THESEUS

Flebilem ex oculis fugs Regina vultum, tu que nato sospite Lachrymas cadentes reprime: si novi Hercu lem, Lycus Creonti debitas poenas dabit. Lentum ̄ est, dabit: that: hoc quo que est lentum ̄ , dedit. Est in recessu Tartari obscuro locus, Quem gravibus umbris spissa caligo alligat. A fonte discourse manat hinc uno latex: Altar, quieto similis (hunc jurant Dei) Tacente sancram deuehens fluvio Styga: At hic tumultum rapitur ingenti ferox, Er saxa fluctu volvit Acheron invius Renavigari. cingitur duplici vado Adversa Ditis regia, at que ingens domus Vmbrante luco tegitur: hic vasto specu Pendent tyranni limina, hoc umbris iter: Haec portam regni: campus hanc circaiacet, In quo superbo digerit vultum sedens Animas recentes. dira maiestas deo: Frons torva, fratrum quae tamen specimen ge rat, Gentis que tantae: vultus est Illi Jovis, Said fulminantis: magnam pars regni trucis, Est ipse dominus: cuius aspectum timet, Quicquid timetur. Perimes parentem? Genitor coram ̄ ? Memora ̄ Dam potius omnibus fanctam intuens Unius a to criminis veniam peto. Sum ̄ to quidem patriae preces Satis efficacies, said tamen nostro quo que Moueare fletu: surge, & adversa impetum Perfringe solito. nunc tuum nulli imparem Animum malo resume: nunc magnam tibi Virtute agendum est, Herculem irasci veta Nostra to tellus man . Illic solutam caede gradivus manum Restituit armis: illam to Alcide ocat, Facere innocentes terra, quae superos solet. ISyster of the thunderer, (for now that name alone remains to me) Jove evermore as though deuorste and gone, And temples of the highest air as w we shunned have, And beaten out of skies above the place to harlots gave. I muite go dwell beneath on ground, for hoores do hold the sky. From hens the bear in part above of y you p le full hie, A haughty star the greekish shypps by seas doth guide about. From ̄ this way, when ̄ S at Spring time warm the days is loased out, Europe es bearer through the waves of Tyria shines full bright. From that S, their stormy fearful flock to shypps, and seas affright, The wandering daughters here and there of Atlas upward sway. With staring bush of hear from hens Oriȝon gods doth fray: And Perseus eke his glyttryng stars of golden gloss hath here. From hens the twynns of Tyndars stocks do shine, a sign full clear: And at whose birth First stood the ground that erst went too and from. Nor only Bacchus now himself, or Bacchus mother lo, Have clymbde to gods: least any part should from rebuke be free, The skies the Gnossian strumpets crowns do bear in spite of me. But I of ollde contempts complain: me, one dire, fierce, and shrewd Thebana land, with wicked brood of Jove's base daughters strewde, How oft hath it a stepdame made? though up to heaven should rise, The conquering drab Alcmena now, and hold my place in skies, And eke her son to promised stars obtain the worthy way, At birth of whom the staying world so long deferrde the day, And Phœbus slow from Morning sea begone to glyster bright, Commanded long in Ocean waves to hide his drowned light: Yet shall my hates not leave them so. a wrathful kyndlyng rage His mind in madness shall stir up, and ire that may not swag Shall evermore (all peace laid down) wage wars eternally. What wars? what ever hydous thing the earth his enemy Begets, or what soever sea, or air hath brought to sight Both dreadful, dire, and pestplent, of cruel flercest might, 'Tis tierde, and taemde: he passes all, and name by ylls doth raise, And all my wrath he doth enjoy: and to his greater praise He turns my hates: while tedious tails to much I him beehest, He proves what father him begotten. both the , where light epprect Hath sea, and where it showde again, where and day doth crayne, And with his brand approaching near doth die those Aethiops twain, His strength vntamde is honoured: and God eke where is he Now called in world. and now more of monsters want to me, And labour less to Hercles is accomplish all my will, Then me to bid: at ease he doth mine imperies fulfil. What cruel hests of tyrant now so fierce a young man may Prevail to hurt? for lo he bears for weapons now away What once he feared, and put to flight: he armed comes at side With lion fierce, and Hydra both: nor land sufficeth wide, But broke he hath the threshold lo of that infernal Jove, And spoils with him of conquerde king be draws to gods above. But thats but light, broke is the league of sprights that there do dwell. I saw my self, I saw him lo (the night now gone of hell, And Ditis taemde) throw out abroad before his father's sight His brother's spoils. Why draws he not ppreste and bound by might Himself in chains that equal things to Jove by lot doth hold? And bear the rule of captive hell, and way to Styx unfold? Up opened is from lowest ghosts the backward way to shy, And sacred secrets of dire death in open sight do lie. But he (the dreadful den of sprights break up) full fiercs and stout Even ver me doth triumph l , and with proved hand about The oule black dog by Greekish towns he leads from hell away. When seen was ugly Cerberus I saw the fading day, And fearful soon: even melykewyse a trembling dread oppressed, And looking on the filthy necks of conquerde monstrous beast, I feared much mine own behests. but light things I complain, For heaven I may be frayed, least he may get the highest rain, That lowest won. the sceptors from his father will he take, Nor he to stars (as Bacchus die ) his way will gently make: The way with ruin will he seek, and be in empty skies Will reign alone. with force displayde his haughty heart doth rise, And he, that heaven it self, by force of his might got be, It bearing learned: quite underneath the world his headsette he, Nor ones his shoulders bowde, the payse of such a mighty mass: And mydst of heaven on Hercles neck alone lo settled was. His neck vnwryde the stars above and skies did only stay: And me likewise oppressing him, to Gods he seeks the way. Go Ire, go on, and beat him down that great things doth invent, Match thou with him, and with thy hands now thou thy self him rend. Such hates why dooste thou meditate? Let all wild beasts now go: And weary Eurystheus now be free from geeuyng charges me. The Titan's daring once of Jove to break the impery Send out: let lose the den abroad of mount of Sicily. The Doric land that with the turn of giant quakes afraid, Let it bring forth the dreadful neck of mon er underlaid. Let yet the haughty moon above some other beasts beeget. But these he overcame. seekest thou a matchet' Alcides yet? The none, except himself: let him against him self rebel. Let present be from bottom deep upraised of lowest hell the Eumenides, let flaming locks of theirs the fires out fling, And furious hands beestowe about the strokes of vipers sting. Go now full proved, and scale the skies to seats of gods make way. Now must thy battles wage be, full clear lo shines the day. Despise ma ̄ S works: thinkest y e fierce wight that hell and souls allow Thou haste escapte? nay here I will and other hell the show. In deep mist hid I will call up From bottom low of hell Beyond the ways of guilty ghosts rebatefull goddess fell. where as the roaring dreadful den resounds with cries about, From deepest bond of Ditis reign beneath I will fette out, what so is left. Let hateful hurt now come in anger wood, And fierce imptetie em rew him self with his own blood, And error eke, and fury armed against it self to fought. This mean, this mean, let wrath of mine now use to show my might. Begin you servants now of hell: the fervent burning tree Of pine shake up: and set with snakes her dreadful flock to see Let now Megaera bring to sight: and with her mournful hand for burning roage bring out of hell a huge and direful brand. Do this, require you vengeance endue, and pains of hell his spoil, Strike through his breast: let fiercer flame within his bosom boil, Then which in Aetna furnace beats so furiously to see. That mad of mind and witless may Alcides driven be With fury great through pierced quite, my self must First of all Be mad. Wherefore doth Juno yet not in to raging fallen? Me, met, you Furies, sisters three thrown quite out of my wit Cosse First, if any thing to do I do endeavour yet For stepdame meet: let now my hates be turned and other way. Let him (returned) his babes behold in safety, I you pray, And strong of hand come home: I have now found the day at length, In which may greatly me avail the hated Hercles strength. Both me, and eke him self let him subdue, and wish to die Returned from hell. yea let it here be my commodity, That he of Jous begotten is: here present will I stand, And that his shafts go straight from bow, I will direct his hand: The mad men weapons will I guide, Even Hercles fighting At length I'll aid. This guilt once done then leefull is that so His father may admit to skies those guilty hands of his. who ever yet to Ignorance hath given name of crime? Cys need to be a Hercles now, this heap of ill sustain. wilt thou thy father slay? Before thy rathers face? Thy deeds marking rather that should of all remembered be, Of this one only crime I do a pardon of thee crave. The prayers which thy father makes to thee Are strong enough, but yet likewise with weeping lo of me Be moved yet: arise thou up, and with thy wonted might Subdue thine ill : now such a mind unmeet to bear upright No evil hap, receive again: lo now with manhood great Thou must prevail, evey Hercules sorbyd with ire to fret. Our land for thee does died. There Mars, his hand acquit again and made from slaughter free Restoarde to armour: lo that land (Alcides) calls for thee, which wonts to quite the gods, and prove them Innocent to be. Memorare cogis acta, securae quo que Horrenda menti, vix adhuc certam est fides Vitalis aurae, torpet acies luminum, Hebetes que visus vix diem insuetum ferunt. Rapitur volucri tortus Ixion rotam: Cervice saxum grand Sisyphease debt. In amne medio faucibus siccis senex Sectatur undas, abluit mentum latex, Fidem que cum jam saepe decepto dedit, Perit undam: in over poma destituunt famem. Praebet volucri Tityus aeternas dapes: Urnas que frustra Danaids plenas ferunt. Errant furentes impiae Cadmeides: Terret que mensas auida Phineas avis. Dii conditores v bis, & syluestri Trucis antra Ceti, nobiles Dirces aquas, Larem que regis qui advenae Tyrium colis. Fas omne mundi, to que dominant ̄ precor Regno capaci, to que , quam totairrita Quaesivit Aetna mater, ut jura abditam Et operta terris, liceat impune eloqui. Spartana tellus nobile attollit jugum, Densis ubi aequor Taenarus sylvis premit. Hic oram solvit Ditis invisi domus, Hiat que rupes altam, & immenso specu Ingens vorago faucibus vastis patet, Latum que pandit omnibus populis iter. Non caeca tenebris incipit primo via. Tenuis relictae lucis à tergo nitor, Fulgor que dubius solis afflictic adit, Et ludit aciem: tale non dubiè solet Praebere lumen primus, autserus die. Hinc ampla vacuis spatia laxantur locis, In quae omne mersum ̄ pereat humanum genus. Nec ire labour est, ipsam deducit via. Ut saepe puppes aestus invitas rapit, Sic pronus agger urget, at que avidum chaos: Gradum que retro flectere haud umquam sinunt Umbrae tenaces. intus immenso sinum Tacito quietam labitur Lethe vado, Demit que curas: néue remeand ampliu Pateat facultas, flexibus multis gravem Involvit a mnem. Qualis incerta vagus Maeander undam ludit, & cedit sibi, Instat que dubius, littus, and fontem petat. Palus inertis foeda Cocyti jacet. Hic vulture, illic luctifer bubo gemit, Omen que triste resonat infaustae Strigis. Horrent opaca frond nigrantes comae, Taxo imminent, quam tenet segnis Sopor, Fame's que moesta tabido rictum jacens, Pudor que serus conscios vultus tegit, Mctus, Pavor que , Funus, & frendens Dolour, Ater que luctus sequitur, & morbus tremens, Et cincta ferro bellam: in extremo abditam Iners senectus adiuuat baculo gradum. Non prata viridi laetam fancy germinant, Nec adulta leni fluctuat Zephyro sedges. Non ullam ramos sylva pomiferos habet. Sterilis profundi vastitas squalet Soli, Et foeda tellus torpet aeterno siti Rerum que moestus finis, & mundi ultima: Immotus aer haeret, & pigro sedet Nox atra mundo, cuncta moerore horridam. Ipsam que mortem, peior est mortis locus. Non unus altam seed quaesitor sedens Iudiciam trepidis sera sortitur reis: Auditur illo Gnosius Minos foro, Radamanthus illo: Thetidis hoc audit socer. Quod quis que fecit, patitur: authorem scelus Repetit, suo que premitur exemplo nocens. Vidi cruentos carcere includi duces, Et impotentis terga plebeia manu Scindi tyranni. quisquis est placidè potens, Dominus que vitae servat innocuas manus, Et incruentum mitis imperium regit, Animo que parcit, longam permensus di Foelicis aevi spatia, vel coelum petit, Vellaetafoelix nemoris Elysii loca. Judex futurus sanguine humano abstine, Quicun que regnas. scelera taxantur modo Maiore nostra. Ferale tardis imminet saxum vadis, Stupente ubi undam segne torpescit fretum: Hunc servat amne ̄ , cultum, & aspectum horridus, Pauidos que manes squalidus gestat senex: Impexa pendet barbam, deformem finum Nodus coe ̄ rcet, concavae squalent genae: Regit ipse conto portitor longo ratem. Hic onere vacuam littori puppim applicans, Repetebat undas: poscit Alcides viam, Cedente turbam: dirus exclamat Charon, Quo pergis audax? sister propera ̄ tem gradum. Non passus ullas natus Alcmena moras, Ipso coactum navitam conto domat, Scam ̄ dit que puppem: cymba populorum capax, Succubuit uni: sedit, & gravior ratis Vtrin que Lethen later titubante bibit. Tunc vasta trepidant monstra, Centauri true ces, Lapithae que , multo and bellam succensi mero. Stygiae paludis vltimos quaerens sinus, Foecunda mergit capita Lernaeus labour. Post haec avari Ditis apparet domus. Hic saenus umbras territat Stygius canis, Qui terna vasto capita concutiens sono, Regnum tuetur, sordidum tabo caput Lambunt colubri: viperis horrent jubae, Longus que torta sibilat cauda Draco: Patira formae. sensit ut motus pedum, Attollit hirtas angue vibrato comas: Missum que captat aure subjecta sonum, Sentire & umbras solitus. ut propior stetit Jove natus, antro seditincertus canis, Et uter que timuit. ecce latratu gravi Loca muta terret, sibilat totos minax Serpens per arms: vocis horrendae fragor Per oram missus terna, foelices quo que Exterret umbras. solvit à laeva feros Tuncipse ictus & Cleonaeum caput Opponit, ac see regmine ingenti clepit. Victrice magnum dexteram robur gerens, Hunc nunc, & illuc verbere assiduo rotat: Ingeminat ictus: domitus infregit min , Et cuncta lassus capita submisit canis, Antro que toto cessit. extimuit sedens Uter que solio dominus, & duci jubet. Me quo que potenti munus Alcidae dedit. Tunc gravia monstri colla permulce ̄ S manu, Adamant texto vincit oblitus sui Cust os opaci peruigil regni canis, Componit aures timidus: & patiens trahi, Herum que fassus, over submisso obsequens, Vtrun que cauda pulsat anguifera latus. Post quam est and oras Taenari ventum ̄ , & nitor Percussit ocu los lucis ignorae, bonos Resumit animo's victus, & vastas furens Quassat eatenas: penè vectorem abstulit, Pronum que retrouexit, & movit gradum. Tunc & meas respexit Alcides manus, Geminis uter que viribus tractum canem Ira furentem, & bellam tentantem irritam, Intulimus orbi. vidit ut clarum aethera, Et puram nitidi spatia conspexit poli, Oborta nox est: lumina in terram dedit, Compressit oculos, & diem invisum expulit, Aclem que retro flexit, at que omni petit Cervice terram: tum sub Herculea caput Abscondit umbra. densa said laeto venit Clamore turbam, frontibus laurum geren Magni que meritas Herculis laudes canit. Quo to ipse genitor obuium morti ingeris? Quo pergis amens? profuge, & obtectus late, Unum que manibus aufer Herculeis scelus. Quis nomen umquam ̄ sceleris errori indidit? Nunc Hercule opus est, perfer would ̄ c molem mali. Shake of Oh queen out of thine eyes This weeping face, and thou since that thy son is safe likewise Thy dropping tears refrain: if yet I Hercles ever knew, Then Lycus shall for Creon pay the pains to him full dew. 'Tis light, he shall: he doth: and thats to light, he hath it done. The deeds y dost constrain to tell, that even to mind secure Are dreadful yet and horrible, scant yet the trust is sure Of vital air, soar blunted is the sharpness of my sight, And dulled eyes do scant sustain to see unwonted light. All right of world, and thee likewise I pray that bearste the rain In kingdom wide, and thee, for whom All Round about in dayne Thy mother throughout Aetna sowght, that secret things allow And hid in ground, it freely may be lawful for to show. The Spartan land a noble top of hill advanceth hie, Where Taenarus with woods full hycks the sea doth overly. The house of hateful Ditis here his mouth doth pen set, And rocks of hill about doth gape, and with a den full grette A huge and gaping cleft of ground with jaws full wide doth lie, And way full broad to people all doth spread to pass thereby. Not straight with darkness doth Begin The way that blinds the sight. A little lyngryng brightness lo behind of late left light, And dubtfull glyttryng yet of son afflicted falls allow, And mocks the sight: such light is wont undoubtedly to show The dawn of day, or twylyght else at edge of evening tied. From hens to hollow places void Are loaste the spaces wide, To which needs perish must all kind of men that once are thrown. Nor it a labour is to go, the way it self leads down. As oft the shypps against their wills do the toss the swelling surge, So down ward doth that headlong way, and greedy Chaos urge: And back again to draw thy pat thee never do permytte The sprights who what they catch hold fast. allow within doth flytte In channel wide with sylent Ford the quiet lake of lethe, And cares doth rid: and that theremay to escape again from death No mean be made, with many turns and windings every way Folds in his flood. in such sort as with wave unsure doth play Maeander wandering up and down, And yields himself unto, And dowbtfull stands, if he towards bank, or back to Spring may go. The soul and filthy people to see of slow Cocytus lies. On th'one the gripe, on th'other side the mournful howlet cries, And sad luck of unhappy Strix likewise resoundeth there. Full vglyelye in shady bows black locks of lethsome hear, Where Taxus tree doth over lean, which holds slothful sleep, And hunger sad with famished law that lies his place to keep, And shame to late does hide his face that knows what crimes it hath, Both fear, and quaking, funeral, and fretting raging wrath, And mourning dire doth follow on, and trembling pale disease, And boisterous battles set with sword: and hid beyond all thease Doth slothful age his lyngryng pace help forth with staff in hand. A place there is in turn obscure of Tartarus from sight, Which mist full thick with fearful shade doth hold and overgo. From hens a double parted stream from one wellspring doth floe: The tone, much like a standing pool (by this the gods do swear) The which the sacred Stygian lake with silent flood doth bear: The tother fierce with tumult great is drawn his course to go, And Archeron with raging flood the stones dryues to and fro Unsailable. with double Ford is rounoe about beset Against it Ditis palace dire, and manspon House full grette In shadefull wood is covered: from wide den here the posts And thresholds of the tyrant hang, this is the walk of ghosts: This of his kingdom is the g to: a field about it goes, Where sitting with a countnaunce proud abroad he doth dispose New souls, a cruel majesty is in the God to know: A frowning forehead, which yet of his brothers bears the show, And so great stocks: there is in him of Jove the very face, But when he lightens: and great part of cruel kingdoms place, Is he himself the lord thereof: the sight of who e doth fear, What ever thing is feared. Not only one extorter out of f utes in seat set hie The judgements late to trembling souls doth there by lot award: In one appointed judgement place is Gnossian Minos harden, And in and other Radamanthe: This rhyme doth A ac bear. What eke man ones hath done, he feels: and guilt to author there Returns, and hurtful with their owns example punn ht be. The bloody cruel captains I in prison shette did see, And back of tyrant impotent even with his peoples hand All to rne and cut. what man of might with favour leads his land, And of his own life lord reserves his hurtless hands to good, And gently doth his empire guide without the thirst of blood, And spares his soul, he having long led forth the lyngryng days Of happy age, at length to heaven do the either find the ways, Or joyful happy places else of fair Elysius wood. Thou then that here must be a judge abstain from man his blood, Who so thou be that reignest king: our gyltes are there acquit In greater wise. Ixion rollde on whyrlyng wheel is ost and turned hie: Upon the neck oh Sisyphus the mighty stone doth lie. Amid the lake with thirsty jaws ol de Tantalus therein Pursues the waves, the water stream doth wet and wash his hyn, And when to him now otte deceyude it doth yet pr mouse make, Straight ytts the ood: the trute at mouth his famine doth forsake. Eternal food to leeyng owl doth Tityus heart give S ill: And Danaus daughters oo in vain their water vessels fill. The wicked Cadmus daughters all go raging every uva e: And there doth greedy ravening bird the Phi y tables fray. A dire and dreadful stone there is the slothful fords fast buy, Where sluggish freate with wave astoond full dull and flow doth lie: This lake a dreadful fellow keeps both of attire and sight, And quaking ghosts doth over bear And aged ugly wight: His beard unkempt, his hosome fowl deformde in filthy wise A knot binds in, full loathsome stand in head his hollows eyes: He very man doth steer about his beat with his long over. He dryuyng now his lightened ship of burden toward the shore, Repairs to waves: and then his way Alcides doth require. The flock of ghosts all giving place: Allowed cries Charon dire, What way attemptest thou so bold? thy hastening pace here stay. But natheless Alcmena's son abiding no delay, Even with his own poale bet he doth full tame the shypman make, And climbs the ship: the bark that could full many peoples take, Did yield to one: he sat, the boat more heavy like to break With shyueryng joints on eitherside the lethey flood doth leak. Then tremble all the monsters huge, the Centaur's fierce of might, And Lapythes, kindled with much wine to wars and bloody fight. The lowest chanelles seeking out of Stygian pool a down, His lerney labour soar affright his sertyle heads doth drown. Of greedy Ditis after this doth then the house appear. The fierce and cruel Stygian dog doth fray the spirits there, The which with great and roaring sounds his hedds vpshakyng three, The kingdom keeps: his ugly head with filth full fowl to see The serpents lycke: his hears be fowl with vipers among, And at his crooked wrested tail doth hysse & dragon long: Like ire to shape. when him he wy his pace that way to take, His bristle hears he listeth up with fierce up bent snake: And sound sent out he soon perceives in his applied ear, Who even the sprights is won to sent. as soon as stood more near The Son of Jove, the doubtful dog strait couched down in den, And eke of them did fear. behold with doleful barking then The places dumb he makes a dreaded, the threatening serpent stout Through all the fields about doth hysse: the bawling noise sent out Of dreadful voice from triple mouth, even spryghts that happy be Doth make afraid. from left side then strait way undoth he The cruel taws, and lyons he worser once slain in Cleon field Against him sets, and cover doth himself with mighty shield. And bearing in his conquer ng hands a sturdy club of oak, Now ere, now there he olleth him about with often stre : His stripes he doubles: he subdued his threats assuaged all, And all his heads the weary dog at once full low let fallen, And quite out of the enne he fed. full greatly feared In regal throne) both, king and queen, and dad him to . And me likewise ne for to Hercl e. The mon with aude then thr , In lynked cham he : forgetting The dog the watch keeper the kingdom dark, at leng Laythe down his ears full so afraid: and suffering to be lend, And eke acknowledging his lord, following with lowly head, With tail that snakes theron doth bear he both his sides doth smyght. But after that to Taenate mouth we came, and clearness bright Had stroke his eyes of light unknown, good stomach yet again He takes although onse overcome, and now the heavy chain He raging shakes: he had almost his leader plucked from place, And headlong backward drawn to hell, and moved from his pace. And even to my hands Hercles then his eyes did backward cast, We both with double joined strength the dog out drawn at last For anger wood, and battles yet attempting all in vain, Brought up to world. as soon as he the clear air saw again, And spaces pure of bright fair poale had once beheld with eye, The night arose: his sight to ground he turned by and by, Cast down his eyes, and hateful day forthwith he put to flight, And backward turned away his look, And Straight with all his might To earth he falls: and underneath the shade of Hercles then He hid his head. therewith there came a great resort of men With clamour glad, that did the bay about their forhedds bring: And of the noble Hercules deserved praises sing. Oh gods the builders of the town, and which of dragon fell, The wild woods denns, and noble uva likewise of Dirces well, And Tyrian house inhabit eke of stranger wandering king. Which way y father towards thy death dooste thou thy self cast yet? Or whither goest thou mad man? flee, and lie thou closely hid, And yet from hands of Hercules this only mischief rid. No joyful meads do there bring forth with face so green and fair, Nor yet with gentle Zephyrus wags ripened corn in the. Nor any tree hath there such bows as do bring apples out. The barren compass of deep soil full filthy lies about, And withered with eternal drought the loathsome land doth uva e And bond full sad of things, and of the worllde the places last: The air unmoved stands, and night sytts there full dark to see In slothful world, all things by dread full horrible there be. And even far worse then death it self, is place where death doth bide.