THE Second Part of the Iron Age Which containeth the death of Penthesilea, Paris Priam, and Hecuba: The burning of Troy: The deaths of Agamemnon, Menelaus, Clytaemnestra, Helena, Orestes, Aegisthus, Pylades, King Diomed, Pyrrhus, Cethus, Sinon, Thersites, &c. Written by THOMAS HEYWOOD.  Aut prodesse solent aut Delectare. 
 
Printed at London by Nicholas Okes. 1632.   

Drammatis personae.  

New persons not presented in the former part of this History.  
Pyrrhus the son of Achilles,  
surnamed Neoptolemus.  
Sinon a perjure Greek, by whose tears Troy was set on fire.  
Chorebus a Prince, who came to the wars for the love of Cassandra.  
Laocoon, a priest of Apollo.  
Polites, a young son of King  
Priam, and Queen Hecuba.  
A Trojan Citizen. & his wife.  
A second Trojan.  
soldiers of Greece.  
soldiers of Troy.  
The Ghost of Hector.  
A Lord of Mycena.  
A Guard.  
Penthesilea Queen of the Amazons, with her train of Viragoes.  
Cethus' son to King Naulus, and brother of Palamedes.  
Pylades the friend of Orestes.  
Orestes son to King Agamemnon, and his Queen Clytaemnestra.  
Electra, sister to Orestes.  
Hermione daughter to King  
Menelaus and Q. Helen.  
Clytaemnestra wife and Queen to Agamemnon.  
Aegisthus a favourite to Queen Clytaemnestra.  
The Priest of Apollo▪ Attendants.    

To the Reader.  
COurteous Reader: I commend unto thee an entire History, from jupiter and Saturn, to the utter subversion of Troy▪ with a faithful account of the deaths of all these Princes of Greece, who had hand in the Fate thereof, (Ulysses only excepted, to whom belongeth a further History.) read freely, and censure favourably. These Ages have been long since Writ, and suited with the Time then: I know not how they may be received in this Age, where nothing but Satirica Dictaeria, and Comica Scommata are now in request: For mine own part, I never affected either▪ when they stretched to the abuse of any person public, or private. If the three former Ages (now out of Print,) be added to these (as I am promised) to make up an handsome Volume; I purpose (Deo Assistente,) to illustrate the whole Work, with an Explanation of all he difficulties, and an Historical Comment of every hard name, which may appear obscure or intricate to such as are not frequent in Poetry: Which (as the rest) I shall freely devote to thy favourable perusal, in this as all the rest industrious to thy pleasure and profit:  
Thomas Heywood   

to my Worthy and much Respected Friend, Mr. Thomas Mannering Esquire.  
Worthy Sir,  
ANd my much respected Friend: The Impression of your Love, after so many years' acknowledgement, enforceth me that I cannot choose, but in my best recollection, to number you in the File and List of my best and choicest Wellwishers. True it is, that my unable merit hath ever come much short of your ample acknowledgement: Howsoever, though you be now absent in the Country, upon a necessary retirement; yet let this witness in my behalf, that you are not altogether unremembered in the City: Nor take it unkindly at my hands that I have reserved your name to the Catastrophe and conclusion of this Work: Since being Scoena novissima, It must be consequently the fresher in memory; as you have had ever a charitable and indulgent censure of such poor pieces of mine, as have come accidentally unto your view. So I entreat you now, (as one better able to judge, than I to determine) to receive into your favourable patronage, this second part of the Iron Age. I much deceive myself, if I heard you not once commend it, when you saw it Acted; if you persist in the same opinion, when you shall spare some sorted hours to hear it read, in your pains, I shall hold myself much pleased: over remaining  
Yours, not to be changed: Thomas Heywood.   
The second Part of the IRON AGE: With the Destruction of TROY.  
Enter Agamemnon, Menelaus, Ulysses, Diomed, Thersites. Drum, Colours, Soldiers, &c. Agamemnon. 
YOu Terrors of the Asian Monarchy,  
And Europe's glory: Warlike Lords of Greece:  
Although the great Prince of the Myrmidons,  
And armstrong Aiax, our best Champions,  
Be by the gods bereft us: yet now comes  
A Phoenix out of their cold ashes rising:  
Pyrrhus, surnamed Neoptolemus:  
On whom for his deceased father's sake,  
we must bestow some honours. Menelaus,  
Ulysses, Diomed, give the Prince meeting,  
And be his conduct to the General.  A flourish. Enter the Kings before named, bringing in Pyrhus, Synon, with attendants. Aga. 
Pyrrhus kneel down, we girt thee with this sword,  
It was thy fathers. In his warlike hand  
It hath cleft Trojans to the navel down,  
Pared heads off faster than the harvest scythe  
Doth the thin stalks, or bending ears of grain:  
Wear it, and draw it to revenge his death.  
Princes, perform your several ceremonies.  Did 
These golden spurs I fasten to thine heels,  
The same thy warlike father won in field,  
When Hector tide with thongs to his steeds fetlocks,  
Was dragged about the high built walls of Troy.  Ulis. 
This Armour, and this plumed Burgonet,  
In which thy father, like a rampired wall,  
Opposed the fury of his enemies,  
(By general consent of all these Princes  
Attributed to me) lo I surrender  
To youthful Neoptolemus, wear it Prince,  
Not all the world yields a more strong defence.  Mene. 
Achilles Tent, his Treasure, and his jewels,  
We have reserved, enjoy them noble Pyrrhus;  
And lastly his strong guard of Myrmidons,  
And with the honour he with these have won,  
His Sword, Spurs, Armour, Guard, Pauileon,  
Be by his valiant son much dignified.  Pyr. 
Before I touch the handle of his sword,  
Or to my Knightly spurs direct my eyes,  
Lace this rich Armour to my youthful sides,  
Or roof mine head within this warlike Tent,  
Make proof of this his plumed Burgonet,  
Or take on me the leading of his Guard:  
Witness you Grecian Princes, what I vow:  
By Saturn's son, the sire of Aeacus,  
Begot on fair Europa; by their issue,  
The second judge, placed on the infernal bench  
I will descend to Peleus, and from him,  
Even to my natural father, with whose honours  
I join my mother Deidamia's  
And in my vengeful oath include them all,  
Till Priam be compelled to shut his Gates  
For want of men: I'll be as merciless  
As untamed lions, and the flesh-fed Bears,  
Blood shall look brighter in young Pyrrhus eyes  
Then dissolved Crystal, till old Priam's hairs  
Be died in gore: till Hecub's reverent locks  
Be Beguiled in slaughter; all their sons and daughters,  
Subjects, and City quite confused in ruin,  
Bow to our merciless fury: I'll not leave  
This black and fatal siege; and this I swear  
As I am Prince, and great achilles' heir.  Aga. 
even in thy looks I read the sack of Troy,  
And Priam's Tragedy: welcome sweet Pyrrhus,  
And welcome you his warlike followers.  Syn. 
where be these Trojans? I would fain behold  
Their winged battalions grapple? I would see  
The battered centre fly about their ears  
In clouds of dust: I would have horses hooves  
Beat thunder out of earth: the chariot Trees  
I would see drowned in blood, Scamander plains  
o'erspread with entrails baked in blood and dust:  
With terror I would have this day as black,  
As when Hyperion leaping from his Sphere,  
Cast ugly darkness from his Chariot wheels,  
And in this veiled confusion the faint Trojans  
Beat back into the Town: I'd see their Gates  
Entered, and fire by their high Battlements  
Climbing toward heaven: the pavement of th'streets  
I'd see paved over with faces: infants tossed  
On Lances points: big-bellied Ladies flung  
From out their casements: I'd have all their souls  
Set upon wings, and Troy, no Troy, but fire,  
As if ten thousand Comets joined in one,  
To close the world in red confusion.  Py. 
Well spoke bold Sinon; and my Lords of Greece,  
This fellow boasts no more than with his sword,  
He will adventure for, and should that fail,  
He'll set his brain to work. I tell you Princes,  
My Grandsire Lycomedes hath made proof  
Of Sinon's policies, state-quaking projects  
Are handmaidens to his brain; and he hath spirit  
To drive his plots even to the door of Death,  
With rare effects, and then not all the world  
Affords a villain more incomparable,  
Than Sinon my attendant. Warlike Princes,  
I speak this to his praise: and I profess  
myself as stern, bloody, and merciless.  Ther. 
I have not heard a braver Character  
Given to a Greek: and had he but my railing▪  
He were a man complete.  Syn. 
Sure there is something  
Above a common man in yond same fellow,  
Whom nature hath so marked, and were his mind  
As crooked as his body, he were one  
I could be much in love with.  Ther. 
He hath a feature  
That I could court, nay will: I would not lose  
His friendship and acquaintance for the world.  
methinks you are a comely Gentleman.  Syn. 
I ever held myself so: and mine eye  
Gives you no less: of all the Grecians here  
Thou hast a face like mine, that fears no weather▪  
A shape that war itself cannot deform:  
I best love such complexions.  Ther. 
By the gods  
we have two meeting souls: be my sweet Urchin▪  Syn. 
I will,  
An thou shalt be mine ugly Toad.  Ther. 
A match: be we hence forth brothers and friends.  Syn. 
Embrace then friend and brother: my dear Toad▪  Ther. 
My amiable Urchin.  Pyr. 
I long for work, will not these Trojans come,  
To welcome Pyrrhus, great Achilles son?  Vlyss. 
Their drums proclaim them ready for the field.  Enter Priam, Paris, Penthesilea, and her train of Viragoes, Aeneas, Chorebus, Laocoon, Anthenor, &c. Aga. 
Perhaps King Priam hath not yet related  
The news of Neoptolemus arrive,  
That he presumes thus, weakened as he is,  
To ope his Gates, and meet us in the field.  Pyr. 
'tis like he hath, because for want of men  
He brings a troop of Women to the field:  
Most sure he thinks, we (like our warlike father)  
Will be ensnared with beauty: Priam no,  
We for his death, are sworn vain beauty's foe.  Penth. 
Art thou Achilles' son, beneath whose hand  
Assisted by his bloody Myrmidons,  
The valiant Hector fell?  Pyr. 
Woman I am.  Penth. 
Thou shouldst be then a Coward.  Pyr. 
How?  Penth. 
even so:  
Thy father was a foe dishonourable▪  
And so the world reputes him.  Pyr. 
By all the gods—  Pent. 
Swear not, for ere the closure of the battle,  
If both the Generals please, with my good sword,  
In single combat I'll make good my word.  Pyr. 
O that thou wert a man! but women's tongues  
Are privileged: come Priam, all his sons,  
The whole remain of fifty, I'll make good  
My father's honour 'gainst sufficient odds.  
But for these scolds, we leave them to their sex▪  
What make they amongst trojans.  Penth. 
Scorn not proud Pyrrhus  
Our presence in the field; I tell thee Prince,  
I am a Queen, the Queen of Amazons,  
A warlike Nation disciplined in Arms.  Pyr. 
Are you those Harlots famous through the world,  
That have usurped a Kingdom to your selves,  
And pent your sweet hearts in a barren isle,  
Where your adulterate sports are exercised.  Pent. 
curb thy irregular tongue: we are those women  
That practise arms, by which we purchase fame.  
All the year long, only three months excepted,  
Those wherein Phoebus drives his Chariot,  
In height of splendour through the burning Cancer,  
The fiery Lion, and the virgin's sign:  
Then we forsake our Sunburnt Continent,  
And in a cooler clime, sport with our men,  
And then return▪ if we have issue male,  
we nurse them up, then send them to their Fathers.  
If females, we then keep them, and with irons  
Their right paps we sear off, with better ease  
To couch their spears, and practise feats of arms.  
We are those women, who expelled our Land  
By Egypt's Tyrant: Conquered Asia,  
Egypt and Cappadocia: these two Ladies  
Descend from Menelippe and Hyppolita,  
Who in Antiope's reign▪ fought hand to hand  
With Hercules and Theseus; we are those  
That came for love of hector to the field,  
And (being murdered) to revenge his death.  Py. 
Then welcome Amazonians, as I live  
I love you though I hate you: but beware,  
Hate will outweigh my love, and I'll not spare  
Your ●usl ind squadrons: for my father's fall,  
Trojans, and Amazonians perish all.  Exeunt. Alarum. Enter Pyrhus and Penthesilea. Py. 
Now Queen of Amazons, by the strong spirit  
Achilles left his son, I let thee know  
My father was an honourable Foe.  Pent. 
Defiance Pyrrhus, I'll to death proclaim,  
Hector was by Achilles basely slain:  
And on his son's head, with my keen edged sword,  
And thundring strokes, I will make good my word.  Alarum. They are both wounded, and divided by the two armies, who confusedly come betwixt them: to Pyrhus enter Agamemnon, Ulysses, and Menelaus. Vlis. 
What? wounded noble Pyrrhus?  Pyr. 
Wounded? no,  
I have not met one that can raze the skin  
Of great Achilles' son.  Aga. 
Yet blood drops from your arm.  Pyr. 
Not possible!  
'tis sure the blood of some slain enemy.  
Come let's us break into the battles centre,  
And to't pell-mell.  Mene. 
But Neoptolemus,  
we prize thy safety more than all advantage:  
Retire thyself to have thy wounds bound up,  Pyr. 
coward's fear death,  
I'll venge my blood, though with the loss of breath.  Alarum. Enter Paris. 
Art thou a madman fellow, that adventure  
So near the blood of Neoptolemus,  
Whose smallest drop must cost a Trojans life.  Par. 
Art thou the bleeding issue of that Greek?  
ay, in revenge of noble Hector's death,  
Slew in Apollo's Temple.  Pyr. 
Art thou then  
That coward and effeminate Trojan boy.  Pa. 
Arm wounded Greek, I slew the false Achilles,  
An act which I am proud of.  Aga. 
Fall on the murderer,  
And flake him smaller than the lybian sand.  Pyr. 
If any but myself offer one blow,  
I'll on the Trojans party oppose him.  
Come Paris, though against the odds of breath,  
Achilles wounded son, will venge his death.  Paris is slain by Pyrhus. A retreat sounded. Enter then King Diomed, and Synon. Dio. 
Why sound the Trojans this retreat?  Syn 
Paris is slain, and Penthesilea  
Wounded by Pyrrhus.  Dio. 
Come then Sinon  
Go with me to my Tent, this night we'll revel  
With beauteous Cressida.  Syn. 
Not I, I hate all women, painted beauty  
And I am opposites: I love thee less  
Because thou dotest on Trojan Cressida.  Dio. 
She's worthy of our love: I tell thee Sinon,  
She is both constant, wise, and beautiful.  Syn. 
She's neither constant, wise, nor beautiful,  
I'll prove it Diomed: four Elements  
Meet in the structure of that Cressida,  
Of which there's not one pure: she's compact  
Merely of blood, of bones and rotten flesh,  
Which makes her Leprous, where the Sun exhales  
The moist complexion, it doth putrify  
The region of th'air: there's than another,  
Sometimes the Sun sits muffled in his Cave,  
Whilst from the Clouds fly hideous showers of rain,  
Which sweeps the earth's corruption into Brooks,  
Brooks into rivers, Rivers send their tribute,  
As they receive it to their Sovereign  
The seething Ocean: Thus Earth, Air, and Water,  
Are all infected, she then framed of these,  
Can she be beautiful? No Diomed,  
If they seem fair, they have the help of Art,  
By nature they are ugly.  Dio. 
Leave this detraction.  Syn. 
Now for this Cressida's wisdom, is she wise,  
Who would forsake her birthright, her brave friend,  
The constant Troilus, for King Diomed;  
To trust the faith of Greeks, and to love thee  
That art to Troy a professed enemy?  Dio. 
Canst thou disprove her constancy?  Syn. 
I can.  
Never was woman constant to one man:  
For proof, do thou but put into one scale  
A feather, in the other Cressida's truth,  
The feather shall down weigh it: Diomed  
Wilt thou believe me, if I win not Cressid  
To be my sweet heart: yet have no such face,  
No such proportion, to bewitch a Lady▪  
I never practised courtship, but am blunt;  
Nor can I file my tongue: yet if I win not  
The most chaste woman, I will cut it out.  
Shall I make proof with her?  Enter Cressida. Dio. 
There she comes,  
Affront her Sinon, I'll withdraw unseen▪  Syn. 
A gallant Lady, who but such a villain▪  
As Sinon would betray her: but my vow  
Is past, for she's a Trojan. Cressida,  
You are well encountered: whether away sweet Lady?  Cres. 
To meet with Kingly Diomed, and with kisses  
Conduct him to his Tent.  Syn. 
'tis kindly done:  
You love King Diomed then?  Cres. 
As mine own life.  Syn. 
What seest thou in him that is worth thy love▪  Cres. 
He's of a fair and comely personage.  Syn. 
Personage? ha, ha.  
I prithee look on me▪ and view me well,  
And thou wilt find some difference.  Cres. 
True, more odds  
Twixt him and thee, then betwixt Mercury  
And limping Vulcan.  Syn. 
yetas' fair a blowse  
As you, sweet Lady, wedded with that Smith▪  
And bedded too, a black complexion  
Is always precious in a woman's eye:  
Leave Diomed, and love me Cressida.  Cres. 
Thee.  Syn. 
Me.  Cres. 
Deformity forbear, I will to Diomed  
Make known thine insolence.  Syn. 
I care not, for I, not desire to live,  
If not beloved of Cressida: tell the King  
If he stood by, I would not spare a word.  
For thine own part, rare goddess, I adore thee,  
And owe thee divine reverence: Diomed  
Indeed's Aetolians King, and hath a Queen.  Cres. 
A Queen?  Syn. 
A Queen, that shall hereafter question thee:  
Or canst thou think he loves thee really  
Being a Trojan, but for present use:  
Can Greeks love Trojans, are they not all sworn  
To do them outrage?  Cres. 
How canst thou then love me?  Syn. 
I am a politician, oaths with me  
Are but the tools I work with, I may break  
An oath by my profession. Hear me further,  
Thinkest thou King Diomed, forgets thy breach  
Of love with Troilus? ay or that he hopes  
Thou canst be constant to a second friend,  
That wast so false unto thy first beloved.  Cres. 
Synon thou art deceived thou know'st I never  
Had left Prince Troilus, but by the command  
Of my old father Calchas.  Syn. 
Then love Diomed;  
Yes, do so still, but Cressid mark the end▪  
If ever he transport thee to Aetolia,  
His Queen will bid thee welcome with a vengeance:  
Hast thou more eyes than these? she'll fall to work▪  
For such another Vixen thou ne'er knewest▪  
Come Cressida be wise.  Cres. 
What shall I do?  Syn. 
Love me, love Sinon.  Cres. 
Sinon loves not me▪  Syn. 
I'll swear I do.  Cres. 
I heard thee say, that thou wouldst break thine oath▪  Syn. 
Then I'll not swear, because I will not break it:  
But yet I love thee Cressida, love me,  
I'll leave the wars unfinished, Troy unsack;  
And to my native Country bear thee hence:  
Nay wench I'll do't; come kiss me Cressida.  Cres. 
Well, you may use your pleasure;  
But good Sinon keep this from Diomed.  Enter King Diomed. Dio. 
Oh perjured strumpet,  
Is this thy faith? now Sinon I'll believe  
There is no truth in women.  Cres. 
Am I betrayed? oh thou base ugly villain,  
I'll pull thine eyes out.  Syn. 
Ha, ha, King Diomed,  
Did I not tell thee what thy sweet heart was.  Cres. 
Thou art a Traitor to all woman kind.  Syn. 
I am, and nought more grieves me then to  
Think, a woman was my mother.  Cres. 
A villain.  Syn. 
Right.  Cres. 
A Devil.  Syn. 
Little better.  Dio. 
Go get you back to Troy, away, begone,  
You shall no more be my Companion.  Syn. 
And now fair Trojan Weather-hen adieu▪  
And when thou next lovest, think to be more true▪  Exit. Cres. 
Oh all you powers, above look down and see▪  
How I am punished for my perjury.  Alarum. Enter Penthesilea with her Amazonians. Penth. 
Stay, what sad Lady's this? whence are you woman?  
Of Troy or Greece?  Cres. 
I was of Troy till love drew me from thence,  
But since have sojourned in the Tents of Greece,  
With Diomed King of Aetolia:  
Oh had I never known him.  Pent. 
Would you trust  
You honour amongst strangers? but sweet Lady  
Discourse your wrongs.  Cres. 
I was betrayed:  
It shames me to relate the circumstance,  
By a false Greek, one that doth hate our sex,  
One Sinon, if you meet him in the battle,  
I with my tears entreat you be revenged.  Pent. 
How might we know him?  Cres. 
His visage swart, and earthy o'er his shoulder  
Hangs locks of hair, black as the raven's plumes:  
His eyes down looking, you shall hardly see  
One in whose shape appears more treachery.  Pent. 
We lose much time: Lady haste you to Troy,  
And if we meet a fellow in the battle  
Of your description, by our honoured names,  
We'll have his blood to recompense our shames.  Alarum. Enter Thersites. Amaz. 
By her description this should be the man  Ther. 
Compassed with smocks and long coats:  
Now you whores.  Pent. 
Is thy name Sinon?  Ther. 
No, but I know Sinon.  
He is my friend and brother.  Ama. 
For Sinon's sake, prepare thyself for slaughter▪  Enter Synon. Syn. 
He▪ who names Sinon?  Ther. 
Brother thou ne'er couldst come in better time:  
See, see, how I am rounded.  Pent. 
Were ever such a pair of devil's seen?  
They are so like, they needs must be allied.  Syn. 
What can their dams say to us?  Pent. 
You betray Ladies, envy all our sex,  
And that you now shall pay for girt him round.  Syn. 
I recant nothing, backe me sweet faced brother:  
And now you witches▪ varlets, drabs, and queans,  
We'll cut you all to fragments.  Alarum. Synon and Thersites beaten off by the Amazons. Pyrhus enters, fights with Penthesilea, after this a retreat sounded, then enters Menelaus, Agamemnon, Ulysses, Diomed. Aga. 
The Trojans sound retreat.  Vliss. 
Who saw young Pyrrhus?  Mene. 
I fear his too much rage hath spurred him on  
Too far amongst the Amazonian troops.  Enter Synon and Thersites. Syn. 
Why stand you idle here, and let the Trojans  
Lead warlike Pyrrhus prisoner to the Town.  Agam. 
How Pyrrhus prisoner?  Ther. 
we saw him compassed by the Amazous:  
Penthesilea with her bustain troops.  
Laid load upon his Helm.  Ulis. 
Then this retreat  
Upon the sudden argues that they lead him  
Captive to Troy.  Enter Pyrhus. Pyr. 
Courage brave Princes, I have got a prize  
Worthy the purchase, on my lance's point  
Sits perched the Amazonians lopped off head,  
Upon my warlike sword her bleeding arm,  
At sight of which the Trojans sound retreat:  
The honour of this day belongs to us.  Omnes. 
To none but Neoptolemus.  Pyr. 
Sinon you played the coward: so Thersites.  Ther. 
If not so.  
I had not lived to see Troy's overthrow  Syn. 
When didst thou ever see a villain valiant?  
What's past remember not, but what's to come:  
Priam hath shut his Gates, and will no more  
Meet him in arms: can you with all your valour  
Glide through the walls, if not what are you nearer  
For all your Ten years' siege?  Pyr. 
'tis true, some stratagem to enter Troy  
Were admirable: for Princes till I see  
The Temple burn wherein my father died,  
And Troy no Troy but ashes; my revenge  
Will have no stern aspect, till I behold  
Troy's ground-sills swim in pools of crimson gore  
Ramnusia's Altar filled with flowing helms  
Of blood and brains: Priam and Hecuba  
Dragged by this hand to death, and this my sword  
Ravish the breast of fair Polixena,  
I shall not think my father's death revenged.  Aga. 
To him that can contrive  
A stratagem by which to enter Troy,  
I'll give the whole spoil of Apollo's Temple.  Mene. 
I my rich Tent.  Ulis. 
I the Palladium that I brought from Troy.  Dio. 
I all my birthright in Aetolia.  Syn. 
Peace, 'tis here: I ha''t.  Pyr. 
I'll hug thee Sinon.  Syn. 
Touch me not, away:  
there's more hammers beating in my brain  
Then ever touched Vulcan's anvil, more ideas  
Than Atoms, embryons innumerable▪  
Growing to perfect shape; and now 'tis good.  
Call for Endymion's bastard, where's Epeus?  
I'll set him straight a work.  Pyr. 
Upon some Engine Sinon.  Syn. 
A horse, a horse.  Pyr. 
Ten Kingdoms for a horse to enter Troy.  Syn. 
Stay, let me see:  
Ulysses you have the Palladium.  Vlis. 
I have so.  Syn. 
Call for Epeus then, the General  
Hath no command in him.  Agam. 
let's know the project.  Syn. 
And that Palladium stood in Pallas Temple,  
And Consecrate to her.  Vlis. 
It did so.  Syn. 
Call for Epeus then.  Pyr. 
let's hear what thou intendest.  Syn. 
I'll have an Horse built with so huge a bulk,  
As shall contain a thousand men in Arms.  Pyr. 
And enter Troy with that?  Syn. 
Do't you, you trouble mine invention,  
I am grown muddy with your interruption:  
Good young man lend more patience, hear me out:  
This Engine framed, and stuffed with armed Greeks.  
(Will you take down your Tents, march back to Tenedos?)  Pyr. 
What shall the Horse do then?  Syn. 
Not gallop as your tongue doth: good Ulysses  
Lend me your apprehension; when the Trojans  
Find you are gone aboard, they'll straight suppose  
You'll not weigh Anchor: till the gods inform you  
Of your success at Sea: if then a villain  
Can drive into their ears, the goddess Pallas  
Offended for her stolen Palladium:  
(Will you erect this Machine to her honour?)  
Withal that were it brought into her Temple,  
It would retain the gilt Palladium's virtue.  
Might not the forged tale move aged Priam,  
To hale this Engine presently to Troy,  
Pull down his walls for entrance, leave a breach  
Where in the dead of night, all your whole Army  
May enter, take them sleeping in their beds,  
And put them all to sword.  Agam. 
'tis rare!  Pyr. 
'tis admirable, I will adventure  
My person in the Horse.  Syn. 
Do so, and get a thousand spirits more.  
King Agamemnon, if you like the project,  
Down with your Tent.  Agam. 
Sinon, we will,  Syn. 
I'll set a light upon the walls of Troy  
Shall give the summons when you shall return▪  
About it Princes: Pyrrhus get you men  
In readiness, I will expose myself  
To bewitch Priam with a weeping tale,  
I cannot to the life describe in words,  
What I'll express in action.  Agam. 
Down with our Tents.  Pyr. 
I'll to pick out bold Greeks to fill the horse:  
Shine bright you lamps of heaven, for ere't be long  
We'll dim your radiant beams with flaming lights  
And bloody meteors, from Troy's burning streets.  Syn. 
Such sights are glorious sparks in Sinon's eyes,  
Who longs to feast the Devil with Tragedies.  
Explicit Actus primus.   

Actus Secundus: Scoena prima.  Enter Aeneas, and Chorebus. Aeneas' 
The Grecians gone?  Cho. 
All their tents raised, their ten years' siege removed▪  
Now Troy may rest securely.  Aene. 
They may report at their return to Greece  
The welcome they have had: what have they won?  
But wounds, Time's loss, shame, and confusion.  Enter K. Priam, Anthenor, young Polytes, Polixena, Hecuba, and Hellen, with attendance. Pri. 
We now are Lord of our own Territories,  
Ten years kept from us by th'invading Greeks▪  
Now we may freely take a full survey  
Of all Scamander plain, drunk with the mixture  
Of th'opposite bloods of Trojans and of Greeks.  Hecu. 
And royal Husband we have cause to joy,  
That after so long siege the Greeks are fled,  
And you in peace may rest your aged head.  Aene. 
Upon this East-side stood Ulysses Tent,  
The politic Greek.  Cho. 
There was old Nestor's quarter,  
And Agamemnon's that; the General.  Pria. 
Upon the north-side of the field, Achilles  
That bloody Greek pitched, and upon this plain,  
I well remember, was my Hector slain.  Hel. 
This empty place being South from all the rest,  
The valiant Diomed hath oft made good,  
And here, even here, his rich Pavilion stood.  Hecu. 
But here, even here, near to Duke Aiax tent,  
Round girt with Myrmidon, my Troilus fell.  Cho. 
Then was this place a standing Lake of blood,  
Part of which moisture the bright Sun exhaled;  
And part the thirsty earth hath quaffed to Mars:  
But now the swords on either part are sheathed,  
And after ten years' tumults wars surcease,  
They lading their ships home with shameful peace.  Pria. 
For which we'll praise the gods, banquet and feast,  
Since by their flight, our glorious fame's increased.  The Horse is discovered. Aene. 
Soft, what huge Engine's that left on the strand,  
That bears the shape and figure of an Horse.  Cho. 
What, shall we hew it piecemeal with our swords?  Pria. 
Oh be not rash, sure 'tis some mystery  
That this great Architecture doth include.  Cho. 
But mine opinion is, this Steeds huge bulk  
Is stuffed with Greekish guile.  Aene. 
I rather think  
It is some monumental Edifice  
Unto the goddess Pallas consecrate:  
Then spare your fury.  Enter Laocoon with a javelin. Law 
Why stand you gazing at this horrid craft,  
Forged by the fly Ulysses, is his brain  
Unknown in Troy? or can you look for safety  
From those who ten years have besieged your walls?  
Either this huge swollen bulk is big with soldiers,  
Longing to be delivered of armed Greeks,  
Whose monstrous fatal and abhorred birth,  
Will be Troy's ruin: else this hill of timber  
This horselike structure stabled up in Troy,  
Will spurn down these our walls, our towers demolish,  
Which it shall never: come you Trojan youth  
That love the public safety, no proud Greek  
Upon this Steeds back, o'er 'Troy's wall shall ride.  
First with this javelin I'll transpierce his side.  Pria. 
What means Laocoon?  Aene. 
Princes stay his fury.  Lao. 
Hark Trojans, if a jarring noise of Arms,  
Sighed not throw these deep Caverns, I divine  
This gluttonous womb hath swallowed a whole band  
Of men in steel, then with your swords and glaves  
Rip up his tough sides, and embowel him,  
That we may prove how they have lined his entrails.  Enter two soldiers bringing in Synon bound. Soul. 
Stay, and proceed, no further in your rage,  
Till we have learned some novel from this Greek,  
Whom in a ditch we found fast gyved and bound.  Pria. 
Laocoon cease thy violence till we know  
From that poor Grecian, what that Machine means.  Syn. 
Oh me, (of all on earth most miserable,)  
Whom neither Heavens will succour, earth preserve,  
Nor seas keep safe, ay, whom the Heavens despise,  
The Earth abandons, and the Sea's disdain:  
Where shall I shroud me? whom, but now the Greeks  
Threatened with vengeance; and escaped from them,  
fall'n now into the hands of Trojans, menacing death:  
The world affords no place, to wretched Sinon,  
Of comfort, for where ere I fix my foot,  
I tread upon my grave: the four vast corners  
Of this large Universe, in all their rooms  
And spacious emptiness, will not afford me  
My Body's length of rest: where ere I fly,  
Or stay, or turn, Death's th'object of mine eye!  Pria. 
What art thou? or whence com'st thou? briefly speak?  
Thou wretched man, thou movest us with thy tears:  
Unbind him soldiers.  Syn. 
Shall I deny myself to be of Greece?  
Because I am brought Captive into Troy?  
No Sinon cannot lie: Heaven, Earth, and Sea,  
From all which I am outcast, witness with me  
That Sinon cannot lie: thrice damned Ulysses,  
The black-haired Pyrrhus, and horned Menelaus  
Crook-backed Thersites, luxurious Diomed,  
And all the rabble of detested Greeks,  
I call to witness, Sinon cannot lie.  
Could I have oiled my tongue, and cringed my ham,  
Suppled mine humble knee to crouch and bend,  
Heaved at my bonnet, shrugged my shoulders thus,  
Grinned in their faces, Sinon then had stood,  
Whom now this hour must stew in his own blood.  Aene. 
The perfect image of a wretched creature,  
His speeches beg remorse.  Pria. 
Alas good man,  
Shake off the timorous fear of servile death,  
Though 'mongst us Trojans, and thyself a Greek,  
Thou art not now amongst thine enemies,  
Thy life I'll warrant, only let us know  
What this Horse means.  Syn. 
Greece I renounce thee, thou hast thrown me off,  
Fair Troy● am thy creature. Now I'll unrip  
Ulysses craft, my fatal enemy.  
Who sold to death the Duke Palamedes,  
My Kinsman Trojans (though in garments torn)  
Sinon stands here, yet is he nobly borne:  
For that known murder did I haunt his Tent  
With railing menaces, horrible exclaims,  
Many a black-saint, of wishes, oaths, and curses  
Have I sung at his window, then demanding  
justice of Agamemnon, Diomed,  
Duke Nestor with the other Lords of Greece,  
For murder of the Prince Palamedes,  
And being denied it in my most vexation,  
My bitter tongue spared not to bark at them:  
For this I was observed, looked through and through  
Ulysses brain had marked me, for my tongue  
And fatted me for death by Calchas means,  
He wrought so far that I should have been offered  
Unto the gods for sacrifice, the Priest  
Lifting his hand aloft to strike me dead,  
I leapt down from the Altar, and so fled,  
Pursuit and search was made, but I lay safe  
In a thick tuft of sedge, till I was found  
By these your soldiers, who thus brought me bound.  Pria. 
Thou now art free secured from all their tyrannies  
Now tell us what's the meaning of this Horse?  
Why have they left him here, themselves being gone?  Syn. 
My new released hands, thus I heave on high,  
Witness you gods, that Sinon cannot lie,  
But as a new adopted Trojan now  
By Priam's grace; I here protest by jove,  
By these eternal fires that spangle Heaven,  
The Altar, and that sacrificing sword,  
Beneath whose stroke I lay, since my base Country  
Casts me away to death, I am now borne  
A son of Troy: not Hector whilst he lived  
More damaged Greece by his all wounding arm,  
Than I by my discovery: Well, you know  
How the Greeks honour Pallas, who incensed  
Because Ulysses the Palladium stole  
Out of her Temple, and her Warders slew,  
In rage she threatened ruin to all Greece:  
Therefore to her hath Calchas built this Horse.  
(Greece pardon me, and all my Country gods  
Be deaf to Sinon's tale, and let it be  
Henceforth forgot that I was borne in Greece,  
lest times to come record what I reveal,  
The black confusion of my Native weal.  Priam. 
And what's that Sinon?  Syn. 
Where left I? at the Horse, built of that size,  
lest you should give it entrance at your Gates:  
For know should your rude hands dare to profane  
This gift sacred to Pallas; Rots and diseases,  
Pests and infections shall depopulate you,  
And in a small short season, they returning,  
Shall see thy subjects slain, fair Troy bright burning.  
I'm even with thee Ulysses, and my breath  
Strikes all Greece home for my intended death.  Pria. 
Thanks Sinon, we shall bounteously reward thee,  Aene. 
And see my Liege, to make good his report,  
Laocoon, he that with his javelin pierced  
This gift of Pallas, round embraced with Snakes,  
That wind their trains about his wounded waist,  
And for his late presumption sting him dead.  Pria. 
We have not seen so strange a prodigy,  
Laocoon hath offended all the gods,  
In his profane attempt.  Syn. 
Then lend your helping hands,  
To lift up that Pallad an monument  
Into Troy's City: levers, Cables, Cords.  Cho. 
It cannot enter through the City Gates.  Syn. 
Down with the walls then.  Cho. 
These walls that ten years have defended Troy,  
For all their service shall we ruin them.  Syn. 
But this shall not defend you for ten years,  
But make your Town impregnable for ever.  Pria. 
Down with the walls then, each man lend a hand.  Cho. 
I hear a noise of Armour.  Aene. 
Ha, what's that?  Cho. 
I fear some treason in that Horse enclosed:  
Nor will I lend an hand to hale him in.  Omnes. 
Down with the Walls.  Aene. 
And Trojans now after your ten years' toil,  
day's battles, the fields trouble, and night's watch,  
This is the first of all your rest, feast, banquet, joy and play,  
Pallas is ours, the Greeks sailed hence away.  Pria. 
Here we release all sentries and commit  
Our broken walls to her Celestial guard:  
We will reward thee Sinon, the Greeks gone,  
Priam. may ● est his age, in his soft throne.  Exe. Syn. 
So, so, so,  
Synon I hope shall warm his hands anon,  
At a bright goodly bonfire: Here's the Key  
Unto this Machine by Epeus built,  
Which hath already with his brazen breast,  
Tilted Troy's wall down, and anon being drunk  
With the best blood of Greece, in dead of night  
Having surcharged his stomach, will spew out  
A thousand men in Arms: sweet midnight come,  
I long to mask me in thy sable Wings,  
That I may do some mischief and black deeds:  
We shall have rare sport, admirable spoil,  
Cutting of throats, with stabbing, wounding, killing  
Some dead asleep, and some half sleep, half wakes  
Some dancing Antics in their bloody shirts,  
To which their wives cries, & their infant's shrieks,  
Play music, brave mirth, pleasing harmony:  
Then having spit young children on our spears,  
We'll roast them at the scorching flames of Troy:  
Fly swift you winged minutes till you catch  
That long-wished hour of stillness: in which Troy  
Sleeps her last sleep, made drunk with wine and joy.  
In the receiving of this fatal Steed,  
Sick Troy this day hath swallowed such a pill,  
Shall search her entrails, and her ●iues blood spill.  Exit. Enter Agamemnon, Menelaus, Ulysses, with soldiers in a soft march, without noise. Aga. 
Soft, soft, and let your stillness suit with night,  
Fair Phebe keep thy silver splendour in,  
And be not seen tonight.  Mene. 
Were Phebe in my case,  
She soon would blush to show her horned face.  Vliss. 
We would not have a star cast its clear eye  
On our dark enterprise: too fast: so, still.  
Here Ambush, till you see the flaming Torch,  
Sinon this night upon the walls of Troy,  
Will toss about his ears, as a true signal,  
The great Epean structure is received,  
And we may find safe entrance by the breach.  Aga. 
A stand, the word through all the Regiment,  Mene. 
A stand.  Enter Synon with a torch above. Syn. 
Thy everlasting sleep sleep careless Troy,  
This horrid night buried in Wine and mirth,  
This fatal Horse spurred by the brain of Sinon,  
Hath leapt over Troy's high bulwarks great with Greeks,  
four times in raising up the monument,  
A shaking sound of Armour harshly jarred  
In all the PRINCE's ears, and had they not  
Been drunk in Sinon's tears, they'd found our guile.  
It is now midnight. The black darkness fall'n,  
And rolled o'er all the world, as well the Poles,  
As the great Ocean, and the earth: now's the time  
For tragic slaughter, clad in gules and sables,  
To spring out of hell's jaws, and play strange reaks  
In sleepy Troy, this bright and flaming brand  
Which I so often gyre about mine ears,  
Is signal for the Armies quick return,  
And make proud Ilium like my bright torch burn,  
Wink all you eyes of Heaven, or you shall be  
Bloodshot to view Troy's dismal Tragedy.  Exit. Aga. 
The signals on the war: forward brave soldiers,  
The Horse is entered, Sinon's Tale believed.  
And we this night shall see the sack of Troy.  Men. 
March on then, the black darkness covers us,  
And we without suspicion easily may  
Disperse ourselves about these high built walls:  Vlis. 
Now with a soft march enter at this breach  
But give no token of a loud Alarm,  
Till we have met with Pyrrhus and the rest,  
Whom the Steed's bulk includes.  They march softly in at one door, and presently in at another. Enter Synon with a stealing pace, holding the key in his hand. Syn. 
Soft, soft, ay so, hereafter Ages tell,  
How Sinon's key unlocked the gates of Hell.  Pyrhus, Diomed, and the rest, leap from out the Horse. And as if groping in the dark, meet with Agamemnon and the rest: who after knowledge embrace. Pyrhus. 
The General?  Agam. 
Pyrrhus?  Dio. 
Menelaus?  Mene. 
Diomed?  Ther. 
My Urchin?  Syn. 
What my Toad?  Pyr. 
Well met in Troy great Lords.  Vlis. 
Where are we now?  Sy. 
In the high street, near to the Church of Pallas,  
And this you past, the gate called Dardanus.  Pyr. 
Then here begins Troy's fatal tragedy:  
Princes of Greece, at once unsheathe your swords,  
And here protest with Neoptolemus,  
By our forefather Peleus, grandam Thetis,  
The imperious goddess of the Sea, that made  
Achilles, save in th'heel, invulnerable,  
And by my father great Aeacides,  
His glorious name, his Armour which I wear,  
His bloody wounds, and his black sepulchre;  
I here abjure all respite, mercy, sleep,  
Until this City be a place confused:  
This mural girdle that begirts it round  
A Causeway for the Greeks to trample on,  
The place a stone-heap swimming in an Ocean  
Of Trojan blood, which shall from far appear  
Like an high Rock in the red Sea.  Syn. 
A brave show,  
To see full Boats in blood of Trojans row,  
And the poor labouring Snakes with arms spread swims  
In lukewarm blood of their allies and kin.  Men. 
Whence must this Ocean flow?  
From thousand Springs  
Of gentle and ignoble, base and Kings.  Pyr. 
Set on then, none retire;  
Wave in the one hand steel, in the other fire.  
Loud Drums and Trumpets ring Troy's fatal peal,  
That now lies drawing on, the word be vengeance,  
Alarum, at that watchword fire, and kill,  
And wide-mouthed Orchus with whole legions fill▪  Aloud Alarum. Enter a Trojan in his nightgown all unready. Tro. 
'twas an alarum sure that frighted me  
In my dead sleep, 'twas near the Dardan port:  
jove grant that all be well.  Enter his wife as from bed. Wife. 
Oh Heaven! what tumult's this  
That hurries through the fatal streets of Troy▪  
I fear some treason.  Tro. 
Stay Wife, lay thine ear  
Unto the ground and list, if we can gather  
Of what condition this strange uproar is  
That riots at this late unseasoned hour?  
Sure 'tis the noise of war, whence should it grow?  
The Greeks are sailed hence, Troy needs fear no foe.  Wife. 
The horrid stir comes on this way towards us.  Troi. 
Oh whither shall we turn?  A great cry within. Alarum, Enter Pyrhus with the rest their weapons draw and torches. Wife. 
Oh save me husband.  Troi. 
Succour me dear wife.  Omnes. 
Vengeance for Greece and Neoptolemus.  Pyr. 
So fly the word along, die old and young,  
Mourn Troy in ashes for Achilles' loss,  
Steel in one hand, in th'other firebrands toss.  Exeunt: Enter Chorebus at one door, at another Aeneas with their weapons drawn. Cho. 
This horrid clamour that hath called me up  
From my deep rest, much, much amazeth me;  
'tis on the right hand, now upon the left,  
It goes before me and it follows me:  
Oh jove expound the meaning of this horror  
Which the dark midnight makes more terrible.  Aene. 
this street is clear, but now I climbed a Turret,  
And I might well discern half Troy in fire,  
And by the flame the burnished Helmets glister  
Of men in Arms, whence jove Olympic knows.  Enter a second Trojan. 2. Tro. 
Where shall I hide me? Treason, Troy's betrayed;  
The fatal horse was full of armed Greeks.  Chore. 
Of Greeks? damned Sinon.  2. Tro. 
Prince Chorebus fly,  
Fly great Aeneas.  Cho. 
Which way? where? or how?  
Are we not rounded with a quickset hedge  
Of pointed steel? are not the gates possessed  
And strongly maned with Greeks? death everywhere,  
Then whither should we fly?  Aene. 
Into the throng.  
Where blows are dealt, where our inflamed Turrets  
Burn with most fury.  Cho. 
Nobly speaks Aeneas.  Aene. 
Then whither flames, and furies, shrieks and clamours,  
Death, danger, and the devils hurry us,  
Thither will we: follow where I shall lead,  
Thousands shall fall by us ere we be dead.  Enter Thersites with other Greeks. Ther. 
Charge on these naked Trojans, and cry thus,  
Vengeance for Greece and Neoptolemus.  Cho. 
Charge on these armed Grecians, and thus cry,  
We may yet live to see ten thousand die.  
They charge the Greeks and kill them, Thersites runs away.  Cho. 
Well fought brave spirits in our utter ruin,  
We are Conquerors yet: let's don these Greekish habits,  
And mix ourselves amongst their Armed ranks;  
So unexpected murder all we meet:  
The darkness will assist our enterprise.  
These Greekish Arms this night by Trojans Worn  
Shall to the fall of many Grecians turn.  Enter all the Greeks. Omnes. 
Burn fire, and kill, as you wound cry thus,  
Vengeance for Greece and Neoptolemus.  Exeunt. Enter Aeneas followed by Hector's ghost Aene. 
What art thou that with such a grim aspect,  
In this black night so dark and turbulent,  
Haunts me in every corner of my house  
Which yet burns o'er mine ears?  Hect. 
Dost thou not know me?  
Or can Aeneas so forget his friend?  
This face did fright Achilles in the field,  
And when I shook these locks, now knotted all,  
As baked in blood; all Greece hath quaked and trembled.  
Look on mine Heels, and thou mayst see those thongs  
By which so often I was dragged 'bout Troy,  
My body made an universal Wound  
By the unnumbered hands of Myrmidons,  
This th'hand that tossed so many wildfire balls  
Into the Argive fleet, and this the body  
That decked in Aiax and Ac ills spoils  
Rid from the fields triumphant thorough Troy.  Aene. 
Prince Hector?  Hect. 
Hence Aeneas post from Troy,  
Rear that abroad the gods at home destroy.  
The City burns, Priam and Priam's glory  
Is all expired, and tumbled headlong down:  
Cassandra's long neglected prophecies  
This night fulfils. If either strength or might  
Could have protected Troy, this hand, this arms  
That saved it oft, had kept it still from harm.  
But Troy is doomed, here 'gins the fatal Story  
Of her sad sack and fall of all her glory.  
Away, and bear thy Country gods along,  
Thousands shall issue from thy sacred seed,  
Cities more rich than this the Grecian spoil,  
In after times shall thy successors build,  
Where Hector's name shall live eternally.  
One Romulus, another Bruit shall rear,  
These shall nor Honours, nor just Rectors want,  
Lombardy's room, great Britain's Troynovant.  
Heu fuge nate Dea, teque his pater eripe flammis;  
Hostis habet muros, rvit alto a culmine Troia  
Sacra, svosque tibi commendat Troia penates  
Hos cape fatorum comites, his moenia quaere  
Magna: pererrato statues quae denique ponto.  Exit. Aene. 
Soft lie thy bones and sweetly may they rest  
Thou wonder of all worthies, but Troy burns:  
Thousands of Trojan corpse's block the streets,  
Some flying fall, and some their killers kill:  
Where shall I meet thee death? before I fly,  
Some Conquerors yet, shall bravely conquered die.  Exit. 
Explicit Actus secundus.   

Acius Secundus: Scoena prima.  Enter Priam in his nightgown and slippers, after him Hecuba, Helena, Andromache, Helena, Cassandra, Polyxena, Polites, Astyanax. An Alarum. All La. 
Oh help us father Priam, Oh the Greeks.  Fri. 
I have done more than age would suffer me  
They have tilted masts against my Palace gates,  
And burst them open.  All La. 
Oh father Priam, whether shall we fly?  Pri. 
We are encompassed round with sword & fire,  
'Las Daughters, 'las my young Astyanax.  All La. 
Oh heaven, they come, where may we hide us safe?  Pri. 
Safety and help are both fled out of Troy,  
And left behind nothing but massacre:  
My Palace is surprised my guard all slain,  
myself am wounded, but more with your shrieks,  
Then by the swords of Grecians: come let's fly.  
Unto the sacred Altar of the gods.  All La. 
May we be safe there father?  Pri. 
Safe? Oh no;  
Safety is fled. Death hath our lives in chase,  
And since we needs must die, let's choose this place.  Exeunt Alarum. Enter at the one door Hellen, at the other Cresida. Cres. 
Whither runs Helen?  Hel. 
Whither should I fly?  Cres. 
See, Troy is not itself, oh wretched Helen!  
To shun the Greeks to run into the fire,  
Or flying fire, perish by Greekish steel:  
Which hadst thou rather choose?  Hel. 
Death, in what shape soever he appears  
To me is welcome, I'll no longer shun him;  
But here with Cressida abide him: here,  
Oh, why was Helen at the first so fair,  
To be come subject to so foul an end?  
Or how hath Cressida's beauty sinned 'gainst Heaven,  
That it is branded thus with leprosy?  Cres. 
I in conceit thought that I might contend  
Against heaven's splendour, I did once suppose,  
There was no beauty but in Cressida's looks,  
But in her eyes no pure divinity:  
But now behold me Helen.  Hel. 
In her I see  
All beauty's frailty, and this object makes  
All fairness to show ugly in itself:  
But to see breathless Virgins piled on heap,  
What less can Helen do then curse these Stars  
That shined so bright at her nativity,  
And with her nails tear out these shining balls  
That have set Troy on fire?  Enter Pyrhus, Agamemnon, Menelaus, &c. Pyr. 
Pierce all the Trojan Ladies with your swords,  
lest 'mongst them you might spare Polixena.  Agam. 
Stay, I should know that face, 'tis Helena?  Mene. 
My Queen?  Hel. 
I am not Helen, but Polixena:  
Therefore revengeful Neoptolemus  
Do Justice on me for thy father's death.  Pyr. 
Polixena? by all Achilles honours  
I'll part thee limb from limb.  Cres. 
Pyrrhus forbear,  
It's the Spartan Queen.  Men. 
If Helen, the adulterous strumpet dies,  
I'll be her deathsman.  Hel. 
Strike home Menelaus,  
Death from thy hand is welcome.  Aga. 
Hold I say,  
she's Clytaemnestra's sister, for her sake  
Helen shall live, and Kingly Menelaus  
Receive her into favour.  Pyr. 
Agamemnon  
Is too remiss, I have sworn all blood to spill  
I meet with, and this one will Pyrrhus kill.  Men. 
And I this other.  Aga. 
For our sake Menelaus let her live.  
Was not our sister borne against her will  
From Sparta? for that wrong done by the Trojans  
Doth not Troy burn? and are not all our swords  
Stained in the blood of Paris slaughtered friends?  
You shall be reconciled to Helen,  
And bear her back to Greece.  Enter Thersites. Ther. 
Helen at shrift▪ alas poor penitent Quean,  
Dost hear me Menelaus? pardon her,  
Take her again to Sparta, thou'lt else want  
So kind a bedfellow.  Men. 
Take back my shame?  Ther. 
Yes for thy pleasure.  
There's in the world as rich and honourable  
As thou, who lend the pleasures of their bed  
To others, and then take them back again  
As they can get them.  Men, 
My brow shall never bear  
Such Characters of shame.  Ther, 
Thy brows bears horns already, but who sees them?  
When thou return'st to Sparta, some will think  
Thou art a Cuckold, but who is't dare say so?  
Thou art a King, thy sins are clouded o'er,  
Where poor men's faults by tongues are made much more.  
Of all men living, Kings are last shall hear  
Of their dishonours.  Aga. 
What inferior Beast  
Dares tell the Lion of his Tyranny,  
Who is not torn asunder with his paws?  
The King of Sparta therefore needs not fear  
The tongues of subjects bid our sister rise  
To safety in thine arms.  Ther. 
Do Menelaus.  Mene. 
But will my Helen then by future virtue  
Redeem her long lost honour?  Hel. 
If with tears  
The Heavens may be appeased for Helen's sins,  
They shall have penitent showers: If Menelaus  
May with the spirit of love be satisfied,  
He ten times rectify my forfeit honour  
Before I touch his bed.  Men. 
Arise then Helen, menelaus' arms  
Thus welcome thee to safety.  Ther. 
Ha, ha, ha,  
Why this is well, for he that's borne to die  
A branded Cuckold, hugs his destiny:  
Go, get you after Pyrrhus to the slaughter,  
I'll look to Helen.  Aga. 
Convey her to our guard.  Exit. Ther. 
Helen, hereafter see thou provest more wise,  
If not more honest, yet be more precise,  Exit. Enter Prince Chorebus with other Trojans in Greekish habits. Cho. 
These shapes thrive well, we have guilt our Greekish arme  
With blood of their own nation▪ some we have sent  
To everlasting darkness, some repulsed  
Back to their ships: some we have made to fly  
Into their horse's bulk, whence Pyrrhus first  
Leapt down upon his spear.  Enter Synon, Thersites, and the Greeks dragging in Cassandra. Syn, 
Come soldiers, this is stately tragical,  
The Greeks wade up even to the brawny thighs  
In lukewarm blood of our despoiled foes.  
Above Melpomene's huge buskined top  
We plunge at every step, and bravely fought  
By Troy's bright burning flame: that's now our light.  Ther. 
More of our valiant mates, let's join with them,  
This street yet's unassaulted and unfired:  
Some balls of wildfire straight, and hurl this Lady  
Into the fury of the burning flame.  Cho. 
My wife Cassandra?  Syn. 
Courage, let none scape  
Fire, vengeance, blood, death, murder, spoil and rape.  Cho. 
All these on Greece and twenty thousand more,  
Till they like Troy be drowned in tears and gore.  Chorebus and therest beat off the Greeks, and rescue Cassandra. Cass. 
From Greeks to Greeks, from fire kept for the sword, From one death to another.  Cho. 
Cassandra no.  Cass. 
My Lord the Prince Chorebus?  Cho. 
Yes the same,  
Who hath preserved thee both from sword and flame.  Enter Aeneas with his father, who taking Chorebus for a Grecian by reason of his habit, fights with him and kills him. Aene. 
More Greeks and see Cassandra captive made,  
Assault them Troians, rescue the fair Princess;  
This way dear father mount my back again.  Cass. 
Oh false Aeneas, thou hast slain thy friend:  
Many a Greek (thus shaped) he sent to hell,  
And being a Trojan by a Trojan fell.  Aene. 
He died not by my hand, but his own fate.  Cass. 
And I forgive thee good Aeneas, fly,  
Thou shalt survive, but Troy and we must fall:  
The hope of all our future memories  
Are stored in thee, take up thy sacred load  
reverent Anchises bedrid through his age,  
We are all doomed, fair Troy must perish here,  
But thou art borne a greater Troy to rear.  Aene. 
The Heavens have hand in all things, to their pleasure  
we must subscribe: Creusa, where's my wife?  
In losing her I save but half my life.  
Come reverent father, on my shoulders mount,  
Though thousand dangers dog us at the heels,  
Yet will we force our passage.  Exeunt. King Priam discovered kneeling at the Altar, with him Hecuba, Polixena, Andromache, Aftianax: to them enter Pyrhus, and all the Greeks, Pyrhus killing Polytes Priam's son before the Altar. Pyr. 
Still let your voices to high Heaven aspire  
For Pyrrhus' vengeance, murdering steel and fire.  All the Ladies. 
Oh, oh.  Pri. 
My son Polites? oh thou more hard hearted  
Then fatal Pyrrhus or his father's guard,  
That in the shadow of this sacred place  
Durst sprink the child's blood in the father's face.  Pyr. 
Priam? thanks sweet revenge, through swords & armour,  
Through mures, and Countermures of men and steel;  
Through many a corner, and blind entries mouth  
I have followed this thy bleeding son to death,  
Whose swift pursuit hath trained me to this Altar  
To be revenged on thee for the sad fate  
Of great Achilles.  Pri. 
Thou art Pyrrhus then?  Pyr. 
My acts shall speak my name,  
I am that Pyrrhus who did mount you Horse  
Hiding mine armour in his deep vast bulk,  
The first that leapt out of his spacious side,  
And tossed consuming fire in every street,  
Which climbed, as if it meant to meet the stars,  
I am that Pyrrhus before whom Troy falls:  
Before whom all the Vanes and Pinnacles  
Bend their high tops, and from the battlements  
On which they stand, break their aspiring necks.  
The proudest roof and most imperious spire  
Hath veiled to us and our all wasting fire.  Pri. 
Pyrrhus, I know thee for my destined plague,  
I know the gods have left us to our weakness,  
I see our glories ended and extinct,  
And I stand ready to abide their doom;  
Only for pity and for piety's sake  
Be gracious to these Ladies.  Syn. 
Pyrrhus no,  
Such grace as they did to Achilles' show,  
Let them all taste; let grace be far exiled,  
Kill from the elder to the sucking child.  Pri. 
he's prone enough to mischief of himself,  
Spur not that fury on which runs too fast,  
Nor add thou to old Priam's misery  
Which scarce can be augmented 'tis so great.  Pyr. 
Die in thy tortures then.  Hecu. 
Oh spare his life.  Asti. 
Good man kill not my Grandsire.  Pri. 
Good man do.  Hecu. 
Kill me for him.  Asti. 
No, she's my Grandam too,  
Indeed she's a good woman, choose some other  
If you must needs kill.  Pyr. 
This then.  Asti. 
she's my Mother, you shall not hurt her.  Pri. 
This boy had a father,  
Hector his name, who had he lived to see  
A sword bent 'gainst his wife, this Queen, or me,  
He would have made all Greece as hot to hold him  
As burning Troy is now to shelter us.  Asti. 
Good Grandsire weep not, Grandam, Mother, Aunt  
Alas, what mean you? If you be good men  
Put up your swords and help to quench these flames,  
Or if in killing you such pleasure have,  
practice on him, kill that ill favoured knave.  Syn. 
Me brat?  Pyr. 
Ulysses, Agamemnon. Menelaus,  
Sinon, Thersites, and you valiant Greeks;  
Behold the vengeance wrathful Pyrrhus takes  
On Priam's body for Achilles' death:  
Sinon, take thou that Siren Polyxene,  
And hew her piecemeal on my father's Tomb.  
Thersites, make the womb of fifty Princes  
A royal sheath for thy victorious blade:  
Diomed, let Cassandra die by thee,  
And Agamemnon kill Andromache:  
And as my sword through Priam's bulk shall fly,  
Let them in death consort him, and so die.  Ther. 
When, when, for jove's sake when?  Syn. 
Some expeditious fate this motion further,  
methinks 'tis long since that I did a murder.  Pri. 
Oh Heaven, oh jove, Stars, Planets, fortune, fate,  
To think what I have been, and what am now;  
Father of fifty brave Heroic sons,  
But now no Father, for they all are slain.  
Queen Hecuba the Mother of so many,  
But now no Mother: for her barren womb  
Hath not one child to show, these fatal wars  
Have eat up all our issue.  Asti. 
My dear Father,  
And all my princely Uncles.  Andr. 
My dear Husband,  
And all my royal brothers.  Hecu. 
Worthy Hector,  
And all my valiant sons.  Pri. 
And now that Priam that commanded Asia,  
And sat enthroned above the Kings of Greece,  
Whose dreaded Navy scoured the Hellespont,  
Sees the rich towers he built now burnt to ashes:  
The stately walls he reared, levelled and evened;  
His Treasures rifled and his people spoiled:  
All that he hath on earth beneath the Sun  
Bereft him, saving his own life and these,  
And my poor life with these, are (as you see)  
Worse than the rest: they dead, we dying be.  
Strike my stern foe, and prove in this my friend,  
One blow my universal cares shall end.  Pyr. 
And that blow Pyrrhus strikes, at once strike all.  Syn. 
Why so, so, this was stately tragical.  They are all slain at once. Asti. 
Where shall I hide me?  Pyr. 
So nimble Hector's bastard?  
My father slew thy father, I the son:  
Thus will I toss thy carcase up on high,  
The brat above his father's fame shall fly.  He tosseth him about his head and kills him. Syn. 
No, somewhat doth remain,  
Alarum still, the people's not all slain,  
Let not one soul survive.  Pyr. 
Then Trumpets sound  
Till burning Troy in Trojan blood be drowned.  Exeunt The Alarum continued, shrieks and clamours are heard within. Enter with Drum, Colours, and Soldiers Agamemnon, Pyrhus, Ulysses, Diomed, Menelaus, Hellen, Thersites, Synon, &c. Pyr. 
What more remains t'accomplish our revenge?  
The proudest Nation that great Asia nursed  
Is now extinct in Lethe.  Mene. 
All by Helen,  
Oh had that tempting beauty ne'er been borne,  
By whom so many worthies now lie dead.  Syn. 
A hot Pest take the strumpet.  Ther. 
And a mischief.  Syn. 
'twas this hot whore that set all Troy afire.  Hel. 
Forgive me Pyrrhus for thy father's death,  
Troy for thy sack, King Priam for thy sons,  
Greece for an infinite slaughter, and you Husband or all your nuptial wrongs, King Menelaus,  
I must confess, my inconsiderate deed  
Have made a world of valiant hearts to bleed.  Dio. 
What, note is that which Pyrrhus' eye dwells on?  Pyr. 
The perfect number  
Of Greeks and Trojans slain on either part.  
The siege ten years, ten months, ten days endured,  
In which there perished of the Greeks 'fore Troy  
Eight hundred thousand & six thousand fighting men:  
Of Trojans fell six hundred six and fifty thousand,  
All soldiers; besides women, children, babes,  
Whom this night massacred.  Hel. 
All these I slew.  Syn. 
Nay, some this hand sent packing, that's not true.  Vlys. 
Aeneas, with twenty two ships well furnished,  
(The self same ships in which young Paris sailed  
When he from Sparta stole fair Helena,)  
Is fled to Sea.  Dio. 
Antenor with five hundred Trojans more 'scaped through the gate called Dardan.  Pyr. 
Let them go,  
That of Troy's sack the world by them may know,  
Where above thirty brave Heroic Kings  
Have breathed their last: beside inferior Princes,  
Barons and Knights, eighteen imperial Monarchs  
With his own hands renowned Hector slew:  
My father besides Troilus and that Hector,  
Eight famous Kings that came in aid of Troy.  
Three Trojan Paris with his Arrows slew,  
Of which one was my father: Diomed  
four Monarchs with his bright sword sent to death.  
ourself the warlike Queen of Amazons,  
And aged Priam.  Ther. 
Bravely boast he can,  
A wretched woman and a weak old man.  Pyr. 
And now Troy's wars are ended, we in peace  
With glorious conquest to sail back to Greece.  
Their Nation's vanished like their City's smoke,  
Our enemies are all ashes: worlds to come  
Shall Chronicle our pitiless revenge  
In Books of Brass and leaves of Adamant.  
Towards Greece victorious Leaders, our toil's past;  
Troy and Troy's people we have burnt in flames,  
And of them both left nothing but their names.  Exeunt▪ 
Explicit Actus tertius.   

Actus Quartus: Scoena prima.  Enter Prince Cethus the son of King Naulus, and brother to Palamides. Ceth. 
With wondrous joy they say, the Greeks return  
With Triumphs and ovations piercing Heaven,  
where'er they set but foot loud Paeans sung,  
And odes to sphere-like Notes tuned in their praise:  
Whilst Cethus like a forlorn shadow walks  
Despised, disgraced, neglected and debauched;  
Playing his melancholy, cares and sorrows  
On his discordant Heartstrings. Oh my fate!  
Shall I, that have this body and this brain,  
A royalty stamped on me in my birth:  
Whose wrongs have been of mark through all the World  
Troubling each ear, and being disputable  
By every tongue that hath been taught to speak,  
Even in the mouths of Babes, all rating me  
Of cowardice and sloth: sleep, an occasion  
Being fairly offered? No, awake revenge,  
I'll bring the now to action.  Enter Pilades. Pil. 
Hear you the news  Ceth. 
Orestes friend, the noble Pylades?  
Instruct mine ignorance, I know of none.  Pil. 
This day the Prince, great Agamemnon's heir  
Orestes whom you truly call your friend,  
Betrothes the young and fair Hermione  
Daughter to beauteous Helen.  Ceth 
Hymen's joys.  
Crown them with all true pleasure.  Pil. 
Shall we have your presence at the Contract?  Ceth. 
Who's within?  Pil. 
Only Aegisthus, Clytaemnestra's friend,  
The Queen and fair Electra.  Ceth. 
Witness enough,  
Then spare me for this time good Pylades,  
we'll owe them greater service.  Pyl. 
But 'tis a duty that I owe my friend,  
My absence would distaste him.  Exit. Ceth. 
Fare you well.  
Do, do, contract and marry, aim at Heaven,  
But Hell is that they plunge in: Oh Palamedes  
My basely betrayed brother, sold at Troy  
As we would cheapen Horses, yet a Prince:  
A Prince? nay General of the Greekish host.  
Emperor and kaiser, chose to that command  
By a full jury of Kings, and by them rated  
The prime & worthiest: who being far from equal  
Could find in whole Greece no competitor.  
Yet this peculiar man, this God of men,  
By false Ulysses and Atreus sons  
Agamemnon and Menelaus, basely supplanted;  
Who, for they would confer amongst themselves  
The sovereignty forged letters sent from Troy,  
And coin withal marked with King Priam's stamp,  
As if this father of his fame and Nation  
Whose only ends were aimed to honour Greece  
Would have betrayed his people: this suggested,  
My brother was arraigned, convict, condemned;  
For which I have vowed the universal ruin  
Of all the Kings of that corrupted bench.  
Palamedes thy blood in Asia shed  
Shall make all Europe mourn since thou art dead.  Enter Egistus, Clitemnestra, Orestes, Pilades, Hermione, and Electra. Cli. 
Mycenae's King and Sparta's would be proud  
To see this happy and blessed union made  
Between their royal Families.  Orest. 
This fair Virgin,  
Second from Leda to whom jove vouchsafed  
The strict Embrace of his immortal arm,  
Unspotted with her mother's prostitution,  
we'll thus receive.  Hermi. 
May my chaste innocence  
Break through the Cloud which hath eclipsed her fame▪  
Whose luster may outshine my mother's frailties,  
And they through me may be forgot in Greece.  Egi. 
Hermione, your words taste of your breeding  
Under this Queen your fair and Princely Aunt,  
were young Electra but so well bestowed,  
Great Agamemnon in so brave a match  
Would think himself more graced, then in fruition  
Of all the foreign Trophies.  Ceth. 
May she prove?  
A whore like to her Mother: Prince Orestes,  
And you bright Lady Spartans second light,  
May all the virtues of this potent Queen  
Take life in you, to prove hereditary  
That the great Archduke crowned with fame and honour.  
In his return may add a surplusage  
To his already surfeit: find his bed  
By this adultress basely strumpeted,  
And make the Down they lie on quaff their blood.  Orest. 
How do you fair Electra in your judgement  
Applaud your brother's choice?  Elect. 
As of a contract.  
Made by the gods above, and now by Princes  
Here ratified on earth.  Orest. 
I would my friend  
Were to you sister, but as fast betrothed  
As I to Helen's daughter: But dear Pylades,  
'tis Time must perfect all things.  Pil. 
Madam you hear▪  
This motion from your brother.  Elect. 
And I crave  
Time to consider on't.  Orest. 
'tis on foot,  
Pursue it then with all advantages,  
Command my free assistance to begin▪  
Had you Electra friend, as I Hermione;  
We were at first as foreign as you two,  
And every way as strange, but opportunity  
That hath united us, may make you one.  
After some amorous parlance, let us now  
Unto the Temple and there sacrifice  
Unto the gods, that Greece▪ no more may mourn  
But glory in our father's safe return▪  Egist, 
His safety is our danger▪ for know Madam▪  
Our love hath been too public.  Ceth. 
That's the ground  
On which to build my project.  Cli. 
Grant it hath.  
Cannot a more than nine years' widowhood  
Excuse me being a woman? thinks the King  
we can forget that lesson in our age,  
Which was by him first taught us in our youth?  
Or was't his aim to show us choice delights,  
Then bar us their fruition? First to taste  
Our palate, next to make us appetite;  
And when our stomachs are prepared and sharpened  
For Costly viands placed before our eyes,  
Then to remove the table? he's unkind;  
And as he hath dealt with us, so must find.  Enter Synon. Syn. 
The Queen? to her my speed is.  Cli. 
Speak on soldier.  Syn. 
I am the herald of most happy news,  
Troy with the earth is levelled, sacked, and burnt;  
Priam with all his memory extinct,  
Queen, daughters, sons, and subjects ruined all.  
Now like the vapour of their City's smoke,  
And of them no more found: And Madam now  
The King your Lord, the Elder of the Atrids,  
Duke of the puissant and all conquering Host,  
His temples arched in a victorious orb,  
And wreathed in all the glories earth can yield  
Is landed in Mycene a Conqueror.  Ceth. 
How could they scape those fierce fires Naulus made  
In vengeance of his son Palamedes  
To split their cursed Fleet upon the rocks.  Cli. 
Make repetition of their joys again,  
Being things that I cannot hear too oft▪  
And add to them: Is Menelaus safe  
My husband's brother? Helen how fares she?  
Or is she thence repurchased? fill mine ears  
With such sweet Tones, 'tis all I can desire.  Syn. 
Take your full longing then, for though the Seas  
With tempests, storms, rocks, shipwracks, shelves and sands  
More damaged them then all the Trojan siege.  
Although the Beacons fired to draw their Fleet  
Distressed and dispersed upon the rocks  
Sunk many a goodly bottom: Yet the General  
'scaped by the hand of jove, with him King Diomed,  
Ulysses, and great Neoptolemus,  
With Spartan Menelaus late attend  
With beauteous Helen cause of all these broils:  
All these attend upon the General  
To bring him home victorious, and this night  
Will lodge in the king's Palace,  Cli. 
Soldier thanks,  
These twice five years I have a widow been,  
Thy news have now new married me: give order  
For the king's entertainment, all the state  
Mycene can yield shall freely be exposed  
In honour of these Princes: your great haste  
Doth ask some rest, therefore repose yourself,  
And for your fortunate news expect reward.  Syn. 
The Queen is royal.  Ceth. 
And now to that devil  
Which I must conjure up: Is the Queen mad?  
Or thou Aegisthus sottish? see you not  
The stake and scaffold, nay the Hangman too;  
And will you blindfold run upon your deaths  
When there is way t'o 'scape them?  Egist. 
What horrid fright  
Is this proposed by Cethus?  Ceth. 
The King's returned,  
And doth not your veins gush out of your temples  
In sanguine blushes? are not your adulteries  
Famous as Helen's? nay, more infamous,  
There was a rape to countenance what she did,  
You nought save corrupt lust and idleness:  
'tis blabbed in the City, talked on in the Court,  
All tongues surcharged, all eyes are fixed on you,  
To see what fearful vengeance he will take  
For that your prostitution.  Cli. 
he's a King.  Ceth. 
True Clytaemnestra, so he went from hence,  
But is returned a Tyrant fleshed in blood:  
Thinkest thou that he who quelled his foes abroad,  
Will spare at home domestic enemies?  
That was so prone to punish others wrongs,  
And can forget his own?  Cli, 
If Menelaus  
Have pardoned Helen, may not he his brother  
Make Sparta's King his noble precedent,  
To do the like to me?  Ceth. 
Tush shallow Queen,  
How you mistake; see imminent fate affront you,  
And will not shun it coming? If his brother  
Be branded as a scandal to the world,  
What consequence is it that he will groan  
Under the self same burden? rather think  
He hath proposed a vengeance dire and horrid  
To terrify, not countenance such misdeeds:  
And this must fall on you, lest time to come  
Should Chronicle his family for a brood  
Of Cuckolds and of Strumpets:  Egist. 
This thy language  
Strikes me with horror.  Cli. 
And affrights me too.  Ceth. 
Is he not King? hath he not lynx's eyes,  
And giant's arms, the first to see far off,  
The last as far to punish? was he so poor  
In friends at home, to leave no Argus here  
To keep his eyes still waking? think it not  
But that he knew the treason of his bed,  
He had not fair Briseis snatched perforce  
From th'arms of great Achilles.  Cli. 
That I heard.  Ceth. 
Why hath he a new mistress brought from Troy,  
But to state her in Clytaemnestra's stead,  
And make her Mycenae's Queen whilst you poor wretches  
Like malefactors suffer, marked for the Stag  
And most ridiculous spectacles.  Cli. 
You show the danger,  
But teach us no prevention▪  Egist. 
See before us  
The objects of our fears and difficulties,  
But not the way to avoid them.  Ceth. 
Hear me then,  
Prevent your death's by his.  Cli. 
How? kill the King?  
So we heap sin on sin and basely add  
Unto adultery murder.  Ceth. 
Per scelus semper tutum sceleribus iter.  
Boldly you have begun, and being once in,  
Blood will cure lust, and mischief physic sin.  Cli. 
Perhaps our guilt lies hid.  Ceth. 
In a king's Palace  
Can lust in such great persons be concealed?  Cli. 
The first offence repents me, and to that  
I should but add a greater.  Ceth. 
Perish, do.  
Or what concerns this me? I shall be safe,  
I have strumpeted no Agamemnon's Queen,  
Nor bastarded the issue of the Atrides:  
Or why should I thus labour their securities  
Who study not their own?  Egist. 
Resolve then Queen,  
The Kings austere, and will extend his justice  
Unto some sad example.  Cli. 
Oh but my husband.  Ceth. 
After ten years' widowhood  
Can Clytaemnestra think of such a name?  Cli. 
You have half won me, when shall this be done?  Ceth. 
When but this night? delays are ominous:  
Ere he have time to think upon his wrongs,  
Or find a tongue to whisper, ere suspicion  
Can further be instructed or least censure,  
To call his wrongs in question: instantly,  
Even in his height of joy, fullness of compliment  
With th' Argive Kings: whilst cups are brimmed with healths,  
Whilst jealousies are drowned in Bacchus' boles.  
This night before he sleep, or that his pillow  
Can give him the least counsel, ere he can spare  
A minute for the smallest intelligence,  
Or moment to consider: I have done  
If you have either grace in apprehension  
Or spirit in performance.  Egist. 
I have both,  
What answers Clytaemnestra?  Cli. 
I am swayed,  
And though I know there's difference of Justice  
In Princes sitting on the scarlet bench,  
And husbands dallying in the private bed:  
I'll hold him as one sits upon my life,  
Not one that lies enclosed within mine arms;  
he's now my judge, not Husband, here I vow  
Assistance in his death.  Ceth. 
And so survive  
Secure and fortunate.  Egist. 
This night?  Cli. 
'tis done.  Ceth. 
The project I have cast with all security.  
And safety for your person: smooth your brows,  
And let there shine a welcome in your looks  
At the king's entertainment: nay begone,  
By this time you are expected; what remains  
Is mine in form, but yours in action.  Exeunt. 
Now father style me a most worthy son  
Palamedes, a brother, what neither fires,  
Nor rocks could do, what neither Neptune's rage,  
Nor Mars his fury, what the turbulent Seas,  
Nor the combustious Land▪ that Cethus can:  
He that succeeds my brother in his rule,  
Shall first succeed in death: none that had hand  
Or voice in his subversion that shall stand.  Exit: Enter Thersites and Synon. Ther. 
Well met on Land kind brother, we are now  
Victorious: let's be proud on't.  Syn. 
Thou sayst true,  
we are Conquerors in our basest cowardice,  
we had not been here else.  Ther. 
Valiant Hector,  
Achilles, Troilus, Paris, Aiax too.  
They are all fall'n, we stand.  Syn. 
Yes, and will stiff  
When all the Grecian Princes that survive  
Are cramped and ham-stringed.  Ther. 
Wast thou not sea-sick brother?  Syn. 
Horribly, and feared  
In the rough seas to have disgorged my heart,  
And there to have fed Haddocks.  Ther. 
Trojans were fellows  
In all their fury to be parleyed with:  
But with the tempests, gusts, and hurricanes,  
The warring winds, the billows, rocks and fires  
There was no talking: these few times we prayed,  
The gods would hear no reason.  Syn. 
'twas because  
The billows with their roaring, and the winds  
Did with their. whistling keep them from their ears:  
But now all's hushed, could we find time to pray,  
They might find time to hear us.  Ther. 
Shall we be  
Spectators of the royal interview  
Betwixt the King and Queen?  Syn. 
Ten years divorced  
Should challenge a kind meeting, let's observe  
The form and state of this Court-complement,  
(things I did never trade with:) Hark loud music  
Gives warning of their coming.  Loud music. Enter at one door Agamemnon, Ulysses, Diomed, Pyrhus, Menelaus: Synon and Thersites falling into their train. At the other Egistus, Clitemnestra, Cethus, Orestes, Pylades, Hermione, Electra, &c. Aga. 
Unto our Country and our Household-gods  
we are at length returned, trophied with honours,  
With Troy's subversion and rich Asia's spoils,  
This is a sacred day.  Egist. 
Such Troy had once.  Aga. 
Unto the gods we'll sacrifice.  Ceth. 
So Priam fell  
Before the holy Altar.  Aga. 
This City is not Troy.  Ceth. 
Where Helen treads,  
I hold the place no better.  Aga. 
See our Queen,  
Orestes and Electra, for our sake.  
Princes of Greece deign them your best salutes▪  
Dear Clytaemnestra.  Clit. 
Royal King and Husband.  After their salute. All the rest compliment as strangers, but especially Pyrhus and Orestes▪ Aga. 
What's he that kneels so close unto our Queene  Clit. 
Aegisthus and your servant.  Aga. 
He was young  
When we at first set sail from Aulis Gulf,  
Now grown from my remembrance: we shall find  
Fit time to search him further,  Ceth. 
Mark you that.  Egist. 
Yes, and it touched me deeply.  Mene. 
Our sister, and this young Hermione,  
Daughter to us and Helen.  Ther. 
Pretty puppy.  
Of such a common brach.  Men. 
Young Neoptolemus,  
This is the Lady promised you at Troy,  
For your great service done there: she's your own,  
Freely embrace her then.  Syn. 
I see we are like  
To have a jolly kindred.  Orest. 
Pyrrhus, enjoy  
Her whom I have in contract?  Pyr. 
Beauteous Lady,  
The great'st ambition Pyrrhus aims at now,  
Is how to know you farther.  
Hath been so mighty to revenge the wrongs  
Of my fair mother, can from Hermione  
Challenge no less than welcome.  Orest. 
Oh you gods,  
Pyrrhus, thou wert more safe in burning Troy  
With horror, fury blood, fires, foes about them.  
Then in my father's court.  Ceth. 
Another column  
On which to build my slaughters. Patience Prince,  
This is no time for braves and Menaces,  
I further shall instruct you.  Orest. 
I have done.  Ther. 
See now the two Queens meet, & smack in public,  
That oft have kissed in corners▪  Syn. 
Thersites?  
Thou art grown a monster, a strange thing scarce known  
'Mongst soldiers, wives and daughters.  Ther. 
They are two sisters.  Syn. 
Yes, and the two King-brothers royally  
Between them two cornuted▪  Ther. 
We are too loud.  Dio. 
Princes of Greece, since we have done a duty  
To see our General midst his people safe,  
And after many dreadful wars abroad  
In peace at home. 'Tis fit we should disperse  
Unto our several Countries instantly,  
I purpose for Aetolia, where my Queen  
With longing waits my coming.  Aga. 
Not King Diomed,  
Till you have seen Mecena's pomp and state  
In ampliest royalty expressed at full,  
Both tasted of our feasts and Princely gifts.  
The fair Aegiale, who hath so long  
Forborne your presence, will not I presume  
Deny to spare you to us some few days,  
To add to the year's number, though not as General  
Yet will I lay on you a friend's command▪  
Which must not be denied.  Dio. 
Great Agamemnon  
With me was ever powerful, I am his.  Cli. 
And now fair sister welcome back from Troy,  
Be ever henceforth Sparta's.  Hei. 
Your great care  
In my enforced absence (gracious Queen)  
Expressed unto my dear Hermione,  
Hath much obliged me to you. Oh my fate,  
How swift time runs: Orestes grown a man,  
Whom I left in the Cradle! Young Electra  
Then (as I take't) scarce borne, and now grown ripe,  
Even ready for an husband!  Syn. 
In whose absence  
If but one handsome sweetheart come in place,  
she'll not turn tail for't, if she do but take  
After mine old Naunt Helen.  Enter a Lord. Lord. 
The great and solemn preparation  
Of the Court, state and glory mighty Princes,  
Attend for you within.  Aga. 
All are consecrated  
Unto your royal welcomes, enter then,  
we'll feast like earthy gods, or godlike men▪  Loud music. They possess the Stage in all state, Cathus stayeth behind. Ceth. 
My brain about again, for thou hast found  
New project now to work on, and 'tis here,  
Orestes hath received Hermione  
From Clitemnestra's hand, her soul is his▪  
And he her Genius, two combined in one:  
Yet she is by the father's Oath conferred  
On Pyrrhus, which shall breed a stormy flaw  
ne'er to be pieced again, but by the deaths  
Of the two hopeful youths: perhaps the hazard  
Of all these Kings if my revenge strike home.  
(Of that at leisure) but the bloody stage  
On which to act, General this night is thine,  
Thou liest down mortal, who must rise divine.  Enter Orestes to Cethus. Music and healthing within. Orest. 
Oh Cethus what's this music unto me,  
That are composed of discords? what are healths  
To him that is struck heartsick? all those joys  
Whose leaders seem to pierce against the roofs  
Of these high structures, to him that is struck down  
Half way below the Centre?  Ceth. 
Were you lower,  
Yet here's a hand can raise you, deeper cast  
Then to the lowest abysm: It lies in me  
To advance you to the height of happiness,  
Where you shall live eternised from the reach  
Of any humane malice.  Orest. 
Hadst thou seen  
Her, in whose breast my heart was paradised,  
Kissed, courted, and embraced.  Ceth. 
By Pyrrhus.  Orest▪ 
Him:  
What passionate and insidiating looks  
He cast on her, as if in scorn of me:  
Shall he enjoy my birthright, or inherit  
Where I am heir apparent? shall he usurp▪  
Or plead my interest, where I am possessed?  
Rule where I reign? where I am stated, sit?  
Brave me in my peculiar Sovereignty?  Ceth. 
He must not, shall not.  Orest. 
Show me to depose.  
The proud Usurper then.  Ceth. 
Prince, make't my charge.  
In the mean time, from your distracted from  
Exile all discontent, let not lest rage  
Reign in your eye, or harshness in your tongue,  
Smooth waters are still deep'st▪ wait on the King,  
And be no stranger to your mother's eye,  
Or foreign to your Kindred: the feast spent,  
And night with it: the morrow shall beget  
Project of more import (scarce thought on now.)  Orest. 
I build upon thy Counsel.  Exit Orestes. Ceth. 
Which hath proved,  
Fixed as a rock, still constant, and unmoved.  Enter Egistus. Egist. 
What Cethus here? why no such matter now  
No cause of fear, or least suspicion.  Ceth. 
Your reason?  Egist. 
Tush, presume it, we are safe.  Ceth. 
Observe it, they are still securest, whom  
The Devil drives to ruin.  Egist. 
Hark, their healths  
Carousing to the general's Victories,  
In all thy heat of joy, and fire of wine,  
No spark of jealously, all th' Argument  
Of their discourse, what they have done at Troy.  
Still health on health, and the great General  
So far from seeming to have least distaste,  
That in all affable terms he courts his Queen,  
Nay more, cuts off all banquet Ceremonies,  
To hasten his bed-pleasures, as if times distance  
Betwixt his board and pallet, seemed more tedious  
Than all his Ten years' siege.  Ceth. 
Go, lost man,  
Sink on firm ground, be shipwrecked in a Calm.  
These healths are to your ruins, his revenge:  
Hath not Aegisthus read of a disease  
Where men die laughing: others that have drunk  
Poison instead of Cordials, perish so?  
To die 'tis nothing, since 'tis all men due:  
But wretchedly to suffer, fall unpitied,  
Unpitied? nay derided, mocked, and cursed:  
To die as a base Traitor, and a Thief,  
The adulterator of his sovereign's bed,  
The poison of the Atrides' family,  
And scandal of his issue, so to die?  Egi. 
Aegisthus will prevent, he by this hand  
Must fall, 'fore whom all Asia could not stand.  Ceth. 
The banquet is broke up, sleep calls to rest,  
And midnight's hour for murder, still shows best▪  Exit. Loud music. Enter Egistus with his sword drawn, hideth himself in the chamber behind the bed-curtains: all the Kings come next in, conducting the General and his Queen to their Lodging, and after some compliment leave them, enery one with torches ushered to their several chambers, &c. Aga. 
Methinks this night, we Clytaemnestra meet,  
At a new bridal; all Attendants leave us,  
we now are only for bed-privacies.  Cli. 
Great sir, I that so long have been your widow,  
Will be this night your handmaid.  Aga. 
You told me, Queen,  
Orestes was a cunning horseman grown:  
It pleased me much to hear it.  Cli. 
Greece reports  
No Centare can ride better▪  Aga. 
And young Electra,  
In all th' endowments that may best become  
A Princess of her breeding, most complete.  Cli. 
It was in your long absence, all my care,  
(Being my charge) that you at your return  
Might find them to your wishes,  Aga. 
Thanks for that.  Cli. 
How cunningly he seems to carry it▪  
But we must find prevention.  Aga. 
Who's without there?  Cli. 
Why started you?  Aga. 
Not all the Asian Legions, no not Hector  
Armed with his balls of wildfire, had the power  
To shake me like this tremor: Is our Palace  
Less safe in Greece, amidst our subjects here,  
Then were our Tents in Asia?  Cli. 
Where, if not here in Clytaemnestra's arms,  
Can safety dwell?  Aga. 
And fair Queen, it should be so.  Cli. 
But why sir cast you such suspicious eyes  
About your Chamber? are we not alone?  
Or will you to the private sweets of night,  
Call tell tale witness?  Aga. 
Now 'tis gone again. Shall we to rest?  Cli. 
So please you royal Sir.  Aga. 
How hard this Down feels, like a monument  
Cut out of marble. Beds resemble Graves,  
And these methinks appear like winding sheets,  
Prepared for corpses.  Cli. 
Oh how ominously  
Do you presage: you much affright me sir  
In this our long-wished meeting.  Aga. 
All's shook off.  
I now am armed for pleasure: you commended  
Late one Aegisthus to me, prithee Queen  
Of what condition is he?  They both wound him, at which there is a great thunder crack. Egist. 
Tyrant this.  Cli. 
And I am thus his second.  Aga. 
Treason, murder, Treason:  
This shows, we Princes are no more than men.  
Thanks Jove 'tis fit when Monarchs fall by Treason,  
Thunder to all the world, would show some reason.  he dies. Egi. 
The deed is done, let's fly to some strong Citadel,  
For our more safety.  Cli. 
He thus made divine:  
Now my Aegisthus, I am solely thine.  Exeunt. Anoyse of uproar within. Enter all the Kings with other Servants half unready, as newly started from their Beds. Orestes, Hermione, Pillades, Electra, &c. Mene. 
What strange tumultuous noise is this so late▪  
To rouse us from our beds?  Pyr. 
Prodigious sure,  
Since 'tis confirmed by Thunder.  Orest. 
In mine ears  
Did never sound seem half too terrible.  Hel. 
Nor to your eyes, as this sad object is,  
See great Atrides grovelling.  Ceth. 
What damned Villain  
Was author of this project?  Omnes. 
Horrid sight.  Ore. 
Rest you amazed all, as thunder struck,  
And without sense or motion apoplexed,  
And only hear me speak: Orestes, he  
Who as if marbled by Medusa's head,  
Hath not one tear to fall, or sigh to spend,  
Till I find out the murderer, and on him  
Inflict remarkable vengeance: for I vow  
Were it my father, brother, or his Queen,  
Hadst thou my weeping sister hand in it.  
If he? whom equal, (if not ranked above)  
I ever did, and shall love Pylades?  
Were't she whose womb did bear me, where I lay  
Full nine months bedded ere I saw the Sun,  
Or the most abject Traitor under Heaven,  
Their dooms were all alike, and this I vow.  
Now you whom this silent and speechless King  
Hath oft commanded, this now senseless brain  
As oft directed, this now strengthless hand  
More oft protected in a war, that shall  
Be to all times example: Lend your shoulders  
To bear him, who hath kept you all in life,  
This is a black and mourning funeral right,  
Deeds of this nature must be throughly searched,  
Nay be revenged: the gods have said 'tis good,  
The morning Sun shall rise and blush in blood.  They bear him off with a sad and funeral march, &c. 
Explicit Actus quartus.   

Actus Quintus: Scoena prima.  Enter Pyrhus, Hermione, Thersites, and Synon. Pyr. 
Sweet Lady, can you love:  Her. 
Forbear my Lord,  
Can such a thing as love be once named here,  
Where every Marble that supports this roof,  
In emulation doth vie tears with us?  
Nay where the wounds of such a mighty King  
Have yet scarce bled their last.  Pyr. 
Tush fair Hermione,  
These sights that seem to ladies terrible,  
Are common to us soldiers; when from field returning  
All smeared in blood, where Dukes and Kings lie slain,  
Yet in our Tents at midnight it frights not us  
From courting a sweet Mistress.  Syn. 
He sayth right,  
And note of this how I can poetize:  
This his great father of his Love desired.  
When from the slaughter of his foes retired  
He doffed his Cushes and unarmed his head,  
To tumble with her on a soft day bed:  
It did rejoice Brifois to embrace  
His bruised arms, and kiss his bloodstained face.  
These hands which he so often did imbrue  
In blood of warlike Trojans whom he slew,  
Were then employed to tickle, touch and feel,  
And shake a Lance that had no print of steel.  Ther. 
Continue in that vein, I'll feed thy Muse  
With Crayfish, prawns and Lobsters.  Her. 
You brought these of purpose to abuse me.  Pyr. 
Peace Thersites,  
And Sinon you no more.  Syn. 
we see by Agamemnon all are mortal,  
And I but show his niece Hermione  
The way of all flesh.  Ther. 
'tis an easy path,  
(The Mother and the Aunt have trod it both)  
If she have wit to follow.  Enter Ulysses, Menelaus, Diomed with others. Mene. 
If it be so, Aegisthus is a traitor,  
And she no more our sister.  Vlys. 
'tis not possible  
A Queen of her high birth and parentage  
Should have such base hand in her husband's death,  
Her husband and her sovereign.  Dio. 
Double treason,  
Could it be proved against her.  Men. 
It appears  
So far against humanity and nature  
We dare not once suspect it, but till proof  
Explain it further, hold it in suspense.  Vlys. 
Oh but their sudden flight and fortifying.  Mene. 
These are indeed presumptions, but leave that  
To a most strict inquiry even for reverence  
Of Majesty and Honour to all Queens,  
For love of us because she was our sister,  
Both for Orestes and Electra's sake  
Whose births are branded in so foul a deed  
Till we examine further circumstances  
Spare your severer censures.  Vlis. 
'tis a business  
That least concerns us, but for honour's sake  
And that he was our General.  Mene. 
What, prince lie Pyrrhus courting our fair daughter?  Her. 
Yes sir, but in a time unseasonable  
Even as the suit itself is.  Mene. 
All delays  
Shall be cut off and she be swayed by us.  
These Royal Princes ere they leave Mycena,  
Shall see these nuptial rights solemnised,  
we'll keep our faith with Pyrrhus.  Pyr. 
we our vows  
As constant to the bright Hermione.  
First see the royal General here interred  
And buried like a soldier, 'tis his due:  
To question of his death concerns not us,  
we leave it to heaven's justice and revenge.  
The rights performed with fair Hermione,  
Then to our several Countries each man post,  
Captains disperse still when the General's lost.  Enter Cethus, Orestes, and Pylades. disguised. Exeunt Ore. 
Aegisthus? and our Mother?  Ceth. 
Am I Cethus,  
Are you Orestes, and this Pylades,  
So sure they were his murderers: this disguise  
Will suit an act of death, full to the life  
He stands upon a strict and secure guard,  
I have plotted your admittance, it will take  
Doubt not, it cannot fail, I have cast it so.  Ore. 
As sent from Menelaus?  Ceth. 
Whose name else  
Can break through such strong guards, where fear and guilt  
Keep hourly watch?  Ore. 
It is enough, I have't,  
And thou the faithfullest of all friends dear Pylades,  
Do but assist me in my vowed revenge  
And enjoy fair Electra.  Pyl. 
Next your friendship  
It is the prize I aim at, I am yours.  Ceth. 
What slip you time and opportunity,  
Or look you after dreams?  Ore. 
I am a wake.  
And to send them to their eternal sleep.  
In expedition there is still success,  
In all delays defect: the traitor dies  
Were he in league with all the destinies.  Exe. Pilad. Orest. 
And 'tis a fruitful year for villainy,  
And I a thriving Farmer. In this interim  
I have more plots on foot: King Menelaus:  
I have incensed against proud Diamed▪  
Pyrrhus against Orestes, he 'gainst him,  
Ulysses without parallel for wit  
Against them all: so that the first combustion  
Shall burn them up to ashes. Oh Palamedes,  
So dear was both thy love and memory,  
Not Helen by her whoredom caused more blood  
Streaming from princes' breasts, than Cethus shall  
(Brother) for thine untimely funeral.  Exit. Enter Egistus, Clitemnestra with a strong guard. Egist. 
Let none presume to dare into our presence  
Or pass our guard, but such well known to us and to our Queen.  Guard. 
The charge hath passed us round▪  Egist. 
When sins of such high nature 'gainst us rise,  
'tis fit we should be kept with heedful eyes.  Cli. 
Presume it my Aegisthus, we are safe,  
The Fort wherein we live impregnable:  
Or say we were surprised by stratagem,  
Or should expose our lives unto the censure  
Of Law and justice, even in these extremes  
There were not the least fear of difficulty.  Egist. 
Your reason Madam.  Cli. 
Whom doth this concern  
But our own blood? should Pyrrhus grow enraged▪  
I have at hand my niece Hermione  
To calm his fury: what doth this belong to  
Ulysses, or Aetolian Diomed?  
Are they not strangers? If it come in question  
By Menelaus, is he not our brother▪  
Our sister Helen in his bosom sleeps,  
And can with him do all things, fear not then,  
we are every way secure.  Egist. 
Oh but Orestes  
His eye's to me like lightning, and his arm  
Up heaved thus, shows like jones thunderbolt  
Aimed against lust and murder.  Cli. 
he's our son,  
The filial duty that's hereditary  
Unto a mother's name prevents these fears:  
Electra's young, and childish Pylades  
Swayed by his friend: It rests, could we but work  
Helen and Menelaus to our faction,  
Aegisthus should be stated in Mycene,  
we live his Queen and bride.  Egist. 
fear's still suspicious.  Enter one of the guard. Guard. 
A Letter sir.  Egi. 
From whence?  Guard. 
'tis superscribed from the great Spartae's King,  
And the Queen Helen.  Egi. 
Who the messenger?  Guard. 
Two Gentlemen who much importune you  
For speedy answer.  Egi. 
Bid them wait without,  
Now fates prove but propitious, than my kingdom  
I shall presume established.  Cli. 
There's no fear,  
Orestes once removed, and that's my charge  
Either by sword or poison.  Egi. 
See fair Queen,  
Read what your brother writes, by this we are  
Eternised in our happiness, and our lives  
Rooted in sweet security.  The Queen reads. Cli. 
we not suspect you in our brother's death,  
A deed too base for any Noble breast.  
Therefore in this necessity of state,  
And knowing in this forced vacancy  
So great a kingdom cannot want a guide:  
The sovereignty we thought good to confer  
On Clytaemnestra, or what substitute  
She in her best discretion shall think fit,  
The united Kings of Greece have thus decreed.  
Your brother Menelaus.  Egist. 
We are happied ever.  Cli. 
A joy ratified▪  
And subject to no change.  Egist. 
Call in the messengers,  
Orestes and Electra once removed,  
we have no rival, no competitor,  
Therefore no jealousy at all.  Cli. 
None, none.  
The gods have with these Kings of Greece agreed  
In his supplanting and instating thee,  
Thee my most dear Aegisthus.  Orestes and Pyllades disguised are conducted in. Egist. 
You the men?  Ore. 
Those, whom the Spartan King made special choice of  
To trust this great affair with.  Egist. 
And y'are welcome,  
But are you men of action: such I mean,  
As have been Soldiers bred, whose eyes enured  
To slaughter and combustions: at the like  
Would not change face, or tremble?  Pil. 
They that to see  
Legs, arms, and heads strowed on Scamander Plain,  
Kings by the common soldiers stewed in gore,  
And three parts hid with their emboweled Steeds,  
Shadowing their mangled bodies from the Sun,  
As if above the earth to bury them:  
They that to see an Asian Potentate  
Killed at the holy Altar, his own blood  
Mixed with his sons and daughters, tower's demolished  
Crushing whole thousands, of each sex and age  
Beneath their ruins: and these horrid sights  
Lighted by scathe- fires, they that have beheld  
These and more dreadful objects; can their eyes  
Move at a private slaughter?  Cli. 
Y'are for us,  
Will you for hire, for favour, or advancement,  
(Now wars are done) to be made great in Court,  
And undertake that one man easily spared  
Amongst so many millions (now surviving)  
That such a creature, no way necessary  
But a mere burden to the world we live in,  
He might no longer live?  Ore. 
But name the man,  
And as I love Aegisthus, honour you  
And all that glory in such noble deeds.  
Be what he will; he's lost.  Egist. 
Orestes, then?  Ore. 
Is there none then the world so well may spare  
As young Orestes? He to do't?  He kills Egistus, first discovering himself. Egist. 
Vain world farewell,  
My hopes withal, no building long hath stood  
Whose sleight foundation hath been laid in blood.  Cli. 
I'll die upon his bosom.  Ore. 
Secure the Fort my dear friend Pylades,  
And to your utmost pacify the guard:  
Tell them we are Orestes and their Prince,  
And what we did was to revenge the death  
Of their dead Lord and sovereign▪  Pil. 
Sir I'll do't.  Exit. Cli. 
Oh me, that thinking to have catched at Heaven,  
Am plunged into an hell of misery.  
Aegisthus dead? what comfort can I have,  
One foot enthroned, the other in the grave.  Ore. 
Can you find tears for such an abject Groom,  
That had not for an husband one to shed?  
Oh monstrous, monstrous woman▪ is this carrion,  
Is this dead Dog, (Dog said I?) nay what's worse,  
Worthy the sigh or mourning of a Queen,  
When a King lies unpitied?  Cli. 
Thou a son?  Ore. 
The name I am ashamed of: oh Agamemnon,  
How sacred is thy name and memory!  
Whose acts shall fill all foreign Chronicles  
With admiration, and most happy he  
That can with greatest Art but book thy deeds:  
Yet whilst this rottenness, this gangrened flesh  
Whose carcase is as odious as his name  
Shall stinking lie, able to breed a Pest,  
He with a Princess tears to be embalmed,  
And a King lie neglected?  Cli. 
Bastard.  Ore. 
If I be,  
Damned be the whore my Mother, ay, I am sure  
Nor my dead father had no hand in it.  Cli. 
Oh that I could but lengthen out my years  
Only to spend in curses.  Ore. 
Upon whom?  Cli. 
On whom but thee for my Aegisthus' death?  Ore. 
And I could wish myself a Nestor's age  
To curse both him and thee for my dead father.  Cli. 
Dost thou accuse me for thy father's death?  Ore. 
Indeed 'twould ill become me being a son,  
But were I sure it were so, than I durst;  
Nay, more than that, revenge it.  Cli. 
Upon me?  Ore. 
Were all the mothers of the earth in one,  
All Empresses and Queens cast in one mould,  
And I unto that one a only son,  
My sword should ravish that incestuous breast  
Of nature, and of state▪  Cli. 
I am as innocent of that black deed,  
As was this guiltless Gentleman here dead.  Orest. 
Oh all you powers of Heaven I invocate,  
And if you will not hear me, let Hell do't:  
Give me some sign from either fiends or angel,  
I call you both as testates.  Enter the Ghost of Agamemnon, pointing unto his wounds: and then to Egistus and the Queen, who were his murderers, which done, he vanisheth. 
Godlike shape,  
Have you (my father) left the Elysium fields,  
Where all the ancient hero's line in bliss,  
To bring yourself that sacred testimony,  
To crown my approbation: Lady see.  Cli. 
See what? thy former murder makes thee mad,  Orest. 
Rest Ghost in peace, I now am satisfied,  
And need no further witness: saw you nothing?  Cli. 
What should I see save this sad spectacle,  
Which blood-shoots both mine eyes.  Orest. 
And nothing else?  Cli. 
Nothing.  Orest. 
Mine eyes are clearer sighted then, and see  
Into thy bosom. murderess.  Cli. 
How?  Orest. 
Incestuous strumpet, whose adulteries,  
When Treason could not hide, thou thoughts to cover,  
With most inhuman murder.  Cli. 
Meaning us?  Orest. 
Then, monster, thou didst first instruct mine hand,  
How to write blood, when being a Wife and Queen,  
Thou killed'st a King and husband, and hast taught  
Me being a son, how to destroy a mother.  He wounds her. Cli. 
Oh most unnatural.  Orest. 
That I learned of thee.  Cli. 
Unheard of cruelty, but heavens are just.  
And all remarkable sins punish with mark,  
One mischief still another doth beget,  
Adultery murder: I am lost, undone.  she dies. Orest. 
Being no wife, Orestes is no son.  Enter Cethus and Pillades with the guard. Pil. 
The guard all stand for you, acknowledging  
Orestes Prince and King.  Orest. 
I now am neither.  Ceth. 
What object's this? Queen Clytaemnestra slain?  Pil. 
I hope no son's hand in't  Orest. 
Orestes did it,  
The other title's lost.  Ceth. 
All my plots take  
Beyond my apprehension.  Pil. 
This is an age  
Of nothing but portents and prodigies.  Orest. 
The father's hand as deep was in her death  
As was the sons, he pointed, and I struck:  
Was he not then as unkind to a Wife,  
As I was to a Mother?  Pil. 
Oh my friend,  
What have you done?  Orest. 
There is a Plasma, or deep pit  
Just in the Centre fixed for Parricides,  
I'll keep my Court there, and Erinys, she  
In stead of Hebe, shall attend my Cup,  
Charon the Ferryman of Hell shall be  
My Ganymede.  Pil. 
The Prince is sure distracted.  Ceth. 
New project still for me.  Orest. 
I'll have a guard of Furies which shall light me  
Unto my nuptial bed with funeral Teades,  
The fatal sisters shall my handmaidens be,  
And wait upon the fair Hermione.  Ceth. 
Hermione? she is betrothed to Pyrrhus,  
And (mourning for your absence) all the way  
Unto the Temple she will strow with tears.  Orest. 
Ha? Pyrrhus' rape my dear Hermione?  
He that shall dare to interpose my purpose▪  
Or cross me in mine hymeneal rights,  
I'll make him lie as flat on the cold earth  
As doth this hound Aegisthus.  Ceth. 
And I would so.  Orest. 
Would? Nay I will, his father wore a smocks,  
And in that shape rap't Deiadamia.  
He shall not use my Love so, oh my Mother;  
Friend take that object hence.  Ceth. 
But you Hermione,  Orest. 
My hand's yet deep in blood, but to the wrist,  
It shall shall be to the elbow: gods, nor men,  
Angels, nor Furies shall my rage withstand,  
Not the grave Honour of th' assembled Kings,  
Not Reverence of the Altar, nor the Priest:  
No superstition shall my fury slay▪  
Till Pyrrhus from the earth be swept away,  Exit. Ceth. 
Pylades attend your friend.  Pil. 
he's all my charge,  
My life and his are twins.  Ceth. 
Their mines are countermined, Cethus, thy fall  
Is either plotted, or to blow up all.  Exit. Enter Synon and Thersites. Syn. 
My head aches brother.  Ther. 
What a bachelor,  
And troubled with the Spartan king's disease?  Syn. 
No, there's a wedding breeding in my brain,  
Pyrrhus the Bridegroom: thou strange creature woman▪  
To what may I compare thee?  Ther. 
Canst thou devise aught bad enough?  Syn. 
'tis said they look like Angels, and of light▪  
But for the most part, such light Angels prove,  
Ten hundred thousand of their honesties  
Will scarce weigh eleven drachmas.  Ther. 
Clytaemnestra,  
And Helen for example.  Syn. 
Young Hermione  
Hath face from both.  Ther. 
The sharp shrew's nose, they hate hereditary.  Syn. 
Thersites, I commend that fellow's wit  
Proffered a wife young, beautiful and rich,  
Only one fault she had, she wanted brain:  
Who answered in a creature of that sex,  
I ne'er desire more wisdom; then to know  
Her husband's bed from another's.  Ther. 
I commend him,  
But 'tis not in th' Atrides family,  
To find out such a woman.  An Altar set forth, Enter Pyrhus Lending Hermione as a bride, Menelaus, Ulysses, Diomed. A great train, Pyrhus and Hermione kneel at the altar. Syn. 
See now the sacred nuptial rights proceed▪  
The Priests prepare the Altar.  Fyr. 
Hymen to whom my vows I consecrate  
As all my love. To thee Hermione,  
Whom in the presence of these Argive Kings,  
I hear contract, be thou auspicious to us:  
This flaming substitute to Saturn's son,  
Within whose sacred Temple we are roofed▪  
And before all these high Celestial gods  
And goddesses, in whose eyes now we kneel:  
Especially you Juno Queen of marriage,  
And fair Lucina, who have childbirths charge,  
Your favours I invoke: Let your chaste fires  
Dry up this virgin's tears; make her so fruitful  
That in her issue great Achilles' name  
And fame withal, may live eternally▪  
Proceed Priest to your other Ceremonies▪  Enter Orestes, Cethes, and Pilades, with the guard, all their weapons drawn, Orestes runnes at Pyrhus. Orest. 
Priam before the holy Altar fell,  
Before the Altar bid thy life farewell:  
Rescue Hermione.  Pyr. 
Achilles son  
Cannot revengeless die, then witness all,  
Blood must flow high where such great Princes fall.  Pil. 
Orestes is in danger.  Mene. 
Save Prince Pyrrhus.  Cethus whispers with Diomed. Ceth. 
This plot was laid  
Both for your life and Kingdom.  Dio. 
Menelaus: shall never bear it so.  Vlys. 
Fie Thersites,  
Thy sword against me.  Ther. 
Curse upon all whores.  A confused scuffle, in which Orestes kills Pyrhus: Pyrhus, Orestes: Cethus wounds Pillades, Diomed, Menelaus, Ulysses, Thersites, &c. All fall dead sane Ulysses, who beareth thence Hermione: which done, Cethus riseth up from the dead bodies and speaks. Ceth. 
What all asleep? and are these gossiping tongues,  
That boasted nought save War and Victory,  
Now mute and silent? Oh thou ugly rogue,  
Where's now thy railing? and thou parricide,  
Thy madness is now tamed, thou needest no chains  
To bring thee to thy wits, darkness hath done't.  
This Diomed? who dared to encounter Mars,  
And said to wound fair Venus in the hand:  
Where's your valour now? Aegiale,  
Unless (as some say) she be better stored,  
Is like to lie without a bedfellow:  
Rise Pylades, and help to awake thy friend,  
What doth your friendship sleep now? Menelaus  
Hellen's with a new sweetheart i'th' next room,  
Wilt thou be still a Cuckold? wink at errors  
As panders do and wittols? Cethus now  
Be crowned in History for a revenge,  
Which in the former World wants precedent:  
Methinks, as when the Giants warred 'gainst heaven,  
And dared for primacy with jove himself▪  
He darting 'gainst their mountains thunderbolts▪  
Which shattered them to pieces: the war done,  
I like the great olympic jupiter,  
Walk o'er my ruins, tread upon my spoils  
With majesty, I pace upon this floor  
Paned with the trunks of Kings and Potentates,  
For what less could have sated my revenge?  
This arch-rogue fall'n amongst them? he whose eyes  
Had the preposterous virtue to fire Troy.  
Now is thy black soul for thy perjuries  
Swimming in red damnation.  Synon who had before counterfeited death, riseth up, and answereth. Syn. 
Sir, not yet,  
All policies live not in Cethus brain,  
Sinon hath share, and know if thou hast craft,  
I have reserved some cunning: see my body  
Free and untouched from wounds.  Ceth. 
Speak, shall we then  
Divide these dead betwixt us, and both live?  Syn. 
If two Suns cannot shine within one sphere,  
Then why should two arch-villains? thou hast discovered  
Projects almost beyond me, and for which  
I have engrossed a mortal envy here,  
I will be sole, or none.  Ceth. 
Cease then to be,  
That I may live without Competitor.  
'cause Sinon's name be erased out of the World,  
And only mine remembered.  Syn. 
Thine's but frailty,  
My fame shall be immortal; made more glorious  
In treading upon thee, as thou on these;  
Stoop thou my Underling.  Ceth. 
I still shall stand  They fight, and kill one another. 
Rooted.  Syn. 
And yet cut down by Sinon's hand.  Ceth. 
I now am dust like these.  Syn. 
One single fight  
Ends him, who millions ruined in one night.  Enter Helena, Electra, and Hermione. Her. 
Can you behold this slaughter?  Hel. 
Yes, and die  
At sight of it: for why should Helen live▪  
Helen the cause of all these PRINCE's deaths▪  
Cease to lament, reach me my Glass Hermione,  
Sweet orphan do; thy father's dead already,  
Nor will the fates lend thee a mother long.  Enter Hermione with a looking glass, then exit. 
Thanks, and so leave me. Was this wrinkled forehead  
When 'twas at best, worth half so many lives?  
Where is that beauty? lives it in this face  
Which hath set two parts of the World at war,  
Been ruin of the Asian Monarchy,  
And almost this of Europe? this the beauty  
That launched a thousand ships from Aulis gulf?  
In such a poor repurchase, now decayed?  
See fair ones, what a little Time can do;  
Who that considers when a seed is sown,  
How long it is ere it appear from th'earth,  
Then ere it stalk, and after ere it blade,  
Next ere it spread in leaves, than bud, than flower:  
What care in watering, and in weeding took,  
Yet crop it to our use: the beauties done,  
And smell: they scarce last betwixt Sun and Sun▪  
Then why should these my blastings still survive,  
Such royal ruins: or I longer live,  
Then to be termed Helen the beautiful.  
I am grown old, and Death is ages due,  
When Courtiers sooth, our glasses will tell true.  
My beauty made me pitied, and still loved,  
But that decayed, the world's assured hate  
Is all my dowry, than Helen yield to fate▪  
Here's that, my soul and body must divide,  
The guerdon of Adultery, Lust, and Pride.  she strangles herself Enter Ulysses. Vlys. 
In thee they are punished: of all these Princes,  
And infinite numbers that opposed Troy,  
And came in Helen's quarrel (save myself).  
Not one survives, (thanks to the immortal powers)  
And I am purposed now to acquire by Sea,  
My Kingdom and my dear Penelope,  
And since I am the man solely reserved,  
Accept me for the author's Epilogue.  
If he have been two bloody? 'tis the Story,  
Truth claims excuse, and seeks no farther glory,  
Or if you think he hath done your patience wrong  
(In tedious Scenes) by keeping you so long,  
Much matter in few words, he bade me say  
Are hard to express, that lengthened out his Play.  
Explicit Actus quintus.   
Here ends the whole History of the destruction of TroyTroy