PRINTED FOR THE MALONE SOCIETY BY
HORACE HART M.A., AT THE
OXFORD UNIVERSITY
PRESS
"THE TRAGEDY "OF 'LOCRINE )
1595
THE MALONE SOCIETY
REPRINTS , iVo.
1908
Ai
This reprint of the Tragedy of Locrine has been pre pared by Ronald B. McKerrow and checked by the General Editor.
Nov. 1908. W. W. Greg.
Locrine was entered on the Stationers' Register as follows :
xx° die lulij [ 1 594]
Entred for his Copie vnder thandes of the Wardens. The Thomas creede. lamentable Tragedie of Locrine, the eldest sonne of Kinge Brutus, discoursinge the warres of the Brittans &c . . . vj*
[Arber's Transcript, II.
A quarto printed by Creede himself appeared with the date 179?. The allusion in 1. 2277 shows that it cannot have been published before the beginning of 3 8 Eliz. This fixes the date of issue between 1 7 Nov. 1 y 9 $• and 24 March following. Of the quarto there are no less than three copies in the British Museum (C. 34. b. 28, 239. e. 32, and 80. d. i) besides others in the Bodleian Library and at Trinity College, Cambridge. All five have been collated for the purpose of the present reprint. No variants have been observed. All alike want the first leaf, which was presumably blank. The quarto is printed in roman type of a body closely resembling modern English (20 11. = 94 mm.).
The play was also included among the additional pieces added to the third folio of Shakespeare's works in \66\. It was printed from the quarto with certain corrections. From the third folio was printed the fourth folio in i<58f. A list is given below of the chief readings in which the 1 664 folio differs from the quarto. The later folio has only been quoted where there is disagreement
between the earlier folio and the quarto. Neither folio possesses independent authority.
The authorship is doubtful. There clearly exists some intimate connexion between Locrine and Selimus^ several passages being, with slight variations, common to the two plays. Locrine also exhibits peculiarities of style belonging to, and lines and phrases occurring in the recognized works of, both Greene and Peele. Whoever may have been the author, the date of composition probably preceded that of publica tion by almost a decade. The initials W. S. on the title-page of the quarto, which later led to its inclusion among Shakespeare's works, may have been intended to connect the play with his name, though whether more than the overseership was implied is doubtful
VI
LIST OF IRREGULAR AND DOUBTFUL READINGS OF THE QUARTO
together with the variants of the Folio of 1 66^ and the corresponding readings of that of 1 6% 5.
Fi, 1664. (B.M., 80. 1. 3); F2, 168? (B.M., ^43. m. 2); F indicates a reading of Fi not materially altered in F2.
Heading : om. lamentable and all
after Brutus. F I Actus 'Primus. Scena Prima. (similarly in Latin throughout) F
13 fearing F
16 amid Jjj among F
21 ftrook, F
27 fcare F
34 Corineius , Q, F: Fi has this spelling generally in the first half of the play ; Fx throughout.
38 ofth' Ocean, F
49 arrogance, F
5-7 neare Jjjj, ne're F
64 ftrangle §^ ftruggle F
77 mortalll ^ mortal F
84 omitted in F
87 Ancora ^ F : read Aurora
88 Sun-bright g, F: ? read
Sun, bright gardiant J>, F 90 word, g^i world, F 99 Corinus g, Fi : Corineius
Fi : read Corineus 10 1 I fear'd not t 'yield F
101 Cod g^ God F
thoughts, F 105 in your Lordings F
c. w. Thrafi- ^ 1I^ Scareth F 1 1 y with his Ixions J>, F: ? om.
his foone, JjJ^ foon, F : ? read
fonne,
116 Grecians Q^ Grecians F: ? read Gr<ecias
137 forcftgj. forc'tF
138 propound, J£, Fz : pro
pound. Fi
140 vnto §^i_ into F
141 Whereat F Corineius §^ F
149 hundred F
151 ftrons gj flronds F
153 comne JSJj come F
178 thofe F
181 age. gj age: F
185: Brethren, F
195: inheritance F
200 deuolted ^ devolted F
202 Bru. But Fi : Brutus. But
F2
Vll
103 wh° Sj, Who F in cannot now be F my g, F: ? re 'ad any tread At their own honour my may dens j^ my pure Maiden F: ? read any maydens
140 lunoger, <j^ Junoger^ F:
read Innogen^
141 profeed <3^ proceed F 147 Yoongft Jjjj Youngeft F 151 thoughts, ^Jj thoughts.
F
154 among F 15-6 violence, ^, F 160 hafteneth F itfi o're-caft F 171 ? read too too enuious 176 Demagorgons 6)^ Dema-
gorgon's F
178 Lacus. j»>, F: read E*«tf. 179-80 Rhodomanth, JS>5 F. 185 Euridies, gj Euridice^ F 185: made the ftones, birds,
beafts, F 187 Crebus^^ F: readErehus^
Fleithonus ^, F : r<W Tithonus
Mars. 6), F
Tifphone. ^ Tiftphoen. F 304 his coarfe, F 307 Exeunt. F 317 faith gj 00*. F 3 16 Confutations g, F
afward §^ arfward F 319 my moift dainty F 314-5: Cu-prit, G^ Cufrit, F 331 heard the voice F 336 ftarve F 343 worft g, F 371 apparell F
thou hadft been F
406 s.d. belongs to I. 408 : F
as
_ 4? 7 Eftrilo^F-.readEjlrild,
468 Pojlhumius F
469 pitch'd F 48* Enthroniz'd F 48^ bays, F
491 AJlr.<H^Ejlr.Fi\Elftr^ 499 muficke g, F ^ Sj. the F comforted g, F : ? read
conforted
5 1 3 on the waves F yiy Borrat ^ Boreas F 5 3 1 of Weft, F i : of the Weft,
Fi 548 Penthiftlea gj Pentke-
filea F
5(^3 the ^ thee F 56^7 Exeunt. F 568 The i. &*»*. g^ 5^»<«
7>r///z. F
5-71, 581 Trom. F 5:73 ennie Jjjj envy F 581 compare JJj, compare : F 587 Trnm. g^ Traw. Fi :
Trom. Fi
Cobler : ^ Cobler. F Cat hues ^ Cathnes F don J>, F capoutaile, g^ capontail,
F
-3 bafti-nano ^Jj baftin- ado F
Thra. How F 689 omitted in F 6$J Troialus, jgj Troilus, F 711 &c. g^ wild-fire and
pitch. F 719 Ha? g^ Ha, F
710 abominable F
711 your ftate. F
Vlll
73$ redifie gj reedife, Fi :
re-edify, F^ 744 your ftore F
763 Hnmber g^ Uumber F
764 Cathuefta. g^ Cathnefta. F Caledon,§[^ Calcedon, Fi :
Chalcedon, F^ encreafe g^ encreafe, F fheltiers fhelters F
773 774 778
779 780
800
807 809 8 10 8ai 833 85-0
85-7
871
875- 883 887 888
901 903
Exit. 6}^ Exeunt. F:t Exit
Hubba. Enter Albanact^ Cloiunes
'with him. F Alb. Thou F infolencie, g^ infolency,
F : ? read infolence, The ftxt Act. g^ Seen a
Sexta. F
fquadrants g, F As when . . . hundred F hundred F numb, g : Humb. F enters . . . kills F be their g, Fi : by their
Fz : ? read be her Fhabus g^ Pfahts F ouerrun ^ ouerturn F Cancufus, §^ Caucafus^ F breathe F threatnings, JJ, F: read
threatenings, night <2, F: read might fight, g, F: tread flight, mors, g^ Mors, F Neu'r j^ Ne're F er/ gj^ «/ F Trumpart. F but I F Cook fhops Fi : Cook-
{hops Fi fcreeking, g, F 00*. Exeunt. F
9x7 T^ 8.
/^o;^. F: read The 7. 944 for this thy F
967 th' Egyptian F
968 her g, F: ? read his 997 lightning F
1004 traiterous F 1015- them g, F : ? read thence 1036 by the wicked F 1039 magnanimious g^ mag nanimous F
1054 Corrineus g^ Corineius F 105:7 faires gj Fairies F 1066 ceafe my F 1088 Almanact. gj Albanad. F 1096 Anb g^ And F ftrew'd F
1104 groves that now F
1105 favour F
1115" renowmed g^renown'd F 1 1 17 Sifiphon. gj^ Syftphus. F 1130-1 accidents Makes g. Ft :
accidents Make Fi 1135* Temdos. g^ Tenedos. F ii<>6 dorth g, F (/. e. troth) 1187 bridewell , §l\Bride'well:> F
1 1 89 your gj^ you F 1114 haft undone F
I^^^ hembde gj^ hemm'd F 1116 Adament^g^: Adamant,
F
1141 your g, F: ? read yon 1148 Troinonant, gj^ Troimo-
vant, Fi : Troinovant^ FT. 115:3-4 doubted knight, g, F:
read doubled night, 1163 unweildy F 1167 loofe g, Fi : lofe Fi prefle, F
1190 that they gj they that F 1197 breathe F
1310 Yeag:YouFi: YourFi
IX
Accompaie <gj. Accom pany F
Cerannia, <g, F: read Ceraunia,
13x7 he had F
1318 Poliphlemus g^ Poliphemus
Fi : "Polyphemus Fi Anthropomphagie g, Fi : Anthropophagie Fa : ? read Anthropophagi Albanacts §^ Albanact* s F : ? read Albanactus
1340 ylbany. §^ Albany. F
134? ile&: TJeFi: I'll Fx
135-3 T#£» Omphale F
1368 wore F
1381 triumphanly, J£ : trium phantly, F
1387 biood Jjfj blood F
1426" golden gj golden Crown, F
1417 fceptler <g^ Scepter F
1431 manortiall gj mavor- tiall F
1433 Compaftgj Compact F
1459 bee gj be. F
1461 Loc. If F
1465- moue <j^ move F : ? read mone (/. e. moan)
1468 being a conquerour, F
1473 mizt <H± mixt F
1477 cought. g^ caught. F
148 x declard, g^ declar'd, F: ? read declare,
1491 A fold. §^ Sold. F
1498 depriv'ft F
15-03 fltiue gj ftrive F
15-10 thee g^ thee. F
1515- Better to Hue, g,F: Iread Better fo Hue, or Better to loue,
15-30 dead JJj dread F
15-39 <luit &
15:64 fetled. F
1576 bafilifkt was hatched <£:
Bafilisk hath hatched F 15-97 om. faying F 15-98 St. How F : Str. How Fa 1609 I bin ^ 1 had been F 1619 He jits do'wn and pulls out F 164.6, 1647 which <£: Which F 1648-9 voice ft arts up, and puts
his meat F \66i rend F 1669 He makes F l6jl flrikes F 1674 Exeunt. F 1691 fro <2, Fi : from Fi 1695- wiih Jijj with F 1 70 a where §j Where F 1706 garnifh J2j garniflit F I7aa felici §^ f 02 lid F 1713 Ehen malorem §^ Eheu
malorum F
i-ji-j pillow-beres, F 1737 Styx, F 1741 rend F 1744 ftarved F 1747 the accurfed gods, F 1749 this deathfull like life F 1761 withem feed Fi: with 'em
feed Fa
1761 leave the tumbling F 1769 Exeunt. F 1775: Tincriis exceftuat <gj
Trinacriis exatftuat Fi :
Trinacris extefluat Fa 1784 mifvPd, gj mifus'd, F
1796 by gj my F
1797 to haplefs Albion^ F
1 8x6 Gnendolinas <H^ Guendo- Itnaes Fi : Guende lines Fa
1837 ftrooken gj ftrucken F
1 868 1 871
1840 wert £L: were't F 184.3 rdefend F i8?tf mean'ft F 185:8 ugly F
p lb that F
vfe g, F : ? read rule
om. vnto F
<w#. the F
1917 learne <gj learnt F 1548 ftands gj ftand F 1970, 2022 Habren ^ F (see
List of Characters) 1974 om. pettie F 1983 Lac. jj)j Locr. F 2 02 1 a fide, jg^ *y^. F 2034 don ^j done F 1048 vaftall <H± veftal F 2,06 1, 1076 alarum. F
Thrfmachus, J2j Thrap- macus, Fi : Thrapmachus^
Simois, Q, F: read Simois. Troyno-
1084 Guendolme F
2087 curtleaxe, g^r curtle axe,
F : Curtle- Axe, Fi ^lo^ haftenenedg^haftenedF 1107 Forwell gj Farewell F a no Thr ufts F 21 16 fortnne, J)j fortune, F ai 20 om. as F 2131 Kills F 2142 in his foul F 2144 Natnres Jj)j Natures F
21 57 glaine, ^ glain, F : read
glaiue,
2158 amlieft |>j am left F 2177 adamintiue §j adaman-
tive F: read adaman tine
2187 corpes 6>j corPs F 220^ gtacious Faries §^ gra cious Fairies F 2216 what §^ What F 2225 fartheft F 2238 thinft j^ think'ft F 2247 This prefent ftreame F 2262 vauts, gj vaults, F 2272 fee <g^ fet F 2280 wold 9 : Would F
2078 Traynouant
want F
2079 Mounted with courfers F withpearles, Jjjj with
pearles F
In the quarto the headlines on the versos of 62, C2, Di, Ei, Fr, Gi, Hi, 1 1, and Ki have the misprint lamentable. The spelling of the proper names constantly varies in the folios as well as in the quarto. No attempt has been made to record such variations. Evident misprints of the folios have also been disregarded.
XI
LIST OF CHARACTERS
in order of appearance.
his sons.
followers of Brutus.
HUBBA, his son.
SEGAR, a Scythian officer.
a Captain under Albanact.
TRUSSIER, a Scythian officer.
OLIVER, a rustic.
WILLIAM, his son.
MARGERY, his daughter.
the Ghost of Albanact.
two Soldiers.
a Page.
SABREN (or HABREN), daughter
of Locrine and Estrild. MADAN, son of Locrine and
Guendoline. the Ghost of Corineus.
ATE, as Chorus. BRUTUS, King of Britain. LCCRINE CAMBER ALBANACT ASSARACHUS CORINEUS
THRAsiMACHUS,son toCorineus. GUENDOLINE, daughter to Co rineus.
DEBON, friend to Corineus. STRUMBO, a fantastical cobler. TROMPART, his man. DOROTHY, his love. HUMBER, King of Scythia. ESTRILD, his wife.
Scythian soldiers, Lords of Albany, Albanact's soldiers, Locrine's soldiers, Thrasimachus' soldiers.
in the dumb shows : I, a Lion, a Bear, an Archer • II, Perseus, Andromeda, Cepheus, Phineus; III, a Crocodile, a Snake; IV, Omphale, Hercules ; V, Jason, Creon's daughter, Medea.
Trussier (or Thrassier) is mentioned as entering at 11. 767 and 918, but has no part assigned to him. Assarachus and Corineus are perhaps intended to be Brutus' brothers, but the relationship is by no means clear; cf. 11. 123, 141, I???, 1796, 1804. Possibly the cold Assarachus' whom Brutus calls his ceame' (1. 1x3) is another person.
The name cHabren? which appears in place of Sabren in 11. 1970 and ioaa is an alternative, and according to Harrison (Description of Britain, i. 13) the correct form. The spelling of several of the names varies.
xu
THE
Lamentable Tragedie of
w*,the eldeft fonncof King Brutus^ difcour- fing the warrcs of the BrtttonesjxA Httnnes, with their difcomfiture:
The Britaines viftorie with their Accident s^and the . NaUJJeplcafartthe*
Newly fetfoorth, txierfeenc and correQed, By rr. s.
v
L O N D O 1ST Printed by Thomas Grcede*
A ^ RECTO (BODL.)
The lamentable T^agedie
of Z#r/;*%theeldeft fonne of King Brutw> difcour-
fmg the warres of \ht-Brb&faes and Hunnes^
tvti\) their difiomfourejbe B ritaines wittery
with their accidents,and the death
Tkefirft4ff. $ewe \.
f
. • v -
Enter Aty with thunder and lightning all in black,
with a burning torch in one hand, and a bloodie
y fwoord in the other hand , andprefently let there
come foohh a Lion nmning after aBeareqrany
other beaft > then come rfbbrth an Archer who
: muft kill the Lion in a dumbc (how,and then de part.
• .
A Mightic Lion ruler efthewoods, ***Of wondrous ftrength and great proportion, With hideous rtoyfc fcarring the trettiDling trees, With yelling clamors (baking allthe earth, »
A } Traufcft
A3 RECTO
THE
Lamentable Tragedie of
Locrine, the eldeft fonne of King Brutus^ difcour-
fing the warres of the Britaines, and Hunnes,
with their difcomfiture :
The Britaines victorie -with their Accidents^ and the
death of Albanact. No lejje pleafant then
profitable.
Newly fet foorth, ouerfeene and corrected, By W. &
LONDON
Printed by Thomas Creede.
15-95*.
SC. I
The lamentable Tragedie
of Locrine, the eldeft fonne of King Brutus, difcour-
fing the warres of the Britaines and Hunnes,
with their difcomfiture, the Britaines victory
with their accidents, and the death
of Albanact.
The first Act. Scene i.
Enter Atey with thunder and lightning all in black, with a burning torch in one hand, and a bloodie fwoord in the other hand, and prefently let there come foorth a Lion running after a Beare or any other beaft, then come foorth an Archer who muft kill the Lion in a dumbe fhow, and then de part. Remaine Atey.
Atey. In panam fectatur & Vmbra. 10
A Mightie Lion ruler of the woods, -"•Of wondrous ftrength and great proportion, With hideous noyfe fcarring the trembling trees, With yelling clamors fliaking all the earth,
A 3 Trauerft
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine Trauerft the groues, and chaft the wandring beafts. Long did he raunge amid the fliadie trees, And draue the filly beafts before his face, When liiddeinly from out a thornie bufh, A dreadfull Archer with his bow ybent,
20 Wounded the Lion with a difmall fliaft,
So he him ftroke that it drew forth the blood, And fild his furious heart with fretting yre, But all in vaine he threatneth teeth and pawes, And fparkleth fire from forth his flaming eies, For the fliarpe fhaft gaue him a mortall wound, So valiant Brute the terror of the world, Whofe only lookes did Icarre his enemies, The Archer death brought to his lateft end. Oh what may long abide aboue this ground,
30 In ftate of blifle and healthfull happinefle.
Exit. The firft Act. Scene. 2.
n
Enter Brutus carried in a chaire, Locrine, Camber^ Al- banact) Corineius, Guendelin, Affaracus, Debon, Thra- Jimachus.
Brutus. Moft loyall Lords and faithful followers That haue with me vnworthie Generall, Pafled the greedie gulfe of Ocean, Leauing the confines of faire Italie, 4° Behold your Brutus draweth nigh his end, And I muft leaue you though againft my will, My finewes ftirunke, my numbed fences faile, A chilling cold poflefleth all my bones,
Blacke
the eldest Jonne of King Brutus. Blacke vgly death with vifage pale and wanne, Prefents himfelfe before my dazeled eies, And with his dart prepared is to ftrike, Thefe armes my Lords, thefe neuer daunted armes, That oft haue queld the courage of my foes, And eke difmayd my neighbours arrogancie, Now yeeld to death, orelaid with crooked age, jo Deuoyd of ftrength and of their proper force, Euen as the luftie cedar worne with yeares, That farre abroad her daintie odore throwes, Mongft all the daughters of proud Lebanon, This heart my Lords, this neare appalled heart, That was a terror to the bordring lands, A dolefull fcourge vnto my neighbor Kings, Now by the weapons of vnpartiall death, Is cloue afimder and bereft of life, As when the f acred oake with thunderbolts, 60
Sent from the fiery circuit of the heauens, Sliding along the aires celeftiall valts, Is rent and clouen to the verie rootes. In vaine therefore I ftrangle with this foe, Then welcome death, fince God will haue it fo.
Affar. Alafle my Lord, we forrow at your cafe, And greeue to fee your perfon vexed thus, But what fo ere the fates determind haue, It lieth not in vs to difanull,
And he that would annihillate his minde, 70
Soaring with Icarus too neare the Sunne, May catch a fall with yoong Bellerophon, For when the fatall fifters haue decreed To feperate vs from this earthly mould,
No
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine No mortalll force can countermaund their minds : Then worthie Lord fince ther's no way but one, Ceafe your laments, and leaue your grieuous mone. Corin. Your highnefle knows how many victories How many trophees I erected haue,
SoTryumphantly in euery place we came The Grecian Monarke warlike PandraJJus, And all the crew of the Molofsians, Goffarius the arme ftrong King of Gaules, And all the borders of great Aquitane^ Haue felt the force of our victorious armes, And to their coft beheld our chiualrie, Where ere Ancora handmayd of the Sunne, Where ere the Sun-bright gardiant of the day, Where ere the ioyfull day with chearfull light,
90 Where ere the light illuminates the word, The Troyans glorie flies with golden wings, Wings that do ioare beyond fell enuious flight, The fame of Brutus and his followers Pearceth the skies, and with the skies the throne Of mightie loue Commaunder of the world, Then worthie Brutus^ leaue thefe fad laments, Comfort your felfe with this your great renowne, And feare not death though he feeme terrible.
Brutus. Nay Corinus you miftake my mynd ioo In conftruing wrong the caufe of my complaints, I feard to yeeld my felfe to fatall death, Cod knowes it was the leaft of all my thought, A greater care torments my verie bones, And makes me tremble at the thought of it, And in you Lordings doth the fubftance lie.
Tkrafi-
the eldest fonne of King Brutus.
Tbraji. Molt noble Lord, if ought your loyall Accomplifh may, to eafe your lingring grief, (peers I in the name of all proteft to you, That we will boldly enterprife the fame, Were it to enter to black Tartarus, no
Where triple Cerberus with his venomous throte, Scarreth the ghoafts with high refounding noyfe, Wele either rent the bowels of the earth, Searching the entrailes of the brutifh earth, Or with his Ixions ouerdaring foone, Be bound in chaines of euerduring fteele.
Bru. The harken to your foueraigns lateft words, In which I will vnto you all vnfold, Our royall mind and refolute intent, When golden Hebe daughter to great loue, no
Couered my manly cheeks with youthful downe, Th'vnhappie {laughter of my lucklefle fire, Droue me and old AJJarachus mine eame, As exiles from the bounds of Italy ^ So that perforce we were conftraind to flie To Grecians Monarke noble Pandrajjus, There I alone did vndertake your caufe, There I reftord your antique libertie, Though Grecia fround, and all Mollofsia ftormd, Though braue Antigonus with martiall band, 130
In pitched field encountred me and mine, Though PandraJJus and his contributories, With all the rout of their confederates, Sought to deface our glorious memorie, And wipe the name or Troians from the earth, Him did I captiuate with this mine arme,
B And
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine And by compulfion forcft him to agree To certain artickles which there we did propound, From Gracia through the boifterous Hellefpont^
1 4o We came vnto the fields of Lestrigon, Whereas our brother Corineius was, Which when we pafled the Cicillian gulfe, And fo transfretting the Illician fea, Arriued on the coafts of Aquitane, Where with an armie of his barbarous Gaules Goffarius and his brother Gathelus Encountring with our hoaft, fuftaind the foile, And for your fakes my Turnus there I loft, Turnus that flew fix hundreth men at armes
i jo All in an houre, with his fharpe battle-axe, From thence vpon the ftrons of Albion To Corns hauen happily we came, And queld the giants, comne of Albions race, With Gogmagog fonne to Samotbeus^ The curfed Captaine of that damned crew, And in that He at length I placed you. Now let me fee if my laborious toiles, If all my care, if all my greeuous wounds, If all my diligence were well imploid.
160 Corin. When fir ft I followed thee & thine (braue I hazarded my life and deareft blood, (king)
To purchace fauour at your princely hands, And for the fame in daungerous attempts In fundry conflicts and in diuers broiles, I fliewd the courage of my manly mind, For this I combated with Gatbelus^ The brother to Goffarius of Gaule,
For
the eldeftfonne to King Brutus. For this I fought with furious Gogmagog^ A fauage captaine of a fauage crew, And for thefe deeds braue Cormvale I receiu'd, i/o A gratefull gift giuen by a gratious King, And for this gift, this life and deareft blood, Will Corineus fpend for Brutus good.
Deb. And what my frend braue prince hath voud The fame wil Debon do vnto his end. (to you,
Bru. Then loyall peeres fince you are all agreed, And refolute to follow Brutus hoafts, Fauour my fonnes, fauour thefe Orphans Lords, And fhield them from the daungers of their foes, Locrineihe columne of my familie, 180
And onely piller of my weakned age. Locrine draw neare, draw neare vnto thy lire, And take thy lateft blefsings at his hands, And for thou art the eldeft of my fonnes, Be thou a captaine to thy bretheren, And imitate thy aged fathers fteps, Which will conduct thee to true honors gate, For if thou follow facred vertues lore, Thou ftialt be crowned with a lawrell braunch, And weare a wreath of fempiternall fame, 190
Sorted amongft the glorious happie ones.
Locrin. If Locrine do not follow your aduife, And beare himfelfe in all things like a prince That feekes to amplifie the great renowne Left vnto him for an inheritage By thofe that were his anceftors, Let me be flung into the Ocean, And fwallowed in the bowels of the earth.
B 2 Or
The lamentaUe Tragedie of Locrine^ Or let the ruddie lightning of great loue, 200 Defcend vpon this my deuolted head.
Brutus taking Guendoline by the hand. But for I fee you all to be in doubt, who lhall be matched with our royall fonne, Locrine receiue this prelent at my hand, A gift more rich then are the wealthie mines Found in the bowels of America^ Thou fhalt be fpoufed to faire Guendoline^ Loue her, and take her, for fhe is thine owne, If fo thy vnckle and her felfe do pleafe. no Corin. And herein how your highnes honors me It cannot be in my ipeech expreft, For carefull parents glorie not fo much At their honour and promotion, As for to fee the iffiie of their blood Seated in honor and proiperitie.
Guend. And far be it from my maydens thoughts To contradict her aged fathers will, Therefore fince he to whom I muft obey Hath giuen me now vnto your royall felfe, 220 1 will not ftand aloofe from off the lure, Like craftie dames that moft of all deny That, which they moft defire to poflefle. Brutus turning to Locrine.
Locrine kneeling.
Then now my fonne thy part is on the ftage, For thou muft beare the perfon of a King.
Puts the Crowne on his head. Locrine ftand vp, and weare the regal I Crowne, And thinke vpon the ftate of Maieftie,
That
the eldest fonne of King Brutus.
That thou with honor well maift weare the crown, 130 And if thou tendreft thefe my lateft words, As thou requirft my foule to be at reft, As thou defireft thine owne fecuritie, Gherifh and loue thy new betrothed wife.
Locrin. No longer let me wel enioy the crowne, Then I do peerlefle Guendoline.
Brut. Camber.
Cam. My Lord.
Brut. The glorie of mine age,
And darling of thy mother lunoger, 140
Take thou the South for thy dominion, From thee there (hall profeed a royall race, That fhall maintaine the honor of this land, That fway the regall fcepter with their hands.
Turning to Albanact. And Albanact thy fathers onely ioy, Yoongft in yeares, but not the yoongft in mind, A perfect patterne of all chiualrie, Take thou the North for thy dominion, A country full of hills and ragged rockes, i?o
Replenifhed with fearce vntamed beafts, As correfpondent to thy martiall thoughts, Liue long my fonnes with endleffe happinefle, And beare firme concordance amongft your felues, Obey the counfels of thefe fathers graue, That you may better beare out violence, But fuddeinly through weaknefle of my age, And the defect of youthfull puiflance, My maladie increafeth more and more, And cruell death haftneth his quickned pace, ^6o
B 3 To
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine To difpoflefle me of my earthly fhape, Mine eies wax dimme, ouercaft with clouds of age, The pangs of death compafle my crazed bones, Thus to you all my blefsings I bequeath, And with my blefsings, this my fleeting foule. My glafle is runne, and all my miferies Do end with life : death clofeth vp mine eies, My foule in hafte flies to the Elifian fields.
He dieth.
170 Loc. Accurfed ftarres, damd and accurfed ftarres, To abreuiate my noble fathers life, Hard-harted gods, and too enuious fates, Thus to cut off my fathers fatall thred, Brutus that was a glorie to vs all, Brutus that was a terror to his foes, Alafle too foone by Demagorgons knife, The martiall Brutus is bereft of life. No fad complaints may moue iuft Lacus.
Corin. No dreadfull threats can feare iudge Rho-
180 Wert thou as ftrong as mightie Hercules, (domanth, That tamde the hugie monfters of the world, Plaid ft thou as fweet, on the fweet founding lute, As did the fpoufe of faire Bundles, That did enchant the waters with his noife, And made ftones, birds, and beafts, to lead a dance, Conftraind the hillie trees to follow him, Thou couldft not moue the iudge of Crebus, Nor moue compafsion in grimme Plutos heart, For fatall Mars expecteth all the world,
^9Q And euerie man muft tread the way of death, Braue Tantalus the valiant Pelops fire,
Gueft
the eldest fonne of King Brutus. Gueft to the gods, fuffred vn timely death, And old Fleithonus husband to the morne, And eke grim Minos whom iuft lupiter Deignd to admit vnto his facrifice, The thundring trumpets of blood-thirftie Mars. The fearfull rage of fell Tijipbone. The boiftrous waues of humid Ocean j Are inftruments and tooles of difmall death. Then noble coufin ceafe to mourne his chaunce, 300 Whofe age & yeares were fignes that he fhuld die. It refteth now that we interre his bones, That was a terror to his enemies. Take vp the coarfe, and princes hold him dead, Who while he liu'd, vpheld the Troyan ftate. Sound drums and trumpets, march to Troinouant, There to prouide our chieftaines funerall.
The first Act. Scene 3. Enter Strumbo aboue in a gowne, with inke and pa- sc' '" per in his hand, faying $ 310
Strum. Either the foure elements, the feuen pla nets and all the particuler ftarres of the pole Anta- ftick, are aduerfatiue againft me, or elfe I was begot ten and borne in the wane of the Moone, when euerie thing as faith Lactantius in his fourth booke of Confutations dooth fay, goeth afward. I mai- fters I, you may laugh, but I muft weepe; you may iov, but I muft forrow; {heading fait teares from the watrie fountaines of my mofte daintie faire eies, along my comely and fmooth cheeks, in as 3*0
great
The lamentable T rage die of Locrine great plentie as the water runneth from the buc- kingtubbes, or red wine out of the hogs heads : for truft me gentlemen and my verie good friends, and fo foorth : the little god, nay the defperate god Cu- prit) with one of his vengible birdbolts, hath fhot me vnto the heele : fo not onlie, but alfo, oh fine phrafe, I burne, I burne, and I burne a, in loue, in loue, and in loue a, ah Stmmbo what haft thou feen, not Dina with the Afle Tom ? Yea with thefe eies
330 thou haft feene her, and therefore pull them out : for they will worke thy bale. Ah Strumbo haft thou heard, not the voice of the Nightingale, but a voice fweeter then hers, yea with thefe eares haft thou heard them, and therefore cut them off, for they haue caufde thy forrow. Nay Strumbo kill thy felfe, drowne thy felfe, hang thy felfe, fterue thy felfe. Oh but then I fhall leaue my fweet heart. Oh my heart, Now pate for thy maifter, I will dite an aliquant loue-piftle to her, and then ftie hearing the grand
340 verboiitie of my fcripture, will loue me prefently.
Let him write a litle and then read. My penne is naught, gentlemen lend me a knife, I thinke the more hafte the worft Ipeed.
Then write againe, and after read. So it is miftrefle Dorothie, and the fole eflence of my foule, that the little fparkles of affection kindled in me towards your fweet felfe, hath now increafed to a great flame, and will ere it be long confume my poore heart, except you with the pleafant water of
3 jo your fecret fountaine, quench the furious heate of the fame. Alafle I am a gentleman of good fame, and
name,
the eldest fonne of King Brutus. name, maiefticaU, in parrell comely, in gate portlie. Let not therefore your gentle heart be fo hard as to defpife a proper tall yoong man of a handfome life, and by defpifing him, not onlie, but alfo to kill him. Thus expecting time and tide, I bid you farewell. Your feruant, Signior Strumbo.
Oh wit, Oh pate, O memorie, O hand, O incke, O paper. Well now I will fend it away. Trompart^ Trompart) what a villaine is this ? Why firra, come 360 when your maifter calls you. T romp art.
Trompart entring faith ; Anon fir.
Strumbo. Thou knoweft my prettie boy what a good maifter I haue bene to thee euer fince I tooke thee into my feruice.
Trom. I fir.
Strum. And how I haue cherifhed thee alwaies, as if you had bene the fruit of my loines, flefh of my flefh, and bone of my bone? 370
Trom. I fir.
Strum. Then fliew thy felfe herein a truftie fer uant, and carrie this letter to miftrefle Dorotbie^ and tell her. (Speaking in his eare.
Exit Trompart.
Strum. Nay maifters you fhall fee a marriage by and by. But here flie comes. Now muft I frame my amorous pafsions.
Enter Dorothie and Trompart.
Doro. Signior Strumbo^ well met, I receiued your 3 80 letters by your man here, who told mee a pittifull ftorie or your anguifh, and fo vnderftanding your
C pafsions
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine pafsions were fo great, I came hither fpeedily.
Strum. Oh my fweet and pigfney, the fecunditie of my ingenie is not fo great, that may declare vnto you the forrowful fobs and broken fleeps, that I fuf- fred for your fake; and therefore I defire you to re- ceiue me into your familiaritie.
For your loue doth lie, 390 As neare and as nigh :
Vnto my heart within r, As mine eye to my noje, My legge vnto my hofe^ And my flesh vnto my skin.
Dor. Truly M. Strumbo^ you fpeake too learned ly for mee to vnderftand the drift of your mind, and therfore tell your tale in plaine termes, and leaue off your darke ridles.
Strum. Alafle miftrefle Dorothie this is my lucke, 400 that when I moft would, I cannot be vnderftood : fo that my great learning is an inconuenience vnto me. But to fpeake in plaine termes, I loue you mi- ftrefle Dorothie^ if you like to accept me into your fa miliaritie.
Dor. If this be all I am content.
Turning to the people.
Strum. Saift thou fo fweet wench, let me lick thy
toes. Far well miftrefle. If any of you be in loue,pro-
uide ye a capcafe full of new coined wordes, and
410 then fhall you foone haue the fuccado de labres^ and
fomething elfe. (Exeunt.
The
the eldeft fonne to King Brutus.
The first Act. Scene 4.
Enter Locrine, Guendoline, Camber, Albanact, Corineus, AJJaracus, Deb on, Thrajimachus.
Locrine. Vncle and princes of braue 'Britany, Since that our noble father is intombd, As beft befeemd fo braue a prince as he, If fo you pleafe, this day my loue and I, Within the temple of Concordia, Will folemnize our roiall marriage.
Thra. Right noble Lord, your fubiects euery one, Muft needs obey your highnefle at commaund, Efpecially in fuch a caufe as this, That much concerns your highnefle great content.
Locr. Then frolick lordings to fair Concords wals, Where we will pafle the day in knightly fports, The night in dauncing and in figured maskes, And offer to God Rifus all our fports.
Exeunt.
The 2. Act. Scene i.
Enter Atey as before, after a litle lightning and thun- dring, let there come forth this fhow. Perfeus and Andromeda, hand in hand, and Cepheus alfo with fwords and targets. Then let there come out of an other doore, Phineus, all blacke in armour, with Aethiopians after him, driuing in Perfeus, and ha iring taken away Andromeda, let them depart. Ate remaining, faying ; Ate. Regit omnia numen.
C 2 When
sc
SC. V
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine, 440 When Perfeus married faire Andromeda^ The onlie daughter of king Cepheus, He thought he had eftablifht well his Crowne, And that his kingdome fhould for aie endure. But loe proud Pbineus with a band of men, Contriu'd of fun-burnt Aetbiopians : By force of armes the bride he tooke from him, And turnd their ioy into a floud of teares. So fares it with yoong Locrine and his loue, He thinkes this marriage tendeth to his weale, 4?° But this foule day, this foule accurfed day, Is the beginning of his miferies. Behold where Humber and his Scitbians Approcheth nigh with all his warlike traine, I need not I, the fequel (hall declare, What tragicke chances fall out in this warre.
// The 2. Scene.
Enter Humber^ Hubba, Eftrilo, Segar, and their foul-
diers.
Hum. At length the fnaile doth clime the higheft 460 Afcending vp the ftately caftle walls, (toPs>
At length the water with continuall drops, Doth penetrate the hardeft marble ftone, At length we are arriued in Albim^ Nor could the barbarous Dacian foueraigne, Nor yet the ruler of braue Belgia Staie vs from cutting ouer to this He, Whereas I heare a troope of Phrigians Vnder the conduct of Postumius fonne, Haue pitched vp lordly pauillions,
And
the eldest fonne of King Brutus.
And hope to profper in this louely He : 470
But I will fruftrate all their foolifh hope, And teach them that the Scitkian Emperour Leades fortune tied in a chaine of gold, Conftraining her to yeeld vnto his will, And grace him with their regall diademe: Which I will haue maugre their treble hoafts, And all the power their pettie kings can make.
Hubba. If fhe that rules faire Rhamnis golden gate Graunt vs the honour of the victorie, As hitherto (he alwaies fauourd vs, 480
Right noble father, we will rule the land, Enthronized in feates of T of ace itones, That Locrine and his brethren all may know, None muft be king but Humber and his fonne.
Hum. Courage my fonne, fortune fhall fauour vs, And yeeld to vs the coronet of bay, That decketh none but noble conquerours : But what faith Estrild to thefe regions ? How liketh (he the temperature thereof, Are they not pleafant in her gratious eies ? 49°
Astr. The plaines my Lord garnifht with Floras And ouerfpred with party colored flowers, (welth Do yeeld fweet contentation to my mind, The aierie hills enclofd with fhadie groues, The groues replenifht with fweet chirping birds, The birds refounding heauenly melodie, Are equall to the groues of TheJJaly, Where Phabus with the learned Ladies nine, Delight themfelues with muficke harmonic, And from the moifture of the mountaine tops, joo
C 3 The
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine The filent fprings daunce oowne with murmuring And water al y ground with criftal waues, (ftreams, The gentle blafts of Eurus modeft winde, Mouing the pittering leaues of Siluanes woods, Do equall it with Tempes paradice, And thus comforted all to one effect, Do make me thinke thefe are the happie lies, Moft fortunate, if Humber may them winne.
Hubba. Madam, where refolution leads the way,
j 10 And courage followes with imboldened pace, Fortune can neuer vfe her tyrannic, For valiantnefle is like vnto a rocke That ftandeth in the waues of Ocean, Which though the billowes beat on euery fide, And Sorras fell with his tempeftuous ftormes, Bloweth vpon it with a hideous clamour, Yet it remaineth ftill vnmooueable.
Hum. Kingly refolu'd thou glorie of thy fire, But worthie Segar what vncoth nouelties
jio Bringft thou vnto our royall maieftief5
Seg. My Lord, the yoongeft of all Brutus fonnes, Stout Albanact^ with millions of men, Approcheth nigh, and meaneth ere the morne, To trie your force by dint of fatall fword.
Hum. Tut let him come with millions of hoftes, He lhall find entertainment good inough, Yea fit for thofe that are our enemies : For weell receiue them at the launces points, And maflaker their bodies with our blades :
530 Yea though they were in number infinit, More then the mightie Babilonian queene,
Semiramis
the eldest fonne of King Erutus. Semiramis the ruler of the Weft, Brought gainft the Emperour of the Scithians, Yet would we not ftart back one foote from them : That they might know we are inuincible.
Hub. Now by great hue the fupreme king of hea- And the immortall gods that liue therein, (uen, When as the morning Ihewes his chearfull face, And Lucifer mounted vpon his fteed, Brings in the chariot of the golden funne, He meet yoong Albanact in the open field, And crack my launce vpon his burganet, To trie the valour of his boyifh ftrength : There will I (hew fuch ruthfull fpectacles And caufe fo great effufion of blood, That all his boyes fhall wonder at my ftrength : As when the warlike queene of Amazon^ Penthifilea armed with her launce, Girt with a corflet of bright fhining fteele, Coupt vp the fainthart Grecians in the campe.
Hum. Spoke like a warlike knight my noble fon, Nay like a prince that feekes his fathers ioy, Therefore to morrow ere faire Titan fhine, And bafhfull Eos meflenger of light : Expells the liquid fleep from out mens eyes, Thou fhalt conduct the right wing of the hofte, The left wing fhall be vnder Segars charge, The reareward ihall be vnder me my felfe, And louely Eftrild faire and gratious, If fortune fauour me in mine attempts, Thou ftialt be queene of louely Albion^ Fortune fhall fauour me in mine attempts,
And
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine And make the Queene of louely Albion. Come let vs in and mufter vp our traine, And furnifh vp our luftie fouldiers, That they may be a bullwarke to our ftate, And bring our wifhed ioyes to perfect end.
The 2. Scene.
m Enter Strumboy Dorotbie, Trompart cobling fhooes 570 and fmging.
Trum. We Coblers lead a merie life, AIL Dan, dan, dan, dan : Strum. Void of all ennie and of ftrife : All. Dan diddle dan. Dor. Our eafe is great, our labour fmall : All. Dan, dan, dan, dan. Strum. And yet our gaines be much withall : All. Dan diddle dan. Dor. With this art fo fine and faire : 580 All. Dan, dan, dan, dan.
Trum. No occupation may compare
All. Dan diddle dan:
Strum. For merie paftime and ioyfull glee :
Dan, dan, dan, dan. Dor. Moft happie men we Coblers bee :
Dan diddle dan. Trnm. The can ftands full of nappie ale,
Dan: dan: dan: dan: Strum. In our fhop ftill withouten faile : 590 Dan diddle dan.
Dor. This is our meate, this is our foode : Dan: dan: dan: dan:
Trum.
the eldest fonne of King Brutus. Trum. This brings vs to a mery mood:
Dan didle dan. Strum. This makes vs worke for companie:
Dan, dan, dan, dan : Dor. To pull the tankards cheerfully :
Dan didle dan. Trum. Drinke to thy husband Dorothie,
Dan, dan, dan, dan : Dor. Why then my Strumbo ther's to thee :
Dan didle dan: Strum. Drinke thou the reft Trumpart amaine :
Dan, dan, dan, dan. Dor. When that is gone weell filt againe,
Dan didle dan.
Cap. The pooreft ftate is fartheft from annoy, How merily he fitteth on his ftoole : But when he fees that needs he muft be preft, Heele turne his note and fing another tune, 610
Ho, by your leaue maifter Cobler :
Stru. You are welcom gentleman, what wil you any olde fhooes or buskins, or will you haue your fhooes clouted, I will do them as well as any Cobler in Catbues whatfoeuer ?
Captaine fhewing him prefle mony. O maifter Cobler you are farre deceiued in mee, for don you fee this > I come not to buy any fliooes, but to buy your felfe $ come fir you muft be a fouldi- er in the kings caufe.
Strum. Why but heare you fir, has your king a- ny commifsion to take any man againft his will. I promife you I can fcant beleeue it, or did hee giue
D you
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine you commifsion ?
Cap. O fir, ye neede not care for that, I neede no commifsion : hold here, I command you in the name of our king Albanact^ to appeare to morrow in the towne-houfe of Catbnes.
Strum. King Nactabell, I crie God mercy, what £30 haue we to doo with him, or he with vs ? but you fir mafter capoutaile, draw your paftebourd, or elfe I promife you, He giue you a canuafado with a bafti- nano ouer your flioulders, and teach you to come hither with your implements.
Cap. I pray thee good fellow be content, I do the kings commaund.
Strum. Put me out of your booke then.
Cap. I may not.
Strumbo fnatching vp a ftaffe. No will, come fir will your ftomacke ferue you, by gogs blew hood and halidom, I will haue about with you.
Fight both. Enter Tbrajimachus.
How now, what noyfe, what fodain clamors this ? How now, my captain and the cobler fo hard at it ? Sirs what is your quarrell ?
Cap. Nothing fir, but that he will not take prefle
(mony.
Tbra. Here good fellow take it at my command, Vnlefle you meane to be ftretcht.
Strum. Truly mafter gentleman, I lacke no mony, if you pleafe I will refigne it to one of thefe poore
fellowes.
the eldest fonne of King Brutus. fellowes.
Thraji. No fuch matter,
Looke you be at the common houfe to morrow. Exit Thrajimacbus and the captaine.
Strum. O wife I haue fpunne a faire thredde, if I had bene quiet, I had not bene preft, and therefore well may I wayment ; But come firrha fhut vp, for 660 we muft to the warres.
Exeunt. The 4. Scene. -*"
sc. iv
Enter Albanact, Debon, Thrajimacbus, and the Lords.
Alba. Braue cauileres, princes of Albany, Whofe trenchant blades with our deceafed fire, Pafsing the frontiers of braue Grcecia, Were bathed in our enemies lukewarme blood, Now is the time to manifeft your wills, 670
Your hautie mindes and refolutions, Now opportunitie is offred To trie your courage and your earneft zeale, Which you alwaies proteft to Albanact, For at this time, yea at this prefent time, Stout fugitiues come from the Scithians bounds Haue peftred euerie place with mutinies : But truft me Lordings I will neuer ceafe To perfecute the rafcall runnagates, Till all the riuers ftained with their blood, 680
Shall fully ftiew their fatall ouerthrow.
D 2 Debon.
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine
Deb. So fhal your highnes merit great renowne, And imitate your aged fathers fteppes. (plaines ?
Alba. But tell me coufm, camft thou through the And fawft thou there the faint heart fugitiues Muftring their weather-beaten fouldiers, What order keep they in their marfhalling?
Thra. After we paft the groues of Caledone, Where murmuring riuers flide with filent ftreames 69Q We did behold the ftragling Scithians campe, Repleat with men, ftorde with munition ; There might we fee the valiant minded knights Fetching carriers along the fpatious plaines, Humber and Hubba arm'd in azure blew, Mounted vpon their courfers white as fnow, Went to behold the pleafant flowring fields ; Hector and Troialus^ Priamus louely fbnnes, Chafing the Grecians ouer Simoeis^ Were not to be compared to thefe two knights. 700 _Al]ja. Well haft thou painted out in eloquence The portraiture of Humber and his fonne ; As fortunate as was Policrates, Yet Ihould they not efcape our conquering fwords, Or boaft of ought but of our clemencie.
Enter Strumbo and Trompart, crying often ; Wilde fire and pitch, wilde fire and pitch, &c.
Tbra. What firs what mean you by thefe clamors Thofe outcries raifed in our ftately court ? (made,
Strum. Wilde fire and pitch, wilde fire and pitch. 710 Thra. Villaines I fay, tell vs the caufe hereof?
Strum. Wilde fire and pitch, &c. (noife,
Thra. Tell me you villaines, why you make this
Or
the eldeftfonne to King Brutus. Or with my launce I will prick your bowels out.
AL Where are your houfes, wher's your dwelling
(place ?
Strum. Place, Ha, ha, ha, laugh, a moneth and a day at him ; place, I cry God mercy, why doo you think that fuch poore honeft me as we be, hold our habitacles in kings pallaces : Ha? ha, ha. But becaufe you feeme to be an abhominable chieftaine, I wil tel 710 you our ftate.
From the top to the toe, From the head to the Ihoe ; From the beginning to the ending, From the building to the burning.
This honeft fellow and I had our manfion cot tage in the fuburbes of this citie,hard by the temple of Mercury. And by the common fouldiers of the Shitens, the Scithians ; what do you call them ? with all the fuburbes were burnt to the ground, and the 730 afhes are left there, for the countrie wiues to wafh buckes withall. And that which greeues me moft, my louing wife, O cruell ftrife ; the wicked flames did roaft.
And therefore captaine cruft,
We will continuallie crie,
Except you feeke a remedie
Our houfes to redifie
Which now are burnt to duft.
Both cry ; Wild fire and pitch, wild fire and pitch. 740
D 3 Alba.
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine Alba. Well we muft remedie thefe outrages, And throw reuenge vpon their hatefull heads, And you good fellowes for your houfes burnt, We will remunerate you ftore of gold, And build your houfes by our pallace gate.
Strumbo. Gate, O pettie treafon to my perfon, no where elfe but by your backlide ; gate, oh how I am vexed in my coller; gate, I crie God mercie, doo you hear matter king? If you mean to gratifie fuch poore 7 50 men as we bee, you muft build our houfes by the Tauerne.
Alba. It fhall be done fir.
Strum. Neare the Tauerne, I by ladie fir it was Ipoken like a good fellow. Do you heare fir, when our houfe is builded, if you do chance to pafle or re- pafle that way, we will beftowe a quart of the belt wine vpon you ?
Exit.
Alb. It greeues me lordings that my fubiects goods 760 Should thus be fpoiled by the Scithians, Who as you fee with lightfoote forragers Depopulate the places where they come, But curfed Hnmber thou fhalt rue the day That ere thou camft vnto Cathuejia.
Exeunt, ii The 2. Act. Scene y.
Enter Humber^ Hubba^ Segar, Trufsiery and
their fouldiers.
Hum. Hubba^ go take a coronet of our horfe 770 As many launciers, and light armed knights As may fuffice for fuch an enterprife,
And
the eldeftfanne of King Brutus. And place them in the groue of Caledon, With thefe, when as the skirmifh doth encreafe Retire thou from the fheltiers of the wood, And fet vpon the weakened Troians backs, For pollicie ioyned with chiualrie Can neuer be put back from victorie.
Exit. Albanact enter and fay, clownes with him.
Thou bafe borne Hunne, how durft thou be fo bold 780
As once to menace warlike Albanact ?
The great commander of thefe regions,
But thou fhalt buy thy rafhnefle with thy death,
And rue too late thy ouer bold attempts,
For with this fword this inftrument of death,
That hath bene drenched in my foe-mens blood,
He feparate thy bodie from thy head,
And fet that coward blood of thine abroach.
Strum. Nay with this ftaffe great Strumbos inftru- Ile crack thy cockscome paltry Scithian. (ment,79o
Hum. Nor wreake I of thy threats thou princox Nor do I feare thy foolifh infolencie, (boy,
And but thou better vfe thy bragging blade, Then thou doeft rule thy ouerflowing toong, Superbious Brittaine, thou fhalt know too foone The force of Humber and his Scithians.
Let them fight. Humber and his fouldiers runne in.
Strum. O horrible, terrible. 799
The
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine
i TbefixtAct.
sc' w Sound the alarme.
Enter Humber and his fouldiers. Hum. How brauely this yoong Brittain Albanact Darteth abroad the thunderbolts of warre, Beating downe millions with his furious moode ; And in his glorie triumphs ouer all, Mouing the mafsie f quadrants of the ground ; Heape hills on hills, to fcale the ftarrie skie, When Briareus armed with an hundreth hands 8 10 Floong forth an hundreth mountains at great loue^ And when the monttrous giant Monichus Hurld mount Olimpus at great Mars his targe, And fliot huge csedars at Mineruas fhield ; How doth he ouerlooke with hautie front My fleeting hoftes, and lifts his loftie face Againft vs all that now do feare his force, Like as we fee the wrathfull fea from farre In a great mountaine heapt with hideous noife With thoufand billowes beat againft the fhips, 810 And tofle them in the waues like tennis balls.
Sound the alarme. Humb. Ay me, I feare my Hubba is furprifde.
Sound againe ; Enter Albanact. Alba. Follow me fouldiers, follow Albanact $ Purfue the Scithians flying through the field : Let none of them efcape with victorie : That they may know the Brittains force is more Then al the power of the trembling Hunnes. (chafe, Thra. Forward braue fouldiers, forward keep the
He
the eldest fonne to King Brutus.
He that takes captiue Humber or his fonne, g30
Shall be rewarded with a crowne of gold.
Sound alarme, then let them fight, Humber giue backe, Hubba enter at their backs, and kill Debon, let Strumbo fall downe, Albanact run in, and afterwards enter wounded.
Alba. Iniurious fortune haft thou croft me thus? Thus in the morning of my victories, Thus in the prime of my felicitie To cut me off by fuch hard ouerthrow ; Hadft thou no time thy rancor to declare, 840
But in the fpring of all my dignities? Hadft thou no place to fpit thy venome out But on the perfon of yoong Albanact> I that ere while did fcare mine enemies, And droue them almoft to a lhamefull flight, I that ere while full lion-like did fare Amongft the dangers of the thick throngd pikes, Muft now depart moft lamentably flaine By Humbert trecheries and fortunes fpights : Curft be their charms, damned be her curfed charms 8fo That doth delude the waiward harts of men, Of men that truft vnto her fickle wheele, Which neuer leaueth turning vpfide downe. O gods, O heauens, allot me but the place Where I may finde her hatefull manfion, He pafle the Alpes to watry Meroe^ Where fierie Fkcebus in his charriot The wheels wherof are dect with Emeraldes, Caft fuch a heate, yea fuch a fcorching heate, And fpoileth Flora of her checquered grafle, 8£o
E ' He
The lamentable Tr age die of Locrine He ouerrun the mountaine Cancufus^ Where fell Chimtera in her triple lhape Rolleth hot flames from out her monftrous panch, Scaring the beafts with ifliie of her gorge, He pafle the frozen Zone where ylie flakes Stopping the paflage of the fleeting fliippes Do lie, like mountaines in the congeald lea, Where if I finde that hateful! houfe of hers, He pull the fickle wheele from out her hands,
870 And tie her felfe in euerlafting bands : But all in vaine I breath thefe threatnings, The day is loft, the Hunnes are conquerors, Debon is flaine, my men are done to death, The currents fwift, fwimme violently with blood, And laft, O that this laft night fo long laft, My felfe with woundes paft all recouery, Muft leaue my crowne for Humber to poflefle.
Strum. Lord haue mercy vpon vs, mafters I think this is a holie day, euerie man lies fleeping in the
880 fields, but God knowes full fore againft their wills.
Tbra. Flie noble Albanact and faue thy felfe, The Scithians follow with great celeritie, And ther's no way but fight, or ipeedie death, Flie noble Albanact and faue thy lelfe.
Sound the alarme.
Alba. Nay let them flie that feare to die the death That tremble at the name of fatall mors, Neu'r fhall proud Humber boaft or brag himfelfe That he hath put yoong Albanact to flight,
890 And leaft he fhould triumph at my decay, This fword fhall reaue his maifter of his life,
That
the eldest fonne to King Brutus. That oft hath fauM his maifters doubtfull life : But oh my brethren if you care for me, Reuenge my death vpon his traiterous head.
Et vos queis domus ect nigrantis regia dirts. Out revitis rirido flirios moderamine lucos :
***r ^^ f^ J £$
Nox cteci regtna poli furialis Erinnis Diique deeeque omnes Albanum tollite regent Tollite flumineis vndis rigidaque palude Nunc me fata vacant, hoc condam pec tore fer rum. 900
Thruft himfelfe through.
Enter Trompart.
O what hath he don, his nofe bleeds? but oh I fmel a Looke where my maifter lies, mafter, matter, (foxe, Strum. Let me alone I tell thee, for I am dead. Trum. Yet one, good, good, mafter. Strum. I will not fpeake, for I am dead I tel thee. Trum. And is my mafter dead ? O fticks and ftones, brickbats and bones,
and is my mafter dead ? 910
O you cockatrices and you bablatrices,
that in the woods dwell :
You briers and brambles, you cookes fhoppes and come howle and yell. (fhambles,
With howling & fcreeking, with wailing and wee- come you to lament. (ping> O Colliers of Croyden, and rufticks of Roy den,
and filhers of Kent. For Strumbo the cobler, the fine mery cobler
of Cathnes towne : 9*0
E 2 At
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine At this fame ftoure, at this very houre
lies dead on the ground. O maifter, theeues, theeues, theeues.
Strum. Where be they ? cox me tunny, bobekin let me be rifing, be gone, we fhall be robde by and by. (Exeunt.
The*. Act.
ii Enter Humber^ Hubba, Segar, Thrafsier^ Estrild^ and the fouldiers.
930 Hum. Thus from the dreadful (hocks of furious Thundring alarmes, and Rbamnufias drum (Mars We are retyred with ioyfull victorie, The flaughtered Troians fqueltring in their blood, Infect the aire with their carcafles, And are a praie for euerie rauenous bird.
Estrild. So perifh they that are our enemies. So perilh they that loue not Numbers weale. And mightie loue commander of the world, Protect my loue from all falfe trecheries.
940 Hum. Thanks louely Estrild^ fblace to my foule. But valiant Hubba for thy chiualrie Declarde againft the men of Albany^ Loe here a flowring garland wreathed of bay, As a reward for thy forward minde.
Set it on his head.
Hub. This vnexpected honor noble fire, Will prick my courage vnto brauer deeds, And caufe me to attempt fuch hard exploits, That all the world fhall found of Hubbaes name.
Hum.
the eldeftfonne to King Brutus.
Hum. And now braue fouldiers for this good fuc- 9*0 Caroufe whole cups of Amazonian wine, (cefle, Sweeter then Nectar or Ambrofia, And caft away the clods of curfed care, With goblets crownd with Semeleius gifts, Now let vs martch to Abis filuer ftreames That clearly glide along the Champane fields, And moift the grafsie meades with humid drops. Sound drummes & trumpets, found vp cheerfully, Sith we returne with ioy and victorie. 919
The 3. Act Scene i. ^« ///
Enter Ate as before. The dumb fhow. A Crocadile **• ' fitting on a riuers banke, and a little Snake ftin- ging it. Then let both of them fall into the wa ter.
Ate. Scelera in authorem cadunt. High on a banke by Nilus boyftrous ftreames, Fearfully fat the Aegiptian Crocodile, Dreadfully grinding in her Iharpe long teethe, The broken bowels of a filly fifli, His back was armde againft the dint of fpeare, 970 With fhields of brafle that fhind like burnifht gold And as he ftretched forth his cruell pawes, A fubtill Adder creeping clofely neare Thrufting his forked fting into his clawes, Priuily fhead his poifon through his bones Which made him fwel that there his bowels burft, That did fo much in his owne greatnefle truft. So Number hauing conquered Albanact^ Doth yeeld his glorie vnto Locrines fword.
E 3 Marke
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine 980 Marke what enfues and you may eafily fee, That all our life is but a Tragedie.
^ct in The 2. Scene.
SCt " Enter Locrine^ Guendoline^Corineus, Affaracus^
Thrajimachus, Camber.
Locrine. And is this true, is Albanactus flaine ? Hath curfed Humber with his ftragling hofte With that his armie made of mungrell curres, Brought our redoubted brother to his end. O that I had the Thracian Orpheus harpe 990 For to awake out of the infernall fhade Thofe ougly diuels of black Erebus, That might torment the damned traitors foule : O that I had Amphions inftrument To quicken with his vitall notes and tunes The flintie ioynts of euerie ftonie rocke, By which the Scithians might be punilhed, For by the lightening of almightie loue The Hunne fhall die, had he ten thoufand Hues : And would to God he had ten thoufand Hues, 1000 That I might with the arme-ftrong Hercules Crop off fo vile an Hidras hifsing heads, But fay me coufen, for I long to heare How Albanact came by vntimely death ?
Thraji. After the traitrous hoaft of Scithians, Entred the field with martial! equipage Yoong Albanact impatient of delaie Ledde forth his armie gainft the ftragling mates, Whofe multitude did daunt our fouldiers mindes,
Yet
the eldeft Tonne to King Brutus. Yet nothing could difmay the forward prince, But with a courage moft heroicall 1010
Like to a lion mongft a flock of lambes Made hauocke of the faintheart fugitiues, Hewing a paflage through them with his fword, Yea we had almoft giuen them the repulfe When fuddeinly from out the filent wood Hubba with twentie thoufand fouldiers Cowardly came vpon our weakened backes, And murthered all with fatall maflacre, Amongft the which old Debon martiall knight, With many wounds was brought vnto the death. 1010 And Albanact oppreft with multitude Whilft valiantly he feld his enemies Yeelded his life and honour to the duft, He being dead, the fouldiers fled amaine, And I alone efcaped them by flight, To bring you tidings of thefe accidents.
Locr. Not aged Priam King of ftately 7>0y, Graund Emperour of barbarous 4Jia, When he beheld his noble minded fonnes Slaine traiteroufly by all the Mermidons, 1030
Lamented more then I for Albanact.
Guen. Not Hecuba the queene of Ilium When fhe beheld the towne of Pergamus^ Her pallace burnt, with all deuouring flames, Her fiftie fonnes and daughters frefh of hue, Murthred by wicked Pirrhus bloodie fword, Shed fuch fad teares as 1 for Albanact.
Cam. The griefe of Niobe faire Athens queene, For her feuen fonnes magnanimious in field,
For
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine
1040 For her feuen daughters fairer then the faireft, Is not to be comparde with my laments.
Cor. In vain you forow for the flaughtred prince, In vain you forrow for his ouerthrow, He loues not moft that doth lament the moft, But he that feekes to venge the iniurie. Thinke you to quell the enemies warlike traine, With childifh fobs and womannifh laments ? Vnfheath your fwords, vnfheath your conquering And feek reuenge, the comfort for this fore, (fword,
10 jo In Cornwall where I hold my regiment
Euen iuft tenne thoufand valiant men at armes Hath Corineus readie at commaund : All thefe and more, if need fhall more require, Hath Corrineus readie at commaund.
Cam. And in the fields of martiall Cambria^ Clofe by the boyftrous Ifcans iiluer ftreames, VVhere lightfoote faires fkip from banke to banke, Full twentie thoufand braue couragious knights V Veil exercifde in feates of chiualrie,
io£o In manly maner moft inuincible,
Yoong Camber hath with gold and victuall, All thefe and more, if need fhall more require, I offer vp to venge my brothers death.
Loc. Thanks louing vncle and good brother too, For this reuenge, for this fweete word reuenge Muft eafe and ceafe thy wrongfull iniuries, And by the fword of bloodie Mars I fweare, Nere fhall fweete quiet enter this my front, Till I be venged on his traiterous head
1070 That flew my noble brother Albanact.
Sound
the eldest fonne to King Brutus. Sound drummes and trumpets, mutter vp the camp, For we will ftraight march to Albania.
Exeunt. The 3. Scene.
sc. Hi
Enter Humber^ Eftrild, Hubba^ Trufsier^ and the fouldiers.
Hum. Thus are we come victorious conquerors Vnto the flowing currents filuer ftreames Which in memoriall of our victorie, Shall be agnominated by our name, I0go
And talked of by our pofteritie : For fure I hope before the golden funne Pofteth his horfes to faire Thetis plaines, To fee the waters turned into blood, And chaunge his blewifti hue to rufull red, By reafon of the fatall maflacre Which lhall be made vpon the virent plaines.
Enter the ghoaft of Almanact. See how the traitor doth prefage his harme, See how he glories at his owne decay, 1090
See how he triumphs at his proper lofle, O fortune vilde, vnftable, fickle, fraile.
Hum. Me thinkes I fee both armies in the field, The broken launces clime the criftall fkies, Some headlefle lie, fome breathlefle on the ground, Anb euery place is ftraw'd with carcafles, Behold the grafle hath loft his pleafant greene, The fweeteft fight that euer might be feene.
Gkoft. I traiterous Humber, thou fhalt find it fo,
F Yea
The lamentable Tra petite of Locrine
1 1 oo Yea to thy coft thou fhalt the fame behold, With anguifh, forrow, and with fad laments, The grafsie plaines that now do pleafe thine eies, Shall ere the night be coloured all with blood, The fliadie groues which now inclole thy campe And yeeld fweet fauours to thy damned corps, Shall ere the night be figured all with blood, The profound ftreame that pafleth by thy tents, And with his moifture ferueth all thy campe, Shall ere the night conuerted be to blood,
ii 10 Yea with the blood of thofe thy ftragling boyes, For now reuenge {hall eafe my lingring griefe, And now reuenge fliall glut my longing foule.
Hub. Let come what wil, I meane to beare it out, And either Hue with glorious victorie, Or die with fame renowmed for chiualrie, He is not worthie of the honie combe That fliuns the hiues becaufe the bees haue ftings, That likes me beft that is not got with eafe, Which thoufand daungers do accompany,
n 10 For nothing can difmay our regall minde, Which aimes at nothing but a golden crowne, The only vplhot of mine enterprifes, Were they inchanted in grimme Plutos court, And kept for treafure mongft his hellifh crue, I would either quell the triple Cerberus And all the armie of his hatefull hags, Or roll the ftone with wretched Sijiphon.
Hum. Right martiall be thy thoughts my noble And all thy words fauour of chiualrie, (fonne,
1 1 30 But warlike Segar what ftrange accidents
Makes
the eldest fonne to King Brutus. Makes you to leaue the warding of the campe.
Segar. To armes my Lord, to honourable armes, Take helme and targe in hand the Brittaines come, With greater multitude then erft the Greekes Brought to the ports of Phrigian Tenidos.
Hum. But what faith Segar to thefe accidents ? What counfell giues he in extremities ?
Seg. Why this my Lord experience teacheth vs, That refolution is a fole helpe at need. And this my Lord our honour teacheth vs, 1140
That we be bold in euerie enterprife, Then fince there is no way but fight or die, Be reiolute my Lord for victorie.
Hum. And refolute Segar I meane to be, Perhaps fome bliffull ftarre will fauour vs, And comfort bring to our perplexed ftate : Come let vs in and fortifie our campe, So to withftand their ftrong inualion.
Exeunt. 1149
The ±. Scene. ^ct lri
Enter Strumbo, Trumpart, Oliuer, and his fonne *c. hi William following them.
Strum. Nay neighbour Oliuer, if you be fo whot, come prepare your felfe, you fhall finde two as flout fellowes of vs, as any in all the North.
Oliu. No by my dorth neighbor Strumbo, Ich zee dat you are a man of fmall zideration, dat wil zeek to iniure your olde vreendes, one of your vamiliar guefts, and derefore zeeing your pinion is to deale
F 2 withouten
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine withouten reazon,iche and my zonne take dat courfe, dat ftiall be fardeft vrom reafon, how zay you, will you haue my daughter or no ?
Strum. A verie hard queftion neighbour, but I will folue it as I may ; what reafon haue you to de- maund it of me ?
WiL Marry fir, what reafon had you when my fifter was in the barne to tumble her vpon the haie, and to fifh her belly.
Strum. Mas thou faift true, well, but would you ii 70 haue me marry her therefore ? No I fcorne her, and you, and you. I, I fcorne you all.
Oliu. You will not haue her then ?
Strum. No as I am a true gentleman.
WiL Then wil we fchoole you, ere you and we part hence.
Enter Margerie and fnatch the ftaffe out of her bro thers hand, as he is fighting.
Strum. I you come in pudding time, or elfe I had dreft them.
1180 Mar. You mafter faufebox, lobcock, cockscomb, you flopfauce, lickfingers, will you not heare ?
Strum. Who fpeake you too, me ?
Mar. I fir to you, lohn lackhoneftie, little wit, is it you that will haue none of me ?
Strum. No by my troth, miftrefle nicebice, how fine you ca nickname me, I think you were broght vp in the vniuerfitie of bridewell, you haue your rhetorick fo ready at your toongs end, as if you were
neuer
the eldeftfonne to King Brutus. neuer well warned when your were yoong.
Mar. Why then goodman cods-head, if you wil haue none of me, farewell.
Strum. If you be fo plaine miftrefle drigle dragle, fare you well.
Mar. Nay matter Strumbo, ere you go from hence we mutt haue more words, you will haue none of me?
They both fight.
Strum. Oh my head, my head, leaue, leaue, leaue, I will, I will, I will.
Mar. Vpon that condition I let thee alone.
Oliu. How now matter Strumbo, hath my daugh ter taught you a new leflbn ?
Strum. I but heare you goodman Oliuer> it will not bee for my eafe to haue my head broken euerie day, therefore remedie this and we fhall agree.
OR. Well zonne well, for you are my zonne now, all fhall be remedied, daughter be friends with him.
Shake hands.
Strum. You are a fweet nut, the diuel crack you. Maifters I thinke it be my lucke, my firft wife was a louing quiet wench, but this I thinke would weary the diuell. I would flie might be burnt as my other wife was. If not, I mutt runne to the halter for help. O codpeece thou haft done thy maifter, this it is to be medling with warme plackets.
Exeunt.
The
sc.v
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine
The ?. Scene.
Enter Locrine^ Camber, Corineus, Thrajimacbus, AJJarachus.
mo Loc. Now am I garded with an hofte of men, VVhofe hautie courage is inuincible, Now am I hembde with troupes of fouldiers, Such as might force Bellona to retire, And make her tremble at their puiflknce, Now fit I like the mightie god of warre, When armed with his coat of Adament, Mounted his charriot drawne with mighty bulls, He droue the Argiues ouer Xanthus ftreames. Now curfed Humber doth thy end draw nie,
1130 Downe goes the glorie of his victories, And all his fame, and all his high renowne Shall in a moment yeeld to Locrines fword, Thy bragging banners croft with argent ftreames, The ornaments of thy pauillions Shall all be captiuated with this hand, And thou thy felfe at Albanactus tombe Shalt offred be in fatiffaction Of all the wrongs thou didft him when he liu'd. But canft thou tell me braue Thrajimachus,
1140 How farre we are diftant from Humbert campe?
Thra. My Lord, within your foule accurfed groue That beares the tokens of our ouerthrow, This Humber hath intrencht his damned campe. March on my Lord, becaufe I long to fee The trecherous Scithians fqueltring in their gore.
Locrine.
the eldeft fonne to King Brutus.
Locri. Sweet fortune fauour Locrine with a fmile, That I may venge my noble brothers death, And in the midft of ftately Troinonant^ He build a temple to thy deitie Of perfect marble and of lacintbe ftones, That it fhall pafle the high Pyramides Which with their top fur mount the firmament.
Cam. The armeftrong offpring of the doubted Stout Hercules Alcmenas mightie fonne, (knight, That tamde the monfters of the threefold world, And rid the opprefled from the tyrants yokes, Did neuer fhew fuch valiantnefle in fight, As I will now for noble Albanact.
CorL Full foure fcore yeares hath Corineus liu'd, Sometime in war re, fometime in quiet peace, And yet I feele my felfe to be as ftrong As erft I was in fommer of mine age, Able to tofle this great vnwildie club Which hath bin painted with my foemens brains, And with this club ile breake the ftrong arraie Of Humber and his ftragling fouldiers, Or loofe my life amongft the thickeft preafe, And die with honour in my lateft daies, Yet ere I die they all fliall vnderftand What force lies in ftout Corineus hand. 1170
Tbra. And if Tbrajimacbus detract the fight, Either for weaknefle or for cowardife, Let him not boaft that Brutus was his eame, Or that braue Corineus was his fire.
Loc. Then courage fouldiers, firft for your fafetie, Next for your peace, laft for your victory. (Exeun t.
Sound
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine iff Sound the alarme.
sc' w Enter Hubba and Segar at one doore, and
Corineus at the other.
1x80 Con. Art thou that Humber prince of fugitiues, That by thy treafon flewft yoong Albanact>
Hub. I am his fonne that flew yoong Albanact^ And if thou take not heed proud Phrygian, He fend thy fbule vnto the Stigian lake, There to complaine of Humbers iniuries.
Cori. You triumph fir before the victorie, For Corineus is not fo foone flaine. But curfed Scithians you fliall rue the day That ere you came into Albania. 1190 So perifh that they enuie Brittaines wealth, So let them die with endlefle infamie, And he that feekes his foueraignes ouerthrow, Would this my club might aggrauate his woe. Strikes them both downe with his club.
Enter Humber.
Where may I finde fome defart wildernefle, Where I may breath out curies as I would, And fcare the earth with my condemning voice, Where euerie ecchoes repercufsion 1300 May helpe me to bewaile mine ouerthrow, And aide me in my forrowfull laments > Where may I finde fome hollow vncoth rocke, Where I may damne, condemne and ban my fill, The heauens, the hell, the earth, the aire, the fire, And vtter curfes to the concaue fkie, Which may infect the aiery regions, And light vpon the Brittain Locrines head ?
You
the eldest fonne to King Brutus. You vgly Iprites that in Cocitus mourne, And gnafli your teeth with dolorous laments, Yea fearfull dogs that in black Lathe howle, 1310
And fcare the ghoafts with your wide open throats, You vgly ghoafts that flying from thefe dogs, Do plunge your felues in Puryflegiton, Come all of you, and with your fhriking notes Accompaie the Brittaines conquering hoaft. Come fierce Erinnis horrible with fnakes, Come vgly Furies, armed with your whippes, You threefold iudges of black Tartarus^ And all the armie of you hellifli fiends, With new found tormets rack proud Locrins bones 1310 O gods, and ftarres, damned be the gods & ftarres That did not drowne me in faire Thetis plaines. Curft be the fea that with outragious waues With furging billowes did not riue my Ihippes Againft the rocks of high Cerannia^ Or fwallowed me into her watrie gulfe, Would God we had arriu'd vpon the fhore Where Polipblemus and the Cyclops dwell, Or where the bloodie Anthropomphagte With greedie iawes deuours the wandring wights, 1330
Enter the ghoaft of Albanact. But why comes Albanacts bloodie ghoaft, To bring a corfiue to our miferies ? Ift not inough to fuffer fhamefull flight, But we muft be tormented now with ghoafts, With apparitions fearfull to behold.
Ghoast. Reuenge, reuenge for blood.
Hum. So nought wil fatiffie your wandring ghoft
G But
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine But dire reuenge, nothing but Humbers fall,
i34oBecaufe he conquerd you in Albany.
Now by my foule Humber would oe condemned To Tantals hunger or Ixions wheele, Or to the vultur of Prometheus, Rather then that this murther were vndone. When as I die ile dragge thy curfed ghoaft Through all the riuers of foule Erebus, Through burning fulphur of the Limbo-lake, To allaie the burning furie of that heate That rageth in mine euerlafting foule.
1 3 jo Exeunt.
Alba, gb oft. Vindicta, vindicta.
r The 4. Act. Scene i .
i
Enter Ate as before. Then let their follow Omphale daughter to the king of Lydia, hauing a club in her hand, and a lions fkinne on her back, Hercules following with a diftaffe. Then let Omphale turn about, and taking off her pantofle, ftrike Hercu les on the head, then let them depart. Ate remai ning, faying;
1360 Quern non Argolici mandata feuera Tyranni, Nonpotuit luno vincere, vicit amor.
Stout Hercules the mirrour of the world, Sonne to Alcmena and great lupiter, After fo many conquefts wonne in field,
After
the eldest Jonne to King Brutus. After fo many monfters queld by force, Yeelded his valiant heart to Omphale, A fearfull woman voyd of manly ftrength, She tooke the club, and ware the lions fkinne, He tooke the wheele, and maidenly gan fpinne. So martiall Locrine cheerd with victorie, 1370
Falleth in loue with Humbers concubine, And fo forgetteth peerlefle Guendoline. His vncle Corineus ftormes at this, And forceth Locrine for his grace to fue, Loe here the fumme, the procefle doth enfue.
Exit.
The 2. Scene.
Enter Locrine, Camber ', Corineus^ Affaracus^ Thra- r, and the fouldiers.
Loc. Thus from the fury of Bellonas broiles, 1380 With found of drumme and trumpets melodie, The Brittaine king returnes triumphanly, The Scithians flaine with great occifion, Do ^equalize the grafle in multitude, (brookes, And with their biood haue ftaind the dreaming Offering their bodies and their deareft blood As facrifice to Albanactus ghoaft, Now curfed Humber haft thou payd thy due, For thy deceits and craftie trecheries, For all thy guiles, and damned ftratagems, 139°
With lofle of life, and euerduring fhame. Where are thy horfes trapt with burnifht gold,
G 2 Thy
The lamentable Trapedie ofLocrine Thy trampling courfers rulde with foming bits ? Where are thy fouldiers ftrong and number lefle, Thy valiant captains and thy noble peeres ? Euen as the countrie clownes with fharpeft fithes Do mowe the withered grafle from off the earth, Or as the ploughman with his piercing fhare Renteth the bowels of the fertile fields,
1400 And rippeth vp the rootes with razours keene. So Locrine with his mightie curtleaxe, Hath cropped off the heads of all thy Hunnes^ So Locrines peeres haue daunted all thy peeres, And droue thine hoaft vnto confufion, That thou maift fuffer penance for thy fault, And die for murdring valiant Albanact.
Cori. And thus, yea thus fhall all the reft be feru'd That feeke to enter Albion gainft our willes. If the braue nation of the Trogloditesy
1410 If all the coleblacke Aetbiopians^ If all the forces of the Amazons^ If all the hoftes of the Barbarian lands, Should dare to enter this our little world, Soone fhould they rue their ouerbold attempts, That after vs our progenie may fay, There lie the beafts that fought to vfurp our land.
Loc. I they are beafts that feeke to vfurp our land, And like to brutilh beafts they fhall be feru'd. For mightie loue the fupreame king of heauen,
1410 That guides the concourfe of the Metiors^ And rules the motion of the azure skie, Fights alwaies for the Brittaines fafetie. But ftaie, mee thinkes I heare fome fhriking noife,
That
the eldeft fonne to KinpErutus. That draweth neare to our pauillion.
Enter the fouldiers leading in Estrild. Estrild. What prince fo ere adornd with golden Doth fway the regall fceptler in his hand : And thinks no chance can euer throw him downe, Or that his ftate fhall euerlafting Hand, Let him behold poore Eftrild in this plight, 1430
The perfect platforme of a troubled wight. Once was I guarded with manortiall bands, Compaft with princes of the noble blood, Now am I fallen into my foemens hands, And with my death muft pacific their mood. O life the harbour of calamities,
0 death the hauen of all mileries,
1 could compare my forrowes to thy woe, Thou wretched queen of wretched Pergamus^
But that thou viewdft thy enemies ouerthrow, 1440
Nigh to the rocke of high Caphareus,
Thou fawft their death, and then departedft thence.
I muft abide the victors infolence.
The gods that pittied thy continuall griefe,
Tranfformd thy corps, and with thy corps thy care,
Poore Eftrild liues difpairing of reliefe,
For friends in trouble are but fewe and rare.
What faid I fewe ? I fewe or none at all,
For cruell death made hauock of them all.
Thrice happie they whofe fortune was fo good, 14*0
To end their liues, and with their liues their woes,
Thrice haplefle I, whome fortune fo withftood,
That cruelly fhe gaue me to my foes.
Oh fouldiers is there any miferie,
G 3 To
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine To be comparde to fortunes trecherie.
Loc. Camber^ this fame fhuld be the Scithia queen.
Cam. So may we iudge by her lamenting words.
Loc. So faire a dame mine eies did neuer fee, With floods of woes fhe feems orewhelmed to bee
Cam. O Locrine hath fhe not a caufe for to be fad ?
Locrine at one fide of the ftage. If fhe haue caufe to weepe for Humbert death, And fhead fault teares for her ouerthrow, Locrine may well bewaile his proper griefe, Locrine may moue his owne peculiar woe, He being conquerd died a fpeedie death, And felt not long his lamentable fmart, I being conqueror, Hue a lingring life, And feele the force of Cupids fuddaine ftroke. 1470 1 gaue him caufe to die a fpeedie death, He left me caufe to wifli a fpeedie death. Oh that fweete face painted with natures dye, Thofe rofeall cheeks mizt with a fnowy white, That decent necke furpafsing yuorie, Thofe comely brefts which Venus well might fpite, Are like to fnares which wylie fowlers wrought, Wherein my yeelding heart is prifoner cought. The golden trefles of her daintie haire Which fhine like rubies glittering with the funne, 1480 Haue fo entrapt poore Locrines louefick heart, That from the fame no way it can be wonne. How true is that which oft I heard declard, One dramme of ioy, muft haue a pound of care.
Eftr. Hard is their fall who from a golden crown Are caft into a fea of wretchednefle.
Loc.
the eldeft fonne to King Brutus.
Loc. Hard is their thrall who by Cupids frowne Are wrapt in waues of endlefle carefulnefle.
Eftr. Oh kingdome obiect to all miferies.
Loc. Oh loue, the extreemft of all extremities.
Let him go into his chaire. i49o
A fold. My Lord, in ranfacking the Scithian tents I found this Ladie, and to manireft That earneft zeale I beare vnto your grace, I here prefent her to your maieftie. (firft,
Another fold. He lies my Lord, I found the Ladie And here prefent her to your maieftie. (prize ?
1 . Sold. Prefumptuous villaine wilt thou take my
2. Sol. Nay rather thou depriueft me of my right.
1. Sol. Refigne thy title (catiue) vnto me,
Or with my fword ile pearce thy cowards loines. 1500
2. Sol. Soft words good fir, tis not inogh to fpeak A barking dog doth fildome ftrangers bite.
Loc. Vnreuerent villains, fttiue you in our fight ? Take them hence laylor to the dungeon, There let them lie and trie their quarrell out. But thou faire princefle be no whit difinayd, But rather ioy that Locrine fauours thee.
Eftr. How can he fauor me that flew my ipoufe ?
Loc. The chance of war (my loue) tooke him fro
Eft. But Locrine was the caufer of his death, (thee i?io
Loc. He was an enemy to Locrines ftate, And flue my noble brother Albanact.
Ejlr. But he was linckt to me in marriage bond, And would you haue me loue his flaughterer?
Loc. Better to liue, then not to liue at all.
Eflrild.
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine
Eftrild. Better to die renownd for chaftitie, Then line with fhame and endlefle infamie. What would the common fort report of me, If I forget my loue, and cleaue to thee ?
Lot. Kings need not feare the vulgar fentences.
Eftr. But Ladies muft regard their honeft name.
Loc. Is it a fhame to liue in marriage bonds ?
Eftr. No, but to be a ftrumpet to a king.
Loc. If thou wilt yeeld to Locrines burning loue, Thou fhalt be queene of faire Albania.
Eftr. But Guendoline will vndermine my ftate.
Lo. Vpon mine honor thou fhalt haue no harme.
Eft. Then lo braue Locrine^ Eftrild yeelds to thee, And by the gods whom thou doeft inuocate, 1530 By the dead ghoaft of thy deceafed fire, By thy right hand and by thy burning loue, Take pitie on poore Eftrilds wretched thrall.
Cori. Hath Locrine then forgot his Guendoline^ That thus he courts the Scithians paramore ? What are the words of Brute fo foone forgot ? Are my deferts fo quickly out of minde ? Haue I bene faithfull to thy fire now dead, Haue I protected thee from Numbers hands, And doeft thou quite me with vngratitude ? 1540 Is this the guerdon for my greeuous wounds, Is this the honour for my labors paft ? Now by my fword, Locrine I fweare to thee, This iniury of thine fhall be repaide.
Loc. Vncle, fcorne you your royall foueraigne, As if we ftood for cyphers in the court ? Vpbraid you me with thofe your benefits ?
Why
the eldest fonne to King Brutus. Why it was a fubiects dutie fo to do. What you haue done for our deceafed fire, We know, and all know you haue your reward.
Cori. Auaunt proud princoxe, brau'ft thou me Aflure thy felf though thou be Emperor (withall, Thou nere fhalt carry this vnpunifhed.
Cam. Pardon my brother noble Corineus^ Pardon this once and it lhall be amended.
AJJar. Coufin remember Brutus lateft words, How he defired you to cherifh them, Let not this fault fo much incenfe your minde, Which is not yet patted all remedie.
Cori. Then Locrine^ loe I reconcile my felfe, But as thou lou'ft thy life, fo loue thy wife : But if thou violate thofe promifes, Blood and reuenge fhall light vpon thy head. Come let vs backe to ftately Troinouant, Where all thefe matters fhall be fetteled.
Locrine to himfelfe.
Millions of diuels wayt vpon thy foule. Legions of fpirits vexe thy impious ghoaft. Ten thoufand torments rack thy cur fed bones. Let euerie thing that hath the vfe of breath, Be inftruments and workers of thy death.
Exeunt.
The 3. Scene.
Enter Number alone, his haire hanging ouer his
fhoulders, his armes all bloodie, and a
dart in one hand.
Num. What balililkt was hatched in this place,
H Where
Ill
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine Where euerie thing confumed is to nought > What fearefull Furie haunts thefe curfed groues, Where not a roote is left for Humbert meate ?
if 80 Hath fell Alec to with inuenomed blafts,
Breathed forth poyfon in thefe tender plaines > Hath triple Cerberus with contagious fome, Sowde Aconitum mongft thefe withered hearbes ? Hath dreadfull Fames with her charming rods Brought barreinnefle on euery fruitfull tree ? What not a roote, no frute, no beaft, no bird, To nourifli Humber in this wildernefle > What would you more you fiends of Erebus^ My verie intralls burne for want of drinke,
1 190 My bowels crie, Humber giue vs fome meate, But wretched Humber can giue you no meate, Thefe foule accurfed groues affoord no meat. This fruitles foyle, this groud brings forth no meat. The gods, hard harted gods, yeeld me no meat. Then how can Humber giue you any meat ?
Enter Strumbo with a pitchforke, and a fcotch-cap,
faying :
How do you maifters, how do you ? how haue you fcaped hanging this long time ? yfaith I haue fcapt 1*00 many a fcouring this yeare, but I thanke God I haue paft them all with a good couragio, couragio, & my wife & I are in great loue and charitie now, I thank my manhood & my ftrength, for I wil tell you mai fters, vpon a certain day at night I came home, to fay the verie truth, with my ftomacke full of wine, and ran vp into the chamber where my wife foberly fate
rocking
the eldest fonne to King Brutus. rocking my little babie, leaning her back againft the bed, finging lullabie. Now when fhe faw me come with my nofe formoft, thinking that I bin drunk, as I was indeed, fnatcht vp a fagot ftick in her hand, and came furioufly marching towards me with a bigge face, as though Ihee would haue eaten mee at a bit ; thundering out thefe words vnto me. Thou drun ken knaue where haft thou bin fo long> I fhall teach thee how to benight mee an other time ; and fo fhee began to play knaues trumps. Now althogh I trem bled fearing fhe would fet her ten commandements in my face, ran within her, and taking her luftily by the midle, I carried her valiantly to the bed, and flin ging her vpon it, flung my felfe vpon her, and there 16 zo I delighted her fo with the fport I made, that euer after fhe wold call me fweet husband, and fo banifht brawling for euer : and to fee the good will of the wench, me bought with her portion a yard of land, and by that I am now become one of the richeft me in our parifh. Well mafters whats a clocke, it is now breakfaft time, you fhall fee what meat I haue here for my breakfaft.
Let him fit downe and pull out his vittailes. 1*30
Hum. Was euer land fo fruitlefle as this land ? Was euer groue fo gracelefle as this groue ? Was euer foyle fo barrein as this foyle ? Oh no : the land where hungry Fames dwelt, May no wife ^equalize this curfed land, No euen the climat of the torrid zone Brings forth more fruit then this accurfed groue.
H 2 Nere
The lamentable Tragedie ofLocrine Nere came fweet Ceres, nere came Venus here, Triptolemus the god of husbandmen, Nere fowd his feed in this foule wildernefle. The hunger-bitten dogs of Acheron, Chaft from the ninefold Puriflegiton, Haue fet their footefteps in this damned ground. The yron harted Furies arm'd with fnakes, Scattered huge Hidras ouer all the plaines, which haue cofum'd the grafle, the herbes, the trees which haue drunke vp the flowing water fprings.
Strumbo hearing his voice fhall ftart vp and put meat in his pocket, feeking to hide himfelfe.
1650 Hum. Thou great commander of the ftarry fkie, That guid'ft the life of euerie mprtall wight From the inclofures of the fleeting clouds, Raine downe fome foode, or elfe I faint and die. Powre downe fome drinke, or elfe I faint and die. O lupiter haft thou fent Mercury In clownifh fhape to minifter fome foode ? Some meate, fome meate, fome meate.
Strum. O alafle fir, ye are deceiued, I am not Mer cury, I am Strumbo.
1660 Hum. Giue me fom meat vilain, giue me fom meat, Or gainft this rock, He dafh thy curfed braines, And rent thy bowels with my bloodie hands. Giue me fome meat villaine, giue me fome meat.
Strum. By the faith of my bodie good fellow, I had rather giue an whole oxe then that thou Ihuldft ferue me in that fort. Dalh out my braines ? O horri ble,
the eldejl fonne to King Brutus.
ble,terrible. I thinke I haue a quarry of ftones in my
pocket.
Let him make as though hee would giue him fome, and as he putteth out his hand, 1*70 enter the ghoaft ofAlbanact, and ftrike him on the hand, and fo Strumbo runnes out, Humber following him.
Exit.
Alba, ghoft. Loe here the gift of fell ambition, Of vfurpation and of trecherie. Loe here the harmes that wait vpon all thole That do intrude themfelues in others lands, Which are not vnder their dominion.
Exit. 1*80
The 4. Scene. Enter Locrine alone.
Loe. Seuen yeares hath aged Corineus liuM To Locrines griefe, and faire Eftrildas woe, And feuen yeares more he hopeth yet to liue, Oh fupreme loue, annihilate this thought. Should he enioy the aires fruition ? Should he enioy the benefit of life ? Should he contemplate the radiant fonne, That makes my life equall to dreadfull death? 1*90 Venus conuay this monfter fro the earth, That difobeieth thus thy facred hefts. Cupid conuay this monfter to darke hell, That difanulls thy mothers fugred lawes. Mars with thy target all befet wiih flames,
H 3 With
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine With murthering blade bereaue him of his life, That hindreth Locrine in his fweeteft ioyes. And yet for all his diligent afpect, His wrathfull eies piercing like Linces eies,
1700 Well haue I ouermatcht his fubtiltie. Nigh Deucolitum by the pleafant Lee, where brackifh Tbamis flides with filuer ftreames, Making a breach into the grafsie downes, A curious arch of coftly marble fraught. Hath Locrine framed vnderneath the ground, The walls whereof, garnifh with diamonds, With ophirs, rubies, gliftering emeralds, And interlaft with fun-bright carbuncles, Lighten the roome with artificiall day,
1710 And from the Lee with water-flowing pipes The moifture is deriu'd into this arch Where I haue placed faire Eftrild fecretly, Thither eftfoones accompanied with my page, I couertly vifit my harts defire, Without fufpition of the meaneft eie, For loue aboundeth ftill with pollicie : And thither ftill meanes Locrine to repaire, Till Atropos cut off mine vncles life.
Exit.
The $. Scene. v Enter Humber alone, faying ;
1721 Hum. 0 vita mifero longa^ftelici brents.
Eh en malorem fames extremum malum. Long haue I liued in this defart caue, With eating hawes and milerable rootes,
Deuou-
the eldeft fonne to King Brutus. Deuouring leaues and beaftly excrements. Caues were my beds, and ftones my pillowbeares, Feare was my fleep, and horror was my dreame, For ftill me thought at euery boifterous blaft Now Locrine comes, now Humber thou muft die : 1730 So that for feare and hunger, Humbert minde Can neuer reft, but alwaies trembling ftands. O what Danubius now may quench my thirft ? What Euphrates, what lightfoot Eunpus, May now allaie the furie of that heat, Which raging in my entrails eates me vp ? You gaftly diuels of the ninefold Stickes, You damned ghoafts of ioylefle Acheron, You mournfull foules, vext in Abiffus vaults, You coleblack diuels of Auernus pond, i740
Come with your flefhhooks, rent my famifht arms, Thefe armes that haue fuftaind their maifters life, Come with your raifours, rippe my bowels vp, With your fliarp fireforks crack my fterued bones, Vfe me as you will, fo Humber may not Hue. Accurfed gods that rule the ftarry poles, Accurfed loue king of the curfed gods, Caft downe your lightning on poore Humber s head, That I may leaue this deathlike life of mine, What heare you not, and fliall not Humber die? 17*0 Nay I will die though all the gods fay nay. And gentle Aby take my troubled corps, Take it and keep it from all mortall eies, That none may fay when I haue loft my breath, The very flouds confpirde gainft Humbers death. Fling himfelfe into the riuer.
Enter
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine Enter the ghoaft of Albanact. En ctedem fequitur^ cades in cade quiefco. Humberts dead, ioy heauens, leap earth, dance trees, 1 760 Now maift thou reach thy apples Tantalus^ And with them feed thy hunger-bitten limmes. Now Sijipbus leaue tumbling of thy rock, And reft thy reftlefle bones vpon the fame. Vnbind Ixion cruell Rbadamanth^ And laie proud Humber on the whirling wheele. Backe will I poft to hell mouth Tfenarus, And pafle Cocitus, to the Elyfian fields, And tell my father Brutus of thefe newes.
Exit. The y. Act. Scene i.
sc. t
1771 Enter Ate as before. lafon leading Creons daughter. Medea following, hath a garland in her hand, and putting it on Creons daughters head, fetteth it on fire, and then killing lafon and her, departeth.
Ate. Non tarn Tincriis exceftuat Aetna cauernis^
Ltefce furtiuo quam cor mulieris amore. Medea feeing lafon leaue her lone, And choofe the daughter of the Thebane king, Went to her diuellim charmes to worke reuenge, i78o And railing vp the triple Hecate^
With all the rout of the condemned fiends, Framed a garland by her magick {kill, With which fhe wrought lafon and Creons ill. So Gwendoline feeing her felfe mifvPd, And Humbert paramour poflefle her place,
Flies
the eldest fome to King Brutus. Flies to the dukedome of Cornubia, And with her brother flout Thrajimachus, Gathering a power of Cornifh fouldiers, Giues battaile to her hufband and his hofte, Nigh to the riuer of great Merita, i79o
The chances of this difmall maflacre, That which infueth fliortly will vnfold. (Exit.
The 2. Scene.
JC.
Enter Locrine, Camber, AJJarachus, Thrajimacbus.
Afla. But tell me coufin, died by brother fo ? Now who is left to helplefle Albion, That as a piller might vphold our ftate, That might ftrike terror to our daring foes ? Now who is left to haplefle Brittanie, 1800
That might defend her from the barbarous hands Of thofe that ftill delire her ruinous fall, And feeke to worke her downfall and decaie ?
Cam. I vncle death is our common enemie, And none but death can match our matchles power Witnefle the fall of Albioneus crewe, Witnefle the fall of Humber and his Hunnes, And this foule death hath now increalt our woe, By taking Corineus from this life, And in his roome leauing vs worlds of care. 1810
Tbra. But none may more bewaile his mournful Then I that am the iflue of his loines, (hearfe, Now foule befall that curfed Humbert throat, That was the caufer of his lingring wound.
I Loc.
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine Lo. Teares cannot raife him from the dead again, But wher's my Ladie miftrefle Guendoline ?
Thra. In Cornwall Locrine is my fifter now, Prouiding for my fathers funerall.
Lo. And let her ther prouide her mourning weeds 1810 And mourne for euer her owne widdow-hood. Ner fhall fhe come within our pallace gate, To countercheck braue Locrine in his loue. Go boy to Deucolituni) downe the Lee, Vnto the arch where louely Eftrild lies, Bring her and Sabren ftrait vnto the court, She mall be queene in Gnendolinas roome. Let others waile for Corineus death, I meane not fo to macerate my minde, For him that bard me from my hearts defire. 1830 Thra. Hath Locrine then forlooke his Guendoline ? Is Corineus death fo foone forgot ? If there be gods in heauen, as fure there be, If there be fiends in hell, as needs there muft, They will reuenge this thy notorious wrong, And powre their plagues vpon thy curfed head.
Loc. What prat'ft thou pefant to thy foueraigne ? Or art thou ftrooken in fome extafie ? Doeft thou not tremble at our royall lookes ? Doft thou not quake when mighty Locrine frowns ? 1 84o Thou beardlefle boy, wert not that Locrine fcornes To vexe his mind with fuch a hartlefle childe, With the fliarpe point of this my battale-axe, I would fend thy foule to Puriflegiton.
Thra. Though I be yoong and of a tender age, Yet will I cope with Locrine when he dares.
My
the eldest forme to King Brutus. My noble father with his conquering fword, Slew the two giants kings of Aquitaine. Thrafimacbus is not fo degenerate That he fhould feare and tremble at the lookes Or taunting words of a venerian fquire.
Loc. Menaceft thou thy roiall foueraigne, Vnciuill, not befeeming fuch as you. Iniurious traitor (for he is no lefle That at defiance ftandeth with his king) (words, Leaue thefe thy tauntes, leaue thefe thy bragging Vnlefle thou meane to leaue thy wretched life.
Thra. If princes ftaine their glorious dignitie With ougly fpots of monftrous infamie, They leefe their former eftimation, And throw themfelues into a hell of hate. iS6o
Loc. Wilt thou abufe my gentle patience, As though thou didft our high difpleafure fcorne ? Proud boy, y thou maift know thy prince is mou'd, Yea greatly mou'd at this thy fwelling pride, We banifh thee for euer from our court.
Thra. Then lofell Locrine, looke vnto thy felfe, Tbrajimachus will venge this iniurie. (Exit.
Lo. Farwel proud boy, and learn to vfe thy toong.
Affa. Alas my Lord, you fhuld haue cald to mind The lateft words that 'Brutus fpake to you, 1870
How he defirde you by the obedience That children ought to beare vnto their fire, To loue and fauour Ladie Guendoliney Confider this, that if the iniurie Do mooue her mind, as certainly it will, Warre and diflention followes fpeedely.
I 2 What
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine What though her power be not fo great as yours, Haue you not feene a mightie elephant Slaine by the biting of a filly moufe ? 1880 Euen fo the chance of warre inconftant is.
Loc. Peace vncle peace, and ceafe to talke hereof, For he that feekes by whifpering this or that, To trouble Locrine in his fweeteft life, Let him perfwade himfelfe to die the death. Enter the Page, with Eftrild and Sabren. Eftr. O fay me Page, tell me where is the king, Wherefore doth he fend for me to the court, Is it to die, is it to end my life, Say me fweete boy, tell me and do not faine ? 1890 Page. No truft me madame, if you will credit the litle honeftie that is yet left me, there is no fuch dan ger as you feare, but prepare your felfe, yonders the king. '
Eftr. Then Eftrild lift thy dazled fpirits vp, And blefle that blefled time, that day, that houre, That warlike Locrine firft did fauour thee. Peace to the king of Brittany my loue, Peace to all thofe that loue and fauour him.
Locrine taking her vp. 1900 Doth Estrild fall with fuch iubmifsion Before her feruant king of Albion ? Arife faire Ladie, leaue this lowly cheare, Lift vp thofe lookes that cherifh Locrines heart, That I may freely view that rofeall face, Which fo in tangled hath my louefick breft, Now to the court where we will court it out, And pafle the night and day in Venus Iports.
Frollick
the eldejl Jonne to King Brutus. Frollick braue peeres, be ioyfull with your king.
Exeunt. The 3. Scene. Enter Guendoline^ Thrajimachus,
Madan, and the fouldiers. (blatts, rc- "'
Guen. You gentle winds that with your modeft 1911 Pafle through the circuit of the heauenly vault, Enter the clouds vnto the throne of loue, And beare my praiers to his all hearing eares, For Locrine hath forfaken Guendoline^ And learne to loue proud Humbert concubine. You happie fprites that in the concaue fkie With pleafant ioy, enioy your fweeteft loue, Shead foorth thofe teares with me, which then you 1910 Whe firft you wood your ladies to your wils, (med Thofe teares are fitteft for my wofull cafe, Since Locrine fhunnes my nothing pleafant face. Blufh heauens, blufh funne, and hide thy fhining Shadow thy radiat locks in gloomy clouds, (beams, Denie thy cheerfull light vnto the world, Where nothing raigns but falfhood and deceit. What faid I, falfhood ? I that filthie crime, For Locrine hath forlaken Guendoline. Behold the heauens do waile for Guendoline. The fhining funne doth blufh for Guendoline. The liquid aire doth weep for Guendoline. The verie ground doth grone for Guendoline. I they are milder then the Brittaine king, For he reiecteth lucklefle Guendoline.
Thra. Sifter, complaints are bootlefle in this caufe, This open wrong muft haue an open plague : This plague muft be repaid with grieuous warre,
I 3 This
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine This warre muft finilh with Locrinus death,
1 940 His death will foone extinguifh our complaints.
Guen. O no, his death wil more augment my woes, He was my hufband braue Thrajimacbus, More deare to me then the apple of mine eie, Nor can I finde in heart to worke his fcathe. Tbra. Madame if not your proper iniuries, Nor my exile, can moue you to reuenge, Thinke on our father Corineus words, His words to vs ftands alwaies for a lawe, Should Locrine Hue that cauPd my fathers death ?
19*0 Should Locrine liue that now diuorceth you?
The heauens, the earth, the aire, the fire reclaimes, And then why Ihould all we denie the fame ?
Guen. Then henceforth farwel womanifh corn- All childifli pitie henceforth then farwel : (plaints, But curfed Locrine looke vnto thy felfe, For Nemejis the miftrefle of reuenge, Sits arm'd at all points on our difmall blades, And curfed Estrild that inflamed his heart, Shall if I liue, die a reproachfull death.
1960 Madan. Mother, though nature makes me to la- My lucklefle fathers froward lecherie, (ment,
Yet for he wrongs my Ladie mother thus, I if I could, my felfe would worke his death.
Tbra. See madame fee, the delire of reuenge Is in the children of a tender age. Forward braue fouldiers into Mertia, Where we (hall braue the coward to his face.
Exeunt.
The
the eldejl fonne to King Brutus.
The 4. Scene.
Enter Locrine^ Eftrild, Habren^ AJJarachus, sc* ™
and the fouldiers. 1971
Loc. Tell me AJJarachus, are the Cornifh chuffes In fuch great number come to Mertia, And haue they pitched there their pettie hofte, So clofe vnto our royall manfion.
Affa. They are my Lord, and meane incontinent To bid defiance to your maieftie.
Loc. It makes me laugh, to thinke that Guendoline Should haue the hart to come in armes gainlt me.
Eftr. Alas my Lord, the horfe wil runne amaine 1980 When as the fpurre doth gall him to the bone, lealoufie Locrine hath a wicked fting.
Lac. Saift thou fo Eftrild, beauties paragon > Well we will trie her chollor to the proofe, And make her know Locrine can brooke no braues. March on AJJarachus, thou muft lead the way, And bring vs to their proud pauillion. (Exeunt.
The f . Scene. -Act
Enter the ghoft of Corineus, with thunder & lighte- *• *
Ghoft. Behold the circuit of the azure fky, (ning. 1990 Throwes forth fad throbs, and grieuous fufpirs, Preiudicating Locrines ouerthrow, The fire cafteth forth lharpe dartes of flames, The great foundation of the triple world, Trembleth and quaketh with a mightie noife, Prefaging bloodie maflacres at hand. The wandring birds that flutter in the darke, When hellifh night in cloudie charriot feated,
Cafteth
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine Caiteth her mifts on fhadie Tellus face, 2000 With fable mantels couering all the earth, Now flies abroad amid the cheerfull day, Foretelling fome vnwonted miferie. The fnarling curres of darkened Tartarus, Sent from Auernus ponds by Radamanth, With howling ditties pefter euerie wood, The watrie ladies and the lightfoote fawnes, And all the rabble of the wooddie Nymphs, All trembling hide themfelues in fhadie groues, And ihrowd themfelues in hideous hollow pitts. I0io The boyfterous Boreas thundreth forth reuenge. The ftonie rocks crie out on fharpe reuenge. The thornie bulh pronounceth dire reuenge.
Sound the alarme. Now Corineus ftaie and fee reuenge, And feede thy foule with Locrines ouerthrow. Behold they come, the trumpets call them foorth. The roaring drummes fummon the fouldiers. Loe where their army gliftereth on the plaines, Throw forth thy lightning mightie lupiter, 2020 And powre thy plagues on curfed Locrines head.
Stand a fide.
Enter Locrine, Eftrild, Affaracus, Habren and their fol- diers at one doore, Tbrajimachus, Guendolin, Ma- dan and their followers at an other. Loc. What is the tigre ftarted from his caue ? Is Guendoline come from Cornubia, That thus Ihe braueth Locrine to the teeth ? And haft thou found thine armour prettie boy, Accompanied with thefe thy ftragling mates ?
Beleeue
the eldest fonne to King Brutus.
Beleeue me but this enterprife was bold, 2030
And well deferueth commendation.
Guen. I Locrine, traiterous Locrine we are come, With full pretence to feeke thine ouerthrow, What haue I don that thou fhouldft f corn me thus ? What haue I faid that thou fhouldft me reiect ? Haue I bene difobedient to thy words ? Haue I bewrayd thy Arcane fecrecie ? Haue I difhonoured thy marriage bed With filthie crimes, or with lafciuious lufts ? Nay it is thou that haft dilhonoured it, 104o
Thy filthie minde orecome with filthie lufts, Yeeldeth vnto affections filthie darts. Vnkind, thou wrongft thy firtt and trueft feer, Vnkind, thou wrongft thy beft and deareft friend. Vnkind, thou fcornft all fkilfull Brutus lawes, Forgetting father, vncle, and thy felfe.
JEftr. Beleeue me Locrine but the girle is wife, And well would feeme to make a vaftall Nunne, How finely frames fhe her oration.
Thra. Locrin we came not here to fight with words 2050 Words that can neuer winne the victorie, But for you are fo merie in your frumpes, Vnfheath your fwords, and trie it out by force, That we may fee who hath the better hand.
Loc. Thinkft thou to dare me bold Thrafimacbus* Thinkft thou to feare me with thy taunting braues, Or do we feeme too weake to cope with thee ? Soone fliall I fhew thee my fine cutting blade, And with my f word the meflenger of death, Seal thee an acquitace for thy bold attempts. Exeut. 1060
K Sound
SC.
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine " Sound the alarme. Enter Locrine^ Affaracus^ and a fbuldier at one doore, Guendoline^ Tbrjimacbus^ at an other, Locrine and his followers driuen back. Then let Locrine & Eftrild enter again in a maze. Loc. O faire Eftrilda, we haue loft the field, Tbrajimachus hath wonne the victorie, And we are left to be a laughing ftocke, Scoft at by thofe that are our enemies, Ten thoufand fouldiers armd with fword & fliield, 2070 Preuaile againft an hundreth thoufand men, Tbrajimachus incenft with fuming ire, Rageth amongft the faintheart fouldiers Like to grim Mars, when couered with his targe He fought with Dwmedes in the field, Clofe by the bankes of filuer Simois,
Sound the alarme.
O louely Estrild now the chafe begins, Ner fhall we fee the ftately Traynouant Mounted on the courfers garnifht all withpearles, 2080 Ner fhall we view the faire Concordia,
Vnlefle as captiues we be thither brought. Shall Locrine then be taken prifoner, By fuch a yoongling as Thrajimachus> Shall Guendolina captiuate my loue ? Ner fhall mine eies behold that difmall houre, Ner will I view that ruthfull fpectacle, For with my fword this fharpe curtleaxe, He cut in funder my accurfed heart. But O you iudges of the ninefold Stix, 2090 Which with inceflant torments racke the ghoafts Within the bottomlefle Abiffus pits,
You
the eldest Jonne to King Brutus. You gods commanders of the heauenly fpheres, Whofe will and lawes irreuocable ftands, Forgiue, forgiue, this foule accurfed finne, Forget O gods this foule condemned fault : And now my fword that in fo many fights (kifle his Haft fau'd the life of Brutus and his fonne, (fword. End now his life that wifheth ftill for death, Worke now his death that wifheth ftill for death, Worke now his death that hateth ftill his life. Farwell faire Eflrild^ beauties paragon, Fram'd in the front of forlorne miferies, Ner lhall mine eies behold thy funfhine eies, But when we meet in the Elyfian fields, Thither I go before with haftenened pace. Farwell vaine world, and thy inticing fnares. Forwell foule finne, and thy inticing pleasures. And welcome death the end of mortall fmart, Welcome to Locrines ouerburthened hart.
Thruft himfelfe through with his fword. Eftr. Break hart with fobs and greeuous fufpirs, Streame forth you teares from forth my watry eies, Helpe me to mourne for warlike Locrines death, Powre downe your teares you watry regions, For mightie Locrine is bereft of life.
0 fickle fortnne, O vnftable world,
What elfe are all things that this globe containes, But a confufed chaos of mifhaps ? Wherein as in a glafle we plainly fee, That all our life is but as a Tragedie. Since mightie kings are fubiect to mifhap,
1 mightie kings are fubiect to mifhap, Since martiall Locrine is bereft of life,
K 2 Shall
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine Shall Eftrild Hue then after Locrines death ? Shall loue of life barre her from Locrines fword ? O no, this fword that hath bereft his life, Shall now depriue me of my fleeting foule : Strengthen thefe hands O mightie lupiter, That I may end my wofull miferie.
^ 130 Locrine I come, Locrine I follow thee.
Kill her felfe.
Sound the alarme. Enter Sabren. Sab. What dolefull fight, what ruthful fpectacle Hath fortune offred to my haplefle hart ? My father flaine with fuch a fatall fword, My mother murthred by a mortall wound ? What Thracian dog, what barbarous Mirmidon, Would not relent at fuch a ruthfull cafe ? What fierce Achilles, what hard ftonie flint,
1140 Would not bemone this mournfull Tragedie? Locrine the map of magnanimitie, Lies flaughtered in this foule accurfed caue, Eftrild the perfect patterne of renowne, Natnres fole wonder, in whofe bewteous brefts All heauenly grace and vertue was inftirinde, Both maflacred are dead within this caue, And with them dies faire Pallas and fweet loue. Here lies a fword, and Sabren hath a heart, This blefled fword fhall cut my curfed heart, And bring my foule vnto my parents ghoafts, That they that Hue and view our Tragedie, May mourne our cafe with mournfull plaudities. Let her offer to kill her felfe. Ay me, my virgins hands are too too weake,
To
the eldeftfonne to King Brutus. To penetrate the bullwarke of my breft, My fingers vfde to tune the amorous lute, Are not of force to hold this fteely glaine, So I amlieft to waile my parents death, Not able for to worke my proper death. Ah Locrine honord for thy noblenefle. Ah Estrild) famous for thy conftancie. II may they fare that wrought your mortall ends. Enter Guendoline^ Thrafimachus^ Madan^ and the fouldiers.
Guen. Search fouldiers fearch, find Locrin and his Find the proud ftrumpet Numbers concubine, (loue, That I may change thofe her fo pleafing lookes, To pale and ignominious afpect. Find me the ifliie of their curfed loue, Find me yoong Sabren, Locrin es only ioy, That I may glut my mind with lukewarme blood, Swiftly diftilling from the baftards breft, My fathers ghoaft ftil haunts me for reuenge, Crying, reuenge my ouerhaftened death, My brothers exile, and mine owne diuorce, Banifh remorfe cleane from my brazen heart, All mercie from mine adamintiue brefts.
Thra. Nor doth thy hufband louely Guendoliney That wonted was to guide our ftailefle fteps, Enioy this light ; fee where he murdred lies : 1180
By lucklefle lot and froward frowning fate, And by him lies his louely paramour Faire Eftrild goared with a difmall fword, And as it feemes, both murdred by themfelues, Clafping each other in their feebled armes,
K 3 With
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrme With louing zeale, as if for companie Their vncontented corpes were yet content To pafle foule Stix in Charons ferry-boat.
Guen. And hath proud Eftrildihen preuented me, si 90 Hath flie efcaped Guendolinas wrath, Violently by cutting off her life ? Would God flie had the monftrous Hidras Hues, That euery houre flie might haue died a death Worfe then the fwing of old Ixions wheele, And euery houre reuiue to die againe, As Titius bound to houfles Caucafon, Doth feed the fubftance of his owne mifhap, And euery day for want of foode doth die, And euery night doth Hue againe to die. But ftaie, mee thinks I heare fome fainting voice, Mournfully weeping for their lucklefle death.
Sa. You mountain nimphs which in thefe defarts Ceafe off you r haft ie chafe of fauadge beafts, (raign, Prepare to fee a heart oppreft with care, Addrefle your eares to heare a mournfull ftile, No humane ftrength, no work can work my weale, Care in my hart fo tyrantlike doth deale. You Driades and Hghtfoote Satiri^ You gtacious Paries which at euening tide, Your clofets leaue with heauenly beautie ftorde, And on your flioulders fpread your golden locks, You fauadge beares in caues and darkened dennes, Come waile with me, the martiall Locrines death. Come mourn with me, for beauteous Eftrilds deth. Ah louing parents little do you know, what forrow Sabren fuffers for your thrall.
Guen.
the eldeft Jonne to King Brutus.
Guen. But may this be, and is it pofsible, Liues Sabren yet to expiat my wrath ? Fortune I thanke thee for this curtefie, And let me neuer fee one profperous houre, If Sabren die not a reproachful! death.
Sab. Hard harted death, that when the wretched Art furtheft off, and fildom heerft at all. (call, But in the midft of fortunes good fuccefle, Vncalled comes, and (heeres our life in twaine : When wil that houre, that blefled houre draw nie, When poore diftrefled Sabren may be gone. Sweet Atropos cut off my fatall thred, What art thou death, ftiall not poore Sabren die ?
Guendoline taking her by the chin fhall fay thus. 1130
Guen. Yes damfell yes, Sabren fhall furely die, Though all the world fhould feeke to faue her life, And not a common death fhall Sabren die, But after ftrange and greeuous punifhments Shortly inflicted vpon thy baftards head, Thou fhalt be caft into the curfed ftreames, And feede the fifties with thy tender flefh.
Sab. And thinft thou then thou cruell homicid, That thefe thy deeds fhall be vnpunifhed ? No traitor no, the gods will venge thefe wrongs, The fiends of hell will marke thefe iniuries. Neuer fhall thefe blood-fucking maftie curres, Bring wretched Sabren to her lateft home. For 1 my felfe in fpite of thee and thine, Meane to abridge my former deftenies, And that which Locrinesfword could not perform, This pleafant ftreame lhall prefent bring to pafle. She drowneth her felfe.
Guen.
The lamentable Tragedie of Locrine Guen. One mifchiefe followes anothers necke,
2±fo Who would haue thought fo yoong a mayd as (he With fuch a courage wold haue fought her death. And for becaufe this Riuer was the place Where little Sahren refolutely died, Sabren for euer lhall this fame be calPd. And as for Locrine our deceaied fpoufe, Becaufe he was the forme of mightie Brute, To whom we owe our country, liues and goods, He fliall be buried in a ftately tombe, Clofe by his aged father Brutus bones,
22*0 With fuch great pomp and great folemnitie, As well befeemes fo braue a prince as he. Let Ejirild lie without the fhallow vauts, Without the honour due vnto the dead, Becaufe fhe was the author of this warre. Retire braue followers vnto Troynouant, Where we will celebrate thefe exequies, And place yoong Locrine in his fathers tombe.
Exeunt omnes. Ate. Lo here the end of lawlefle trecherie,
wV Of vfurpation and ambitious pride,
2271 And they that for their priuate amours dare Turmoile our land, and fee their broiles abroach, Let them be warned by thefe premifles, And as a woman was the onely caufe That ciuill difcord was then ftirred vp, So let vs pray for that renowned mayd, That eight and thirtie yeares the fcepter fwayd, In quiet peace and fweet felicitie, And euery wight that feekes her graces fmart,
1180 wold that this fword wer pierced in his hart. (Exit.
FINIS.
ft A A
SECT. DEC 5 1983
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