BAILO

Why daughter, knowest thou any remedy How to defend thy father's city here From that outrage and fierce repining wrath, Which he against it, justly hath conceived? Oh princely dame, the tender care thou takste Of thy deer brother, deserves double praise: Yet cravest thou that, which cannot be obtainde, By reason of the distance from the town Unto the plain, where army lies incampt: And furthermore, beseemeth not a maid To show his self in such unseemly place, Whereas among such young and lusty troops Of harebrained soldiers marching to and from, Both honest name and honour is empairde: But yet rejoice, sith this thy great desire, Without long let, or yet without thy pain, At wish and will shall shortly be fulfillde. For Palynice forthwith will hither come, Even I my self was lately at the camp, Commanded by the Queen to bid him come, Who laboureth still to link in friendly league, His jarring sons (which happen so hoped for, Eftsoon I pray the gracious gods to grant) And sure I am, that ere this hour pass, Thou shalt him here in person safely see. Ere thou be beware thou shalt him here behold. For constant pledge, he hath his brother's faith, He hath also the truce that yet endures. Daughter, God knows how willing I would be With sweet relief to comfort thy distress, But I cannot impart to Thee, the good Which I my self do not as yet enjoy. The wailful cause that moves Eteocles With Pollinyce to enter civil wars Is over great, and for this only cause Full many men have broke the laws of truth, And topsieturuie turned many towns. "To greedy (daughter) too too greedy is "Desire to rule and reign in kingly state. Ne can he bide, that swaise a realm alone To have another joined with him therein: Yet must we hope for help of heavenly powers, Sith they be just, their mercy is at hand, To help the weak when worldly force does fail. Yet daughter, must you trust in mighty Jove, His will is not, that for th'offence of one So many suffer undeserved smart: I mean of Thee, I mean of Polinyce, Of Jocasta thy woeful aged mother, And of Ismena thy beloved sister. Who though for this she doth not outwardly From dreary eyes distil lamenting tears, Yet do I think, no less afflicting grief Doth inwardly torment his tender breast. Dear daughter, leave this foolish jealous e, And seeing that thou shalt here shortly find Thy brother Polinyce, go in again. So noble a desire (Oh worthy dame) I much commend: and briefly as I can, Will satisfy thy hungry mind herein. The power of men that Polinyce hath brought, (Whereof he, (being Adrastus son in law) Takes chiefest charge) is even the flower of Greece, Whose hugy train so mighty seems to be, As I see not, how this our drooping town Is able to withstand so strong a siege. Entering the field their army did I find So orderly in form of battle set, As though they would forthwith have guien the charge: In battles seven the host divided is, To eke of which, by order of the king, A valiant knight for captain is assigned: And as you know this city hath seven gates, So every captain hath his gate prescribe, With fierce assault to make his entry at. And further, passing through our frowning foes (That gave me countenance of a messenger) Hard by the King I spied Pollinyce, In golden glistering arms most richly clad, Whose person many a stately prince enpalde, And many a comely crowned head enclosed: At sighed of me his colour straight he chaungde And Like a loving child in clasped arms He caught me up, and friendly kissed my cheek, Then hearing what his mother did demand With glad consent according to his hest Gave me his hand, to come unto the court, Of mutual truce desirous so he seemed, He asked me of Antygone, and Ismena, But chiefly unto Thee above the rest He gave me charge most heartily to commend him. Daughter no more, t'is time you now return It stands not with the honour of your state Thus to be seen suspiciously abroad: "For vulgar tongues are armed evermore "With slanderous bruit to blemish the renown "Of virtues dams, which though at first it spring "Of slender cause, yet does it swell to fast, "As in short space it fills every ear "With swift report of undeserved blame: "You cannot be too curious of your name, "Found show of evil (though still the mind be chased) "Decays the credit oft, that Ladies had, "Sometime the place presumest a wanton mind: "Repair sometimes of some, does hurt their honour: "Sometime the light and garish proud attire "Persuades a yielding bent of pleasing youths. The voice that goes of your unspotted fame, Is Like a tender flower, that with the blast Of every little wind does fade away. Go in dear child, this way will I go see If I can meet thy brother Pollinyce.