MEGARA

Quod nimis miseri volum ̄ to Hoc facilè credunt. Iniquam raro maximis virtutibus Fortuna parcit: nemo see tuto dium Periculis offer tam crebris potest. Quem saepe transit casus, aliquando invenit. Said ecce saevus ac minas vultum gerens, Et qualis animo est, talis incessu venit, Aliena dextram sceptra concutiens Lycus, Urbis regens opulenta Thebanae loca, Et omne quicquid uberi cingit solon Obliqua Phocis, quicquid Ismenus rigat, Quicquid Cithaeron verrice excelso videt, Et bina findens Isthmos exilis freta. NOn vetera patriae jura possideo domus Ignavus haeres, nobiles non sunt mihi Avi, nec altis inclytum titulis genus, Said claram virtus: qui genus iactat suum, Aliena laudat. Rapta said trepida manu Sceptra obtinentur: omnis in ferro est salus. Quod civibus tenere to invitis scias, Strictus tuetur ensis. alieno in loco Haud stabile regnum ̄ est. unam said nostras potest Fundare vires, juncta regali face, Thalamis que Megara: ducet égenere inclyto Novitas colorem nostra. non equidem reor Before ut recuset, ac meos spernat toros. Quod si impotenti pertinax animo abnuer, Stat tollete omnem penitus Herculea ̄ domum ̄ . Invidiam fastum, ac sermon popularis premet. Ars prima regni est posse re invidiam patience. Tentemus igitur, sors dedit nobis locum. Nan que ipsam tristis vestis obrentum caput Velata juxta praesides astat deos, Lateri que adhaeret verus Alcidae sator. Quid nam iste nostri generis exitium, ac lues, Novi parat? quid tentat? Egóne ut parentis sanguine aspersam ma num, Frarrum que geminam caede contingam? prius Extinguet ortus, referet occasus diem: Pax ante fida nivibus & flammis erit, Et Scylla Siculum iunget Ausonio larus, Prius que multo, vicibus alternis fugax Euripus, undam stabit Euboica piger, Patrem abstulisti, regna, germanos, larem, Patriam: quid ultra est? unam res superest mihi, Fratre, ac parent charior, regno ac lare, Odium tui: quod esse cum populo mihi Commune doleo: pars quota ex isto meam est. Dominare tumidus, spiritus altos gere: Sequitur superbos ultor à tergo Deus. Thebana novi regna. Quid matres loquar, Passas, & ausas scelera? quid geminum nefas? Mistum que nomen conjugis, nati & patris? Quid bina fratrum ̄ castra? quid toridem regos? Riget superbam Tantalis luctum parens, Moestus que Phrygio manat in Sipylo lapis. Quin ipse torvum surrigens cristam caput, Illyrica Cadmus regna permensus fugam, Longas reliquit corporis tracti notas. Haee e manent exempla: dominare ut lubet, Dum solitam regui fata to nostri vocent. Inferna tetigit, posset ut supera assequ . Nullo premetur onere, qui coelum tulit. Quotiste famulus tradidit reges nec ? Imperia duram tolle, quid virtus er to? There never may from ̄ ground to stars and easy passage be. Proua est timori semper in peius sides. Demersus, ac defossus, & toto insuper Oppressus orb, quam via and superos habet? Non est and astra mollis è terris via, what wretches most chiefly wish of all, They soon believe. Belief is ready Still to dread the worser mouse you. Deep drowned, & whelimde, & farthermore with all the world full low Oppressed down, what ways hath he to light again to go? Injurious fortune virtue most of men most stout and strong Doth seldom spare: no man alive Himself in safety long I'll gyve the secret sacrifice: to thee with much faith lo Long fire brands at Eleusis town full sylent will I throe. Then to my brother shall I think to be restoarde again Their souls, and eke himself alive and guiding of his rain My father for to flourish yet. if any greater might Deo keep thee shette, we follow thee: with thy return to sight Defend us all, or else to hell draw down us all to thee. Thou shalt us draw, no God shall raise us up that broken be. Oh Faithful fellow of our blood, with chaste true faithfulness The bridebed keeping, and the sons of haughty Hercules, Conceive in mind some better things, and take good heart to thee: He will come home, as after all his labours woonteth he, The mount, now here, now there fell dow and rampier rend of stay, The raging brook of Thessaly did roon a new Found way. Thy parents so, thy soons, thy land repairing home to see, Break out, and lowest bond of things out bringing them with thee, And what soever greedy age in all these long years raze Hath hid, show forth, & ghosts that have forgotten their former case, And people up before that e drive that fearful are of light. Unworthy spoils for thee they are, if thou but bring to sight What bidden is. great things, but far to much I speak for me, Unwotyng of mine own estate. when shall I happen to see, The day when thee, and thy right hand, I may embrace again, And slow returns, nor yet of me once mindful, may complain? To thee for this Oh guide of gods, untamed bulls shall bring Their hundred necks: to thee Oh queen of fruits on earth that Spring To perils great and dangers may so often times out cast. Whom chance doth often overslip, the same that finds at last. But cruel lo, and grievous threats even bearing in his face, And such as he of stomach is, doth come even such of pace, Proud Lycus who the sceptors shakes in band of other king, The plenteous places of the town of Thebes governing, And every thing about the which with fertile soil doth go Sloape Phocis, and what ever doth Ismenus ouerflo , What ever thing Cith ron seethe with haughty top and hie, And slender Isthmos isle, the which between two seas doth lie. NOt I of native country bowers Possess the ancient right Unworthy heir nor yet to me are noble men of might, The grandfathers, nor stock renowned with titles high of name, But noble virtue: who so boasts of kindred whence he came, Of others virtue makes his v wnte. but got with fearful hand My sceptors are obtaynde: in sword doth all my safety stand. What thee thou wotest against the will of citizens to get, The bright drawn sword must it defend. in forayne counttey set No stable kingdom is. But one my pomp and princely might May ratify, once joined to me with regal torch full bright, And chambers Megara: of stock of such nobility Let upstart state of mine take shape. I do not think that she Refuse it will, or in the bed with me despise to lie. But if with proud unbridled mind thee stubborn do deny, Then quyght I purpose to destroy the house of Hercules. The hate of men will then my pride, and peoples speech oppress. Chiese knack of kingdom is to bear Thy subjects hares eke one. Lets prove her then, chance given hath To us a place alone. For she her head in fold of daple full sad and woefully Enwrapped, the gods that are her guides for succour stands fast by, And at the side of her doth lean A cides father true. What thing doth this destroyed of our stock, again a new Prepare? what proves he? Should I abide, that I the hand sprinkte with my father's blood, Should touch and double death enbrewde of both my brethren? nay First shall son rise extinguish quyght, And West shall bring the day: First faithful peace between the snows and fires there shall be tried, And Scylla shall ausonius First join his Sicilyan side, And First, the fleeing flood that with swift turns of course deothe flow Euripus, with Euboik wave shall stand full Still and slow. My father empire, brother, House, Thou haste me clear bereft My country to: what may be more? one thing to me is left, Then brother, father, kingdom, house, that dearer is to me The hate of thee: the which to me with people for to be In commune, woe I am: how great is mine alonely part? Rule on full proud, bear up full hie thy sprights and haughty heart: Yet God the proved behind their backs doth follow them to wreak. I know the The bane kingdoms. What should I the mother's speak, Both suffering, and aduentryng gylts? what double mischief done? And mixed name of spouse at once, of father and of son? What brethrens double tents? or what as many roages also? The mother proved of Tantalls brood congealde in mourning lo, And sorry stone yet flows with tears in Phrygian Sipylye. Himself like wise erecting up his scaled head awry, Even Cadmus measuring throughout illyrian lands in flight, Behind him left of body drawn long slyniye marks in sight. All these examples wait for thee: rule thou as likes thy will, While thee our kingdoms wonted fates do call and oft happed ill. A tre ̄ blng cold does run throughout my bloodless lyms eke one. What heinous thing comes to mine ears? I feared not then at all, When (all peace broke) the noise of war did by the city wall sound about, I bore all that unfear fully to see, I fear the wedding chambers: now I captive seem to me. Let heavy chains my body grieve, and ke with hunger long Let lyngryng death be slowly brought, yet shall no force full strong My truth subdue: for even thine own will I die. Thehells allow he touched, that he The height again might get. He with no burden shall be pressed, that heaven it self ustaynde. Thine own death else, or else the death of me. How many hath this servant ayne of kings with handy stroke? Take once away the harden behests, whats virtue then at la e? is virtues partly, to tame the things, that all men quake to know. Oh Creons ghosts, and all you gods of House of Labdacus, And wedding torches blazing bright, of wicked Oedipus, To this my wedding give you now our wonted destinies. Now, now you bloody daughters all of Egypt's king likewise, Be here whose hands desyled are with so much blood out spylt: One daughter lacks of Danaus, I will fill by the guilt. Husband spare us I beseech thee now, And know thy Megara, this son thy cowntenaunce doth show, And bodies pitch: beholdest thou how his hands up lifteth he? Thou mad man whither goest thou? Wilt thou thine own blood sheade? QGuyder great of heaven, and of the world oh judge full hie, Yet now at length apoynt a mean of careful misery, And end of our calamity. to me yet never day Hath careless shynde, the end of one affliction past away Beginning of and other is: and other enemy Is forthwith Found, before that he his joyful family Return unto, and other fight he takes by behest: Nor any respite given is to him nor quiet rest, But while that he commanded is: Straight him pursueth she The hateful June. Was yet once from toil and labour free His infants age? the monsters lo he vanquished hath and slain, Before he knew what monsters meant. The scaled serpents twain Their double necks drew on towards him, against the which to rise, The infant crept to meet with them, the serpents glyttryng eyes Like fire, with quiet careless breast he looking fast upon, With cou ̄ tnance clear, hard wrested kkots of them he caught anon: And strangling then the swelling throats of them with tender hand, To Hydraprelude made, the beast so swift of Maenale land, That with much gold bore up full bright his beautified head, Is caught in course. of Nemey wood likewise the greatest dread The lion pressed with Hercles arms hath rearde with dreadful cry. What should I speak of stables dire of steeds of Bystonye? Or king cast out him self for food his horses fierce to fill? And brittled beast in thick tops wont of Crymanthus hill, The boar of Maenalye, the woods of Arcady to shake. And bull that did no little dreads to hundred peoples make? Among the flocks of Hesper land that hens far distant be, The Shepherd of Cartesian coast of tryple shape to see Is slain, and driven is the pray from farthest part of weaste, Cithaeron quakte when by him passed to sea the well known beast. He being bid to make by coasts of summer son his way, And parched lands which soar with heat doth boil the middle day, The mountains brake on either side and rampters all undone, Even unto swift and raging sea hath made a way to roon. Then entering in of plenteous wood the pleasant gardens gay, The waking dragons golden spoils with him he brought away. The Lerna monsters numerous ill what need to tell have I? Hath he not him with fire at length subdued, and taught to die? And which were wont with wings abroad to hide the day from sight, Even from the clouds he sought and drove the Srymphale birds to flight. Not him subdued who ever lies in bed unmatched at night The widow queen of them that took to Thermodont their flight. Nor hands that well durst enterprise his noble travails all The filthy labour made to shrink of foul Augia's hall. What vail all these? he wants the world which oft defended he. And earth well knows the worker of his quietness to be Away from earth: the prosperous guilt that bears happy sway, Is virtue called, and now the good to wicked do obey. The right does stand in might of arms, fear treadeth down the law. Before my face with cruel hand even presently I saw Revengers of their father's reign the sons with sword down cast, And of the noble Cadmus eke himself the ofspryng last Then slain: I saw his regal crown at once from him away With head byreft. Who Thebes alas enough bewail now may? The fertile land of gods, what lord now quakes it for to know? Out of the fields of which sometime, and fruitful bosom low. The youth vpsprong with sword in hand prepared to battle stood: And walls of which Amphion one of mighty Jove his brood, Hath built with sounding melody in drawing to the stones: To town of whom the parent chief of Gods not only ones Heaven being left hath come, this land that gods above always Receyuds, & which hath made them gods, and (leefull beet to say) Perhaps shall make, with loathsome yoke of bondage is pressed down. Oh Cadmus stock, and citizens of old Amphions town, Whereto are you now fallen? dread you a cowardly exul thus, His coasts to dwell in lachyng, and to ours injurious? Who through the world pursues the gyllts and wrong by sea and land, And cruel sceptors broken hath with just and rightful hand, Now absent serves, and what he eam e in other doth sustains: And now does vannyshr Lycus hold of Hercles Thebes the rain. Yet shall he not: he shall come home, And him with vengeaunte quite, And sudden rife to stars: he will Soon find the way to light, Or make it else. return thou sat, repair to thine in haste: And conqueror to conquerde house yet come again at last. Rise up my spouse, and darkness deep repellde of helly shade Break up with hand, if no way may for thee kept back be made, And passage be shette up, return with world vprent by might. And what soever lythe possessed byneathe in darkest night, Send out with thee. as when the tops of haughty Hills undone A headlong passage making through for hasty flood to roon Thou sometime stoodst, wha ̄ w to great might of thine asunder broke The Tempye woods wide open say: and beaten with thy stroke Of more renowns. Cogi qui potest, nescit ori. Virtutis est, domare, quae cuncti pavent. I shall then to my husband go. Gelidus per artus vadit exangues tremor. Quod facinus aures pepulit? haud equide ̄ hor rui, Cum (pace rupta) bellicus muros fragor Circunsonaret, pertuli intrepid omniam, Thalamos tremisco: captam nunc videor mihi. Grauent catenae corpus, & long a fame Mors protrahatur lenta, non vincet fidem Vis ullam nostram: moriar Alcide tua. Aut tua ̄ more tem, aut meam ̄ . Conjugi occurram meo. Umbrae Creontis, & penates Labdaci, Et nuptiales impii Oedipodae faces, Nunc solitam nostro fata coniugio date. Nunc, nunc cruentae regis Aegypti nurus, Adeste multo sangnine infectae manus: Deest unam numero Danais, explebo nefas. Parce jam conjux precor. Agnosce Megaram, nat S hic vultus tuos, Habitus que reddit: cernis ut tendit manus? Quo tends amens sa ̄ guine ̄ fundes tuum? He woe S not how to die, that is constraynde.