DEIANIRA

Shall Jole (slavish drudge) Bring basterd brothers to my Babes? of her that is a slave Shall Jupiter the God of heaven forsooth a daughter have? The flashing flames, and fighting floods shall toyne together first. The northern bear to Marble seas shall stoop to quench his thirst. Yea vengeounce, vengeance, will I have, though on thy back thou wyeld The boysteous heavens, and all the world do peace unto thee yield: There is a thing shall sting thee worse then Hydra hissing Snake, The corsey cursed of angry Wife. Does any firy Flake Vpthrowne from Etna's boiling Foarge, so souse the beaten skies? More then all things that thou hast daunt, my ghost shall thee aggryse. Shall thou prefer a Servile Trull before thy wedded Wife? For fear of many monsters more I tendered still thy life, And now for to increase my care. I see no monsters lurk, And now steps in and hateful whore, (which more my mind does vrke) To cumber us, as ill as fiends. Oh Father thou of might, The shield of Gods: and Titan thou, that bearest the Lamp of light, I only unto Hercules a loyal wife abod, And to and Harlots use are turned my prayers made to God: The fruit of my felticity a Strumpet does obtain, And for and Harlots love ye Gods have harden my prayers vain: Is Hercules returned for her? Oh grief not yet content. Devise some tearing torments, seek some pangs, and punishment. Let Juno learn of me, what force a woman's fury hath. She knows not how in deep despite, to use her harming wrath. For me you did these batrtayles wage: for my sake Acheloe Did let his streaming blood amid his wambling waves to floe. When snarling Adders shape he took, and to the boysteous Bull He gieuing up his sloughy shape did bend his malice full. And thus thou foylde a thousand foes by conquest of this one: Yet presently thou plunged art, and that by me alone: A prisoner now must be prefer de before thy loyal wife. I'll none of that: but even the day that first begins the strife, And to our wedlock brings the breach, shall be thy dismal day, And knap in twain the fatal twist where on thy life does stay: What means this? my mind relents. My malice breaks his rage: Oh wretched grief why dost thou faint? thy spite wilt thou assuage? With fealty of a faithful Wife dost thou thy conscience charge? Why lets thou not my boiling ire for to increase at large? Why dost thou slake thy frying fits? this malady still survive. Even now I able was with him for mastership to strive. In deed I have not craved aid: yet Stepdame Juno will, To weilde my hands to work his wrack, be here assistant still: But they whom fickle fancies have taint, do learn at last In link of love by tract of time to fix affiance fast. Alas that faith to kings dwells not in houses of estate: Have Lyca's here this shirt, the which my hands have spun of late, While Hercules at random roves, and overshot with wine Does rudely dandle on his lap the Lidiane Lady fine. Now dotes he after Jole: but this his boiling rage That burns in his breast I will with courtesy assuage, For courtesy conquers cankered churls. See thou my spouse desire, He spare the Shirt, until he set the Franckinfence on fire, And offer up his sacrifice, and wear his Garland grey Of Popler boughs on wreathed ckes. And I will go my way To'th royal Gods, and will beseek the cruel Cupid's dame. Ye ladies and companions that with me heather came, Now force the fountains of your tears from watered eyes to roon, To wail our Country Calydon on every side undone. I grant it despert deed, whereto despair now does me driven. And die I will, (as presently I live) The loyal spouse of Hercules. And ere this night do pass, Day shall not see that Deianire a living Widow was. Nor of my spousal head and whore shall get the interest. The dawning day shall sooner make the morning peer in West, Unto the eastward Indians the ysy poale shall melt, And freezing Scythian first shall fry with flames that he hath felt Of Phœbus fervent wheel: ere me Thessaliam Trulls shall see Diuorst: my brydall blaze shall with my blood iquenched be: And either let him murdered be, or take away my Life. So soothly let him count among the foiled flendes his Wife. Among Alcides labours let me reckoned be as on. His love in heart I hold, until the utter gasp be gone. Thus vndiuorst (not vureuengde) I will to Hercles tomb. It Jole be with child by him, isle tear it from her womb, And rend it with these paws of mine. Yea in the wedding place, I flying at her fierce will set my tallantes in her face: Let him not spare in raumping rage a sacrifice to make Of me upon his wedding day, when he his Trull does take, So that I falling down may light on Jones senseless coarse He die a happy man, that first hath quelde his foes by force. As gladsome groves at Prime of spring in beauty's pride are seen When freshest warmth the naked twigs does clad in pleasant green. But when could Boreas boysteous blast the pipling puffs does stop Of south wind sweet, rough Winter powles the naked bushes top: The barewoode with misshapen stumps does show a withered Face, Even so my beauty marching forth a season on his Raze Still fades away, and evermore abates his glimpsing gloss, And what so ever was in me, by care is come to lose. And that which erst by fancy fed the greedy gazing eyes, Is fallen away by bearing child: so oft it droupes, and die. And since I came to mother's state. I faded fast away. And wrinkled age with furrowed face steps in with quick decay. But yet this bondmaids eauter fresh her sorrow better brooks. Her comely countnaunce crazied is with lean and wanny looks. And yet for all her kark and care amid her deep istresse. She bears a glimpse of beauty bright, and favour nothing less. Her heavy hap, and frowning rate can nothing from her pluck. Save Sceptre from her royal hand by all this lowering luck. By means of this first fainting fear did lodge within my breast, That makes me wake the weary nights, and lose my kindly rest. In all men's eyes at first I seemed to be a blessed Wife. And Ladies all at our estate repining very rife Did wish my watch in spite of fate what S eps er shall I hope As match in majesty to Jove within the heavenly cope? Dear fosterdame whom shall I make my fear in spowsall bed? Although Euryst that Hercules to all these toils hath led, Do link with me in bridal bands, my state shall be impayrde. 'Tis small worth to deserve to be to kingly wedlock rayrde. And Issue is the thing that does in marriage malice move. Lo he etreth up and down with princely poor full haught, And buckles fast about his Loins the lively Lyons case, Who does invest the wretched with the right of kingly mace, Worser posing those from honours type that late so lofty sat. And pestereth his puissant paws with huge dvnweildy bat, Of whose exploits, and maarciale acts the Seres sing aloof, And all enclosed in Ocean sea thereof have perfect proof Is now became and amorous knight: the honour of his name Does nothing touch his conscience, to tender once his am. He roveth through the world, as on that does no whit esteem, Although that men as soon to Jove shall him unworthy deem. Nor Like the man whose credit through the towns of Greece is great. He seeks to compass his des er, to work a Lovers feat. With single Dams is his delight: If any him deny, Then to attain his lawless lust by rigour does he try. With men he fareth frantically, to others smart and blame He win his Wy es, his folly frail is cloackt by virtues name. The noble City Oechalie is made a razed town. The Sun betwixt morn and even did set, in one day up, and down One day did see it stand in state, the same did see it fallen. These bloody broils, and wasting wars of Love proceeded all, As oft as parents unto him deny their daughters deer, So oft I warrant them they need his wrathful fury fear. So oft a man with Hercules shall be at deadly food: As he denies his stepfather to be by joining blood. If he may not be son in law, then does he rage, and rave: Why do these guiltless hands of mine still keep him from his graven, Till he dissemble frantic fits, to bend his aiming bow, And death's wound on my child, and me with bloody hands bestow? Thus haughty Hercules was wont his wedlock's to divorce. Yet nought there is, that law of gilded on him might have recorse. He makes the world blame Juno, for the ills he hath commit. Oh rigour, of my rage why dost thou qualify my fit? Now must thou set thy hands on work, too't whi e thy hands be hight. And so Alemena's son. I'll venture on the dint of sword. Set you it light that with our wedlock linked and harlot reigns Nay rather think it still to much, that does thy sorrows breed. T'is not revolt, deer foster Dame, fast in my bones it sticks: But ire boils hot in burning breast, when love to anger pricks. Perhaps he shall be won by one, and yield to her the spoil. So love shall be to Hercules the last and latest toil. By all the host of heavenly powers, and as thou seest me fear, The secrets that I shall attempt, in council see thou bear: No broil of blades, no prive coat, no fiery force perdy: Then look about, if none be here, our council to betray: Look round about, on all sides cast thy countnaunce every way. Beside the place of our estate there is a secret nook, A covert corner for our talk, that sonneshyne never took. Neither at morn, nor evening tied, when Titan's blaze does quench. And he in ruddy western wave his iry wheels does drench. There secret lies the privy proof of Hercules amorous thought, I'll tell thee all deer foster dame: This witchcraft Nessus taught, Whom Ixion engendered of a mysty groving cloud, Where Pindus hauiy hill his top among the stars does shroud, And other stipe does heave his Crest about the riding rack When Achelous over laid, with many a thumping thwack Of Hercles club, did shift him self to every kind of shape, And trial made of all his sleights none served to escape, At length he turned him self into the likeness of Bull. And so was foully vanquished in form of horny scull. (While Hercules being Conqueror did me his Wife enjoy.) Returning home to Greece again, it happened Even lake To overflow the drowned marsh and channel to forsake, And strongly streamde to seas he runs, and swells above his banks. And Nessu used to pass the pool, and search the croaking cranks As Ferryman demands his fare, and bore me on his back, And wading forward brake the Waves, and surges of the lake. At length yet Nessus waded out unto the farther shore, Yet Hercules had swam but half the river and no more: And plied it hard to cut the stream: but when espied had he, That Hercules was far behind, Madam (quoth he) to me. (Be thou my booty, and my wife, and clasping me about) Away he flings, and Hercules besturres him maugre Wave: Though Ganges gulf and Ister stream (quoth he) thou traitor slave Might roon in on, yet shi to escape them both, well could I make, And in thy hast a shaft shall soon they running over take: And ere he spoke the word, his arrow flew out of his bow, And wrought a wound in Nessus ribs, he could no farther go. It sped him sure, to look for death. He cried, well away. The baggage running from the wound reserved as he lay, And putting it into his hoof the which undoing, he In cutting that with his own hand, did give it unto me. And thus at latter gasp he said, the witches have me told, That love may charmed be by this, to have and keep his hold. The Cunning witch dame Michale did teach Thessaliam dams, Who only forced the Moan to stoop to her from heavenly frames. Therefore (quoth he) at any time when hateful whores abuse Thy spoufall bed, or wavering man do haunt to any stews Then with this salve anoint his shyrtes, and let it see no son, But keep it close in corners dark, the blood then shall not shun His strength: and thus full suddenly he left his talk with rest: And deadly sleep with senseless death his feeble limbs oppressed. Thou Dame to whom in hope of trust my secrets all bewray, On, that the poison soaked into the vesture bright, it may Press through his limbs, unto his heart, & sink through every bone, They say the serpents poison does deuowen him apace The poison of his wicked Wile his lusty limbs destroys. In vain ye rescue her that is of purpose set to die Therefore I have determinde with my self this life to fly And long enough he lived hath that may with Hercles die. Who would persuade a wretch to live. He hath a cruel heart? And though that death be unto me a great and grievous smart: Yet unto other some it is and e S king of their pain. It wilt be quit whereas infernal ends shall stint the strife And quit my guilty ghost: my conscience does my hands condemn. But Pluta Prince of glummy goulph shall purge from slaughter them: Before thy banks I will appear forgetful Lethes Lake, And being then a doleful ghost my husband will I take. But thou that wields the sceptre black of dark internal skies Apply thy toil: the heinous gilded that nons durst enterprise, This ignorance hath overcome, Dame Juno never dare To take away our Hercules. Thy plunging plagues prepare, Let Sisiphs stone on my neck force my stooping shoulders shrink, And let the fleeting liquour from my gaping gums to sink. Yea let it mock my thirsty throat when as I mean to drink, And thou that racks Ixion King of Thessayle Oh thou Wheel, My heinous hands deserved have thy swinging sway to feel, And let the greedy gripe scratch out these guts on either side, If Danaus pitchers cease: by me the room shall be supplied. Set open hell, take me Medea as of thy giult. This hand of mine, then both of thine more cruel blood hath spilled More then thou did as in respect of mother to thy thylde. Or looking to thy brother's ghost whose gore hath thee defylde, Have with the Lady thou of Thrace for such a cruel wife, And the Althe that burned the brand of Meleagers life. Receive thy daughter now, deny me not thy babe to be: Why such a one should quail by you, some reason let us see: You honest matrons that enjoy the groves of holy wood Against me shut the heavens, or such whose hands w to husbands blood Have be imbrewde, if any of the fifty sisters dire Defying honest duty all that wedlock did require: But desprat dams with gory blades stood armed: in me let them See and allow their bloody hands that other will condemn. I will go get my self among the troop of cruel wives But they will shun such guilty hands as shred their husbands lives. Oh valiant spouse, a guile sse ghost, but guilty hands I have Ah silly woman, woe is me, that given light credit have Oh traitor Nessus while I meant by Centaur's subtle charm To draw from Jole Hercles love my self sustain the harm. Hence Phœbus hence, and thou Oh slickring life of her that lacks Her Hercules and givest day to wretches in their wracks. This is a dismal day: to thee Small penance yield I will And life with all: my woeful fate shall I continue still Deferring death, Oh spouse that of thy hand I may be slain, And does their any spark of life yet in thy breast remain? Or can thy hand yet draw the bow Sarmacian shaft to cast, Do weapons cease, and have thy Feeble hands given up at last Thy bow? but if thy hardy wife to thee a tool may reach I long to perish of thy hand, mine hour yet will I stretch Like gyltlesse Licas mangle me disperse in other towns My corpses, and hurl me world beyond the travails bownes. Trounce me Like monster Arcady or ought that did rebel, And yet thou shalt do nought but that becomes and husband well. If thou regard true honesty, thy wretched mother slay. Why trembleth thus thy fearful hand, why lokest thou away? Such sin shall be a sacrifice why dastard dost thou fear? I spoylde thy father Hercules, this hand, this hand aleare Hath murdered him whereby I have done thee a more despite, Then joy I did, in that my woe be did bring thee first to light. If yet thou know not how to kill, then practice First on me. If as thou Like within my throat thy blade shall sheathed be Or if to paunch thy mother soon thou mean to take in hand To yield her dreadless ghost to thee thy mother still shall stand, It shall not wholly be thy deed, by thee it shall be done, And caused by my will to be. Art thou Alcides soon And all afraid? so shall thou never great exploits achieve Nor pass the world such feats of arms and sleights for to contrive. If any monster should be bred thy father's courage show, And to it with vnfeareful arm, lo ouerchargde with woe My breast lies bore unto thy hand. Strike, I thy guilt forgive The f ends infernal for their sin thy soul shall never grieve. What yerking noise is this we hear what hag here have we found That bears about her writhen locks these ugly adders wound, And one her irksome temples twain her blackish inns do wag. Why chase you me with burning brands Megaera filthy hag Alcides can but vengeance ask, and that I will him get But have the judges dire of hell for that in counsel set But of the dreadful dungeon doors I see thunfoulding leaves What ancient sier is he that on his tatred shoulder heaves Th'un weiloy stone that born tooth top again does downward reel Or what is e that spraules his limbs upon the whirling wheel Lo hear stood ugly Tisiphon with stern and ghastly face, And did demand with steaming eyes the manner of the case. Oh spare thy stripes Megaera spare, and with thy brands away, Offence I did was meant in love, but whither do I sway The grou ̄ worser does sink, the roof does crack, whither went this raging rout, Now all the world with gazing eyes stand staring me about On every side the people grudge and call for their defence. Be good to me Oh nations whither, shall I get me hence? Death only is my load of rest there may my sorrows bide I do protest the fiery wheels that Phœbus charyot guide. That hear I die and leave the world, the Hercles yet behind. Him who ̄ his Leman lewd hath God. With stroke of steel if it cannot be done, Then for to bring his death to pass, isle set for him a snare. Such as my husband hath me taught. The wraths of heavenly minds do make the ̄ blessed on who ̄ they light So does not spite of mortal men. What herbs do grow in Pontus sea? Or else on Pindus hill? To trownce this machelesse champton, where shall I find the ill? The magic vearse uchaunts the Moon from Starry skies to grou ̄ worser, And fruitful harvest is thereby in barren winter found. The whisking flames of lightning leams oft sorcery does stay. And noonetyde ropsy tur y ost does dim the dusky day. And leave the welkin to the stars, and yet not cause him stxsoupe. I thee beseech that art of earth and heaven in honour held. And thou that shakest burning bolts, thou cursed and cruel boy, Whose elvish weapons make thy mother fear thy sharp annoy. Now arm thy hand with speedy shaft not of the slender sort, But biggest boultes, with which as yet thou hast assault no fort, We need no little shaft that may stir Hercules to love Bring cruel hands and force thy how his deepest draught to prove Now, now draw forth thy shaft wherewith thou caused cruelly The burning breast of Jove by fie tes of servent love to fry. When as the God his thunder bolt and lightning laid assyde, Gan boalne with bumps on foe rehead big: and brought the wave he hid, And swam with Europe on his back in shape of horny Bull. Now pour down love, and therewithal let Heckles heart be full. If Ioles beauty kindle heat and Hercles heart does move, Quench thou these coals, and force him glow with us in lawful love. Full oft the thunder thumping Jove hath stooped to thy yoke: And him that wields the moary mace of black Auerne to smoke. Thy flames enforce, and ache the Lord of glummy Stigian lake: But only match thou Hereules, and of him triumph take Oh Jove, whose wrath more wrackful is then yreful Juno's might. The charm is made in perfect force is all our medicine right, Wherein the shirt shall steeped be that wearied many wight. Whose hands on Pallas distasse spoon the weary Web with pain. And it for Hercules avail shall brink up all the bane. And with my charm I'll strengthen it. But lo ye in the neck Deft Lyca's comes here at hand who will dispatch it quick: But tell him not what force it hath least he the gilded betray. Speak, speak, how nigh to Deathward was my deer Alcides go ? Well may he err of ignorance that favoureth his ill And spares himself: my self of death most worthy I do deem. Death can deceive no one but such as innocentes may be. The son forsaketh me. Yea though it be to death, I follow will my Hercules When he perceived him overmatched he hastened his decay. Her self hath lived long enough who buried hath her child. yea Ladies mild Before their husbands use to die. No guilty one does use To take reuengemente of themselves. Each man does seek to shun His lot when spite of frowning fate against him seems to run. In condemnation of these the ghost of Hercles stands. I mean to plague the treachery. The shirt with Nessus ban imbrewde no sooner hence was S nt, And wretched woman that I am tooth closet Straight I went. (My mind mistrusts I know not what, and treason dath surmise) And Nessus by the heat bewrayed, that fainted was the blood: The God foreshowed that here the force of all the treason stood: For by good hap the foamy glede no foggy cloud does dim. But with full power of burning beams he shined blazing brim. Scant yet I can for feeble fear unlock my fastened was, The scorching heat does worser you away, and up by force it draws The soaked blood that being laid amid the frying flame And boiling heat of shining son did shrink before the same: Wherein the shyrt was steeped, and all the royal robe imbrewde: I cannot show the villainy wherewith it was indewde: For as the Eastern wind does force the winter snow to melt, Or lukewarm South when in the spring from ̄ Mimas mount they swelled As Lucas else that fronters on Ionian sea, a land Does break the wave the beaten surge lies foaming on the strand Or by the warmth of heavenly heat the frankincense does drop So all the venom wastes away, and melts every crop. And while I wonder still hereon the wonder shrynkes away But with a froth it spo es the ground, and there the poison lay, It rotts the cloth: my woman boalne and swelled does follow me, And shakes her head my son as one astonished I see: And hying hither all in hast declare what news you bring. A mischief great I know not what within my breast does boil: What heavy hap is it that may annoy my guiltless ghost We wretches love the order of our wretchedness to hear, Tell me the state now of our stock what countenance does it bear: Oh stock, Oh sylly wretched stock now shall I be esteemed, A widow now, a cost of now, and now a beggar deemed. Is he think you already dead or may I die before) Speak on, if yet he be not dead