University of Virginia Library

Scene the I.

Enter Andromach, Senex, Astyanax.
And why sad Trojans tare you thus your hairs?
Why knock your breasts? & wet your cheeks with tears?
Our ills are light if we can weep: But now
When long before to me, fell Troy to you?
When Acchillis drew my Hector's limbs o'th ground,
Whose burden made the Chariot grone: I found
Troy then o'return'd, and fall'n. By Ills I'm made
Dull, stiff, and without sense. Were I not stay'd
By my Astyanax, after my husband, I
Would quickly follow. He forbids to die.
'Tis he my Courage tames, and makes me move
As yet with some request the Gods above.
Time adds unto my misery. The Chief

Security to fear nothing.

Fruit of all ills h'as rob'd me of: for grief
But not for better luck a way is left:
Most wretched 'tis to fear of Hope bereft.

Senex.
What sudden fear is this afflicts thee thus?

Andro.
From one mischief a greater spring there do's,
The Fate of falling Troy yet has no end.

Senex.
What harms can God find if he would to send?

Andro.
The dores and dens of Styx are op'd, and from
The bottom of his tomb our foe doth Come.
Lest that we dread should want. Alone must the
Way backward previous to the Grecians be?
Sure Death is Equal. Common is the fright
Which fears and grieves the Trojans. What to night
Scar'd me in sleep belong to me it may.

Senex.
What Sighs portend such fear declare, I pray.

Andro.
Two parts of Cherishing Night were almost fled,
And the Sev'n Stars bright wain was turn'd to bed,
When rest not usual did sad me surprise,
And a short sleep crept o're my weari'd eyes,
(Or rather Stupor of a mind be-scar'd)
When straight wayes Hector 'fore mine eyes appear'd:
Not as when he upon the Argives set,
And sought with flaming pines to burn their fleet.
Nor as when he the slaughter'd Grecians fought,
And they true Spoyles from feign'd Achillis brought.
His Countenance no glorious beamings had,
But like to ours dejected was, and sad,
His hair disorder'd hung, And yet I Joy'd
To see him: when shaking his head he said.
Awake, O faithful wife! and take thy Son,
Let him be hid: he is thy Hope alone.
Leave weeping. Mourn'st thou for the fall of Troy?
Would that might onely fall! Make hast, the Boy
The small stock of our house remove. I shook
With horror and cold shivering awoke,
Trembling my Eyes I cast now here, now there,
The Child forgot, I wretch for Hector quære,
But the vain shade did through my hands retire.
O Child, true off-spring of thy mighty Sire!
The Trojans onely hope; and of our sad
House, and most ancient, and most noble blood
The onely stock. How like thy Sire, just that
Visage my Hector had, and such a gate
And habit; so he did's strong hands advance,
His shoulders rear; Threat with his Countenance;
So his spread hair his shoulders did adorn:
Too late for Troy, too soon for me tho'art born.
Shall that day be, that happy day when that
Defender and Avenger of Troy's state
Thou Pergamus rebuild shalt? and bring home
The Sparsed Citizens? render the name
To Troy and to the Trojeans? Of my Fate
I'm unmindful.—I doubt such votes to great
Are. It's enough that Captives live. Ah! where
May I a place finde faithful to my fear?
Where shall I hide thee? The fam'd Cittadel
Strengthen'd with forts, and walls of Gods, is fell
To Dust. All's spoyl'd with flames: Of mighty Troy
Not so much left is where to hide my Boy.
What cunning place now shall I choose? Lo here
The Sacred Tomb is of my Husband dear,
By foes rever'd, rais'd by his Father thus
To this vast height with riches; Covetous
He was not in his sadness:—Best I can
His Father trust.—A cold sweat falls upon
My limbs.—Ah wretch! I tremble lest that this
An omen of his future funeral is.

Senex.
To be thought Dead the onely way has been
Many to keep alive: Scarce any thing
Of Hope's above. His great birth bears him down.

Andromach.
Can none betray?

Senex.
Let not your fraud be known
To witnesses.

Andromach.
What if the foe shall quære.

Senex.
He perish'd in the City, say.

Andromach.
The neer
What are we, if at last they finde our Guile?

Senex.
The victors fierceness lasts but for a while.

An.
What, w'thout great fear he cann't be hidden then?

Senex.
“Secure do chuse helps snatch distressed men.

Andr.
What place? what Realm, remote and invious
Shall keep thee safe? who 'le succour trembling us
Who will Protect? O Hector! thou who hast
Alwayes defended thine, defend at last,
Conserve the close deed of thy pious wife.
Keep with thy dust a future victor's life.
Child, Come neer the Tomb—Why run'st back? Despise
Base Corners dost? Thy valour I aguise.
He scorns to fear—Thy Noble Sp'rit forget,
And ancient Courage. Take what thy Fates permit.
See what poor Troop remains, this Tomb, and thou
A Boy, I prisoner—We t'our Ills must bow.
Go to: venture into this holy seat
Of thy Sepulted Sire, thou hast if that
The Fates will unto wretches help infer
Thy Life; if life deny, thy Sepulcher.

Senex.
He's closely hid. But lest your fear betray
Him, hence receed, and go another way.

Andromach.
Who fears at hand is wont to fear the lesse.
But let us from this place, and if you please.

Senex.
Silence awhile, Cease your Complaints, I pray,
Vlysses moves his Cursed steps this way.

Androm.
Cleave earth! O Husband from Stix deepest womb
The Earth rend, there keep my depositum.
Here's Vlysses; By's musing pace 'tis guest
He Cunning mischief hatches in his breast.