University of Virginia Library

Atreus
alone.
Nowe equall with the Starres I goe, beyond each other wight,
With haughty heade the heauens aboue, and highest Poale I smite.
The kingdome nowe, and seate I holde, where once my father raynd:
I nowe lette goe the gods: for all my wil I haue obtaynde
Enoughe and well, ye euen enough for me I am acquit
But why enough? I wil procede and fyl the father yet
With bloud of his least any shame should me restrayne at all,
The day is gone, go to therfore whyle thee the heauen doth call
Would God I could agaynst their wils yet hold the Goddes that flee
And of reuenging dish constrayne them witnesses to bee:
But yet (which wel enough is wrought) let it the father see.
In spighte of al the drowned day I will remoue from thee
The darknesse all, in shade wherof do lurke thy miseryes.
And guest at such a banquet now to long he careles lyes,
With mery face: now eate and drunke enough he hath at last
T'ys best him selfe should know his ylls ye seruauntes, all in hast
Undoe the temple dores: and let the house bee open all:
Fayne would I see, when loke vppon his childrens heads he shal
What countenaunce he then would make, or in what woordes break out
Would first his griefe, or how would quake his body round about
With spright amased sore: of all my worke the fruite were this
I would him not a miser see, but while so made he is,
Behold the temple opened now doth shyne with many a light:
In glitteryng gold and purple seate he sittes hymselfe vpright,
And staying vp his heauy head with wyne vppon his hand,
He belcheth out, now chiefe o! goddes in highest place I stand,
And king of kinges: I haue my wish, and more then I could thinke
He filled is, he now the wyne in siluer bolle doth drinke
And spare it not: there yet remaynes a worser draught for thee
That sprong out of the bodyes late of sacrifyces three,
Which wine shall hyde let therwithall the boordes be taken vp.
The father (mingled with the wyne) his childrens bloud shall sup.
That would haue dronke of myne. Behold he now beginnes to strayne
His voyce, and synges, nor yet for ioy his mynde he may refrayne,