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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    82
    1The Tragedy of LOCRINE, the eldest
    Son of King BRUTUS.
    Actus Primus. Scena Prima.
    Enter Atey with Thunder and Lightning, all in black,
    5with a burning Torch in one hand, and a bloudie
    Sword in the other hand; and presently let there come
    forth a Lion running after a Bear or any other
    beast, then come forth an Archer, who must
    kill the Lion in a dumb show, and then depart. Re-
    10 main Atey.
    Atey.

    In poenam sectatur & Vmbra.

    A mighty Lion, ruler of the woods,
    Of wondrous strength and great proportion,
    15With hideous noise scaring the trembling
    trees,
    With yelling clamours shaking all the earth,
    Traverst the groves, and chac't the wandring beasts:
    Long did he range among the shadie trees,
    20And drave the silly beasts before his face;
    When suddenly from out a-thorny bush
    A dreadfull Archer with his bow ybent,
    Wounded the Lion with a dismal shaft,
    So he him strook, that it drew forth the bloud,
    25And fill'd his furious heart with fretting ire;
    But all in vain he threatneth teeth and pawes,
    And sparkleth fire from forth his flaming eyes,
    For the sharp shaft gave him a mortal wound:
    So valiant Brute, the terrour of the world,
    30Whose only looks did scare his enemies,
    The Archer Death brought to his latest end.
    Oh what may long abide above this ground,
    In state of bliss and healthfull happiness!Exit.
    Scena Secunda.
    35Enter Brutus carried in a chair, Locrine, Camber, Al-
    banact, Corineius, Guendelin, Assaracus, Debon,
    Thrasimachus.

    Brutus. Most loyal Lords, and faithfull followers,
    That have with me, unworthy General,
    40Passed the greedy gulf of th'Ocean,
    Leaving the confines of fair Italie,
    Behold, your Brutus draweth nigh his end,
    And I must leave you, though against my will;
    My sinews shrunk, my numbred senses fail,
    45A chilling cold possesseth all my bones,
    Black ugly death with visage pale and wan,
    Presents himself before my dazeled eyes,
    And with his dart prepared is to strike:
    These armes, my Lords, these never daunted armes,
    50That oft have quell'd the courage of my foes,
    And eke dismay'd my neighbour's arrogance,
    Now yield to death, o'relaid with crooked age,
    Devoid of strength and of their proper force;
    Even as the lusty Cedar worn with yeares,
    55That far abroad her dainty odour throws,
    'Mongst all the daughters of proud Lebanon,
    This heart, my Lords, this ne're appalled heart,
    That was a terror to the bordring lands,
    A dolefull scourge unto my neighbour Kings,
    60Now by the weapons of unpartial death,
    Is clove asunder and bereft of life;
    As when the sacred oak with thunderbolts,
    Sent from the fierie circuit of the heavens,
    Sliding along the aires celestial vaults,
    65Is rent and cloven to the very roots.
    In vain therefore I struggle with this foe,
    Then welcome death, since God will have it so.
    Assar. Alas my Lord, we sorrow at your case,
    And grieve to see your person vexed thus;
    70But whatsoe're the fates determin'd have,
    It lieth not in us to disanull,
    And he that would annihilate his mind,
    Soaring with Icarus too near the Sun,
    May catch a fall with young Bellerophon:
    75For when the fatal sisters have decreed
    To separate us from this earthly mould,
    No mortal force can countermand their minds:
    Then, worthy Lord, since there's no way but one,
    Cease your laments, and leave your grievous moan.
    80Corin. Your Highness knows how many victories,
    How many Trophees I erected have
    Triumphantly in every place we came;
    The Grecian Monarch, warlike Pandrassus,
    And all the crew of the Molossians:
    85Goffarius the arme-strong King of Gaules,
    Have felt the force of our victorious armes,
    And to their cost beheld our Chivalrie,
    Where ere Ancora handmaid of the Sun,
    Where ere the Sun-bright gardiant of the day,
    Where
    [F1v]
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