University of Virginia Library

Scena prima.

Viden. Ferrex.
Viden.
The silent night that bringes the quiet pawse,
From painefull trauailes of the wearie Daie:
Prolonges my carefull thoughtes and makes me blame
The slowe Aurore that so for loue or shame
Doth longe delaye to shewe her blusshing face,
And nowe the Daie renewes my griefull plainte.

Ferrex.
My gracious Lady and mother deare,
Pardon my griefe, for your so grieued minde
To aske what cause tormenteth so your harte.

Viden.
So great a wronge and so vniust despite,
Without all cause against all course of kinde.

Ferrex.
Suche causeles wronge and so vniust despite,
Maye haue redresse, or at the least reuenge.

Viden.
Neither my Sonne, suche is the frowarde will,
The person suche, suche my mishap and thyne.

Ferrex.
Myne know I none, but griefe for your distresse:

Viden.
Yes: myne for thyne my sonne: A father? no:
In kynde a Father, but not in kyndlynes.

Ferrex.
My Father: whie? I knowe nothynge at all,
Wherin I haue misdone vnto his Grace.

Viden.
Therfore, the more vnkinde to thee and mee.
For knowynge well (my sonne) the tendre loue
That I haue euer borne and beare to thee,
He greued therat, is not content alone,
To spoyle thee of my sight my chiefest Ioye,
But thee, of thy birth, right and Heritage
Causeles, vnkindly and in wrongfull wise,
Against all Lawe and right he will bereaue,
Halfe of his kyngdome he will geue awaye.

Ferrex.
To whome?

Viden.
Euen to Porrex his younger sonne
Whose growinge Pride I do so sore suspecte,
That beynge raysed to equall Rule with thee,
Mee thinkes I see his enuious harte to swell
Fyllde with Disdaine and with ambicious Pride
The ende the Goddes do know, whose Aulters I
Full oft haue made in vaine of Cattell slayne,
To sende the sacred smoke to Heauens Throne,
For thee my sonne if thinges so succede,
As nowe my Ielious minde misdemeth sore.

Ferrex.
Madame leaue care and carefull plaint for me.
Iust hath my Father ben to euery wight,
His firste vniustice he will not extende
To me I truste, that geue no cause therof,
My brothers pride shall hurt him selfe, not mee.

Viden.
So graunt the Goddes: But yet thy father so
Hath firmely fixed his vnmoued mynde
That plaints & praiers can no whit auaile,
For those haue I assaied, but euen this daie,
He wyll endeuour to procure assent
Of all his Counsell to his fonde deuise.

Ferrex.
Their Auncestours from race to race haue borne
True fayth to my forefathers and their seede,
I truste thei eke wyll beare the lyke to me.

Viden.
There resteth all, but if they fayle therof,
And if the ende bringe forth an euyll successe
On them and theirs the mischiefe shall befall,
And so I praie the Goddes requite it them,
And so they will, for so is wont to bee
When Lordes and trusted Rulers vnder kynges
To please the present fancie of the Prince,
With wrong transpose the course of gouernaunce
Murders, mischiefe, or ciuyll sworde at length,
Or mutuall treason, or a iust reuenge,
When right succedinge Line returnes againe
By Ioues iust Iudgement and deserued wrathe
Bringes them to ciuill and reprochefull death,
And rootes their names & kindredes frō the earth.

Ferrex.
Mother content you, you shall see the ende.

Viden.
The ende? thie ende I feare, Ioue ende me first.