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 | The Ninthe Tragedy of Lucius Annaeus Seneca, called Octauia |  |
[161]
THE FIRST SCENE.
Octauia.
Now
that Aurore with glitteryng streames,
The glading starres from skye doth chase,
Syr Phœbus pert, with spouting beames,
From dewy neast doth mount apace:
And with his cheerefull lookes doth yeeld,
Unto the world a gladsome day.
Go to, O wretch, with ample Fielde
Of heauy cares oppressed aye,
Thy grieuous wonted playntes recount:
Do not alone with sighes and howles,
The Seaysh Alcyones surmounte,
But also passe the Pandyon foules:
More yrksome is thy state then theirs.
The glading starres from skye doth chase,
Syr Phœbus pert, with spouting beames,
From dewy neast doth mount apace:
And with his cheerefull lookes doth yeeld,
Unto the world a gladsome day.
Go to, O wretch, with ample Fielde
Of heauy cares oppressed aye,
Thy grieuous wonted playntes recount:
Do not alone with sighes and howles,
The Seaysh Alcyones surmounte,
But also passe the Pandyon foules:
More yrksome is thy state then theirs.
O Mother deare whose death by fits,
I nyll lament but still shed teares.
My ground of griefe in thee it sits.
If that in shade of darksome denne,
Perceiuing sence at al remayne,
Heare out at large, O mother then,
My great complayntes, and grieuous payne
I nyll lament but still shed teares.
My ground of griefe in thee it sits.
If that in shade of darksome denne,
Perceiuing sence at al remayne,
Heare out at large, O mother then,
My great complayntes, and grieuous payne
O that immortall Clothos wrist,
Had torne in twayne my vitall thred:
Ere I vnto my griefe had wist
Thy woundes, and face of sanguine red.
O day which aye doth me annoy:
Since that tyme did I more desyre,
The feareful darknes to enioy,
Than Phœbus fresh with fayre attyre.
I haue abode the bitter hest
Of stepdame dire, in mothers place,
I haue abode her cruell breast,
Hir stomake stout, and fighting face.
She, Shee, for spyte vnto my case,
A doleful, and a graue Eryn,
To Bridegromes chamber spousall space,
The Stygian flashing flames brought in.
And thee, (alas) most piteous Syre,
With traytrous traynes hath shee bereft
Of breathing soule with poysoned myre:
To whom ere whyle, the world all left
Unvanquisht from the Ocean Seas
By martiall feats did freely yeeld:
And didst subdue with wondrous ease,
The Brittayne brutes that fledde the fielde:
Whom liuing at their propre swaye:
No Romayne power did earst inuade.
Now lo (ful wel lament I may)
Thy Spouse deceypte thy prowes hath lade:
And now thy court and child of yore,
With homage serue a Tyrantes lore.
Had torne in twayne my vitall thred:
Ere I vnto my griefe had wist
162
O day which aye doth me annoy:
Since that tyme did I more desyre,
The feareful darknes to enioy,
Than Phœbus fresh with fayre attyre.
I haue abode the bitter hest
Of stepdame dire, in mothers place,
I haue abode her cruell breast,
Hir stomake stout, and fighting face.
She, Shee, for spyte vnto my case,
A doleful, and a graue Eryn,
To Bridegromes chamber spousall space,
The Stygian flashing flames brought in.
And thee, (alas) most piteous Syre,
With traytrous traynes hath shee bereft
Of breathing soule with poysoned myre:
To whom ere whyle, the world all left
Unvanquisht from the Ocean Seas
By martiall feats did freely yeeld:
And didst subdue with wondrous ease,
The Brittayne brutes that fledde the fielde:
Whom liuing at their propre swaye:
No Romayne power did earst inuade.
Now lo (ful wel lament I may)
Thy Spouse deceypte thy prowes hath lade:
And now thy court and child of yore,
With homage serue a Tyrantes lore.
[162]
THE SECOND SCENE.
Nutrix.Whom so the glistering pompe of royal place,
With soden sight ynumd doth quite disgrace,
Who so at courtly fleeting ebbing blase,
Astonied sore, himselfe doth much amase:
Lo see of late the great and mighty stocke,
By lurking Fortunes sodayne forced knocke,
Of Claudius quite subuert and cleane extinct:
Tofore, who held the world in his precinct:
The Brittayne Ocean coast that long was free,
He ruld at wil, and made it to agree,
Their Romaine Gallies great for to embrace.
Lo, he that Tanais people first did chase,
And Seas vnknowen to any Romayne wight
With lusty sheering shippes did ouerdight,
And safe amid the sauage freakes did fight,
And ruffling surging seas hath nothing dread,
By cruel spouses gilt doth lye all dead.
Her sonne likewyse more fiend then Tigre fierce,
Of naturall mother makes a funerall herse,
Whose brother drenched deepe with poysoned cup.
Pore Britannick, his senseles soule gaue vp
Octauia sister and vnhappy make,
Doth sore lament her case for Britans sake,
Ne can her ruthful piteous sorrow slake,
Though Neros wrath do sore constrayne her grace
She nil esteemes the secrete closet place:
But boyling stil with equal peysd disdayne.
With mutuall hate gaynst him doth burne agayne.
My true and trusty loue that I do beare,
163
Reuenging greedy griefe doth streight repriue,
T'appease her smarte the counsel that I giue.
Nor flame of worthy breast doth once relent
But heaps of greefe, her courage do augment.
Alas, what griesely deedes for to ensue
My feare foreseeth: God graunt it be not true.
THE THIRD SCENE.
Octauia,Nutrix.
O staggering state, O peerelesse yll:
With ease Electra I repeate,
And call to mynd thy mourning will.
With watred eies like smartīg sweat
Thou mightst lament thy father slain,
Stil hoping that thy brother myght,
That deadly deede reuenge agayne.
Whom thou O tender louing wight
Didst safely shield from bloudy foe,
And naturall loue did closely kepe:
But Neroes dreaded visage loe,
Doth feare me that I dare not weepe,
Nor wayle my parentes ruthful case,
By cruell lot this slaughter cought:
Ne suffers mee this geniall face,
To dash with teares to dearely bought
With brothers bloud: who onely was
Myne onely hope in all my griefe,
And of so many mischieues, as
[163]
Now loe reserud for greater care,
And to abyde more lingring payne,
Of noble famous lineage bare,
A drouping shade I do remayne.
Nutrix.
My Ladyes heauye voyce mee thought
Within my listning eares can sounde,
And snaylish age in going soft,
Unto her thews is not ybounde.
Octauia.
O Nurse our dolours witnes sure
By curroll cheekes distilling rayne,
And heauy heartes complaynt endure.
Nutrix.
Alas, what day shall ridde of payne,
With care your welnye wasted heart?
Octauia.
That sends this guiltles ghost to graue
Nutrix.
This talke (good madame) set apart.
Octauia.
In rule my state theire destenies haue,
And not thy prayers, (O matrone) iust.
Nutrix.
The doune soft easy God shall geue,
Your troubled mynd a tyme I trust,
More sweete then euer you did liue.
With feuell fayre as one content,
And glosed face, but onely please
Your man, and make, he will relent.
Octauia.
The Lyon fierce I shall appease,
And sooner tame the Tygre stoute,
Then mankynd Tyrantes brutish breast.
He spytes the noble raced rout,
Contemnes hygh powers, disdaynes the least:
Ne can wel vse that princely weede,
Which venemous parent wrapt him in
By huge vnspeakeable griesly deede.
Although that wight vnthankful, grynne,
In Kingly throne that hee doth raygne,
Throughe cruel cursed mothers ayde:
164
So greate a gift, it shal be sayde
And after fates in long spent age,
That woman wight shal haue alwaye,
This eloge yet and saying sage,
That he by her doth beare the sway,
Nutrix.
Let not your ragious mynde so walke,
But doe compresse your moody talke.
THE FOVRTH SCENE.
Octauia,Nutrix.
Though
much I beare that boyling brest do beate
And tollerably take diuorcements threate,
Deathes only deadly darte, I see an end,
Of al my broyle and pinching payne can send,
What pleasant light to me (O wretch) is left,
My natural Mother slayne, and Syre bereft,
Of breathing life, by treason, and by gilt:
Of Brother eake depriude: with miseryes spilt:
And wayling ouercome: kept downe with care,
Enuyed of Make, which I dare not declare.
To mayden subiect now, and now defied:
What pleasant light can me (O wretch) abyde,
With feareful hart suspecting always ought:
Because I would no wicked deede were wroughte:
Not that I feare Deathes griesly gyrning face,
God graunt I do not so reuenge my case,
A better deede to dye: for to behold
The Tyrantes visage grimme, with browes vprolde
And with soft tender lippes my foe to kisse,
And stand in awe of beckes and noddes of his,
Whose will to please my griefe with cares yfirde
Since brothers death by wicked wyle conspirde,
Could neuer once vouchsafe for to sustayne,
Lesse griefe to die, then thus to liue in payne.
His Empyre Nero rules and ioyes in blood:
The cause and ground of death that Tirant wood.
How oft (alas) doth Fansie fondly fayne.
Whē slumber swete in pensiue parts doth raigne,
And sleepe in eyes, all tyrd with teares doth rest,
I apprehend deare Brittans liuely brest:
Ere whyle me thinkes his feble shiuering hands
He fenseth sure with deadly blasing brandes,
And fiercely on his brother Neros face,
With sturdy stinging stroakes he flies apace.
Ere whyle thilke wretch recoyleth backe agayne,
And to my thewes for aide retyres amayne:
Him foming foe pursues with hast to haue:
And whyle my brother I desire to saue,
And in my clasped armes to shield him free,
His goary bloudied falchion keene I see.
The boysterous raumping fiend to tugge, & hale
Through out my shiuering limmes, as ashes pale.
Forthwith a mighty trembling chattering quake
From weary lims all souple sleepe doth shake,
And makes me woeful wretch for to recount,
My wayling sobbing sorrowes that surmount.
Hereto, put to that gorgeous stately [illeg.]ouse,
All glistring bright, with spoyles of Claudius house
His parent deare in bubling boate did douse,
That wicked sonne, this fisking dame to please.
Whom yet escaping daungers great of Seas.
He fiercer freake than waues that scantly rest,
VVith bloudy blade hir bowels did vnbrest.
VVhat hope of health, can me, O wretch, abyde,
That after them thilke way I should not ryde?
My speciall foe, triumphant wise doth weight,
VVith naked nates to presse by louers sleight,
Our spousall, pure, and cleane vnspotied bed:
Gainst whom, she burns, with deadly foode bloud red.
And, for a meede of filthy strumpets sport,
She causeth Make from spouse for to diuort.
And tollerably take diuorcements threate,
Deathes only deadly darte, I see an end,
Of al my broyle and pinching payne can send,
What pleasant light to me (O wretch) is left,
My natural Mother slayne, and Syre bereft,
Of breathing life, by treason, and by gilt:
Of Brother eake depriude: with miseryes spilt:
And wayling ouercome: kept downe with care,
Enuyed of Make, which I dare not declare.
To mayden subiect now, and now defied:
What pleasant light can me (O wretch) abyde,
With feareful hart suspecting always ought:
Because I would no wicked deede were wroughte:
Not that I feare Deathes griesly gyrning face,
God graunt I do not so reuenge my case,
[164]
The Tyrantes visage grimme, with browes vprolde
And with soft tender lippes my foe to kisse,
And stand in awe of beckes and noddes of his,
Whose will to please my griefe with cares yfirde
Since brothers death by wicked wyle conspirde,
Could neuer once vouchsafe for to sustayne,
Lesse griefe to die, then thus to liue in payne.
His Empyre Nero rules and ioyes in blood:
The cause and ground of death that Tirant wood.
How oft (alas) doth Fansie fondly fayne.
Whē slumber swete in pensiue parts doth raigne,
And sleepe in eyes, all tyrd with teares doth rest,
I apprehend deare Brittans liuely brest:
Ere whyle me thinkes his feble shiuering hands
He fenseth sure with deadly blasing brandes,
And fiercely on his brother Neros face,
With sturdy stinging stroakes he flies apace.
Ere whyle thilke wretch recoyleth backe agayne,
And to my thewes for aide retyres amayne:
Him foming foe pursues with hast to haue:
And whyle my brother I desire to saue,
And in my clasped armes to shield him free,
His goary bloudied falchion keene I see.
The boysterous raumping fiend to tugge, & hale
Through out my shiuering limmes, as ashes pale.
Forthwith a mighty trembling chattering quake
From weary lims all souple sleepe doth shake,
And makes me woeful wretch for to recount,
My wayling sobbing sorrowes that surmount.
Hereto, put to that gorgeous stately [illeg.]ouse,
All glistring bright, with spoyles of Claudius house
His parent deare in bubling boate did douse,
That wicked sonne, this fisking dame to please.
Whom yet escaping daungers great of Seas.
165
VVith bloudy blade hir bowels did vnbrest.
VVhat hope of health, can me, O wretch, abyde,
That after them thilke way I should not ryde?
My speciall foe, triumphant wise doth weight,
VVith naked nates to presse by louers sleight,
Our spousall, pure, and cleane vnspotied bed:
Gainst whom, she burns, with deadly foode bloud red.
And, for a meede of filthy strumpets sport,
She causeth Make from spouse for to diuort.
O auncient Syre, step forth from Limbo lake,
Thy daughters heauy troublous cares to slake:
Or your twygated hellysh porche vnfolde,
That downe through gaping ground I may bee rolde.
Thy daughters heauy troublous cares to slake:
Or your twygated hellysh porche vnfolde,
That downe through gaping ground I may bee rolde.
Nu.
O piteous wretch, in vaine, (alas) in vaine
Thou calst vpon thy fathers senselesse sprite:
In whome, God wot, there doth no care remaine
Of mortall broode, that here doth take delight.
Shall he, thinke you, asswage your sory cheere,
Or shape you forth some sleight, t'appall your paine,
That could preferre, before his Brittan deere,
Th'imperiall throne, a straunge begotten swaine:
And with incestiall loue benummed quyte
His brother Germanicks daughter that could plyght,
And ioyne to him in solemne mariage rites,
VVith woefull, and vnlucky louers lightes?
Here sprang the roale of hurly burly great,
Here beastly venomous slaughter gan to sweate,
Here wylie treasons traines appeared first,
Here rules desire, and brutish bloudy thirst.
Syllanus first Prince Claudius sonne in lawe,
A bloudy mangled offring fall we sawe,
That in our graces Hymæneal bed,
Ymatcht with you, he might not couche his hed.
Thou calst vpon thy fathers senselesse sprite:
In whome, God wot, there doth no care remaine
Of mortall broode, that here doth take delight.
Shall he, thinke you, asswage your sory cheere,
Or shape you forth some sleight, t'appall your paine,
That could preferre, before his Brittan deere,
Th'imperiall throne, a straunge begotten swaine:
And with incestiall loue benummed quyte
His brother Germanicks daughter that could plyght,
And ioyne to him in solemne mariage rites,
VVith woefull, and vnlucky louers lightes?
Here sprang the roale of hurly burly great,
Here beastly venomous slaughter gan to sweate,
Here wylie treasons traines appeared first,
Here rules desire, and brutish bloudy thirst.
Syllanus first Prince Claudius sonne in lawe,
A bloudy mangled offring fall we sawe,
That in our graces Hymæneal bed,
Ymatcht with you, he might not couche his hed.
[165]
O monstrous slaughter, worthy endlesse blamer:
In steade of gift vnto that wanton dame,
A Carkasse colde pore soule, and curelesse corse,
Sillane was giuen against his will perforce.
And falsly then attacht of traitors crime,
As one conspyring death in Claudius time,
VVith lothsome streakes spewde out vpon the wall,
He all bedasht your fathers princely hall.
Eft stepped into seruile Pallace stroke,
To filthy vices lore, one easly broke.
Of Diuelish wicked wit this Princocks proude:
By stepdames wyle prince Claudius Sonne auoude.
VVhome deadly damme did bloudy match ylight:
And thee, against thy will, for feare did plight.
Through which successe this Dame of corage fine,
Durst venture, mighty Ioue to vndermine.
VVho can so many cursed kindes report
Of wicked hopes, and actes in any sort,
Or such a womans glosed guyles can name,
That raumpes at rule, by all degrees of shame?
Then holy sacred zeale put out of grace,
Her stagring steppes, directed forth apace,
And sterne Erinnis in with deadly steps,
To Claudius Court, all desert left yleps.
And with hir dririe drakes of Stygian fort,
Hath quite distainde the sacred princely port.
And raging riuen in twaine both natures lore,
And right to wrongs mishapen fourme hath tore.
That haughty minded dame first gaue her make,
A deadly poysoned cup, his thyrst to slake.
Straight wayes againe through vile vnkindly touch,
Her Nero causde with him in hell to couch.
And thee, vnhappy Britt, in all that broyle,
Till that of breth, and life he did dispoyle,
Thilk greedie bloudy tyraunt neuer stent:
VVhose dolefull death for aye we may lament.
Ere whyle, vnto the world the starre that shone,
And was the stay of princely court alone,
Now loe, light ashes easly puft aforne,
And griesly goast to graue with torche yborne.
VVhom blessed Babe, thy stepdame did lament:
Nor from hir gushing teares, did scarce relent,
VVhen as shee gaue eche trimme appointed parte,
And goodly portraide limmes with natures arte,
Of flaming stacke to be deuoured quite,
And sawe the scortching feruent fire in sight
Thy naked ioynts to rauin vp a pace
And like the flittring God thy comely face.
In steade of gift vnto that wanton dame,
A Carkasse colde pore soule, and curelesse corse,
Sillane was giuen against his will perforce.
And falsly then attacht of traitors crime,
As one conspyring death in Claudius time,
VVith lothsome streakes spewde out vpon the wall,
He all bedasht your fathers princely hall.
Eft stepped into seruile Pallace stroke,
To filthy vices lore, one easly broke.
Of Diuelish wicked wit this Princocks proude:
By stepdames wyle prince Claudius Sonne auoude.
VVhome deadly damme did bloudy match ylight:
And thee, against thy will, for feare did plight.
Through which successe this Dame of corage fine,
Durst venture, mighty Ioue to vndermine.
VVho can so many cursed kindes report
Of wicked hopes, and actes in any sort,
Or such a womans glosed guyles can name,
That raumpes at rule, by all degrees of shame?
Then holy sacred zeale put out of grace,
Her stagring steppes, directed forth apace,
And sterne Erinnis in with deadly steps,
To Claudius Court, all desert left yleps.
And with hir dririe drakes of Stygian fort,
Hath quite distainde the sacred princely port.
And raging riuen in twaine both natures lore,
And right to wrongs mishapen fourme hath tore.
That haughty minded dame first gaue her make,
A deadly poysoned cup, his thyrst to slake.
Straight wayes againe through vile vnkindly touch,
Her Nero causde with him in hell to couch.
And thee, vnhappy Britt, in all that broyle,
Till that of breth, and life he did dispoyle,
166
VVhose dolefull death for aye we may lament.
Ere whyle, vnto the world the starre that shone,
And was the stay of princely court alone,
Now loe, light ashes easly puft aforne,
And griesly goast to graue with torche yborne.
VVhom blessed Babe, thy stepdame did lament:
Nor from hir gushing teares, did scarce relent,
VVhen as shee gaue eche trimme appointed parte,
And goodly portraide limmes with natures arte,
Of flaming stacke to be deuoured quite,
And sawe the scortching feruent fire in sight
Thy naked ioynts to rauin vp a pace
And like the flittring God thy comely face.
Oct.
Dispatch he me least with this hand he fall.
Nut.
That power you, nature graunted not at all.
Oct.
But wondrous dolor, great and wrathfull yre,
And miseries will it graunt without desyre.
Nu.
Nay rather cause your angry moody make,
With souple cheere his fury for to slake.
Oct.
What, that he will by guilt once slaine before,
Aliue againe my brother mee restore?
Nut.
Nay, safe that you may liue and issue beare:
Your fathers auncient court for to repayre.
Oct.
That court doth wayte another broode they say.
And poore Britts death tugges me another way.
Nut.
Yet let the cities loue vnto your grace,
Your troubled minde confirme but for a space.
Oct.
Their mindes so prest to pleasure me, I know
Great comfort brings: but do not slake my wo.
Nut.
Of mighty power the people haue bene aye.
Oct.
But princes force doth beare the greater sway.
Nut.
He will respect his lawfull wedded wife,
Oct.
His mynion braue can not so leade her life.
[166]
Of no man shee esteemde.
Oct.
But dear to make.
NV.
She can not truely yet of wifehood crake.
Oct.
Ere longe she shall a mother eke be made.
So farre therein I dare most boldly wade.
Nut.
His youthfull heate at first in filthy loue,
With lusty, crusty pangs doth boyle aboue:
Thylke corage quickly colde in lust apace
As vapour sone extinct in flame giues place.
But holy, louing, chaste vnspotted spouse,
Her loue endureth aye with sacred vowes.
With lusty, crusty pangs doth boyle aboue:
Thylke corage quickly colde in lust apace
As vapour sone extinct in flame giues place.
But holy, louing, chaste vnspotted spouse,
Her loue endureth aye with sacred vowes.
That wanton first that there durst couch hir hed,
And tumbling stayned quite your spousall bed,
And being but your mayde hath ruled longe,
Hir soueraine Lord, with beauties grace bestong,
That pranked Paramour pert shal croutch with pain,
VVhen she your grace shall see preferd againe.
For Poppie subiect is, and meeke of spright,
And now begins her goastly tombs to dight:
VVhereby she closely graunting doth bewray,
Hir secret hidden feare eche other day.
That swift, vnconstant, double winged lad
With cloute, before his blinded eyes, yclad,
That fickle brayned God, thunhappy boy,
Shall leaue hir in the midst of all hir ioy:
Although for beauty bright the bell she beare,
And goodly glistring garments new she weare,
And now do vaunt her selfe in gorgeous geere,
Shee shall not long enioy this gladsome cheere.
Be not dismayde, Madame, for such like paine,
The queene of gods was forced to sustaine,
VVhen to ech pleasaunt shape the heauenly guide,
And syre of Gods yturnde, from skyes did glyde.
The swannes white wings, to se how they could fadge
He did on him, and cuckoldes bullysh badge,
That God shone bright in Golden raynie showre
To Danaes brest through top of fortred towre.
The twinckling starres the twinnes of Læda bright,
Whom Pollux, some, and Castor, call aryght,
In large and ample space of starry scope,
With cristal glimering faces shyne wyde ope.
And Semeles sonne, whom Bacchus we do call,
In heauenly byrthright doth himselfe ystall.
And Hercules that puissant Champion stoute,
His sturdy brawnes, his Hebe wyndes aboute.
Nor once regardes how Goddesse Iuno fare:
Whose lowring stepdame now she is yframde,
That whyle on earth his prowes he did declare,
Agaynst that maryage, aye, was sore inflamd.
Yet loe her wise, and closly couched greefe,
Debonaire face, obeisaunce to her leefe,
Causde him at length his mynd for to remoue,
Through mortall feeres estraundge from Iunos loue.
And now that mighty heauenly Goddesse great,
No more adred of mortall strumpets feat,
Aloft alone in cloudy bowre contentes
The thundring Lord, which now to her relentes.
Nor now with earthly Ladyes beauty bright
Yfyred, leaues his starry specked right.
Now madam sith on earth your powre is pight
And haue on earth Queene Iunos princely place,
And sister are, and wyfe to Neroes grace,
Your wondrous restles dolours great appease.
And tumbling stayned quite your spousall bed,
And being but your mayde hath ruled longe,
Hir soueraine Lord, with beauties grace bestong,
That pranked Paramour pert shal croutch with pain,
VVhen she your grace shall see preferd againe.
For Poppie subiect is, and meeke of spright,
And now begins her goastly tombs to dight:
VVhereby she closely graunting doth bewray,
Hir secret hidden feare eche other day.
That swift, vnconstant, double winged lad
With cloute, before his blinded eyes, yclad,
That fickle brayned God, thunhappy boy,
Shall leaue hir in the midst of all hir ioy:
Although for beauty bright the bell she beare,
And goodly glistring garments new she weare,
And now do vaunt her selfe in gorgeous geere,
Shee shall not long enioy this gladsome cheere.
Be not dismayde, Madame, for such like paine,
The queene of gods was forced to sustaine,
VVhen to ech pleasaunt shape the heauenly guide,
And syre of Gods yturnde, from skyes did glyde.
The swannes white wings, to se how they could fadge
He did on him, and cuckoldes bullysh badge,
167
To Danaes brest through top of fortred towre.
The twinckling starres the twinnes of Læda bright,
Whom Pollux, some, and Castor, call aryght,
In large and ample space of starry scope,
With cristal glimering faces shyne wyde ope.
And Semeles sonne, whom Bacchus we do call,
In heauenly byrthright doth himselfe ystall.
And Hercules that puissant Champion stoute,
His sturdy brawnes, his Hebe wyndes aboute.
Nor once regardes how Goddesse Iuno fare:
Whose lowring stepdame now she is yframde,
That whyle on earth his prowes he did declare,
Agaynst that maryage, aye, was sore inflamd.
Yet loe her wise, and closly couched greefe,
Debonaire face, obeisaunce to her leefe,
Causde him at length his mynd for to remoue,
Through mortall feeres estraundge from Iunos loue.
And now that mighty heauenly Goddesse great,
No more adred of mortall strumpets feat,
Aloft alone in cloudy bowre contentes
The thundring Lord, which now to her relentes.
Nor now with earthly Ladyes beauty bright
Yfyred, leaues his starry specked right.
Now madam sith on earth your powre is pight
And haue on earth Queene Iunos princely place,
And sister are, and wyfe to Neroes grace,
Your wondrous restles dolours great appease.
Oct.
Nay, sooner shall the roaring froathy seas,
And mounting flashing flawes ymatch the skye,
And smoaking, stifling parching fyer drye
With dankish pooles agree and watrye fenne:
And griesly Plutoes filthy feltred denne,
With starbright heauen shal sooner coupled be,
And shyning light with glomy shades agree,
And with the cleere drye day the dewy night,
Than vnto seruile lore of husbande wight,
That brutish wyse in bloud takes his delight,
My heauy woeful mynd can I addresse,
Whyle brothers death my heart doth stil possesse.
And mounting flashing flawes ymatch the skye,
And smoaking, stifling parching fyer drye
With dankish pooles agree and watrye fenne:
And griesly Plutoes filthy feltred denne,
With starbright heauen shal sooner coupled be,
And shyning light with glomy shades agree,
[167]
Than vnto seruile lore of husbande wight,
That brutish wyse in bloud takes his delight,
My heauy woeful mynd can I addresse,
Whyle brothers death my heart doth stil possesse.
O that of heauenly powers the prince and syre,
That shogges and shakes the earth with thūdring fyre,
And with his wondrous, feareful, cursed crackes,
And straunge mishapen monsters which he makes,
Our feareful musing myndes doth sore amase,
Would coyne some cureles burning wildfyre blase,
To pelt and pash with thumping fyer bright,
That diuelish pate, that cruell cursed wight.
We saw from heauen, with beames forthshoting farre
Doubtles a dreadful heary, blasing starre:
That spouted out a mortall fiery flake,
Whose force a princes bloud can only slake:
Euen where that hayting carman sloe Boote
With chilling cold al starcke of frosen pole,
Doth guyde aright Charles whirling running rote,
In steade of night that neuer away doth role.
Loe now the open ayre in euery streate,
With doggish tyrantes breath, is poysoned, quite,
And dreadful starres some sodayne death do threate.
To people rulde, by wicked Neroes spright.
So sterne a freake, or mankynd tyrant stoute,
Not Tellus with the Gods displeasd brought out,
When mighty Ioue neglected she vphorlde
Huge, vgly, monstrous Typhon to the worlde.
A sorer plague, a cleaner scouryng scourge,
With bloudy pawes that cityes boundes doth purge,
Is Nero drye, this cruell cursed wyght.
That doth himselfe gaynst God and man ydyght:
And thrustes from sacred shrynes their quiet porte,
And goodly temples gay the sancted sort:
That cittyes dwellers puts from countries fort:
That hath bereft his brother of his lyfe,
And launcht his mothers sides with goary knyfe:
Yet doth this present lightsome day enioye
And leades his lyfe, that doth vs sore annoy.
That shogges and shakes the earth with thūdring fyre,
And with his wondrous, feareful, cursed crackes,
And straunge mishapen monsters which he makes,
Our feareful musing myndes doth sore amase,
Would coyne some cureles burning wildfyre blase,
To pelt and pash with thumping fyer bright,
That diuelish pate, that cruell cursed wight.
We saw from heauen, with beames forthshoting farre
Doubtles a dreadful heary, blasing starre:
That spouted out a mortall fiery flake,
Whose force a princes bloud can only slake:
Euen where that hayting carman sloe Boote
With chilling cold al starcke of frosen pole,
Doth guyde aright Charles whirling running rote,
In steade of night that neuer away doth role.
Loe now the open ayre in euery streate,
With doggish tyrantes breath, is poysoned, quite,
And dreadful starres some sodayne death do threate.
To people rulde, by wicked Neroes spright.
So sterne a freake, or mankynd tyrant stoute,
Not Tellus with the Gods displeasd brought out,
When mighty Ioue neglected she vphorlde
Huge, vgly, monstrous Typhon to the worlde.
A sorer plague, a cleaner scouryng scourge,
With bloudy pawes that cityes boundes doth purge,
Is Nero drye, this cruell cursed wyght.
That doth himselfe gaynst God and man ydyght:
And thrustes from sacred shrynes their quiet porte,
And goodly temples gay the sancted sort:
168
That hath bereft his brother of his lyfe,
And launcht his mothers sides with goary knyfe:
Yet doth this present lightsome day enioye
And leades his lyfe, that doth vs sore annoy.
O Father of heauen, in vayne why dost thou throwe
Thy great vnuanquisht ratling thundring blowe
Uppon the whistling woods and ample seas,
With force of princely power thy wrath t'appease?
On such an hurtful and pernicious freake,
Thy due and iust conceyued yre to wreake.
Why stay thy mighty puissaunt braunds so long,
Ere thou fling downe thy ratling cracking throng?
Thy great vnuanquisht ratling thundring blowe
Uppon the whistling woods and ample seas,
With force of princely power thy wrath t'appease?
On such an hurtful and pernicious freake,
Thy due and iust conceyued yre to wreake.
Why stay thy mighty puissaunt braunds so long,
Ere thou fling downe thy ratling cracking throng?
O Lord, that Nero once might pay the price,
Of all his deuilish deedes, and euery vyce,
Th'whole wyde worlds tyrant sterne wher he a stroke
Doth beare: which he ouerlades with burdnous yoke
Of princely syre yborne, but doth defame,
With beastly manners vyle his princely name:
Of all his deuilish deedes, and euery vyce,
Th'whole wyde worlds tyrant sterne wher he a stroke
Doth beare: which he ouerlades with burdnous yoke
Of princely syre yborne, but doth defame,
With beastly manners vyle his princely name:
Nun.
Unworth he is your spousall chamber place:
But yet your destnies force, you must imbrace,
And wel, abyde your fortunes crooked race:
Nor moue vnkyndly Neroes gauly yre.
One day perchaunce, there wil as I desyre,
Some God reuenge your lamentable case:
And once I trust a gladsome day shal be,
When you shal ioy a fresh in wonted place.
Oct.
Ah. no, now, long this court (alas) we see
With heauy wrath of Gods displeased yre
Hath ouercharged bene: which Venus dyre
With Messalinas monstrous ramping lust,
Shee first hath brought adowne into the dust.
Who madly maryed to prince Claudius grace,
But little myndful then of that same case,
[168]
With cursed cressets maried once againe.
To which vnlucky incestuall brydall bed,
That drosell dyre that furious slut Erin,
With hanging hayre aboute her hellish hed,
And gyrt with snakes with deadly step went in.
And flaming brandes from spousall chamber cought,
In both their blouds ybathd, hath quenched cleane:
And hath incenst prince Claudius burning thought
In bloudy thratling stroake to passe all meane.
My mother first of wretches all the most,
With stripe of deadly sword gaue vp her ghost.
And now extinguisht quite, left me forlorne,
With dolours pyning panges and mourning worne.
And after her in hellish teame doth hayle,
Unto the senseles soules of Plutoes iaile
Her make, and Brittannick her sonne that way:
And first this ruinous court did she betray.
Nut.
Let be, Madame, with teares your face to dight:
Ne so renew your bitter wayling iust:
Ceasse troubling now your parents piteous spright,
That payed hath the price of raging lust.
169
THE FIFT SCENE.
Chorus.
God
graunt the talke wee hearde of late,
To rashly trusted euery where,
And blowne abroad through each estate,
No badge of truth that it may beare.
And that no fresh espoused dame,
Our Princes thewes do enter in,
But that OCTAVIA keepe the same,
And that the seede of GLADIVS kin,
May once bring forth some pledge of peace:
That to the world rest may redowne,
And wrangling stryfe may easly cease,
And Rome retayne her great renowne.
The peerlesse Princesse Iuno hight,
Her brothers wedlocke yoke retaynes:
VVhy is AVGVSTVS sister bright,
VVhere like betroathed league remaynes,
From stately pompe of court reiect,
VVhat doth deuoutnes her auayle?
To sayncted syre who hath respectt?
VVhat doth her Virgins life preuayle?
And CLAVDIVS now in ground ylayed,
Euen wee to much vnmyndefull be:
VVhose worthy steme we haue betrayed
Through feare that made vs to agree.
In breast our elders did embrace,
The perfect Romayne puissaunce,
The true vnstayned worthy race,
And bloud of Mars they did aduaunce.
The proude and lofty stomackt trayne
Of lusty hauty mynded Kinges,
They could not suffer to remayne
VVithin this noble Cities winges.
And iustly they reuengd thy death,
O Virgin chast, VIRGINIA pure,
Depriude by syre of vitall breath,
That bondage thou mightst not endure:
And that his shameles brutish lust,
So good a meede might not enioy:
Although by filthy force vniust
Thy chastity he would annoy.
Thee likewyse whom thyne owne right hande,
VVith sword did pearce, LVCRETIA true,
VVho tyrantes rape could not withstand,
Did bloudy broyles and warres ensue
And with her proude disdaynfull Make
Lord TARQVIN ympe of cursed seede,
Correction due doth TVLLIA take
For her vnkindly shameles deede,
VVho on her Fathers mangled corse,
To mischiefe bent, and wicked bane,
The Carman shee to driue did force,
His cruell brusing wombling wane.
And quite agaynst all natures law,
Euen from her owne dismembred syre,
The sacred rytes she did withdraw,
Denaying wonted burial fire
This griefe our woeful age doth feele,
Through monstruous act agaynst all kinde,
VVhen as in deadely crafty keele,
To TYRRHEN seas, and wrastling wynd,
The proude presuming Prince did put,
His mother trapt in subtil sort.
The Mariners appoynted cut,
The swelling Seas from pleasaunt port.
The clash resoundes with stroake of Ores,
The Ship out launcht apace doth spinne,
In surging froath aloofe from shores,
And ample course of seas doth winne.
VVhich glydyng forth with leusned plankes,
In pressed streames with peysed weight,
The riftes do open closed crankes,
That hidden were with secrete sleight:
And gulpeth vp the leaking waue
The woeful roaring noyse and crye,
VVith womans shrikes themselues to saue,
Do reach and beate the starry skye.
Then griesly present death doth daunce
Before their eyes with pyning Cheekes:
VVhose deadly stroake and heauy chaunce
For to auoyde, then each man seekes:
On ryuened ribs some naked lie,
And cutte the beating waues in twayne:
And some theyr skilful swimming trye,
To get vnto the shore agayne.
The greatest part that sayled there,
By destnies dire to men prefixt,
In whirling swallowes drowned were,
The brinkes of Seas and ground betwixt.
Queene AGRIPPYNE her garments rendes,
Shee teares her ruffled lockes of hayre
Abundant blubbring teares she spendes,
Through deepe distresse of faynting feare.
VVho when no hope of health shee spies,
Enflamde with wrath, which woes appeasde,
To rashly trusted euery where,
And blowne abroad through each estate,
No badge of truth that it may beare.
And that no fresh espoused dame,
Our Princes thewes do enter in,
But that OCTAVIA keepe the same,
And that the seede of GLADIVS kin,
May once bring forth some pledge of peace:
That to the world rest may redowne,
And wrangling stryfe may easly cease,
And Rome retayne her great renowne.
The peerlesse Princesse Iuno hight,
Her brothers wedlocke yoke retaynes:
VVhy is AVGVSTVS sister bright,
VVhere like betroathed league remaynes,
From stately pompe of court reiect,
VVhat doth deuoutnes her auayle?
To sayncted syre who hath respectt?
VVhat doth her Virgins life preuayle?
And CLAVDIVS now in ground ylayed,
Euen wee to much vnmyndefull be:
[169]
Through feare that made vs to agree.
In breast our elders did embrace,
The perfect Romayne puissaunce,
The true vnstayned worthy race,
And bloud of Mars they did aduaunce.
The proude and lofty stomackt trayne
Of lusty hauty mynded Kinges,
They could not suffer to remayne
VVithin this noble Cities winges.
And iustly they reuengd thy death,
O Virgin chast, VIRGINIA pure,
Depriude by syre of vitall breath,
That bondage thou mightst not endure:
And that his shameles brutish lust,
So good a meede might not enioy:
Although by filthy force vniust
Thy chastity he would annoy.
Thee likewyse whom thyne owne right hande,
VVith sword did pearce, LVCRETIA true,
VVho tyrantes rape could not withstand,
Did bloudy broyles and warres ensue
And with her proude disdaynfull Make
Lord TARQVIN ympe of cursed seede,
Correction due doth TVLLIA take
For her vnkindly shameles deede,
VVho on her Fathers mangled corse,
To mischiefe bent, and wicked bane,
The Carman shee to driue did force,
His cruell brusing wombling wane.
170
Euen from her owne dismembred syre,
The sacred rytes she did withdraw,
Denaying wonted burial fire
This griefe our woeful age doth feele,
Through monstruous act agaynst all kinde,
VVhen as in deadely crafty keele,
To TYRRHEN seas, and wrastling wynd,
The proude presuming Prince did put,
His mother trapt in subtil sort.
The Mariners appoynted cut,
The swelling Seas from pleasaunt port.
The clash resoundes with stroake of Ores,
The Ship out launcht apace doth spinne,
In surging froath aloofe from shores,
And ample course of seas doth winne.
VVhich glydyng forth with leusned plankes,
In pressed streames with peysed weight,
The riftes do open closed crankes,
That hidden were with secrete sleight:
And gulpeth vp the leaking waue
The woeful roaring noyse and crye,
VVith womans shrikes themselues to saue,
Do reach and beate the starry skye.
Then griesly present death doth daunce
Before their eyes with pyning Cheekes:
VVhose deadly stroake and heauy chaunce
For to auoyde, then each man seekes:
On ryuened ribs some naked lie,
And cutte the beating waues in twayne:
[170]
To get vnto the shore agayne.
The greatest part that sayled there,
By destnies dire to men prefixt,
In whirling swallowes drowned were,
The brinkes of Seas and ground betwixt.
Queene AGRIPPYNE her garments rendes,
Shee teares her ruffled lockes of hayre
Abundant blubbring teares she spendes,
Through deepe distresse of faynting feare.
VVho when no hope of health shee spies,
Enflamde with wrath, which woes appeasde,
O sonne, for so greate giftes, shee cryes,
Hast thou with such reward me pleasd?
This keele I haue deserued sure,
That bare and brought thee first to light:
VVho empyre witles did procure,
And CAESARS title for thy ryght.
Shew forth thy feareful spritish face,
O CLADIVS now from Limbo lake,
And of thy wyfe in wretched case,
Reuenge and due correction take.
Thy deth I causeles did conspyre,
VVhich now I rue with woeful harte:
I dressed eake a funerall fyre
Vnto thy sonne by deadly smart.
Lo now as I deserued haue,
Vntombde go to thy guiltles Ghost,
Encloasd in seas instead of graue.
And wrestling waues of Romayne coast.
The flasshing flawes do flappe her face,
And on her speaking mouth do beate,
Anone shee sinkes a certayne space,
Depressed downe with surges great:
Anone shee fleetes on weltring brim,
And pattes them of with tender handes
Through faynting feare then taught to swim
Approaching death, and fates withstandes
At length on troubled Seas displayde
Shee geuing ouer working vayne
And tyrd with streames is weary layd,
Not able toyling strength to strayne
Inclose and secrete silent breastes,
Of mates with her to sea that yode,
In whom no feare of death there restes
True fayth vnto theyr Queene abode.
Theyr Ladyes weather beaten limmes
To helpe, some freely venter dare,
Some in the combrous waters swymmes
And desperate daunger do not spare.
VVith cheereful voyce they comfort her,
Though drawling dragling limmes shee drew,
To lift her vp with helpe they stirre,
And nummed corpes to strength renew.
Hast thou with such reward me pleasd?
This keele I haue deserued sure,
That bare and brought thee first to light:
VVho empyre witles did procure,
And CAESARS title for thy ryght.
Shew forth thy feareful spritish face,
O CLADIVS now from Limbo lake,
And of thy wyfe in wretched case,
Reuenge and due correction take.
Thy deth I causeles did conspyre,
VVhich now I rue with woeful harte:
I dressed eake a funerall fyre
Vnto thy sonne by deadly smart.
Lo now as I deserued haue,
Vntombde go to thy guiltles Ghost,
Encloasd in seas instead of graue.
And wrestling waues of Romayne coast.
171
And on her speaking mouth do beate,
Anone shee sinkes a certayne space,
Depressed downe with surges great:
Anone shee fleetes on weltring brim,
And pattes them of with tender handes
Through faynting feare then taught to swim
Approaching death, and fates withstandes
At length on troubled Seas displayde
Shee geuing ouer working vayne
And tyrd with streames is weary layd,
Not able toyling strength to strayne
Inclose and secrete silent breastes,
Of mates with her to sea that yode,
In whom no feare of death there restes
True fayth vnto theyr Queene abode.
Theyr Ladyes weather beaten limmes
To helpe, some freely venter dare,
Some in the combrous waters swymmes
And desperate daunger do not spare.
VVith cheereful voyce they comfort her,
Though drawling dragling limmes shee drew,
To lift her vp with helpe they stirre,
And nummed corpes to strength renew.
VVhat bootes it thee the death to shonne
Of roaring raging rauening waues.
From deadly sword of wicked sonne,
Alas pore wretch thee nothing saues?
VVhose huge and heinous cursed rage,
Agaynst all course of natures lore,
Our after slow beleeuing age,
VVil scarce beleeue it done before,
Of roaring raging rauening waues.
From deadly sword of wicked sonne,
Alas pore wretch thee nothing saues?
VVhose huge and heinous cursed rage,
Agaynst all course of natures lore,
[171]
VVil scarce beleeue it done before,
The deuillish man repynde with griefe
VVhen he is mother saued sawe,
From swallowing seas haue safe releefe,
And that she vitall breath did draw,
He grudgde with griefe and in his heate,
He huger mischiefe heapes to this:
He doth not once delay his feate,
But headlong rashly caryed is
Vpon her death. A souldiour sent,
Dispatcheth that he had in charge,
His Ladies breast his blade doth rent:
Shee yeelding vp her soule at large,
From wretched corpes for to entombe
Her slaughter man she then be sought,
That bloudy blade within her wombe,
That fyrst this woe to her had brought,
This, this accursed breast (quoth shee)
VVhich this vnkindly monster bare,
From pinching payne may not be free:
Digge, slash the same, no mischiefe spare.
VVhen this with foltring tounge was sayde,
At last her sad and trembling ghost,
VVith latter sobbing sighes vnstayd,
Through goryd woundes leaues vitall coast.
VVhen he is mother saued sawe,
From swallowing seas haue safe releefe,
And that she vitall breath did draw,
He grudgde with griefe and in his heate,
He huger mischiefe heapes to this:
He doth not once delay his feate,
But headlong rashly caryed is
Vpon her death. A souldiour sent,
Dispatcheth that he had in charge,
His Ladies breast his blade doth rent:
Shee yeelding vp her soule at large,
From wretched corpes for to entombe
Her slaughter man she then be sought,
That bloudy blade within her wombe,
That fyrst this woe to her had brought,
This, this accursed breast (quoth shee)
VVhich this vnkindly monster bare,
From pinching payne may not be free:
Digge, slash the same, no mischiefe spare.
VVhen this with foltring tounge was sayde,
At last her sad and trembling ghost,
VVith latter sobbing sighes vnstayd,
Through goryd woundes leaues vitall coast.
| The Ninthe Tragedy of Lucius Annaeus Seneca, called Octauia | |