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The Tragedy of Locrine (Third Folio, 1664)
1351Scena Secunda.
1352Enter Locrine, Camber, Corineius, Assarachus, Thra-
1353simachus, and the Souldiers.
1354Loc. Thus from the fury of Bellona's broiles,
1355With sound of Drumme and Trumpets melody,
1356The Britain King returns triumphantly,
1358Doe equallize the grasse in multitude,
1363For thy deceits and crafty treacheries,
1364For all thy guiles, and damned stratagems,
1367Thy trampling Coursers rul'd with foaming bits?
1369Thy valiant Captains, and thy noble Peers?
1372Or as the Ploughman with his piercing share
1373Renteth the bowels of the fertile fields,
1374And rippeth up the roots with Razors keen.
1375So Locrine with his mighty curtle-axe,
1376Hath cropped off the heads of all thy Hunnes,
1377So Locrine's Peers have daunted all thy Peeres,
1380And die for murdring valiant Albanact.
1383If the brave Nation of the Troglodites,
1384If all the Cole-black AEthiopians,
1385If all the forces of the Amazons,
1386If all the hoasts of the Barbarian lands,
1387Should dare to enter this our little world,
1388Soon should they rue their overbold attempts,
1389That after us our progeny may say,
1393For mighty Jove, the supream King of heaven,
1394That guides the concourse of the Meteors,
1395And rules the motion of the azure skie,
1396Fights alwayes for the Britains safety.
1398That draweth near to our pavillion.
1399Enter the Souldiers leading in Estrild.
1401Doth sway the Regall Scepter in his hand:
1402And thinks no chance can ever throw him down,
1404 Let him behold poor Estrild in this plight,
1405The perfect platform of a troubled wight.
1406Once was I guarded with mavortiall bands,
1407Compact with Princes of the noble blood,
1408Now am I faln into my foemens hands,
1410O life the harbour of calamaties,
1411O death the haven of all miseries,
1412I could compare my sorrows to thy woe,
1413Thou wretched queen of wretched Pergamus,
1414But that thou viewd'st thy enemies overthrow,
1415Nigh to the rock of high Caphareus,
1418The gods that pittied thy continual grief,
1419Transform'd thy corps, and with thy corps thy care,
1421For friends in trouble are but few and rare.
1422What said I few? I, few or none at all,
1423For cruel death made havock of them all.
1425To end their lives, and with their lives their woes,
1427That cruelly she gave me to my foes.
1429 To be compar'd to fortunes treacherie.
1431Cam. So may we judge by her lamenting words.
1435Locrine at one side of the stage.
1438Locrine may well bewaile his proper grief,
1439Locrine may move his own peculiar woe,
1440He being conquer'd died a speedy death,
1441And felt not long his lamentable smart,
1442I being a conquerour, live a lingring life,
1446Oh that sweet face painted with natures dye,
1450Are like to snares which wylie fowlers wrought,
1451Wherein my yielding heart is prisoner caught.
1452The golden tresses of her dainty hair
1453Which shine like Rubies glittering with the Sun,
1455That from the same no way it can be won.
1456How true is that which oft I heard declar'd,
1457One dram of joy, must have a pound of care.
1458Estr. Hard is their fall, who from a golden Crown
1460Loc. Hard is their thrall, who by Cupid's frown
1464Let him go into his chair.
1466I found this Lady, and to manifest
1467That earnest zeal I bear unto your Grace,
1474Or with my sword I'le pierce thy cowards loins.
1478Take them hence Jaylor to the dungeon,
1479There let them lie and trie their quarrel out.
1481 But rather joy that Locrine favours thee.
1483Loc. The chance of war (my love) took him from thee.
1487Estr. But he was link'd to me in marriage bond,
1488And would you have me love his slaughterer?
1489Loc. Better to live, then not to live at all.
1492What would the common sort report of me,
1493If I forget my love, and cleave to thee?
1497Estr. No, but to be a Strumpet to a King.
1498Loc. If thou wilt yield to Locrine's burning love,
1499Thou shalt be Queen of fair Albania.
1503And by the gods, whom thou do'st invocate,
1505By thy right hand, and by thy burning love,
1506 Take pitty on poor Estrilds wretched thrall.
1507Cori. Hath Locrine then forgot his Guendoline,
1508That thus he courts the Scythians paramour?
1511Have I bin faithfull to thy Sire now dead,
1512Have I protected thee from Humber's hands,
1513And do'st thou quit me with ungratitude?
1514Is this the guerdon for my grievous wounds,
1515Is this the honour for my labours past?
1517This injury of thine shall be repaid.
1519As if we stood for cyphers in the Court?
1522What you have done for our deceased Sire,
1523We know, and all know, you have your reward.
1527Cam. Pardon my brother, noble Corineus,
1528Pardon this once, and it shall be amended.
1532Which is not yet passed all remedy.
1536Bloud and revenge shall light upon thy head.
1537Come, let us back to stately Troynovant,
1539 Locrine to himself.
1540Millions of devils wait upon thy soul.
1543Let every thing that hath the use of breath,