University of Virginia Library

Ate Prologus.

Condemned soule Ate, from lowest hell,
And deadlie riuers of the infernall loue,
Where bloodles ghostes in paines of endles date
Fill ruthles cares with neuer ceasing cries,
Beholde I come in place, and bring beside
The bane of Troie: beholde the fatall frute
Raught from the golden tree of Proserpine.
Proude Troy must fall, so bidde the gods aboue,
And statelie Iliums loftie towers be racet
By conquering handes of the victorious foe:
King Priams pallace waste with flaming fire,
Whose thicke and foggie smoake peircing the skie,
Must serue for messenger of sacrifice
T'appeaze the anger of the angrie heeuens,
And Priams younger sonne, the sheepeherde swaine,
Paris th'unhappie organ of the Greekes.
So loath and weerie of her heauie loade
The Earth complaynes vnto the hellish prince,
Surcharged with the burden that she nill sustaine.
Th'unpartiall daughters of Necessitie
Bin aydes in her sute: and so the twine
That holdes olde Priams house, the threede of Troie
Dame Atrops with knife in sunder cuttes.
Done be the pleasure of the powers aboue,
Whose hestes men must obey: and I my parte
Performe in Ida vales: Lordinges adieu,
Imposing silence for your taske, I ende,
Till iust assemblie of the goddesses
Make me beginne the Tragedie of Troie.
Exit Ate cum aureo pomo.