askes my Queene?

Hel.
May not this proud, this beauty vanting Troian,
In a smooth browe hide blacke and rugged Treason?

Men.
Hee such an one? rather a giddy braine,
A formall traueller. King Diomed
Your censure of this Troian?

Diom.
A Capring, Carpet Knight, a Cushion Lord,
One that hath stald his Courtly trickes at home,
And now got leaue to publish them abroad
Hee's a meere toy.

Men.
Thersites your opinion.

Men.
Did'st euer see wisdome thus attir'd?

Ther.
I haue knowne villany hath lookt as smooth
As yon briske fellow.

Mene.
I am a foole then say.

Ther.
And so thou art,
To hugge the Serpent fraud so neere your heart.

Men.
Shallow Thersites, my faire Prince of Troy
Welcome, come sit betwixt my Queene and mee.

Ther.
Hee'le one day stand betwixt thy Queene and thee.
I haue obseru'd, 'tis still the Cuckolds fate
To hugge that knaue who helps to horne his pate.

Men.
Fill me a standing Bowle of Greekish wine:
Prince Paris, to your Royall Fathers health.

Par.
Thankes Menelaus. Here King Diomed.

Dio.
To you Æneas.

Æne.
Thersites, 'tmust go round.

Ther.
Not I, full bowles make empty braines, not I.

Mene.
Hellen, the more to dignifie his welcome
Beginne a health to aged Hecuba.

Ther.
Men may be drunke, but hee's a drunken foole
That brings his wife vp in the Drinking-schoole:

Hel.
Prince Paris, to the reuerent Hecuba.

Par.
Will the Spartan King vouchafe the pledge of Priams Queene?

Men.
Prince Diomed, and so to you Thersites,
This health must needes passe round.

Ther.
'Twill make you all turne round before you part.

Diom.
To you Thersites.

Ther.
Tis better liue in fire, then dye in wine:
That burnes out earth, this drownes a thing diuine.
I'le scald my soule no more,

Hel.
You looke not well Prince Paris, on my life
His Colour comes and goes, are you not sicke?

Ther.
sicke! and so many healths, how can that bee?

Par.
Peace Cinicke, barke not dogge: King, by your leaue
I'le haue one health to beauteous Hellena.

Men.
It shall be pledg'd Prince Paris.

Ther.
Drinke till you all drop downe, but when you fall,
Looke that the Queene lie vnder-most of all.

Par.
I'le haue Thersites pledge this.

Ther.
I'le be no drunkard, Kings and Queene I'le rise.

Par.
Drinke this or eate my sword.

Ther.
Say so, I'le kisse the cup.

Hel.
You are not well Prince Paris, walke with mee.

Par.
With you! what you? you are the Queene of hearts.

Hel.
This Chayre serue for your bed, lye downe and sleepe.

Par.
Thankes Queene: to all good night.

Hee sleepes.
Men.
How now Thersites? this your politition?
A shallow weake braine Courtier

Dio.
Alas poore puny Prince, in troth Thersites
You were deceiu'd in him.

Ther.

I knewe hee was either a politician or a drunkard,
your younger Brothers for the most part are so.

Men.
Well my faire Queene, whil'st wee prepare for Creete,
Feast you the Prince: though his behauiour's rude,
Let vs be royall, bounty of all things
Doth best expresse the Maiesty of Kings.

Exeunt all, but Paris and Hellen, at which hee starts vp from from his Chaire and takes her by the hand.
Par.
Are they all gone? then pardon mee sweete Queene,
I was not as I seem'd, but I am now
What once I vow'd, a Prince captiu'd to you.

Hel.
No Paris no, I am the Queene of hearts.

Par.
And so you are, the Empresse of all hearts:
Celestiall Hellen, shall I bee eterniz'd
In the fruition of your heauenly loue?

Hel.
And you deserue it well: O Prince! fie, fie,
Dissemble with your friends so cunningly?

Par.
My loue faire Queene exceedes the loue of friends,
And therefore had the royall King your Husband
Exprest more loue to mee then euer Monarch
Did to a stranger Prince, it could not though
Leasen my zeale o you: speake the fayrest Queene
That euer spake, this night shall we agree
To consecrate to pleasure and delights:
Your husband left me charge I should inioy
All that the Court can yeeld: if all? then you
I would not for the world, but you should doe
All that the King your Lord commands you too:
Your King and husband, you sinne doubly still
VVhen you assent not to obay his will:
Speake beauteous Queene. No? then it may be
Shee meanes by silence to accord with me:
I'le trye that presently, lend me your hand
Tis this I want, and by the Kings command
You are to let me haue it: more then this,
I want your lips to helpe me make a kisse.

Kisseth her.
Hel.
Oh Heauen!

Par.
Oh loue, a ioy aboue all measure,
To touch these lips is more then heauenly pleasure.

Hel.
Beshrew your amorous rhetorick that did proue
My husbands will commanded me to loue,
For but for that iniunction, Paris know
I would not yeeld such fauours to bestow
On any stranger, but since he commands,
You may take more then eyther lips or hands.
Do I not blush sweete stranger? if I breake
The Lawes of modesty, thinke that I speake,
But with my husbands tongue, for I say still
I would not yeeld, but to obey his will.

Par.
This night then without all suspition,
The rauishing pleasures of your royall bed
You may affoord to Paris: bitter Thersites,
King Diomed, and your seruants may suppose
By my late counterfeite distemperature
I ayme at no such happinesse, alas
I am a puny Courtier, a weake braine,
A braine-sicke young man; but Deuinest Hellen,
VVhen we get safe to Troy.

Hel.
To Troy?

Par.
Yes Queene, by all the gods it is decreed,
That I should beare you thither; Priam knowes it,
And therefore purposely did rigge this Fleete,
To waft me hether; He and Hecuba,
My nine and forty brothers, Princes all
Of Ladies and bright Virgins infinite,
Will meete vs in the roade of Tenedos;
Then be resolu'd for I will cast a plot
To beare you safe from hence!

Hel.
This Troyan Prince
Will's more then any Prince of Greece dares pleade,
And yet I haue no power to say him nay:
VVell Paris I beshrew you with my heart,
That euer you came to Sparta (by my ioy
Queene Hellen lyes, and longs to be at Troy:)
Yet vse me as you please, you know you haue
My dearest loue, and therefore cannot craue
VVhat Ile deny; but if reproach and shame
Pursue vs, on you Paris light the blame:
Ile wash my hands of all, nor will I yeeld
But by compulsion to your least demaund:
Yet if in lieu of my Kings intertaine,
You bid me to a feast aboord your ship,
And when you haue me there, vnknowne to me
Hoyse sayle, weigh Anchor, and beare out to Sea:
I cannot helpe it, tis not in my power
To let fal sayles, or striue with stretching oares
To row me backe againe: this you may do,
But sooth friend Paris Ile not yeeld thereto.

Par.
You shalbe then compell'd, on me let all
The danger waiting on this practise fall.

Enter a Spartan Lord.
Sp. L.
Castor and Pollux your two princely brothers
Are newly Landed, and to morrow next
Purpose for Lacedemon.

Hel.
On their approach
Ile lay my plot to escape away with Paris.
I haue it: you sir for some speciall reason
There comming keepe conceal'd, but when to morrow
You shal perceiue me neere the water port,
Euen when thou seest me ready to take Parge.
You apprehend me.

Sp. L.
Gracious Queene I do.

Hel.
Take that farwel: now my fayre princely guest
All that belongs to you's to inuite Queene Hellen
Aboord your ship to morrow.

Par.
Spartaes mirrour,
Will you vouchsafe to a poore wandring Prince
So much of grace, will your high maiesty
Daigne the acceptance of an homely banquet
Aboord his weather beaten Barke?

Hel.
No Friend,
The King my husband is from Sparta gone,
And I, til his returne, must needes keepe home:
Vrge me not I intreate, it is in vaine
Get me aboord, Ile nere turne backe againe.

Par.
Nor shall you Lady, Sparta nor all Greece
Shal fetch you thence, but Troy shal stand as high
On tearmes with Greece, as Greece hath stood with Troy.

Exeunt
Enter the Spartan Lord.
Spa. L.

This is the VVater-port, the Queenes royal guest,
hath bound me to attendance, till the Prince and shee bee ready
to take VVater: Methinkes in this there should bee some tricke
or other, she was once stolne away by Theseus, and this a gallant
smooth fac'd Prince. The Kings from home, the Queenes
but a VVoman, the Troians ships new trim'd, the wind stands
fayre, and the Saylors all ready aboord, sweete meates and wine,
good words and opportunity, and indeede not what? If both
parties bee pleasde, but pleasde or not, the musicke giues warning,
are they not now vpon their entrance.

Enter in state Paris, Hellen, Diomed, Thersites, Æneas, Antenor, Deiphebus, &c. with Attendants.
Sp. L.
Health to your Maiesties, your Princely brothers
Castor and Pollux, being within two Leagues
Of this great Citty, come to visite you.

Hel.
My brothers stolne vpon vs vnawares.
Let me intreate thee royall Diomed,
And you Thersites, do me so much grace,
As giue them friendly meeting.

Diom.
Queene we shall.

Exeunt.
Hel.
Our intertainment shall be giuen aboord,
VVhere I presume, they shall be welcome guests
To princely Paris.

Pa.
As to your selfe, faire Queene,

Hel.
Set forwards then.

Pa.
We'le hoyse vp sayle, neere to returne againe.

Exeunt the Troians with a great shout.
Enter Castor, Pollux, Diomed, Thersites.
Cast.
Our brother Menelaus gone for Creete?

Pol.
Our loue to see him, makes vs loose much time:
Yet all our labour is not vainly spent,
Since we shall see our sister.

Enter the Spartan Lord in hast.
Sp. L.

Princes, the Kings betray'd, all Greece dishonoured,
the Queene borne hence, the Troians haue weigh'd anchor, and
with a prosperous gale they beare from hence:

Shouting and hurling vp their caps for ioy,
They crye farwel to Greece, amayne for Troy.

Ther.
Ha, ha, ha.

Dio.
The Queene borne hence, with that smooth traytor Paris.
See princes with what pride they haue aduanc'd
The Armes of Troy vpon their wauing pendants.

Cast.
Rage not, but lets resolue what's to be done.

Dio.
Let some ride post to Creete for Menelaus.

Sp. L.
That be my charge.

Dio.
VVho'le after him to Sea?

Pol.
That wil my brother Castor and my selfe,
And perish there, or bring my sister backe.

Dio.
Princes be't so, and fairely may you speed:
Whilst I to Agamemnon, great Achilles,
Vlysses, Nestor, Aiax, Idomean,
And all the Kings and Dukes of populous Greece,
Relate the wrongs done by this Rauisher.
Part, and be expeditious.

Exeunt seueral wayes
Ther.

Ha, ha, ha,
I smelt this Sea-rat ere he came a shoare, by this hee's gnawing
Menelaus Cheese, and made a huge hole in't a Ship-dyet pleaseth
'boue all his Pallace banquets, much good doo't them:

They are at it without grace by this both bare:
Cuckold? no subiect with that name bee sorry,
Since Soueraignes may be such in all their glory.