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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Actus Tertius. Scena prima.
    Enter Ate as before. The dumb show. A Crocadile sit-
    ting on a rivers bank, and a little Snake stinging it.
    945Then let both of them fall into the water.
    Ate. Scelera in authorem cadunt.
    High on a bank by Nilus boystrous streams,
    Fearfully sat th'Egyptian Crocodile,
    Dreadfully grinding in her sharp long teeth,
    950The broken bowels of a silly fish,
    His back was arm'd against the dint of spear,
    With shields of brasse that shin'd like burnisht gold,
    And as he stretched forth his cruel paws,
    A subtil Adder creeping closely near,
    955Thrusting his forked sting into his claws,
    Privily shead his poison through his bones,
    Which made him swell that there his bowels burst,
    That did so much in his own greatnesse trust.
    So Humber having conquered Albanact,
    960Doth yield his glory unto Locrine's sword.
    Mark what ensues, and you may easily see,
    That all our life is but a Tragedy.Exit.