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  • Title: The Tragedy of Locrine (Third Folio, 1664)

    • Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Authors: Anonymous, William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    The Tragedy of Locrine (Third Folio, 1664)

    83
    The Tragedy of Locrine.
    90Where e're the joyfull day with cheerfull light,
    Where e're the light illuminates the world,
    The Trojans glory flies with golden wings,
    Wings that do soar beyond fell envious flight,
    The fame of Brutus and his followers
    95Pierceth the skies, and with the skies the throne
    Of mighty Jove, Commander of the world,
    Then, worthy Brutus, leave these sad laments,
    Comfort your self with this your great renown,
    And fear not Death, though he seem terrible.
    100Brutus. Nay, Corinus, you mistake my mind,
    In construing wrong the cause of my complaints,
    I fear'd not t' yield my self to fatall death,
    God knowes it was the least of all my thoughts,
    A greater care torments my very bones,
    105And makes me tremble at the thought of it,
    And in your Lordings doth the substance lie.
    Thrasi. Most noble Lord, if ought your loyal Peers
    Accomplish may, to ease your lingring grief,
    I in the name of all protest to you,
    110That we will boldly enterprise the same,
    Were it to enter to black Tartarus,
    Where triple Cerberus with his venomous throat,
    Scareth the Ghosts with high resounding noyse,
    We'll either rent the bowels of the earth,
    115Searching the entrails of the bruitish earth,
    Or with his Ixions overdaring soon,
    Be bound in Chains of everduring Steele.
    Bru. Then hearken to your Soveraign's latest words,
    In which I will unto you all unfold,
    120Our royall mind and resolute intent.
    When golden Hebe, Daughter to great Jove,
    Cover'd my manly Cheeks with youthfull Down,
    Th'unhappy slaughter of my lucklesse Sire,
    Drove me and old Assarachus mine Eame,
    125As exiles from the bounds of Italy,
    So that perforce we were constrain'd to flye
    To Grecians Monarch, noble Pandrassus,
    There I alone did undertake your cause,
    There I restor'd your antique liberty,
    130Though Grecia frown'd, and all Molossia storm'd,
    Though brave Antigonus, with martiall band,
    In pitched field encountred me and mine,
    Though Pandrassus and his contributaries,
    With all the rout of their confederates,
    135Sought to deface our glorious memory,
    And wipe the name of Trojans from the earth:
    Him did I captivate with this mine Arme,
    And by compulsion forc't him to agree
    To certain Articles, which there we did propound.
    140From Grecia through the boisterous Hellespont,
    We came into the Fields of Lestrigon,
    Whereat our Brother Corineius was;
    Which when we passed the Cicilian gulf,
    And so transfretting the Illician sea,
    145Arrived on the coasts of Aquitain;
    Where with an Army of his barbarous Gaules
    Goffarius and his Brother Gathelus
    Encountring with our hoast, sustain'd the foile,
    And for your sakes my Turnus there I lost:
    150Turnus that slew six hundred men at Armes
    All in an hour, with his sharp Battle-Axe.
    From thence upon the stronds of Albion
    To Corus Haven happily we came,
    And quell'd the Giants, come of Albions race,
    155With Gogmagog, Son to Samotheus,
    The cursed Captain of that damned crew,
    And in that Isle at length I placed you.
    Now let me see if my laborious toyles,
    If all my care, if all my grievous wounds,
    160If all my diligence were well employ'd.
    Corin. When first I followed thee and thine (brave King)
    I hazarded my life and dearest blood,
    To purchase favour at your Princely hands,
    And for the same in dangerous attempts
    165In sundry conflicts, and in divers broyles,
    I shew'd the courage of my manly minde:
    For this I combated with Gathelus,
    The Brother to Goffarius of Gaule:
    For this I fought with furious Gogmagog,
    170A savage Captain of a savage crew:
    And for these deeds brave Cornwall I receiv'd,
    A gratefull gift given by a gracious King;
    And for this gift, this life and dearest blood,
    Will Corineius spend for Brutus good.
    175Deb. And what my friend, brave Prince, hath vow'd (to you,
    The same will Debon doe unto his end.
    Bru. Then, loyal Peers, since you are all agreed,
    And resolute to follow Brutus hoasts,
    Favour my Sons, favour those Orphans, Lords,
    180And shield them from the dangers of their foes.
    Locrine, the Columne of my Family,
    And onely Pillar of my weakned age:
    Locrine, draw near, draw near unto thy Sire,
    And take thy latest blessings at his hands;
    185And for thou art the eldest of my Sons,
    Be thou a Captain to thy Brethren,
    And imitate thy aged Fathers steps,
    Which will conduct thee to true honours gate:
    For if thou follow sacred virtues lore,
    190Thou shalt be crowned with a Lawrel branch,
    And wear a wreathe of sempiternall fame,
    Sorted amongst the glorious happy ones.
    Locrin. If Locrine do not follow your advice,
    And beare himself in all things like a Prince
    195That seeks to amplifie the great renown,
    Left unto him for an inheritance
    By those that were his Ancestours,
    Let me be flung into the Ocean,
    And swallowed in the bowels of the earth.
    200Or let the ruddy lightning of great Jove,
    Descend upon this my devolted head.
    Brutus taking Guendoline by the hand.
    Bru. But for I see you all to be in doubt,
    Who shall be matched with our Royal Son,
    205Locrine, receive this present at my hand:
    A gift more rich then are the wealthy Mines
    Found in the Bowels of America.
    Thou shalt be spoused to fair Guendoline:
    Love her, and take her, for she is thine own,
    210If so thy Unckle and her self do please.
    Corin. And herein how your Highnesse honours me,
    It cannot now be in my speech exprest:
    For carefull Parents glory not so much
    At their honour and promotion,
    215As for to see the issue of their blood
    Seated in honour and prosperity.
    Guend. And far be it from my pure Maiden thoughts,
    To contradict her aged Fathers will.
    Therefore since he to whom I must obey,
    220Hath given me now unto your Royal Self,
    I will not stand aloof from off the lure,
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