The Golden Age, with the Lives of Jupiter and Saturn GldA: M Author Thomas Heywood Supervising Editor (Modernization) Janelle Jenstad Editor (Modernization and Character Notes) Cameron Stirling Copyright Holder (Modernization) Digital Renaissance Editions Copyright Holder (XML and interface) University of Victoria Digital Renaissance Editions DRE

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 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award

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Heywood, Thomas. The Golden Age. Or the Liues of Jupiter and Saturne, with the deifying of the Heathen Gods. London: Printed for William Barrenger, 1611. DEEP 567. STC 13325. Wiggins 1637. Collier, J. Payne, ed. The Golden and Silver Ages: Two Plays. London: Printed for the Shakespeare Society, 1851. Shepherd, Richard Herne, ed. The Dramatic Works of Thomas Heywood Now First Collected with Illustrative Notes and a Memoir of the Author in Six Volumes. London: John Pearson, 1874. Bevis, N.F., ed. A Critical Edition of Callisto, or The Escapes of Jupiter. MA Dissertation. University College London, 1960. Janzen, Henry David. The Escapes of Jupiter: A Critical Edition. PhD Dissertation. Wayne State University, 1969. Gaines, Barry, and Grace Ioppolo, eds. The Collected Works of Thomas Heywood. Volume 3. Middle Plays. Oxford University Press, 2023. This edition, edited by Janelle Jenstad and Cameron Stirling.

Homer Homer

The narrator of The Golden Age, Homer introduces each act and closes out the play. He also summarizes the non-dramatized events that occur between each act, serving as the playgoer’s guide to the world of classical myth.

In the classical context, Homer was credited with writing the epic poems of the Iliad and the Odyssey, as well as the Homeric Hymns through which we know important myths about the gods, such as the story of Persephone, or the story of how Apollo took over the oracle at Delphi.

 1 Lord 1 Lord 2 Lord 2 Lord 3 Lord, sent to the Oracle 3 Lord Saturn Saturn

Saturn is the younger son of Uranus and Vesta, the younger brother of Titan, and the father of Jupiter. Because he is more popular with the people, he usurps the throne of Crete from his elder brother, with Vesta’s support. Saturn plays three distinct roles in The Golden Age: he begins as our tragic hero, before quickly becoming a tyrant, and then finally becoming a fully fledged villain in the final act.

In classical myth, Saturn (Greek equivalent: Kronos/Cronus) was the father of Jupiter and the king of the Titans. Having overthrown his own father Uranus, Saturn was in turn overthrown by his son Jupiter. Although Saturn was originally a god of the harvest, the similarity between the Greek name Cronus and the Greek word for time (chronos) resulted in Saturn becoming associated with time; thus Father Time is still frequently depicted with Saturn’s scythe.

Many Renaissance writers and artists depicted Saturn as a destructive force of time, possibly due to his association with the scythe; as a result, both Saturn the figure and Saturn the planet were associated with melancholy and various evils (Brumble 300–301).

 Vesta Vesta

Vesta is the dowager queen of Crete, the widowed wife of Uranus, the mother of Saturn and Titan, and the grandmother of Jupiter. She supports Saturn’s bid for the throne, and she comes up with the scheme to trick Saturn by presenting him with a bowl of blood and sending Jupiter away to be raised in the court of Melliseus. After this point, Vesta does not reappear in The Golden Age.

In classical myth, Vesta (Greek equivalent: Hestia) was the goddess of the hearth, the sister of Jupiter, and the daughter of Saturn. Vesta was one of the three virgin goddesses of classical myth, the other two being Diana and Minerva.

In the Renaissance, Vesta was the subject of two traditions. Some mythographers described her as the goddess of heavenly fire. However, others described her as the goddess of earthly fire, or sometimes as just the earth. According to mythographer Alexander Ross, when people referred to Vesta as the earth, she was called the mother of Saturn, but when she was referred to as the earth’s fire, she was his daughter (Brumble 347).

 Sibylla Sibylla

Sibylla is the wife of Saturn and the mother of Jupiter. She aids in Vesta’s scheme to save Jupiter’s life, and is later the one who confesses to Saturn that Jupiter is alive.

In the classical context, the term sibyl referred to various oracles and prophetesses throughout antiquity in both Greece and Italy, such as the sibyl at Cumae.

Many Renaissance sources seem to have thought of the sibyls as pagan versions of Old Testament prophets, and several writers and artists suggest that the sibyls gave prophecies of the birth of Christ (Brumble 310).

 Titan Titan

Titan is the elder son of Uranus and Vesta, and the elder brother of Saturn. When Saturn takes the throne from him, Titan is upset and declares he will give up his title only if Saturn agrees to kill any sons he might have. Later, when Titan learns that Jupiter lives, he assumes that Saturn has preserved the child on purpose and invades Crete.

In classical myth, titan was a title bestowed upon Saturn and his siblings by their father Uranus after they deposed him; the word roughly means stretchers, in reference to how they stretched beyond their means to seek power. The term eventually came to be applied to various gods who existed prior to Jupiter’s rule.

 Lycaon Lycaon

Lycaon, Titan’s son, is the king of Pelagia and the father of Callisto. He is the one who suggests to Titan that Saturn not be allowed to have heirs. Later, when Jupiter arrives to end a war between Pelagia and Epyre, Lycaon kills the lord of Epyre he was given as a hostage, attempting to serve his remains to Jupiter and his lords in a stew; for this crime, Jupiter overthrows Lycaon. Later, Lycaon joins his brothers to aid his father in invading Crete.

In classical myth, Lycaon was a mortal king of Pelagia who, wishing to test whether Jupiter was truly omniscient, killed one of his own sons, put his remains in a stew, and served it to Jupiter to see if he would notice. Immediately recognizing what Lycaon had done, Jupiter turned Lycaon into a wolf as punishment.

 Clown Clown

The Clown’s main role in The Golden Age is to provide aid to the royal family of Crete; he first delivers the infant Jupiter to Melliseus’ court in secret, then later confirms the adult Jupiter’s true parentage, and finally aids Jupiter’s quest to seduce Danae by distracting the beldams. On his first appearance, he summons the Nurse to Sibylla’s lying-in chamber and volunteers an ecomiastic list of Saturn’s god-like innovations and achievements.

There is no classical equivalent for the Clown. He is firmly in the native English dramatic tradition.

 Nurse Nurse

The nurse delivers Jupiter as a baby. She was with Sibylla and Vesta when they attempted to kill Jupiter, and later aided the two in faking Jupiter’s murder. The nurse is introduced at the same time as the clown.

While there are nurses in classical myth, the nurse in The Golden Age does not have any specific classical equivalent. The character has more in common with comparable figures in English drama.

 Jupiter (Jove) Jupiter

Also called Jove in the text, Jupiter is the main character of The Golden Age after . He is the son of Saturn and Sibylla, but is raised in Epyre by Melliseus. Jupiter is shown to be a skilled fighter in his conquering of Pelagia, as well as his defeats of Titan, Enceladus, and Saturn. Jupiter is also characterized as a predatory womanizer: he rapes Callisto, marries his sister Juno, seduces Danae, and is said by his brothers to have lain with many more women besides. In , Jupiter is appointed by the Fates to preside over Olympus as the god of the heavens.

In classical myth, Jupiter (Greek equivalent: Zeus) is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky, storms, lightning, hospitality, and justice. With his lightning bolts, Jupiter overthrew his father Saturn. Taking all sources into account, Jupiter is the father of over 100 children in classical myth, only three of whom are by his wife Juno.

In Renaissance tradition, Jupiter’s status as the chief god of the classical pantheon led him to be heavily associated with the Christian God, and he was therefore associated in allegories of Nature with a higher, purer form of air and light. Because of these two associations, Jupiter was generally regarded as a more orderly god like Apollo or Minerva, who could stand against gods of the passions like Venus (Brumble 192–193).

 Callisto Callisto

Callisto is the daughter of Lycaon. When Jupiter falls in love with her beauty, Callisto flees and takes refuge with Diana’s huntresses. Jupiter dresses as a woman to pursue Callisto and forces himself upon her. Exiled from Diana’s circle, Callisto gives birth to Archas, who repeatedly tries to kill her until she leaves him in Jupiter’s care. Callisto then departs the stage and does not return.

In classical myth, Callisto was one of Diana’s most loyal huntresses. Jupiter took on Diana’s form to trick and rape Callisto, who became pregnant. When Callisto’s pregnancy was discovered by Diana, she was exiled from Diana’s company, whereupon Callisto was transformed into a bear. Later, when Callisto’s son encountered his mother, he did not recognize her and prepared to kill what he thought was an ordinary bear. To prevent this tragedy, Jupiter turned Callisto into the constellation Ursa Major.

Most Renaissance philosophy and interpretations of the story of Callisto viewed her as an allegory for the bestializing effect of lust (as she transformed into a bear upon losing her virginity, even though she was the victim rather than the lustful perpetrator), and as a warning about the importance of taking action to protect one’s (female) virginity (Brumble 62–63).

 Six Satyrs Satyr Satyrs

The satyrs in The Golden Age are followers of Diana, and join her company in both song and the hunt.

In classical myth, satyrs were minor gods of (male) fertility, and were primarily associated with the wine god Bacchus. Satyrs were also frequently responsible for acts of rape.

 Nymphs Nymphs

The nymphs are followers of Diana, and seem to be members of her company. They join the satyrs in song.

In classical myth, nymphs were minor goddesses of natural features, such as trees, streams, and mountains. They were frequently pursued by lustful male deities.

 Diana Diana

Diana is the goddess of viginity with whom Callisto seeks refuge. She leads a group of young virgin women, all of whom have sworn oaths of chastity. With little effort, Jupiter tricks Diana into believing that he is a woman.

In classical myth, Diana (Greek equivalent: Artemis) was the daughter of Jupiter. She was the goddess of hunting, the wilderness, and virginity. Diana was responsible for watching over girls before they were married, and she was accompanied by a number of nymphs and mortal maidens who had sworn to remain virgins forever. Diana was one of three virgin goddesses in classical myth, the other two being Vesta and Minerva.

 Atlanta Atlanta

Atlanta is one of Diana’s huntresses, and appears to be the lead huntress.

In classical myth, Atalanta (the classical spelling for Atlanta) was one of the few female heroes. Although she was associated with Diana, she was not actually a member of Diana’s train. Atalanta was raised by a mother bear, slew the Calydonian boar, and joined Jason’s argonauts in the Argonautica. Atalanta eventually married the hero Hippomenes.

 Aegeon Aegeon

Aegeon is one of Titan’s sons, who aids in his invasion of Crete.

He does not have a counterpart in classical myth.

 Enceladus Enceladus

The eldest son of Titan, Enceladus aids his father in his invasion of Crete.

In classical myth, Enceladus was one of the Gigantes, a group of giants spawned by Terra in an attempt to overthrow the Olympians. Enceladus was killed by Minerva and Hercules.

 Juno Juno

Juno is the daughter of Saturn and Sibylla. Saturn thinks she is his only living child. She is also the sister of Jupiter, and marries him. Juno becomes jealous when Jupiter mentions other women.

In classical myth, Juno (Greek equivalent: Hera) was the sister and wife of Jupiter, therefore making her queen of the gods. She was the goddess of marriage and adult women. Juno appeared in myth primarily to take revenge on Jupiter’s lovers and children.

 Melliseus Melliseus

Melliseus is the king of Epyre and foster-father of Jupiter.

In classical myth, Melliseus was the father of the nymphs who nursed Jupiter as an infant. The name roughly means bee man.

 Arcas Arcas

Arcas is the son of Jupiter and Callisto. When Callisto leaves Arcas with Jupiter, Jupiter gives Arcas the kingdom of Pelagia and renames it Arcadia in his honour.

In classical myth, Arcas was the son of Jupiter and Callisto. He was born after Callisto was turned into a bear, and raised by the people of Arcadia, where Arcas became the first king. In some versions of the story, Arcas was transformed into the constellation Ursa Minor alongside his mother.

 Neptune Neptune

Neptune is the son of Saturn and Sybilla. He is the younger brother of Jupiter, and the elder brother of Pluto. Neptune was sent away as an infant by Vesta, Sybilla, and the nurse, and secretly raised in Athens where he became king and taught the people how to sail. Upon learning of his true parentage, Neptune brings his army to Crete to aid Jupiter against Saturn’s invasion. In , the Fates appoint Neptune to be the god of the seas.

In classical myth, Neptune (Greek equivalent: Poseidon) was the god of the sea and earthquakes. He was the elder brother of Jupiter; Neptune complains in the Iliad about the fact that his younger brother can tell him what to do. Neptune was also associated with horses, which he is said to have created from sea foam. Neptune and Minerva competed to be the patron god of Athens. Minerva won, and the city was named after her (Minerva’s Greek equvalent is Athena).

 Pluto Pluto

Pluto is the youngest son of Saturn and Sybilla, and the younger brother of Jupiter and Neptune. Like his brothers, Pluto was sent away from Crete in his infancy by Vesta, Sybilla, and the nurse. Pluto established a kingdom of raiders in lower Tartary and gathered great wealth. Upon learning of his true parentage, Pluto brought his army to Crete to aid Jupiter against Saturn. In , the Fates appoint Pluto to preside over Hell as the god of the dead.

In classical myth, Pluto (Greek equivalent: Hades) was the eldest son of Saturn and the elder brother of Neptune and Jupiter. He was the god of the dead and presided as king over the Underworld. While Pluto accepted all deceased mortals into his realm, he was best known for devising eternal punishments for wicked mortals, such as having Sisyphus roll a bolder uphill for all eternity. Pluto was the husband of Proserpine, to whom he generally remained faithful. Because the Underworld was located under the earth, all of the riches that could be found under the earth were considered part of Pluto’s domain; thus he was also a god of wealth.

 1 Beldam 1 Beldam

The four beldams were tasked by King Acrisius to guard Danae’s tower against any intruders. Due to the cunning of the clown, the beldams failed in their task.

 2 Beldam 2 Beldam 3 Beldam 3 Beldam 4 Beldam 4 Beldam Acrisius Acrisius

Acrisius is the king of Argos, and the father of Danae. Having received a prophecy that he will be killed by his grandson, Acrisius constructs a bronze tower in which to imprison Danae, so that she will not encounter any men and therefore will not have any children. After Jupiter sneaks into the tower and impregnates Danae, Acrisius has Danae and her infant son placed on a mastless boat and sent out to sea; he also condemns the beldams to be burned alive.

In classical myth, Acrisius was a former king of Argos. He was the father of Danae, and the grandfather of the hero Perseus. When Acrisius received a prophecy from the oracle that he would be killed by his grandson, he locked his daughter away in a tower. When Danae inevitably bore Jupiter’s son despite her imprisonment, Acrisius had both her and the infant locked in a box and thrown into the sea. Many years later, while Acrisus was secretly watching a sporting event in which Perseus was participating, a discus thrown by Perseus veered off course and accidentally hit Acrisius in the head, killing him.

 Danae Danae

Danae is the daughter of Acrisius. She is locked in a tower by her father in order to thwart a prophecy. Entranced by stories of Danae’s beauty, Jupiter sneaks into her tower to woo her. Danae resists Jupiter’s advances at first, but eventually falls for him, and expresses sadness when Jupiter leaves the next morning. When Acrisius discovers that Danae has had a child, he puts her and her son on a mastless boat, which eventually winds up on the shores of Naples. The king of Naples then makes Danae his queen.

In classical myth, Danae was the mother of Perseus by Jupiter. She was locked in a tower by her father so that she would not bear him the grandson who was fated to kill him. Upon witnessing Danae’s beauty, Jupiter entered her tower in the form of a shower of gold, and made her pregnant. Upon discovering that Danae had given birth, her father locked both Danae and her son in a box, and had them thrown into the sea. Fortunately, the box floated. Danae and Perseus eventually washed up on the shores of the island of Seriphos, where they were rescued by a fisherman. Perseus embarked on his quest to slay Medusa so that Danae would not have to marry the king of Seriphos.

Because Jupiter entered Danae’s tower as a shower of gold, several Renaissance writers interpret Danae as an allegory for the corruptive power of wealth over women’s chastity. Other writers, however, compared Jupiter to the Holy Spirit, and thus compared Danae to the Virgin Mary (Brumble 93–94).

 Tros Tros

Tros is the founder and king of Troy. After Saturn has been dethroned and chased from Crete, he flees to Troy and shows King Tros his inventions. Impressed, Tros agrees to lend Saturn the aid of his army in retaking Crete, but their invasion is unsuccessful.

In classical myth, Tros was the mythological founder-king of Troy.

 Ganymede Ganymede

Ganymede is the son of King Tros and therefore a prince of Troy. He accompanies his father in the attempt to help Saturn reclaim the throne of Crete. While the invasion is unsuccessful, Ganymede continues to fight even though the army is retreating. Ganymede challenges Jupiter to a duel and loses; impressed by each other’s valour, the two instead embrace in friendship. In , Ganymede follows Jupiter to Olympus on the back of a giant eagle.

In classical myth, Ganymede was a mortal prince of Troy. One day, while Ganymede was attending to a flock of sheep, Jupiter looked down from Olympus and was struck by the young man’s beauty. Jupiter took the form of an eagle and carried Ganymede off to Olympus, where he made Ganymede immortal. Ganymede then became Jupiter’s cup-bearer.

 Argos Lord Argos Lord

A lord of Argos who informs Jupiter and company of Danae’s fate.

 Fates Fates

The Fates appear in the dumbshow at the end of to appoint Jupiter, Neptune, and Pluto their godly domains, and present them with their regalia.

In classical myth, the Fates were three immortal sisters who presided over the destinies of all mortals. Their main function was to decide when a mortal would die, which was symbolized when they cut a thread that represented the mortal’s lifespan. In the Theogony, the Fates are said to be the daughters of Nyx, the personification of night. However, later sources call them the daughters of Jupiter.

 Aeolus Aeolus

Aeouls appears in the dumbshow at the end of , where the Fates present him with the winds, over which he will preside.

In classical myth, Aeolus was a mortal king of the floating island of Aeolia, where he controlled the winds. In the Odyssey, Aeolus presents Odysseus with a bag that contains all the storm winds, so that no storm will prevent Odysseus from making it home. However, when Odysseus’s men open the bag and the ship is blown back to Aeolia, Aeolus considers this accident to be an omen from the gods and refuses to help Odysseus a second time.

 The Four Winds Hyperion

A non-speaking character. Enceladus addresses Hyperion in .

In classical myth, Hyperion was one of the twelve Titans. He was the son of Uranus and Terra, and the brother of Saturn.

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Brett Greatley-Hirsch is Professor of Renaissance Literature and Textual Studies at the University of Leeds. He is a coordinating editor of Digital Renaissance Editions, co-editor of the Routledge journal Shakespeare, and a Trustee of the British Shakespeare Association. He is the author (with Hugh Craig) of Style, Computers, and Early Modern Drama: Beyond Authorship (Cambridge, 2017), which brings together his interests in early modern drama, computational stylistics, and literary history. His current projects include editions of Hyde Park for the Oxford Shirley (with Mark Houlahan) and Fair Em for DRE, a history of the editing and publishing of Renaissance drama from the eighteenth century to the present day, and several computational studies of early modern dramatic authorship and genre. For more details, see notwithoutmustard.net.

 Navarra Houldin Navarra Houldin

Training and Documentation Lead 2025–present. LEMDO project manager 2022–2025. Textual remediator 2021–present. Navarra Houldin (they/them) completed their BA with a major in history and minor in Spanish at the University of Victoria in 2022. Their primary research was on gender and sexuality in early modern Europe and Latin America. They are continuing their education through an MA program in Gender and Social Justice Studies at the University of Alberta where they will specialize in Digital Humanities.

 Janelle Jenstad Janelle Jenstad

Janelle Jenstad is a Professor of English at the University of Victoria, Director of The Map of Early Modern London, and Director of Linked Early Modern Drama Online. With Jennifer Roberts-Smith and Mark Beatrice Kaethler, she co-edited Shakespeare’s Language in Digital Media: Old Words, New Tools (Routledge). She has edited John Stow’s A Survey of London (1598 text) for MoEML and is currently editing The Merchant of Venice (with Stephen Wittek) and Heywood’s 2 If You Know Not Me You Know Nobody for DRE. Her articles have appeared in Digital Humanities Quarterly, Elizabethan Theatre, Early Modern Literary Studies, Shakespeare Bulletin, Renaissance and Reformation, and The Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies. She contributed chapters to Approaches to Teaching Othello (MLA); Teaching Early Modern Literature from the Archives (MLA); Institutional Culture in Early Modern England (Brill); Shakespeare, Language, and the Stage (Arden); Performing Maternity in Early Modern England (Ashgate); New Directions in the Geohumanities (Routledge); Early Modern Studies and the Digital Turn (Iter); Placing Names: Enriching and Integrating Gazetteers (Indiana); Making Things and Drawing Boundaries (Minnesota); Rethinking Shakespeare Source Study: Audiences, Authors, and Digital Technologies (Routledge); and Civic Performance: Pageantry and Entertainments in Early Modern London (Routledge). For more details, see janellejenstad.com.

 James D. Mardock James Mardock

James Mardock is Associate Professor of English at the University of Nevada, Associate General Editor for the Internet Shakespeare Editions, and a dramaturge for the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and Reno Little Theater. In addition to editing quarto and folio Henry V for the ISE, he has published essays on Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, and other Renaissance literature in The Seventeenth Century, Ben Jonson Journal, Borrowers and Lenders, and contributed to the collections Representing the Plague in Early Modern England (Routledge 2010) and Shakespeare Beyond Doubt (Cambridge 2013). His book Our Scene is London (Routledge 2008) examines Jonson’s representation of urban space as an element in his strategy of self-definition. With Kathryn McPherson, he edited Stages of Engagement (Duquesne 2013), a collection of essays on drama in post-Reformation England, and he is currently at work on a monograph on Calvinism and metatheatrical awareness in early modern English drama.

 Sarah Neville Sarah Neville

Sarah Neville is an associate professor of English and Theatre, Film and Media Arts at the Ohio State University. She specializes in early modern English literature, bibliography, theories of textuality and Shakespeare in performance, chiefly examining the ways that authority is negotiated in print, digital and live media. She is an assistant editor of the New Oxford Shakespeare (2016-17), for which she edited five plays in both old and modern-spelling editions, as well as an associate coordinating editor of the Digital Renaissance Editions. She regularly publishes on textual theory, digital humanities, pedagogy, and scholarly editing. Neville’s book, Early Modern Herbals and the Book Trade: English Stationers and the Commodification of Botany (Cambridge, 2022), demonstrates the ways that printers and booksellers of herbals enabled the construction of scientific and medical authority in early modern England. A theatre director and film artist who is a great believer in experiential learning, Neville is the founder and creative director of Ohio State’s Lord Denney’s Players, an academic theatre company that enables students to see how technologies of textual transmission have shaped the reception of Shakespeare’s plays.

 Cameron Stirling Cameron Stirling

Cameron Stirling is an English Honours student at the University of Victoria and the holder of a 2024–2025 Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award.

 Thomas Heywood Thomas Heywood Brumble, H. David. Classical Myths and Legends in the Middle Ages and Renaissance: A Dictionary of Allegorical Meanings. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1998. OED: The Oxford English Dictionary. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. LEMDO Team The LEMDO Team is based at the University of Victoria and normally comprises the project director, the lead developer, project manager, junior developers(s), remediators, encoders, and remediating editors. University of Victoria https://www.uvic.ca/ Digital Renaissance Editions DRE

Anthology Leads and Co-Coordinating Editors: Brett Greatley-Hirsch, Janelle Jenstad, James Mardock, and Sarah Neville.

 1.1 Actus I. Scaena I. 1.2 of Crete 1 Lord 2. Lord. makes make styled stil’d Aside Exeunt Exeunt omnes. 1.3 1.4 crares craers crayers rigour.—Is rigor. Is succeed. / Maugre the envious gods, the brat succeed. Maugre the envious gods the brat succeed, / Maugre the envious Gods, the brat succeed, / Maugre the envious gods. The brat Make me, O heavens, make me oh Heavens, Make me, oh, heavens! Make me, oh, heavens, inhumane inhuman 1.5 2.1 Actus secundi, Scoena prima. 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 (Aside) (aside, [Aside. Collier moves the stage direction to the end of . (That’s … proceed. That’s more then I can promise (well proceed) That’s more than I can promise.—Well, proceed. (Aside) That’s more than I can promise. (To them) Well, proceed. 2.6 3.1 Act. 3. Scoene 1. 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 wrapped rapt 3.6 Arcas my son, / My young son … firstborn. Arcas … firstborn Set on one compositorial line perjurous perjurious 3.7 3.8 3.9 Jupiter kills Enceladus. Jupiter kills Enceladus, and enters with victory, Jupiter kills Enceladus, and enters with victory. Jupiter kills Enceladus and exits with victory, carrying Enceladus’ body. Exit Jupiter with the body of Enceladus. Jupiter kills Enceladus and exits with victory, carrying Enceladus’ body. 3.10 Jupiter enters in victory, with Saturn, and enters with victory, Iupiter, Saturne, and enters with victory. Jupiter, Saturn, Enter Jupiter again, Saturn, 4.1 Actus. 4. Scoena. 1. Homer 4.2 father, double tyrannous father double tyrannous, father, double tyrannous, (Aside) transhapes trans-shapes (To all) growing going beldams Beldams Unsensible Insensible 4.3 alarm ’larm ’larum portcullised percullist palate? All palate, all palate all favours, / Unvirginlike, favours / Un-virginlike, favours / Unvirginlike luck’s luck all in all-in Now, gold, Now gold Here’s first for you, for you, for you, for you. Here’s first for you, for you, for, for you, for you. Exit 2, 3, and 4 Beldam. three their —Sweet, your ear. (sweete your eare. 4.4 (With … buy (With any saue Danae.) Let me buy —With any save Danae?— Let me buy (Aside) With any save Danae. (To Danae) Let me buy 4.6 4.7 4.6 Enter the Clown 5.2 Arcas guard guard, The comma splits the main verb (guard from its object confines. Trojans Troians 5.3 1.1 The 1611 quarto is divided into acts. Gaines was the first scholar to divide the play into scenes. See Textual Introduction for a discussion of scene divisions in this edition. crares small boats Gaines emends to crayers but the one-syllable crares fits the meter better. The examples in the OED show that both crayer and crare were early modern spellings (OED crayer|crare noun). Aside This aside is marked in Q1 after Diana’s What can you do?. Collier places it in the margin after To bright Diana and her train I’ll stand, perhaps suggesting that this line, with its sexual pun on stand, as well as More than the best here can are spoken as asides. Gaines places the aside before That’s more than I can promise and indicates that Well, proceed and subsequent lines are spoken To them (Gaines 2.6.113). (That’s … proceed. The compositor has wrongly put parentheses around the part of the line that is spoken to Atlanta. Collier and Gaines recognize the error and correct it in their respective ways. Jupiter alone his life defended Jupiter merely defended his own life his Saturn’s He … force Jupiter is the subject here his father Jupiter’s father (i.e., Saturn); Jupiter drove his father from Crete leaving him ceasing to speak of him (i.e., Saturn) father, double tyrannous double tyrannous / To prosecute the virtues of his son is a subordinate clause modifying our unkind father. I have followed Collier’s punctuation instead of Gaines’. fost’ress foster parent jennet horse Specifically a small Spanish horse (OED n.1) riched enriched yet Possibly a compositorial misreading of yt (a common abbreeviation for that) in the manuscript. Both Collier and Gaines retain Q1’s yet. Nay, … lords This dialogic stage direction indicates that Pluto and Neptune have not taken Arcas’s hands. She … strumpet Gaines marks this line as an aside. One might experiment in performance with this moment of strife between Juno and Jupiter. Jupiter hears Juno’s denigration of Callisto. Does Juno hear Jupiter’s resolve woo and win all the beauteous maids on earth? What is happening on stage during this lengthy aside? It was … star The quarto sets each of these three half lines on their own compositorial lines. I have tagged the second and third as a shared verse line, because of the isocolon on She was/shall be a. One might experiment in performance with the rapidity of responses. Does Juno make a speedy rejoinder to Jupiter’s It was before your time? Does she take a moment to formulate her response? snaffle in bridle snaffle is a transitive verb meaning to put a bit on a horse. See OED v1 1. transhapes changes of shape, metamorphoses; see OED trans-shape | transhape, where all three examples come from Heywood. Heywood appears to be the only early modern writer to use transhape as a noun. In addition to OED’s examples from The Golden Age, The Silver Age, and Love’s Mistress, Heywood uses the term as a noun in Gynaikeion. He also accounts for more than half of the uses of transhape as a verb in the EEBO-TCP corpus up to 1640. Transhape is a more common spelling than trans-shape. Argos king king of Argos mure wall novel piece of news (Gaines). beldams an aged woman (OED n.2). Unlike Gaines, we treat this term as a generic noun rather than a proper name. Unsensible of Incapable of being affected by (Gaines). obdur’s obdurate is (i.e., is stubborn) That fort … fail Gaines marks these two lines as an aside. We … behold Gaines marks this concluding couplet as an aside. tow flax. barricadoed barricaded pleasure … All Collier offers a plausible alternative punctuation of this passage. He puts a question mark after pleasure and treats For thy taste and curious palate as the dependent opening clause of All the chiefest cates / Are Fetched to content thee. durance forced confinement record remember, take to heart (Gaines). child give birth to obdur obdurate gem virginity (metaphoric) off Go off, discharge (Gaines). The Clown, punning on the double meaning of charge (responsibility; munition), continues the verbal play with fire and off. sooth to support, or back up, (a person) in a statement or assertion (OED verb 3). The OED cites this line from The Golden Age as an example of this now-obsolete meaning. Gaines unnecessarily emends the spelling to soothe. Now, gold, Jupiter apostrophizes (speaks to) the gold Gaines marks this speech as an aside. 1 Beldam Q, Collier, and Gaines all assign both and to 1 Beldam. However, one of the two speeches might be assigned to another beldam. The speaker of orders one of the other beldams to Keep the peddler company while she shows the peddler’s gift to Danae; the speaker of orders you that have the best legs to run to Danae. Assigning both speeches to the same speaker may open up comic possibilities, with 1 Beldam feigning lameness and staying behind when she recognizes that the peddler has more presents. that that which Exit 2, 3, and 4 Beldam. This edition adds an exit for three of the beldams, on the grounds that each beldam is given one jewel and the subsequent original stage direction has Danae looking upon three several jewels. 1 Beldam remains behind. —Sweet, your ear. The compositor of Q used italics and an opening parenthesis to signal the aside here. 4.6 This edition adds a scene break here. The Q1 stage direction reads The bed is drawne in, and enter the Clowne new wak’t. Both Collier and Gaines split this two-part paratactic stage direction into its two component parts and drop the and. Collier does not provide scene divisions; even though Gaines does provide scene divisions, he does not add one here, even though the stage is technically cleared. Jove … way I follow Gaines in assigning this line to Arcas, on the grounds that it seems unlikely that Jupiter would invoke Jove (i.e., himself) to guide us in our way (Gaines 77n). Trojans Q1’s Troians could equally well be modernized as Troyans, a more common early modern name for the inhabitants of Troy, from whom Londoners imagined themselves to be descended. 5.3 Gaines does not begin a new scene here. I do, on the grounds that this scene is one of the rest and regroup scenes so common in early modern battle sequences. a on
1.1 Enter old Homer Homer The gods of Greece, whose deities I raised Out of the earth, gave them divinity, The attributes of sacrifice and prayer Have given old Homer leave to view the world And make his own presentment. I am he That by my pen gave heaven to Jupiter, Made Neptune’s trident calm the curlèd waves, Gave Aeolus lordship o’er the warring winds, Created black-haired Pluto King of Ghosts And regent o’er the kingdoms fixed below. By me Mars wars, and fluent Mercury Speaks from my tongue. I placed divine Apollo Within the Sun’s bright chariot. I made Venus Goddess of love, and to her winged son Gave several arrows, tipped with gold and lead. What hath not Homer done to make his name Live to eternity? I was the man That flourished in the world’s first infancy. When it was young, and knew not how to speak, I taught it speech, and understanding both Even in the cradle. Oh, then suffer me, You that are in the world’s decrepit age When it is near his universal grave, To sing an old song, and in this Iron Age Show you the state of the first golden world. I was the muses’ patron, learning’s spring, And you shall once more hear blind Homer sing. Exit.
1.2 Enter two lords of Crete. 1 Lord The old Uranus, son of the Air and Day, Is dead, and left behind him two brave sons, Titan and Saturn. 2 Lord Titan is the eldest, And should succeed by the true right of birth. 1 Lord But Saturn hath the hearts of all the people, The kingdom’s high applause, his mother’s love. The least of these are steps unto a crown. 2 Lord But how will Titan bear him in these troubles, Being by nature proud and insolent, To see the younger seated in his throne, And he to whom the true right appertains, By birth, and law of nations quite cast off? 1 Lord That either power or steel must arbitrate. Causes best friended have the best event. Here Saturn comes. Enter Saturn and Vesta with other attendants Saturn Behold! What nature scanted me in years And time below my brother, your applause And general love fully supplies me with, And makes me to his crown inheritable. I choose it as my right by gift of heaven, The people’s suffrage, the dead king’s bequest, And your election, our fair mother queen. Against all these, what can twelve moons of time Prevail with Titan to disherit us? Vesta The Cretan people, with shrill acclamations Pronounce thee sovereign o’er their lands and lives. Let Titan storm, and threaten strange revenge. We are resolved thy honour to maintain. 1 Lord Titan thy ruin shall attempt in vain. Our hearts adhere with Vesta’s, our late queen, According to our sovereign’s late bequest, To kneel to Saturn. Saturn We accept your loves, And we will strive by merit to exceed you In just requital of these favours done. A noise of tumult within Vesta Arm, Lords, I hear the voice Of Titan storming at this strange election. Enter Titan, Lycaon, and others Titan Descend, proud upstart, tricked up in stolen weeds Decked in usurped state and borrowed honours. Resign them to their owner, that’s to me. Saturn Titan, keep off. I charge thee near me not, Lest I thy bold presumption seal with blood. Titan A crown’s worth tugging for, and I will ha’t Though in pursuit I dare my ominous fate. Lycaon Down with the usurper! Vesta Saturn here shall stand, Immovable, upheld by Vesta’s hand. Titan Am I not eldest? Vesta Ay but young’st in brain. Saturn the crown hath seized, and he shall reign. Titan Am I a bastard, that my heritage Is wrested from me by a younger birth? Hath Vesta played th’adult’ress with some stranger? If I be eldest from Uranus’ loins, Your maiden issue, why am I debarred The law of nations? Am I Vesta’s son? Why doth not Vesta then appear a mother? Was younger Saturn bedded in your womb Nearer your heart than I, that he’s affected And I despised? If none of these, then grant me What justice wills, my interest in the crown, Or, if you make me outcast, if my mother Forget the love she owes, I shall abandon The duty of a son. If Saturn prove Unnatural, I’ll be no more a brother, But maugre all that have my right withstood, Revenge my wrongs, and make my way through blood. Saturn Titan, we both acknowledge thee a brother, And Vesta’s son, which we’ll express in love. But since for many virtues growing in me That have no life in you, the queen, the peers, And all the people, with loud suffrages, Have shrilled their aves high above the clouds, And styled me king, we should forget their loves Not to maintain their strange election. Advise you, therefore, since this bold adventure Is much above your strength, to arm yourself In search of future honours with our love. For what can Titan do against a people? Vesta Saturn adviseth well. List to his counsel. Titan If my own land prove thus unnatural, I’ll purchase foreign aid. 1 Lord Aside Rather compound. Saturn Let Titan make demand of any thing Saving our crown, he shall enioy it freely. Vesta Titan, your brother offers royally. Accept his love. Titan To lose a crown includes The loss of all things. What should I demand? Lycaon This grant him, Saturn, since thy insinuation Hath wrought him quite out of the Cretans’ hearts, That Titan’s warlike issue may succeed thee. Titan Lycaon, well advisèd. He during life Shall reign in peace. No interruption Shall pass from Titan to disturb his reign, So to our Giant race thou wilt assure The crown as due by right inheritance. Saturn To cut off all hostile effusion Of human blood, which by our difference Must needs be spilt upon the barren earth, We’ll swear to this accord. Titan Conditioned thus: That to deprive all future enmity In our succeeding issue, thy male children Thou in their cradle strangle. Saturn Kill my sons? Titan Or swear to this or all our warlike race, Dispersed in several kingdoms, I’ll assemble To conquer thee, and from thy ambitious head Tear that usurpèd crown. Saturn Titan, thy friendship We’ll buy with our own blood. All our male children, If we hereafter shall have any born, Shall perish in their births. To this we swear, As we are king and Saturn. Titan I the like, As I am Titan, and Uranus’ son. This league confirmed, all my allies I’ll gather Search foreign climes, in which I’ll plant my kin, Scorning a seat here where I am despised, To live a subject to a younger birth, Nor bow to that which is my own by due. Saturn, farewell. I’ll leave thee to thy state, Whil’st I in foreign kingdoms search my fate. Think on thy oath. Saturn First stay with us and feast. Titan this day shall be King Saturn’s guest. Exeunt
1.3 Enter the Clown and a Nurse Clown

There is no dallying! You must come with all speed, for Madam Sibylla is grown a great woman.

 Nurse

That is without question, for she is now a queen.

 Clown

Nay, she is greater then many queens are, for though you may think she is with ancient folks, yet I can assure you she is with child. You may imagine, being now but morning, she is new risen, yet ’tis thought that ere noon she will be brought abed. I never heard she was commited to prison, yet ’tis looked every hour when she shall be delivered. And therefore, Nurse, I was sent to you in all haste.

 Nurse

Is she so near her time?

 Clown

Yes, and yet ’tis thought she will notwithstanding hold out, because she is groaning.

 Nurse

Your reason?

 Clown

Because you know the proverb: A grunting horse, and a groaning wife never deceive their master. Say, will you make haste, Nurse?

 Nurse

What’s the best news abroad?

 Clown

The best news abroad is that the queen is likely to keep at home. And is it not strange that half an hour’s being abroad should make a woman have a month’s mind to keep in? But the worst news is that if the king have a young prince, he is tied to kill it by oath. But if his majesty went drunk to bed and got a girl, she hath leave to live till she die, and die when she can live no longer.

 Nurse That cov’nant was the most unnatural That ever father made. One lovely boy Hath felt the rigour of that strict decree, And if this second likewise be a son, There is no way but death. Clown

I can tell you more news. The king hath sent to the Oracle to know whether my lady be with child of a boy or a girl, and what their fortunes shall be. The lord that went is looked for every day to return with his answer. It is so gossiped in the queen’s chamber, I can tell you. O Nurse, we have the bravest king, if thou knewest all.

 Nurse

Why, I pray thee?

 Clown

Let his virtues speak for himself: he hath taught his people to sow, to plough, to reap corn, and to scorn acorns with their heels, to bake and to brew. We that were wont to drink nothing but water have the bravest liquor at court as passeth. Besides, he hath devised a strange engine, called a bow and arrow, that a man may hold in hand, and kill a wild beast a great way off, and never come in danger of his clutches. I’ll tell you a strange thing, Nurse: last time the king went ahunting, he killed a bear, brought him home to be baked and eaten. A gentlewoman of the court that set hungerly upon this pie had such a rumbling and roaring in her guts, that her entrails were all in a mutiny, and could not be appeased. No physic would help her. What did the king but caused an excellent mastiff to be knocked in the head and dressed, gave it to the gentlewoman, of which, when she had well eaten, the flesh of the mastiff worried the bear in her belly, and ever since her guts have left wambling. But come, come! I was sent in haste, the queen must needs speak with you.

 Exeunt
1.4 Enter Saturn with wedges of gold and silver, models of ships, and buildings, bow and arrows, etc. His lords with him. Saturn You shall no more be lodged beenath the trees, Nor chamber underneath the spreading oaks. Behold, I have devised you forms for tools To square out timber, and perform the art Of architecture, yet unknown till now. I’ll draw you forms of cities, towns, and towers, For use and strength. Behold the models here. 1 Lord Saturn’s inventions are divine, not human. A godlike spirit hath inspired his reign. Saturn See here a second art of husbandry, To till the earth, to plough, to sow, to plant, Devised by Saturn. Here is gold refined From grosser metals, silver, brass, and tin, With other minerals, extract from earth. I likewise have found out to make your brooks, Rivers, and seas by practice navigable. Behold a form to make your crares and barks To pass huge streams in safety, dangerless. 2 Lord Saturn is a god. Saturn The last, not least, this use of archery, The stringèd bow and nimble-feathered shaft. By this you may command the flying fowl, And reach her from on high. This serves for war, To strike and wound thy foe-man from afar. A loud shout within What means this acclamation? 1 Lord ’Tis thy people, Divinest Saturn, furnished with these uses, More than the gods have lent them, by thy means, Proclaim to thee a lasting deity And would have Saturn honoured as a god. Saturn We’ll study future profits for their use, And in our fresh inventions prove divine.— But gods are never touched with my suspires, Passions, and throbs. Their godlike issue thrive Whilst I, unmanlike, must destroy my babes. Oh, my strict oath to Titan, which confounds All my precedent honours. One sweet babe, My youngest Ops, hath felt the bloody knife, And perished in his swathing; and my queen Swells with another infant in her womb, Ready to taste like rigour.—Is that lord Returned from Delphos yet? 2 Lord He is. Saturn Admit him. Enter 3 LordNow what doth the Oracle Speak by the Delphian priest? 3 Lord Thus, mighty Saturn: After our ceremonious rites performed, And sacrifice ended with reverence, A murmuring thunder hurried through the temple, When fell a pleasant shower, whose silver drops. Filled all the altar with a roseate dew. In this amazement, thus the Delphian god, Spake from the incensed altar: Lord of Crete, Thus say to Saturn: Sibyll his fair wife, Is great with a young prince of noble hopes, That shall his father’s virtues much excel, Seize on his crown, and drive him down to Hell. Saturn The gods, if there be any ’bove ourself, Envy our greatness, and of one that seeks To bear himself ’bove man, makes me more wretched Than the most slavish brute. What! Shall my Sibyll Bring me a son that shall depose me then? He shall not! I will cross the deities. I’ll tomb th’usurper in his infant blood. I’ll keep my oath. Prince Titan shall succeed. Maugre the envious gods, the brat shall bleed. 1 Lord Way for the dowager queen! Enter Vesta, sad Saturn How fares our mother? How is’t with fair Sibylla, our dear queen? Vesta Your queen’s delivered. Saturn Of some female birth, You deities, I beg. Make me, O heavens, No more inhumane in the tragic slaughter Of princely infants. Fill my decreed number With virgins, though in them I lose my name And kingdom. Either make her barren ever Or else all generative power and appetite Deprive me, lest my purple sin be styled Many degrees ’bove murder. What’s her birth? Vesta She’s the sad mother of a second son. Saturn Be ever dumb, let everlasting silence Tongue-tie the world, all human voice henceforth, Turn to confused, and undistinguished found, Of barking hounds, hoarse bears, and howling wolves, To stop all rumour that may sil the world With Saturn’s tyrannies against his sons. Vesta Ah, did but Saturn see yon smiling babe, He’d give it life, and break ten thousand oaths Rather then suffer the sweet infant die, His very look would beg a quick reprieve Even of the tyrant Titan saw, the uncle, With what a graceful look the infant smiles, He’d give it life, although he purchased it with loss of a great kingdom. Saturn Then spare the lad: I did offend too much To kill the first, tell Sibyll he shall live, I’ll be no more so monstrous in my rigour, Nor with the blood of princes buy my crown. No more their cradles shall be made their tombs, Nor their soft swaths become their winding sheets: How can my subjects think I’ll spare their lives, That to my own can be so tyrannous? Tell Sibyll he shall live. Vesta Vesta will be that joyful messenger. Saturn Stay, let me first reward the Oracle, It told me Sibyll should produce a son, That should his father’s virtues much excel, Seize on my crown, and drive me down to Hell. Must I then give an infant-traitor life, To sting me to the heart? The brat shall bleed. Vesta Sweet son! 1 Lord Dear sovereign! Saturn He that next replies, Mother or friend, by Saturn’s fury dies. Away! Fetch me his heart; brim me a bowl With his warm blood. Titan, my vow I’ll keep; Life newly wakened shall as newly sleep. Vesta Worse than a brute, for brutes preserve their own. Worse than the worst of things is Saturn grown. Saturn Command the child to death. Vesta Tyrant, I will. Tigers would save whom Saturn means to kill, Exit Vesta Saturn It is my son whom I command to death, A prince that may succed me in my throne, And to posterity revive my name. Call Vesta back, and bid her save the babe. 1 Lord I’ll do’t, my lord. Saturn Yet stay! The lad to kill I save my oath, and keep my kingdom still. Post after her and charge them, on their lives, Send me the babe’s blood in a cup of gold, A present which I’ll offer to the gods. Delay not, be’t our mother, nay our wife, Forfeits her own to save the infant’s life. 1 Lord I shall inform them so. Saturn Is this a deity, To be more wretched than the worst on earth, To be deprived that comfort of my issue, Which even the basest of my land enjoy? I’ll henceforth for my rigour hate myself, Pleasures despise, and joys abandon quite. The purest blood that runs within my veins, I’ll dull with thick and troubled melancholy. I’ll war with comfort, be at odds with solace, And league with nothing but distemperature. Henceforth my unkempt locks shall knot in curls; Razor nor any edge shall kiss my cheek Until my chin appear a wilderness, And make we wild in knowledge to the world. Perpetual care shall cabin in my heart. My tyranny I’ll punish in my self, And save the gods that labour. Saturn’s disturbance to the world shall be That planet that infuseth melancholy. Exeunt
1.5 Enter Sibylla lying in child-bed, with her child lying by her, and her Nurse Sibylla Is not our mother Vesta yet returned, That made herself th’unwilling messenger To bring the king news of his newborn son? Nurse Madam, not yet. Sibylla Mother of all that ever mothers were Most wretched, kiss thy sweet babe ere he die, That hath life only lent to suffer death. Sweet lad, I would thy father saw thee smile. Thy beauty and thy pretty infancy Would mollify his heart wer’t hewed from flint, Or carved with iron tools from the corsick rock. Thou laughest to think thou must be killed in jest. Oh, if thou needs must die, I’ll be thy murdress, And kill thee with my kisses, pretty knave. And cans’t thou laugh to see thy mother weep? Or art thou in thy cheerful smiles so free In scorn of thy rude father’s tyranny? Nurse Madam, the king hath slain his firstborn son, Whom, had he seen alive, he’d not have given For ten such kingdoms as he now enjoys. The death of such a fair and hopeful child, Is full as much as Titan can demand. Sibylla He shall spare this sweet babe. I’ll ransom thee With my own life; the knife that pierceth thee Will wound thy mother’s side, and I shall feel The least sharp stroke from his offensive steel. Nurse The mother queen’s returned. Enter Vesta Sibylla How looks she Nurse? Let her not speak, but yet a little longer My hopes hold in suspense. Oh, me most wretched! I read my lord’s harsh answer in her eye. Her very looks tell me the boy must die. Say, must he? must he? kill me with that word, Which will wound deeper then King Saturn’s sword. Vesta The boy must die. Sibylla Oh! Nurse Look to the queen! She faints. Vesta Oh, let’s not lose the mother with her infant. The loss of one’s too much. Sibylla Oh. where’s my child? I’ll hide thee in my bed, my bosom, breast. The murderer shall not find my little son. Thou shalt not die! Be not afraid my boy. Go tell the king he’s mine as well as his, And I’ll not kill my part. One he hath slain, In which I had like interest; this I’ll save, And every second son keep from the grave. Enter the first lord Vesta Forbear, sir, for this place is priviledged, And only for free women. 1 Lord Yet is the king’s command ’bove your decree, And I must play th’intruder ’gainst my will. The king upon your lives hath charged you, To see that infant lad immediately Receive his death. He stays for his warm blood To offer to the gods. To think him slain, Sad partner of your sorrows I remain. Nurse Madam you hear the king doth threat our lives Let’s kill him then. Sibylla Is he inexorable? Why should not I prove as severe a mother As he a cruel father? Since the king Hath doomed him, I the queen will do’t myself. Give me the fatal engine of his wrath. I’ll play the horrid murderess for this once. I’ll kiss thee ere I kill thee. For my life, The lad so smiles, I cannot hold the knife. Vesta Then give him me. I am his grand-mother, And I will kill him gently. This sad office Belongs to me, as to the next of kin. Sibylla For heaven’s sake when you kill him, hurt him not. Vesta Come, little knave, prepare your naked throat. I have not heart to give thee many wounds. My kindness is to take thy life at once. Now! Alack, my pretty grandchild, smil’st thou still? I have lust to kiss, but have no heart to kill. Nurse You may be careless of the king’s command, But it concerns me, and I love my life More then I do a suckling’s. Give him me; I’ll make him sure. A sharp weapon lend! I’ll quickly bring the youngster to his end. Alack, my pretty knave, t’were more than sin, With a sharp knife to touch thy tender skin. Oh Madam, he’s so full of angel grace I cannot strike, he smiles so in my face. Sibylla I’ll wink and strike. Come, once more reach him hither, For die he must, so Saturn hath decreed. ’Las, for a world, I would not see him bleed. Vesta Ne shall he do! But swear me secrecy. The babe shall live, and we be dangerless, Sibylla Oh, bless me with such happiness! Vesta Attend me. The king of Epire’s daughters, two bright maids, Owe me for many favours the like love. These I dare trust. To them I’ll send this babe To be brought up, but not as Saturn’s son. Do but provide some trusty messenger. My honour for his safety. Sibylla But by what means shall we delude the king? Vesta A young kid’s heart, swimming in reeking blood, We’ll send the king, and with such forgèd grief And counterfeit sorrow shadow it, That this imposture never shall be found. Sibylla O twice my mother, you bestow upon me A double life thus to preserve my boy. Nurse Give me the child. I’ll find a messenger Shall bear him safe to Melliseus’ court. Vesta The blood and heart I’ll presently provide, T’appease the rage of Saturn. Sibylla First let’s swear, To keep this secret from King Saturn’s ear. Vesta We will, and if this plot pass undiscovered, By like device we will save all your sons. About our tasks! You some choice friend to find; I with my feignèd tears the king to blind. Exeunt
2.1 Enter Homer Homer What cannot women’s wits? They wonders can When they intend to blind the eyes of man. Oh, lend me what old Homer wants, your eyes, To see th’event of what these queens devise. A dumb show, sound. Enter the Nurse and Clown. She swears him to secrecy, and to him delivers the child and a letter to the daughters of King Melliseus; they part. Enter at one door Saturn, melancholy, with his lords; at the other, Vesta and the Nurse, who, with counterfeit passion, present the king a bleeding heart upon a knife’s point and a bowl of blood. The king departs one way in great sorrow; the ladies the other way in great joy. This passed so current that the third son born, Called Neptune, was by like device preserved, And sent to Athens, where he lived unknown, And had in time command upon the seas. Pluto the youngest was sent to Tartary, Where he in process a strange city built And called it Hell. His subjects for their rapine, Their spoils and theft, are devils term’d abroad. Thus melancholy Saturn hath surviving Three noble sons in several confines placed And yet himself thinks sonless. Pne fair daughter Hight Juno is his sole delight on earth. Think, kind spectators, seventeen summers passed, Till these be grown to years, and Jupiter Found in a cave by the great Epyre King, Where by his daughters he before was hid. Of him and of his fortunes we proceed. My journey’s long, and I my eye-sight want. Courteous spectators, lest blind Homer stray, Lend me your hands to guide me on your way.
2.2 Enter Lycaon with his lords, Jupiter with other lords of Epyre Lycaon After long war and tedious differences Betwixt King Melliseus and our self, What crave the Epyre lords? Jupiter This, King Lycaon: Since truce and hostage hath ta’en up these broils, And ended them in peaceful amity, Since all the damage by the Epyrians done Is on our part abundantly made good, We come, Lycaon, to demand the like Of thee and of thy kingdom. And for proof That all our malice is extinct and dead, We bring thy hostage back, demanding ours. Lycaon Receive him, lords. A banquet, instantly! You shall this day, brave Epyre, feast with us, And to your board your hostage shall be brought, There to receive him freely. Mean time, sit And taste the royal welcomes of our court. Jupiter Lycaon’s just in keeping these conditions So strictly with a reconcilèd foe. Lycaon But, fair prince, tell me whence you are derived. I never heard King Melliseus had A prince of your perfections. Jupiter This demand Startles my blood, being born I know not where. Yet that I am of gentry at the least, My spirit prompts me, and my noble thoughts Give me approved warrant. Being an infant, Two beauteous ladies found me in a cave, Where, from their voluntary charity, Bees fed me with their honey. For that cause, The two bright ladies called me Jupiter, And to their father Melliseus brought me, My foster-father, who hath trained my youth In feats of arms and military prowess, And, as an instance of his dearest love, Hath honoured me with this late embassy. A banquet brought in, with the limbs of a man in the service Lycaon We are satisfied. Princes, sit round and feast. You are this day Lycaon’s welcom’st guest. Jupiter This meat distasts me. Doth Lycaon feast us Like cannibals? Feed us with human flesh? Whence is this portent? Lycaon Feed Epyrians! Eat! Lycaon feasts you with no common meat. Jupiter But where’s the Epyre lord we left as hostage? Lycaon Behold him here. He’s at the table with you. This is the Epyre’s head, and these his limbs. Thinks Melliseus that Lycaon can, Descended of the valiant Titanois, Bury his hatred and entomb his spleen Without revenge? Blood in these wars was shed, And for that blood your hostage lost his head. Jupiter Bear wrong that list and those can brook it best. I was not born to suff’rance. Thoughts, mount high! A king hath wronged me, and a king shall die. Lycaon Treason! Treason! Jupiter Down with the tyrant and that hateful crew, And in their murd’rous breasts your blades imbrue. Lycaon Our guard! A confined fray, an alarm. Jupiter and the Epyrians beat off Lycaon and his followers. Jupiter Lycaon’s fled. Make good the palace gates, And to th’amazed city bear these limbs, So basely by the tyrant massacred. Haply his subjects, by our words prepared, May shake their bondage off, and make this war The happy means to rid a tyrant thence. Bear in your left hands these dismembered limbs, And in your right your swords, with which make way, Courage, brave Epyres, and a glorious day. Exeunt
2.3 Alarm. Lycaon makes head again, and is beat off by Jupiter and the Epyrians. Jupiter seizeth the room of Lycaon Jupiter Lycaon’s once more fled. We by the help Of these, his people, have confined him hence. To whom belongs this crown? 1 Lord To Jupiter. 2 Lord None shall protect our lives but Jupiter. All A Jupiter! A Jupiter! Jupiter Nay, we are far from such ambition, lords. Nor will we entertain such royalty. 1 Lord Fair prince, whom heaven hath sent by miracle, To save us from the bloodiest tyrannies That e’er were practised by a mortal prince, We tender thee our fortunes. Oh, vouchsafe To be our lord, our governor, and king, Since all thy people jointly have agreed, None of that tyrant’s issue shall succeed. All A Jupiter! A Jupiter! Jupiter We not refuse the bounty of the heavens Expressed in these your voices. We accept Your patronage, and ’gainst Lycaon’s tyrannies Henceforth protect you. But our conquest yet Is all uncertain. Second us, dear subjects, To assure our conquests. First we must provide Our safety, ere attempt the helm to guide. Exeunt
2.4 Alarm. Enter Callisto Callisto What mean these horrid and these shrill alarms That fright the peaceful court with hostile cries? Fear and amazement hurry through each chamber; Th’affrighted ladies light the darkest rooms With their bright beauties. Whence, O whence ye gods, Are all yon groans, cries, and inhumane sounds Of blood and death? Lycaon, where is he? Why in this dire and sad astonishment Appears not he to comfort my sad fears, And cheer me in this dull distemperature? Enter in a hurry with weapons drawn, Jupiter and his soldiers Jupiter The iron-barred doors and the suspected vaults, The barricaded gates, and every room That boasted of his strength is forced to obey To our free entrance. Nothing can withstand Our opposite fury. Come, let’s ransack further. But stay! What strange dejected beauty’s this That on the sudden hath surprised my heart, And made me sick with passion? Callisto Hence! Away! When we command, who dares presume to stay? Jupiter Bright lady. Callisto You afright me with your steel. Jupiter These weapons, lady, come to grace your beauty, And these my arms shall be your sanctuary From all offensive danger. Cheer your sorrow. Let your bright beauty shoot out of this cloud To search my heart, as it hath dazed my eyes. Are you a queen enthroned above the elements, Made of divine composure, or of earth, Which I can scarce believe? Callisto I am myself. Uncivil stranger, you are much too rude Into my private chamber to intrude. Go, call the king, my father. Jupiter Are you then Lycaon’s daughter? (Wonder without end, That from a fiend an angel should descend.) O love, till now I never felt thy dart. But now her painted eye hath pierced my heart. Fair, can you love? Callisto To be alone I can. Jupiter Women, fair queen, are nothing without men. You are but ciphers, empty rooms to fill, And till men’s figures come uncounted still. Shall I, sweet lady, add unto your grace, And but for number’s sake supply that place. Callisto You’re one too many. And of all the rest That bear men’s figure, we can spare you best. What are you, sir? Jupiter We are Pelasge’s king, And these our subjects. Callisto These did of late belong To King Lycaon. Oh, injurious wrong! Jupiter Oh, suit your pity with your angel-beauty, And live Pelasge’s queen. Callisto Give me a funeral garland to lament. That best becomes my wretched discontent. Jupiter The sunshine of my smiles and jocund love Shall from your brows’ bright azure elements Disperse all clouds. Behold, my crown is yours. My sword, my conquest, I am of myself Nothing without your soft compassionate love. For proof, ask what the heaven, earth, air, or sea Can yield to men by power or orison, And it is yours. Callisto Sir, I shall prove your love. Jupiter Pray use me, lady. Callisto You’ll grant it me my lord? Jupiter By all my honours, and by all the sweets I hope for in your love’s fruition, Your will’s your own. Callisto You’ll not revoke your word? Jupiter Be’t to invest whom I did late degrade, I’ll do’t for you, bright and divinest maid. Callisto This only freedom to your captive give: That I a nun and professed maid may live. Jupiter More cruel than the tyrant that begat thee! Had’st thou ask’t love, gold, service, empiry, This sword had purchased for Callisto all. Oh most unkind. In all this universe, There’s but one jewel that I value high, And that, unkind, you will not let me buy. To live a maid, what is’t? ’Tis to live nothing/ ’Tis like a covetous man to hoard up treasure, Barred from your own use, and from others’ pleasure. Oh think, fair creature, that you had a mother, One that bore you, that you might bear another. Be you as she was, of an infant glad, Since you from her have all things that she had. Should all affect the strict life you desire, The world itself should end when we expire. Posterity is all, heaven’s number fill, Which by your help may be increased still. What is it when you lose your maiden-head, But make your beauty live when you be dead In your fair issue? Callisto Tush, ’tis all in vain. Diane, I am now a servant of thy train. Jupiter Her order is mere heresy, her sect A schism, ’mongst maids not worthy your respect. Men were got to get; you born, others to bear. Wrong not the world so much. Nay, sweet, your ear. This flower will wither, not being cropped in time. Age is too late, then do not lose your prime. Sport whil’st you may, before your youth be past. Lose not this mould that may such fair ones cast. Leave to the world your like for face and stature, That the next age may praise your gifts of nature. Callisto, if you still grow thus precise, In your strict vow succeeding beauty dies. Callisto I claim your oath. All love with men, adieu. Diana’s cloister I will next pursue. Exit Callisto Jupiter And there all beauty shall be kept in jail, Which with my sword, aye with my life, I’d bail. What’s that Diana? 2 Lord She is the daughter of an ancient king, That swayed the Attic scepter, who, being tempted By many suitors, first began this vow. And leaving court betook her to the forests. Her beauteous train are virgins of best rank, Daughters of kings and princes, all devoted To abandon men and choose virginity. All these being first to her strict orders sworn, Acknowledge her their queen and empress. Jupiter By all my hopes Callisto’s love to gain, I’d wish myself one of Diana’s train. 1 Lord Concerning your state business. Jupiter Well remembered. Posts of these news shall be to Epyre sent, Of us, and of our new establishment. Next, for Callisto—but of that no more. We must take firm possession of this state Our sword hath won, Lycaon lost so late. Exeunt
2.5 Enter with music, before Diana, six satyrs, after tham all their nymphs, garlands on their heads, and javelins in their hands, their bows and quivers. The satyrs sing. Satyrs Hail beauteous Diane, Queen of Shades, That dwells beneath these shadowy glades, Mistress of all those beauteous maids, That are by her allowed. Virginity we all profess, Abjure the worldly vain excess, And will to Dian yield no less Than we to her have vowed. The shepherds, satyrs, nymphs, and fawns, For thee will trip it o’er the lawns. Come, to the forest let us go, And trip it like the barren doe. The fawns and satyrs still do so, And freely thus they may do. The fairies dance, and satyrs sing, And on the grass tread many a ring, And to their caves their ven’son bring, And we will do as they do. The shepherds, &c. Our food is honey from the bees, And mellow fruits that drop from trees. In chase we climb the high degrees Of every steepy mountain. And when the weary day is past, We at the evening hie us fast. And after this our field repast, We drink the pleasant fountain. The shepherds, &c. Diana These sports our fawns, our satyrs, and our selves Make, fair Callisto, for your entertain. Pan, the great god of shepherds, and the nymphs Of meads and fountains that inhabit here, All give you welcome, with their rural sports, Glad to behold a princess of your birth A happy citizen of these meads and groves. These satyrs are our neighbours and live here, With whom we have confirmed a friendly league And dwell in peace. Here is no city-craft. Here’s no court-flattery. Simpleness and sooth, The harmless chase, and strict virginity Is all our practice. You have read our orders, And you have sworn to keep them, fair Callisto. Speak, how esteem you them? Callisto With reverence, Great queen. I am sequestered from the world, Even in my soul hate man’s society And all their lusts. Suggestions, all court pleasures, And city curiosities are vain, And with my finer temper ill agree That now have vowed sacred virginity. Diana We will not of your sorrows make recital So lately suffered by the hand of chance. We are from the world, and the blind goddess Fortune We dare to do her worst, as, living here Out of her reach, us she of force must spare. They can lose nothing that for nothing care. Callisto Madam, devotion drew me to your service, And I am now your hand-maid. Diana Where’s Atlanta? Atlanta Madame. Diana Is there no princess in our train As yet unmatched to be her cabin-fellow, And sleep by her? Atlanta Madam, we all are coupled And twinned in love, and hardly is there any That will be won to change her bedfellow. Diana You must be single till the next arrive. She that is next admitted of our train Must be her bed-companion. So ’tis lotted. Come fawns, and nymphs, and satyrs, girt us round Whilst we ascend our state and here proclaim A gen’ral hunting in Diana’s name. Enter Jupiter like a nymph, or a virago Jupiter

There I stride too wide. That step was too large for one that professeth the straight order. What a pittiful coil! Shall I have to counterfeit this woman, to lisp forsooth, to simper, and set my face like a sweet gentlewoman’s made out of ginger-bread? Shall I venture or no? My face I fear not, for my beard being in the nonage durst never yet look a barber in the face. And for my complexion, I have known as brown lasses as my self have gone for current. And for my stature, I am not yet of that giant size, but I may pass for a bona roba, a ronceval, a virago, or a good manly lass. If they should put me to spin, or to sow, or any such gentlewoman-like exercise, how should I excuse my bringing up? Tush, the hazard is nothing compared with the value of the gain. Could I manage this business with art, I should come to a hundred pretty sights in a year, as in the summer when we come to flea our smocks, &c. I hope Diana doth not use to search her maids before she entertains them. But howsoever

Be my loss certain, and my profit none, ’Tis for Callisto’s love, and I will on. Diana We’ll chase the stag, and with our beagles shrill The neighbouring forests with loud echoes fill. Jupiter Is this a heaven terrestrial that contains So many earthly angels? Oh amazement! Diana with these beauties circled round, Pal’d in with these bright pales, bears more state, Than gods have lent them by the power of fate. I am destroyed. Diana Soft, what intruder’s that? Command her hither. Jupiter Hail, divinest queen. I come to do thee service. Diana A manly lass, a stout virago! Were all our train proportioned to thy size, We need not fear men’s subtle treacheries. Thy birth and fortunes? Jupiter Madam, I derive My birth from noble and high parentage. Respect of your rare beauty, with my love And zeal I still bear to a virgin’s life, Have drawn me to your service. Diana Welcome, lady. Her largeness pleaseth me. If she have courage Proportioned with her limbs, she shall be champion To all our wrongèd ladies. You, Atlanta, Present her oath. Her oath is given on Diana’s bow. Atlanta Madam, you must be true To bright Diana and her virgin crew. Jupiter To bright Diana and her train I’ll stand. Diana What can you do? Jupiter Aside More than the best here can. Atlanta You shall vow chastity. Jupiter (That’s more than I can promise.) Well, proceed. Atlanta You never shall with hated man atone, But lie with woman or else lie alone. Jupiter Make my oath strong, my protestation deep, For this I vow by all the gods to keep. Atlanta With ladies you shall only sport and play, And in their fellowship spend night and day. Jupiter I shall. Atlanta Consort with them at board and bed, And swear no man shall have your maidenhead. Jupiter By all the powers both earthly and divine, If e’er I lose’t, a woman shall have mine. Diana Now you’re ours, you’re welcome. Kiss our hand. You promise well, we like you, and will grace you. And if with our election yours agree, Callisto here your bedfellow shall be. Jupiter You Gods, your will eternize me to your choice. Madam, I seal both with my soul and voice. Diana Then hand each other and acquaint yourself. And now let us proceed in the pursuit Of our determined pastimes, dedicate To the entertainment of these beauteous maids. Satyrs and fawns, ring out your pleasing choir. This done, our bugles shall to heaven aspire. Exeunt
2.6 Horns winded, a great noise of hunting. Enter Diana, all her nymphs in the chase, Jupiter pulling Callisto back. Diana Follow! Pursue! The stag hath took the mountain. Come, let us climb the steep cliffs after him. Let through the air your nimble javelins sing, And our free spoils home with the evening bring. All Follow! Follow! Follow! Wind horns. Enter the satyrs as in the chase. Satyr The nimble ladies have outstripped us quite. Unless we speed we shall not see him fall. We are too slow in pursuit of our game. Let’s after though, since they out-strip our eyes. Run by their notes that from their bugles rise. Wind horns. Enter Jupiter and Callisto Callisto Haste, gentle lady, we shall lose our train And miss Diana’s pastime in the chase. Hie then to stain our javelins gilded points In blood of yon swift stag, so hot pursued. Will you keep pace with me? Jupiter I am tired already. Nor have I yet been to these pastimes breathed. Sweet, shall we here repose ourselves a little? Callisto And lose the honour to be first at fall? Jupiter Fear not, you shall come time enough to fall. Either you must be so unkind to me As leave me to these deserts solitary, Or stay till I have rest, for I am breathless And cannot hold it out. Behold a place Remote, an arbor seated naturally, Trimmed by the hand of nature for a bower, Screened by the shadowy leaves from the sun’s eye. Sweet will you sit, or on the verdure lie? Callisto Rather than leave you, I will lose the sport. Jupiter I’ll find you pastime, fear not. O, my angel! Whither wilt thou transport me? Grant me measure Of joy! Be free; I surfeit on this pleasure. Callisto Come, shall’s lie down a little? Jupiter Sooth, I will. I thirst in seas and cannot quaff my fill. Behold, before me a rich table spread, And yet poor I am forced to starve for bread. We be alone, the ladies far in chase, And may I die an eunuch by my vow, If bright Callisto you escape me now. Sweet bedfellow, your hand! What have I felt, Unless blanched snow, of substance not to melt? Callisto You grip too hard. Jupiter Good sooth, I shall not rest Until my head be pillowed on thy breast. Callisto Lean on me then. Jupiter So shall I wrong mine eyes To leave your face to look upon the skies. Oh, how I love thee! come, let’s kiss and play. Callisto How? Jupiter So a woman with a woman may. Callisto I do not like this kissing. Jupiter Sweet, sit still. Lend me thy lips, that I may taste my fill. Callisto You kiss too wantonly. Jupiter Thy bosom lend And by thy soft paps let my hand descend. Callisto Nay! Fie! What mean you? Jupiter Prithee let me toy, I would the gods would shape thee to a boy, Or me into a man. Callisto A man? How then? Jupiter My sweet, lie still, for we are far from men. Lie down again. Your foot I oft have praised. Aye, and your leg. Nay, let your skirt be raised. I’ll measure for the wager of a fall Who hath the greatest great, or smallest small. Callisto You are too wanton, and your hand too free. Jupiter You need not blush to let a woman see. Callisto My bareness I have hid from sight of skies, Therefore may bar it any lady’s eyes. Jupiter Methinks you should be fat. Pray, let me feel. Callisto Oh god, you tickle me. Jupiter Lend me your hand, And freely taste me. Note how I will stand. I am not ticklish. Callisto Lord, how you woo. Jupiter We maids may wish much but can nothing do. Callisto I am weary of this toying. Jupiter Oh, but I In this Elysium could both live and die. I can forbear no longer, though my rape Be punished with my head. She shall not ’scape. Say, sweet, I were a man? Callisto Thus would I rise, And fill the dales and mountains with my cries. A man! Oh heaven! To gain Elysium’s bliss, I’d not be said that I a man should kiss. Come, let’s go wound the stag. Jupiter Stay! Ere you go, Here stands one ready that must strike a doe. And thou art she. I am Pelagius’ king, That thus have singled thee. Mine thou shalt be. Callisto Gods, angels, men! Help all a maid to free. Jupiter Maugre them all, th’art mine. Callisto To do me right, Help fingers, feet, nails, teeth, and all to fight. Jupiter Not they, nor all Diana’s angel-train, Were they in sight, this prize away should gain. He carries her away in his arms Exeunt
3.1 Enter Homer Homer Young Jupiter doth force this beauteous maid, And after would have made her his bright queen. But, discontent, she in the forest stayed, Loath of Diana’s virgins to be seen. Oft did he write, oft send, but all in vain. She never will return to court again. Eight moons are filled and waned when she grows great, And young Jove’s issue in her womb doth spring. This day, Diana doth her nymphs entreat Unto a solemn bathing, where they bring Deflowered Callisto. Note how she would hide That which time found, and great Diana spied. A dumb show. Enter Diana and all her nymphs to bathe them: she makes them survey the place. They unlace themselves, and unloose their buskskins. Only Callisto refuseth to make her ready. Diana sends Atlanta to her, who, perforce unlacing her, finds her great belly and shows it to Diana, who turns her out of her society, and leaves her. Callisto, likewise in great sorrow, forsakes the place. Exit all but Homer. Her crime thus found, she’s banished from their crew. And, in a cave, she childs a valiant son Called Archas, who doth noble deeds pursue, And by Jove’s gift, Pelagia’s seat hath won, Which after by his worth and glorious fame, He hath trans-styled Arcadia by his name. But we return to Titan, who by spies Hath learned that Saturn hath kept sons alive. He now assembles all his strange allies, And for the crown of Crete intends to strive. Of their success and fortunes we proceed, Where Titan’s sons by youthful Jove must bleed.
3.2 Enter Titan, Lycaon, Enceladus, and Aegeon in arms, drums, colours, and attendants Titan Now are we strong, our giant issue grown. Our sons in several kingdoms we have planted, From whence they have derived us brave supplies From Sicily, and from th’ Aegean sea, That of our son Aegeon bears the name. We have assembled infinites of men To avenge us on proud Saturn’s perjury. Lycaon What I have said to Titan, I’ll make good, ’Tis rumoured Melliseus’ foster-child— He that expulsed me from Pelagia’s crown And in my high tribunal sits enthroned— Is Saturn’s son, and styled Jupiter. Besides my daughter by his lust deflowered, On us the poor distressèd Titanoys He hath committed many outrages. Aegeon All which we’ll punish on King Saturn’s head, I that have made th’Aegean confines shake, And with my powerful voice affrighted heaven, From whose enragèd eyes the darkened skies Have borrowed lustre and Promethian fire, Will fright from Crete the proud Saturnian troop, And thousand hacked and mangled soldiers bring To entomb the glories of the Cretan king. Enceladus That must be left to great Enceladus, The pride and glory of the Titan’s host. I that have curbed the billows with a frown, And with a smile have made the ocean calm, Spurned down huge mountains with my armèd foot, And with my shoulders lift the valleys high, Will in the wrinkles of my stormy brow, Bury the glories of the Cretan king, And on his slaughtered bulk brain all his sons. Aegeon And what shall I do then? Enceladus Do thou stand still, Whil’st I the foes of Titan pash and kill. Am I not eldest from great Titan’s loins, The Saturnist’s hereditary scourge? Leave all these deeds of horror to my hand. I like a trophy o’er their spoils will stand. Lycaon Why breath we then? Enceladus Come, arm your sinewy limbs. With rage and fury, fright pale pity hence, And drown him in the sweat your bodies still. With hostile industry, toss flaming brands About your fleecy locks to threat their cities With death and desolation. Let your steel, Glist’ring against the sun, daze their bright eyes, That, with the dread of our astonishment, They may be sunk in Lethe, and their grave May be the dark vault called oblivious cave. Titan Are our ambassadors to Saturn gone To let him know whence this our war proceeds? Lycaon Your message hath by this startled th’usurper, Enceladus Set on them. Waste their confines as we march, And let them taste the rage of sword and fire. Th’alarm’s given, and hath by this arrived Even at the walls of Crete, the citadel Where the cathedraled Saturn is enthroned. Titan Warlike Aegeon and Enceladus, Noble Lycaon, lend us your assistance To forage as we march. Plant desolation Through all this fertile soil. Be this your cry: Revenge on Saturn for his perjury. Exit
3.3 Enter Saturn with beard and hair overgrown, Sibylla, Juno, drum, colours, and soldiers. Saturn None speak. Let no harsh voice presume to jar In our distressèd care. I am all sad, All horror and afrightment, since the slaughter And tragic murder of my firstborn Ops, Continued in the unnatural massacre Of three young princes. Not a day hath passed me Without distaste. No night but double darkened With terror and confused melancholy. No hour but hath had care and discontent Proportioned to his minutes. Not an instant Without remorse and anguish. Oh, you crowns! Why are you made and metaled out of cares? I am overgrown with sorrow, circumvailed With multiplicity of distempratures, And Saturn is a king of nothing else But woes, vexations, sorrows, and laments. To add to these the threat’nings of red war, As if the murder of my princely babes Were not enough to plague an usurpation, But they must add the rage of sword and fire. To affright my people. These are miseries Able to be comprised in no dimension. Juno My father shall not macerate himself. I’ll dare to interupt his passions, Although I buy it dearly with his hate. My lord, you are a king of a great people, Your power sufficient to repulse a foe Greater then Titan. Though my brothers’ births Be crowned in blood, yet am I still reserved To be the hopeful comfort of your age. Saturn My dearest Juno, beautiful remainder Of Saturn’s royal issue, but for thee I had ere this with these my fingers torn A grave out of the rocks to have entombed The wretched carcass of a caitiff king. And I will live, be’t but to make thee queen Of all the triumphs and the spoils I win. Speak, what’s the project of their invasion? 1 Lord That the king of Crete Hath not, according to his vows and oaths, Slain his male issue. Saturn Have I not their bloods Already quaffed to angry Nemesis? Have not these ruthless and remorseless eyes, Unfatherlike, beheld their panting hearts Swimming in bowls of blood? Am I not son-less? Nay childless too, save Juno whom I love? And dare they then? Come, our continued sorrow Shall into scarlet indignation turn, And my sons’ blood shall crown their guilty heads With purple vengeance. Valiant lords, set on, And meet them to their last destruction. 1 Lord March forward. Saturn Stay! Because we’ll ground our wars On justice, fair Sibylla, on thy life, I charge thee tell me, and dissemble not: By all the hopes in Saturn thou hast stored, Our nuptial pleasures, and affairs of love, As thou esteem’st our grace, or vengeance fear’st, Resolve me truly. Hast thou sons alive? Sibylla kneels These tears and that dejection on thy knee, Accompanied with dumbness, argue guilt. Arise and speak. Sibylla Let Saturn know, I am a woman then, And more, I am a mother. Would you have me A monster, to exceed in cruelty The savagest of savages? Bears, tigers, wolves, All feed their young. Would Saturn have his queen More fierce then these? Think you Sibylla dare Murder her young, whom cruel beasts would spare? Let me be held a mother, not a murdress. For Saturn, thou hast living three brave sons. But where? Rather than to reveal to thee, That thou may’st send their guiltless blood to spill, Here cease my life, for them thou shalt not kill. Saturn Amazement, war, the threat’ning Oracle, All muster strange perplexions ’bout my brain, And rob me of the true ability Of my direct conceivements. Doubt and war, Titan’s invasion, and my jealousy Make me unfit for answer. 1 Lord Royal Saturn, ’Twas pity in the queen so to preserve them. Your strictness slew them. They are dead in you, And in the pity of your queen survive. Saturn Divine assistance plunge me from these troubles. Mortality here fails me. I am wrapped In millions of confusions. Enter a lord 2 Lord Arm, great Saturn! Thy cities burn. A general massacre Threatens thy people. The big Titanoys Plough up thy land with their invasive steel. A huge unnumbered army is at hand To set upon thy camp. Saturn All my disturbances Convert to rage, and make my spleen as high As is their topless fury to encounter With equal force and vengeance. Go, Sibylla. Convey my beauteous Juno to the place Of our best strength, whil’st we contend in arms For this rich Cretan wreath. The battle done, And they confined, we’ll treat of these affairs. Perhaps our love may with this breach dispense. But first to arms to beat th’intruders hence. Exeunt
3.4 Alarm. Enter Titan, Lycaon, Enceladus, Aegeon Titan Saturn gives back, and ’gins to leave the field. Lycaon Pursue him then unto that place of strength, Which the proud Cretans hold impregnable. Enceladus This Gigomantichia be eternized For our affright and terror: If they fly, Toss rocks, and topps of mountains after them To stumble them, or else entomb them quick. Aegeon They have already got into the town, And barricaded ’gainst us their iron gates. What means then shall we find to startle them? Enceladus What, but to spurn down their offensive mures? To shake in two their adamantine gates, Their marble columns by the ground-sills tear, And kick their ruin’d walls as high as heaven? Titan Pursue them to their gates, and ’bout their city Plant a strong siege. Now Saturn all my suffrances Shall on thy head fall heavy, we’ll not spare Old man or babe. The Titans all things dare. Exeunt
3.5 Alarm. Enter Saturn, Sibylla, Juno, with other lords of Crete Saturn The heavens have, for our barbarous cruelty Done in the murder of our firstborn Ops, Poured on our head this vengeance. Where, oh where Shall we find rescue? Sibylla Patience, royal Saturn. Saturn Bid wolves be mild and tigers pitiful! Command the Libyan lion’s abstinence. Teach me to mollify the Corsic rock Or make the Mount Chymera passable. What monarch wrapped in my confusions, Can tell what patience means? Juno Oh, royal father! Saturn Oh, either teach me rescue from these troubles, Or bid me everlastingly, aye ever, Sink in despair and horror. Sibylla Oh, my lord, You have from your own loins issue reserved, That may redeem all these calamities. Saturn Issue from us? Sibylla From Saturn and Sibylla. That royal prince, King of Pelagia, And famous Melliseus’ foster-child, Whom all the world styles by the noble name Of Jupiter, he is King Saturn’s son. Saturn Thou hast, Sibylla, kept that son alive That only can redeem me from this thraldom? Oh, how shall we acquaint young Jupiter With this his father’s hard success in arms? Sibylla My care did ever these events foresee, And I have sent to your surviving son To come unto your rescue. Then, great Saturn, In your wife’s pity seem to applaud the heavens That make me their relentful minister, In the repairing of your downcast state. Saturn If royal Jupiter be Saturn’s son, We shall be either rescued or revenged, And now I shall not dread those Titanois, That threaten fire and steel. Sibylla Trust your Sibylla. Saturn Thou art my anchor, and the only column That supports Saturn’s glory. O my Jupiter! On thee the basis of my hopes I erect, And in thy life King Saturn’s fame survives. Are messengers dispatched to signify My son of our distress? Sibylla As far as Epire, Where, as we understand, Jove now remains. Saturn Then, Titan and the proud Enceladus, Hyperion, and Aegeon with the rest, Of all the earth-bred race we weigh you not. Threaten your worst. Let all your eyes spark fire. Your flaming nostrils like Avernus’ smoke, Your tongues speak thunder, and your armèd hands Fling trisulc lightning. Be you gods above, Or come you with infernal hatred armed, We dread you not. We have a son survives Shall calm your tempests, beauteous Juno comfort, And cheer Sibylla. If he undertake Our rescue, we from danger are secure. We in his valour all our lives assure. Exeunt
3.6 A flourish. Enter Jupiter and Melliseus with attendants Melliseus Fair prince, for less by your deserts and honour You cannot be, your fortunes and your birth Are both unknown to me. My two fair daughters As a swathed infant brought you to my court. But whence, or of what parents you proceed, I am merely ignorant. Jupiter Then am I nothing, And till I know whence my descent hath been, Or from what house derived, I am but air, And no essential substance of a man. Enter Callisto pursued by her young son Arcas Callisto Help, help! For heaven’s sake, help! I am pursued, And by my son, that seems to threat my life. Jupiter Stay that bold lad. Callisto What’s he? False Jupiter? Jupiter Callisto, or I much deceive myself. Callisto O thou most false, most treacherous, and unkind! Behold Callisto by her son pursued. Indeed, thy son. This little savage youth Hath lived ’mongst tigers, lions, wolves, and bears, And since his birth partakes their cruelty. Arcas his name. Since I Diana left, And from her chaste train was divorced, this youth I childed in a cave remote and silent. His nurture was amongst the savages. This day I by misfortune moved his spleen, And he pursued me with revenge and fury. And had I not forsook the shades and forests, And fled for rescue to these wallèd towns, He had slain me in his fury. Save me then. Let not the son the mother sacrifice Before the father’s eye. Jupiter Arcas my son, My young son, Arcas, Jupiter’s firstborn. Oh, let me hug thee, and a thousand times Embrace thee in mine arms. Lycaon’s grand-child, Callisto’s son. Oh will you beauteous lady Forsake the forests and yet live with us? Callisto No, thou false man, for thy perjurous lusts I have abandoned human subtleties. There, take thy son, and use him like a prince, Being son unto a princess. Teach him arts, And honoured arms. For me, I have abjured All peopled cities, and betook myself To solitary deserts. Jove, adieu. Thou proving false, no mortal can be true Exit Callisto Arcas Since she will needs be gone, be pleased then. Wearied with beasts, I long to live ’mongst men. Jupiter Yet stay Callisto. Why wilt thou outrun Thy Jupiter? She gone, welcome my son. My dear son Arcas, whom if fortune smile, I will create lord of a greater style. Enter the Clown, with letters Clown

Save you, sir. Is your name King Melliseus?

 Melliseus We are Melliseus, and the Epire king. Clown

Then this letter is to you, but is there not one in your Court, called— Let me see— Have you here never a gibbet-maker?

 Jupiter Sirrah, here’s one called Jupiter. Clown

Aye, Jupiter. That’s he that I would speak with. Here’s another letter to you, but ere you read it, pray let me ask you one question.

 Jupiter What’s that? Clown

Whether you be a wise child or no?

 Jupiter Your reason? Clown

Because I would know whether you know your own father, but if you do not, hoping you are in good health, as your father scarce was, at the making hereof. These are to certify you.

 Jupiter News of a father! Never could such tidings Have glutted me with gladness. They read Clown

For mine own part, though I know not what belongs to the getting of children, yet I know how to father a child, and because I would be loathe to have this parish troubled with you, I bring you news where you were born. I was the man that laid you at this man’s door, and if you will not go home quietly, you shall be sent from constable to constable, till you come to the place where you were begot. Read further and tell me more.

 Melliseus Is Jupiter then mighty Saturn’s son? Jupiter Am I the son of Saturn, king of Crete? My father baffled by the Titanoys? May all my toward hopes die in my birth, Nor let me ever worthily inherit The name of royalty, if by my valour I prove me not descended royally. Clown

I was the man that tooke pains with you. ’twas I that brought you in the hand-basket.

 Jupiter Should I have wished a father through the world, It had been Saturn. Or a royal mother, It had been fair Sibylla, queen of Crete. Great Epire’s king, peruse these tragic lines, And in thy wonted bounty grant supplies To free my noble father. Melliseus Jupiter, as I am Melliseus, Epyre’s king, Thou shalt have free assistance. Jupiter Come then, arm! Assemble all the powers that we can levy. Arcas, we make thee of Pelagia king, As King Lycaon’s grand-child and the son Of fair Callisto. Let that clime henceforth Be called Arcadia and usurp thy name. Go then and press th’Arcadians to the rescue Of royal Saturn, this great king and I Will lead th’Epyrians. Fail me not to meet, To redeem Saturn, and to rescue Crete. Exeunt Manet Clown Clown

I have no mind to this buffeting. I’ll walk after fair and softly, in hope that all the buffeting may be done before I come. Whither had I better go: home by land, or by sea? If I go by land and miscarry, then I go the way of all flesh. If I go by sea and miscarry, then I go the way of all fish. I am not yet resolved. But howsoever, I have done my message so cleanly that they cannot say the messenger is bereaved of any thing that belongs to his message.

 Exit Clown
3.7 Alarm. Enter Titan, Lycaon, Enceladus, with Saturn, Juno, and Sibylla prisoners. Titan Down, treacherous lord, and be our foot-pace now To ascend our high tribunal. Where’s that godhead With which the people avèd thee to heaven? Enceladus ’Tis sunk into the deep abysm of hell. Tear from his head the golden wreath of Crete. Tread on his captive bulk and with thy weight, Great Titan, sink him to the infernal shades So low, that with his trunk his memory May be extinct in Lethe. Saturn More than tyrannous To triumph o’er the weak and to oppress The low dejected. Let your cruelty Be the sad period of my wretchedness. Only preserve my lovely Juno’s life, And give Sibylla freedom. Enceladus By these gods, We neither fear nor value but contend To equal in our actions: both shall die. There shall no proud Saturnian live to brave The meanest of the high-born Titanois. Lycaon Raze from the earth their hateful memory, And let the blood of Titan sway the earth. Speak, are the ports and confines strongly armed ’Gainst all invasions? Titan Who dares damage us? Let all the passages be open left. Unguarded let our ports and havens lie. All danger we despise. Mischance or dread We hold in base contempt. Enceladus Conquest is ours, Maugre divine or base terrestrial powers. Alarm. Enter Aegeon Aegeon Arm, royal Titan! Arm, Enceladus! A pale of brandished steel hath girt thy land. From the earth’s caverns break infernal fires To make thy villages and hamlets burn. Tempestuous ruin in the shape of war Clouds all thy populous kingdom. At my heels Confusion dogs me, and the voice of death Still thunders in mine ears. Titan Is’t possible? Bear Saturn first to prison. We’ll after parley them. Enceladus Come angels armed or devils clad in flames, Our fury shall repel them. Come they girt With power celestial or infernal rage, We’ll stand their fierce opposure. Royal Titan, Aegeon, and Hyperion, don your arms. Bravely advance your strong orbicular shields And in your right hands brandish your bright steel. Drown your affrightments in th’amazed sounds Of martial thunder, diapasoned deep. We’ll stand them, be they gods; if men, expel Their strengthless force, and stound them low as hell. A flourish. Enter, marching, King Melliseus, Jupiter, Arcas, drum, and followers Titan Whence are you that intrude upon our confines? Or what portend you in these hostile sounds Of clamorous war? Jupiter Titan’s destruction, With all the ruin of his giant race. Titan By what pretence or claim? Jupiter In right of Saturn, Whom, against law, the Titans have deposed. Titan What art thou speak’st it? Jupiter I am Jupiter. King Saturn’s son, immediate heir to Crete. Enceladus There pause. That word disturbs all thy claim, And proves that Titan seats him in his own. Titan If Saturn, as thou say’st, hath sons alive, His oath is broken, and we are justly seized Of Creta’s crown by his late forfeiture. Aegeon Thy tongue hath spoke thy own destruction, Since whom King Saturn spared our swords must kill, And he is come to offer up that life Which hath so long been forfeit. Jupiter Tyrants, no. The heavens preserved me for a further use: To plague your offspring that afflict the earth, And with your threat’nings spurn against the gods. Lycaon Now shalt thou pay me for Callisto’s wrong, Exiling me, and for dishonouring her. Jupiter Are you there, cannibal? Man-eating wolf? Lycaon, thou art much beholding to me. I womaned first Callisto and made thee A grandfather. Dost not thank me for it? See, here’s the boy. This is Arcadia’s king. No more Pelagia now, since thy exile. Titan To thee that styl’st thyself King Saturn’s son: Know thou wast doomed before thy birth to die, Thy claim disabled, and in saving thee Thy father hath made forfeit of his crown. Jupiter Know, Titan, I was born free as my father, Nor had he power to take that life away That the gods freely gave me. Tyrants see, Here is that life you by indenture claim. Seize it and take it, but before I fall, Death and destruction shall confound you all. Enceladus Destruction is our vassal, and attends Upon the threat’ning of our stormy brows. We trifle hours. Arm all your fronts with horror, Your hearts with fury, and your hands with death. Thunder meet thunder, tempests storms defy. Saturn and all his issue this day die. Alarm. The battles join, Titan is slain, and his party repulsed.
3.8 Enter Aegeon. Aegeon Where’s now the high and proud Enceladus To stop the fury of the adverse foe, Or stay the base flight of our dastard troops? Titan is slain, Hyperion strews the earth, And thousands by the hand of Jupiter Are sent into black darkness. All that stand Sink in the weight of his high Jovial hand, To shun whose rage, Aegeon, thou must fly. Crete with our hoped conquests all adieu. We must propose new quests, since Saturn’s son Hath by his puissance all our campe o’errun. Exit
3.9 Alarm. Enter Enceladus leading his army. Jupiter leading his. They make a stand. Enceladus None stir! Be all your arms cramped and diseased, Your swords unuseful. May your steely glaives Command your hands, and not your sinews them, Till I by single valor have subdued This murderer of my father. Jupiter Here he stands That must for death have honour at thy hands. None interrupt us. Singly we’ll contend And ’twixt us two give these rude factions end. Enceladus Two royal armies then on both sides stand To view this strange and dreadful monomachy. Thy fall, Saturnian, adds to my renown, For by thy death I gain the Cretan crown. Jupiter Death is thy due; I find it in thy stars, Whil’st our high name gives period to these wars. Alarm. They combat with javelins first, after with swords and targets. Jupiter kills Enceladus. Exit Jupiter with the body of Enceladus.
3.10 Jupiter enters in victory, with Saturn, Sibylla, Juno, Melliseus, Arcas, and the lords of Crete. Saturn Never was Saturn deified till now, Nor found that perfectness the gods enjoy. Heaven can assure no greater happiness Than I attain in sight of Jupiter. Sibylla O my dear son, born with my painful throws, And with the hazard of my life preserved, How well hast thou acquitted all my travails In this thy last and famous victory? Jupiter This tells me that yon royal King of Crete My father is, and that renownèd queen My mother—all which proves by circumstance, That ’tis but duty that by me’s achieved. Only yon beauteous lady stands apart I know not how to style. Saturn ’Tis Juno, and thy sister. Jupiter Oh my stars! You seek to make immortal Jupiter. Juno Juno is only happy in the fortunes Of her renownèd brother. Jupiter Royal Saturn, If ever I deserved well as a victor, Or if my warlike deeds, yet bleeding new, And perfect both in eyes and memory May plead for me; oh, if I may obtain, As one that merits, or entreat of you, As one that owes, being titled now your son, Let me espouse fair Juno. And bright lady, Let me exchange the name of sister with you And style you by a nearer name of wife. Oh, be my spouse, fair Juno! Juno ’Tis a name, I prize ’bove sister, if these grace the same. Saturn What is it I’ll deny my Jupiter? She is thy own. I’l royalize thy nuptials With all the solemn triumphs Crete can yield. Melliseus Epyre shall add to these solemnities, And with a bounteous hand support these triumphs. Arcas So all Arcadia shall. Saturn Then to our palace Pass on in state. Let all rareties Shower down from heaven a largesse, that these bridals May exceed mortal pomp. March! March, and leave me To contemplate these joys, and to devise How with best state this night to solemnize. They all march off and leave Saturn alone. Saturn Saturn at length is happy by his son, Whose matchless and unrivaled dignities Are without peer on earth. Oh joy! Joy? Corsive Worse than the throes of childbirth, or the tortures Of black Cimmerian darkness. Saturn, now Bethink thee of the Delphian Oracle. He shall his father’s virtue first excel, Seize Crete, and after drive him down to hell. The first is past: my vertues are exceeded. The last I will prevent, by force or treason. I’ll work his ruin ere he grow too high. His stars have cast it, and the boy shall die. More sons I have; more crowns I cannot win. The gods say he must die, and ’tis no sin. Exit
4.1 Enter Homer Homer O blind ambition and desire of reign, What horrid mischief wilt not thou devise? The appetite of rule, and thirst of reign Besots the foolish, and corrupts the wise. Behold! A king suspicious of his son Pursues his innocent life, and without cause. O blind ambition, what hast thou not done Against religion, zeal, and nature’s laws? But men are born their own fates to pursue. Gods will be gods, and Saturn finds it true. A dumb show. Enter Jupiter, Juno, Melliseus, Arcas as to revels. To them, Saturn draws his sword to kill Jupiter, who only defends himself, but being hotly pursued, draws his own sword, beats away Saturn, Exit Saturn seizeth his crown, and swears all the lords of Crete to his obeisance, so. Exit Homer Saturn against his son his force extended, And would have slain him by his tyrannous hand, Whilst Jupiter alone his life defended. But when no prayers his fury could withstand, He used his force, his father drove from Crete, And as the Oracle before had told Usurped the crown. The lords kneel at his feet, And Saturn’s fortunes are to exile sold. But leaving him, of Danae, that bright lass, How amorous Jove first wrought her to his power, How she was closed in a fort of brass, And how he scaled it in a golden shower: Of these we next must speak. Courteous and wise, Help with your hands, for Homer wants his eyes.
4.2 A flourish. Enter Jupiter, Juno, the lords of Crete, Melliseus, Arcas, Neptune and Pluto. Jupiter Our unkind father, double tyrannous To prosecute the virtues of his son, Hath sought his own fate, and by his ingratitude Left to our head th’imperial wreath of Crete, Which gladly we receive. Neptune from Athens, And Pluto from the Lower Tartary: Both welcome to the Cretan Jupiter. Those stars that governed our nativity, And stripped our fortunes from the hand of death, Shall guard us and maintain us. Neptune Noble Saturn, Famous in all things, and degenerate only In that inhumane practice ’gainst his sons, Is fled us, whom we came to visit freely, And filial duties to express. Great Athens, The nurse and fost’ress of my infancy, I have instructed in the sea-man’s craft, And taught them truly how to sail by stars. Besides, the unruly jennet I have tamed And trained him to the saddle for my practice. The horse to me is solely consecrate. Pluto I from the bounds of lower Tartary Have traveled to the fertile plains of Crete. Nor am I less in lustre of my fame Than Neptune or renownèd Jupiter. Those barren kingdoms I have riched with spoils, And not a people traffics in those worlds For wealth or treasure, but we custom them And they enrich our coffers. Our armed guards Prey on their camels and their laden mules, And Pluto’s through the world renowned and feared. And, since we have missed of Saturn lately fled, It glads me yet I freely may survey The honours of my brother Jupiter. Neptune And beauteous Juno, empress of all hearts, Whom Neptune thus embraceth. Pluto So doth Pluto. Juno All divine honours crown the royal temples Of my two famous brothers. Jupiter King Melliseus, welcome them to Crete. Arcas, do you the like. Melliseus Princes, your hands. Arcas You are my royal uncles. Jupiter Nay, hand him lords. He is your kinsman too. Arcas my son, of fair Callisto born.— I hope, fair Juno, it offends not you. It was before your time. Juno She was a strumpet. Jupiter Aside She shall be a star. And all the queens and beauteous maids on earth That are renowned for high perfections, We’ll woo and win. We were born to sway and rule. Nor shall the name of wife be curb to us, Or snaffle in our pleasures. Beauteous Io, And fair Europa, have by our trans-shapes, And guiles of love already been deflowered. Nor lives she that is worthy our desires, But we can charm with courtship. To all Royal brothers, What news of note is rumored in those realms Through which you made your travels? Neptune Have you heard Of great Acrisius, the brave Argos king, And of his daughter Danae? Jupiter His renown, And her fair beauty oft hath pierced our ears. Nor can we be at peace, till we behold That face fame hath so blazed on. What of her? Neptune Of her enclosure in the Darreine Tower, Girt with a triple mure of shining brass. Have you not heard? Jupiter But we desire it highly. What marble wall or adamantine gate, What fort of steel or castle forged from brass Love cannot scale or beauty not break through? Discourse the novel, Neptune. Neptune Thus it was. The queen of Argos growing great, the king Sends, as the custom is, to th’Oracle, To know what fortunes shall betide the babe. Answer’s returned by Phoebus and his Priests: The queen shall child a daughter beautiful, Who, when she grows to years, shall then bring forth A valiant princely boy, yet such a one That shall the king his grandsire turn to stone. Danae is born, and as she grows to ripeness So grew her father’s fear. And to prevent His ominous fate pronounced by th’Oracle, He moulds this brazen tower, impregnable Both for the seat and guard, yet beautiful As is the gorgeous palace of the sun. Jupiter Ill doth Acrisius to contend and war Against th’unchanging fates. I’ll scale that tower, Or rain down millions in a golden shower. I long to be the father of that babe, Begot on Danae, that shall prove so brave, And turn the dotard to his marble grave. ’Tis cast already! Fate be thou my guide, Whil’st for this amorous journey I provide. Melliseus But is the lady there immured and closed From all society and sight of man? Neptune So full of jealous fears is King Acrisius That, save himself, no man must near the fort. Only a guard of beldams past their lusts, Unsensible of love, or amorous pity, Partly by bribes hired, partly curbed with threats, Are guard unto this bright imprisoned dame. Pluto Too pitiless and too obdur’s the king, To cloister beauty from the sight of man. But this concerns not us. Jupiter That fort I’ll scale, Though in attempting it be death to fail. Brothers and princes, all our court’s rarities Lie open to your royal’st entertainment. Yet pardon me, since urgence calls me hence To an enforcèd absence. Nay, Queen Juno, You must be pleased; the cause imports us highly. Feast with these princes till our free return. Attendance, lords. We must descend in gold. Or yon imprisoned beauty ne’r behold. Exit
4.3 Enter four old beldams, with other women 1 Beldam

Here’s a coil to keep fire and tow asunder. I wonder the king should shut his daughter up so close. For any thing I see, she hath no mind to a man.

 2 Beldam

Content yourself. You speak according to your age and appetite. We that are full fed may praise fast. We that in our heat of youth have drunk our bellyfuls may deride those that in the heat of their bloods are athirst. I measure her by what I was, not by what I am. Appetite to love never fails an old woman, till cracking of nuts leaves her. When Danae hath no more teeth in her head then you and I, I’ll trust a man in her company, and scarce then. For if we examine our selves, we have even at these years qualms and rhumes, and devises comes over our stomachs when we but look on a proper man.

 1 Beldam

That’s no question! I know it by myself, and whil’st I stand sentinel, I’ll watch her for that, I warrant her.

 2 Beldam

And have we not reason, considering the penalty?

 1 Beldam

If any stand sentinel in her quarters, we shall keep quarter here no longer. If the princess miscarry, we shall make gunpowder, and they say an old woman is better for that than saltpeter.

The alarm bell rings. 3 Beldam The ’larm bell rings. It should be King Acrisius by the sound of the clapper. 4 Beldam Then clap close to the gate and let him in. Enter Acrisius. Acrisius Ladies, well done. I like this providence And careful watch o’er Danae. Let me find you Faithless, you die. Be faithful and you live Eternized in our love. Go, call her hither. Be that your charge. The rest keep watchful eye On your portcullised entrance, which forbids All men, save us, free passage to this place. See! Danae is descended. Fair daughter, Enter Danae How do you brook this palace? Danae Like a prison. What is it else? You give me golden fetters, As if their value could my bondage lessen. Acrisius The architecture’s sumptuous, and the building Of cost invaluable. So rich a structure For beauty, or for state, the world afords not. Is not thy attendance princely, like a queen’s? Are not all these thy vassals to attend? Are not thy chambers fair, and richly hung? The walks within this barricadoed mure Full of delight and pleasure for thy taste And curious palate? All the chiefest cates Are from the furthest verges of the earth Fetched to content thee. What distates thee then? Danae That which alone is better than all these: My liberty. Why am I cloistered thus And kept a prisoner from the sight of man? What hath my innocence and infancy Deserved to be immured in brazen walls? Can you accuse my faith or modesty? Hath any loose demeanour in my carriage Bred this distrust? Hath my eye played the rioter? Or hath my tongue been lavish? Have my favours, Unvirginlike, to any been profuse, That it should breed in you such jealousy, Or bring me to this durance? Acrisius None of these. I love my Danae. But when I record The oracle, it breeds such fear in me That makes this thy retainment. Danae The oracle? Wherein unto the least of all the gods Hath Danae been unthankful, or profane, To bondage me that am a princess free, And votaress to every deity? Acrisius I’ll tell thee, lady. The unchanging mouth Of Phoebus hath this oracle pronounced: That Danae shall in time child such a son That shall Acrisius change into a stone. Danae See your vain fears. What less could Phoebus say? Or what hath Danae’s fate deserved in this? To turn you into stone: that’s to prepare Your monument and marble sepulchre. The meaning is, that I a son shall have, That when you die shall bear you to your grave. Are you not mortal? Would you ever live? Your father died, and to his monument You like a mourner did attend his hearse. What you did to your father, let my son Perform to you" prepare your sepulchre. Or shall a stranger bear you to your tomb, When from your own blood you may store a prince To do those sacred rights? Or shall vain fears Cloister my beauty and consume my years? Acrisius Our fears are certain, and our doom as fixed As the decrees of gods. Thy durance here Is with limit endless. Exit Danae Go attend her Unto her chamber, there to live an anchoress And changeless virgin to the period Of her last hour. And you, to whom this charge Solely belongs, banish all womanish pity. Be deaf unto her prayers, blind to her tears, Obdur to her relenting passions. Should she, as heaven and th’Oracle forbid, By your corrupting lose that precious gem We have such care to keep and lock safe up, Your lives are doomed. Be faithful, we desire, And keep your bodies from the threatened fire. Exit 1 Beldam

Heaven be as chary of your highness’ life as we of Danae’s honour. Now if she be a right woman, she will have a mind only to lose that which her father hath such care to keep. There is a thing that commonly sticks under a woman’s stomach.

 2 Beldam

What do we talking of things? There must be no meddling with things in this place. Come, let us set our watch, and take our lodgings before the princess’ chamber,

Exit.
4.4 Enter Jupiter like a peddler, the Clown his man, with packs at their backs. Jupiter

Sirrah, now I have sworn you to secrecy, attend your charge.

 Clown

Charge me to the mouth, and till you give fire I’ll not off.

 Jupiter

Thou know’st I have stuffed my pack with rich jewels to purchase one jewel worth all these.

 Clown

If your precious stones were set in that jewel, it would be brave wearing.

 Jupiter

If we get entrance, sooth me up in all things, and if I have recourse to the princess, if at any time thou seest me whisper to her, find some trick or other to blind the Beldams’ eyes.

 Clown

She that hath the best eyes of them all, I have a trick to make her nose stand in her light.

 Jupiter

No more king Jupiter but goodman peddler, remember that

 Clown

I have my memorandums about me. As I can bear a pack, so I can bear a brain, and now I talk of a pack, though I know not of the death of any of your friends, I am sorry for your heaviness.

 Jupiter Love and my hopes do make my load seem light. This wealth I will unburden in the purchase Of yon rich beauty. Prithee ring the bell, Clown

Nay, do you take the rope in your hand for luck’s sake. The moral is, because you shall ring all in.

He rings the bell Jupiter I care not if I take thy counsel. Enter the 4 Beldams. 1 Beldam

To the gate, to the gate, and know who ’tis ere you open.

 2 Beldam

I learned that in my youth, still to know who knocked before I would open.

 Jupiter

Save you, gentle matrons. May a man be so bold as ask what he may call this rich and stately tower?

 3 Beldam Thou seem’st a stranger to ask such a question, For where is not the tower of Darreine known? Clown

It may be called the tower of Barren for ought I see, for here is none but are past children.

 4 Beldam This is the rich and famous Darreine Tower, Where King Acrisius hath enclosed his daughter, The beauteous Danae, famous through the world For all perfections. Jupiter Oh then ’tis here. Ay, here I must unload. Coming through Crete, the great King Jupiter Entreated me to call here at this tower, And to deliver you some special jewels Of high prized worth, for he would have his bounty Renowned through all the earth. Down with your pack, For here must we unload. 1 Beldam Jewels to us? 2 Beldam And from Jupiter? Jupiter

Now, gold, prove thy true virtue. Thou canst all things and therefore this.

 3 Beldam

Comes he with presents, and shall he unpack at the gate? Nay, come into the porter’s lodge, good peddlers.

 Clown

That lady hath some manners. She hath been well brought up, I warrant her.

 4 Beldam

And I can tell thee, peddler, thou hast that courtesy that never any man yet found but the King Acrisius.

 Jupiter You shall be well paid for your courtesy. Here’s first for you, for you, for you, for you. 1 Beldam

Rare!

 2 Beldam

Admirable!

 3 Beldam

The best that e’er I saw!

 4 Beldam

I’ll run and show mine to my lady.

 1 Beldam

Shut the gate for fear the king come, and, if he ring, clap the peddlers into some of yon old rotten corners. And hath King Jupiter been at all this cost? He’s a courteous prince, and bountiful. Keep you the peddler company; my lady shall see mine too.

 Jupiter

Mean you the princess Danae? I have tokens from Jupiter to her too.

 1 Beldam

Run, run, you that have the best legs, and tell my lady. Exit 2, 3, and 4 Beldam. —But have you any more of the same?

 Clown

Have we, quoth he? We have things about us we have not showed yet, and that every one must not see would make those few teeth in your head to water. I would have you think I have ware too, as well as my master.

Enter in state Danae with the beldams, looking upon three several jewels. 1 Beldam Yonder’s my lady. Nay, never be abashed, peddler There’s a face will become thy jewels as well as any face in Crete or Argos either. Now, your token. Jupiter I have lost it: ’tis my heart. Beauty of angels, Thou art o’er matched. Earth may contend with heaven, Nature thou hast, to make one complete creature, Cheated even all mortality. This face Hath robbed the morning of her blush, the lily Of her blanched whiteness, and like theft committed Upon my soul. She is all admiration. But in her eyes I ne’er saw perfect lustre. There is no treasure upon earth but yonder She is! Oh, I shall lose myself! Clown

Nay, sir, take heed you be not smelt out.

 Jupiter I am myself again. Danae Did he bestow these freely? Danae’s guard Are much indebted to King Jupiter. If he have store, we’ll buy some for our use And wearing. They are wondrous beautiful. Where’s the man that brought them? 1 Beldam

Here, forsooth, lady. —Hold up your head and blush not! My lady will not hurt thee, I warrant thee.

 Jupiter This jewel, madam, did King Jupiter Command me to leave here for Danae. Are you so styled? Danae If sent to Danae, ’Tis due to me. And would the king of Crete, Knew with what gratitude we take his gift. Jupiter Madam, he shall. —Sirrah, set ope your pack, And what the ladies like let them take freely. Danae Much have I heard of his renown in arms, His generousness, his virtues, and his fullness Of all that nature can bequeath to man. His bounty I now taste, and I could wish Your ear were his, that I might let him know What interest he hath in me to command, Jupiter His ear is mine. Let me command you, then. Behold, I am the Cretan, Jupiter, That rate your beauty above all these gems. What cannot love? What dares not love attempt? Despite Acrisius and his armed guards, Hither my love hath brought me to receive Or life or death from you, only from you. Danae We are amazed, and the large difference Betwixt your name and habit breeds in us Fear and distrust. Yet if I censure freely, I needs must think that face and personage Was ne’er derived from baseness. And the spirit To venture and to dare to court a queen, I cannot style less than to be a king’s. Say that we grant you to be Jupiter, What thence infer you? Jupiter To love Jupiter. Danae So far as Jupiter loves Danae’s honour, So far will Danae love Jupiter. 2 Beldam

We wait well upon my lady.

 Jupiter Madam, you have not seen a clear stone For colour or for quickness. —Sweet, your ear. Danae Beware your ruin, if you Beldams hear. Jupiter

Sirrah, show all your wares, and let those ladies best please themselves.

 Clown

Not all at these years. I spy his knavery. Now would he have me keep them busied, whilst he courts the lady.

 3 Beldam

To Danae Doth my lady want nothing?

She looks back Clown

As for example, here’s a silver bodkin. This is to remove dandruff, and dig about the roots of your silver-haired fur. This is a tooth-picker, but you having no teeth, here is for you a coral to rub your gums. This is called a mask.

 1 Beldam

Gramercy for this. This is good to hide my wrinkles. I never see of these afore.

 Clown

Then you have one wrinkle more behind. You that are dim-eyed, put this pitiful spectacle upon your nose.

 Jupiter As I am son of Saturn, you have wrong To be cooped up within a prison strong. Your father like a miser cloisters you But to save cost. He’s loate to pay your dower, And therefore keeps you in this brazen tower. What are you better to be beautiful, When no man’s eye can come to censure it? What are sweet cates untasted? Gorgeous clothes Unworn? Or beauty not beheld? Yon beldams With all the furrows in their wrinkled fronts May claim with you like worth, ay and compare. For eye to censure you none can, none dare. Danae All this is true. Jupiter Oh, think you I would lie (With any save Danae). Let me buy This jewel, your bright love, though rated higher Than gods can give, or men in prayers desire. Danae You covet that which, save the prince of Crete, None dares. Jupiter That shows how much I love you, sweet. I come this beauty, this rare face, to save, And to redeem it from this brazen grave. Oh, do not from man’s eye this beauty screen, These rare perfections, which no earthly queen Enjoys save you. ’Twas made to be admired. The gods, the Fates, and all things have conspired With Jupiter, this prison to invade, And bring it forth to that for which ’twas made. Love Jupiter, whose love with yours shall meet, And having born you hence, make at your feet Kings lay their crowns, and mighty emperors kneel. Oh, had you but a touch of what I feel, You would both love and pity. Danae Both I do. But all things hinder, yet were Danae free, She could affect the Cretan. Jupiter Now by thee (For what I most affect, by that I swear) I from this prison will bright Danae bear, And in thy chamber will this night fast seal This covenant made. Danae Which Danae must repeal. Jupiter You shall not, by this kiss. 1 Beldam

’Tis good to have an eye.

 Clown

Your nose hath not had these spectacles on yet.

 Danae Oh Jupiter. Jupiter Oh Danae. Danae I must hence. For if I stay, I yield. I’ll hence. No more. Jupiter Expect me, for I come. Danae Yon is my door. Dare not to enter there. I will to rest. Attendants! Jupiter Come I will. Danae You had not best. Exit Danae 2 Beldam

My lady calls. We have trifled the night till bedtime. Some attend the princess; others see the peddlers packed out of the gate.

 Clown

Will you thrust us out to seek our lodging at midnight? We have paid for our lodging, a man would think. We might have lain cheaper in any inn in Argos.

 Jupiter This castle stands remote, no lodging near. Spare us but any corner here below, Be’t but the inner porch, or the least staircase, And we’ll begone as early as you please. 2 Beldam

Consider all things; we have no reason to deny that. What need we fear? Alas, they are but peddlers, and the greatest prince that breathes would be advised ere he durst presume to court the princess Danae.

 1 Beldam

He court a princess? He looks not with the face. Well peddlers, for this night take a nap upon some bench or other, and in the morning be ready to take thy yard in thy hand to measure me some stuff, and so to be gone before day. Well, good-night; we must attend our princess.

 Exit four beldams. Jupiter Gold and reward, thou art mighty and hast power O’er aged, young, the foolish, and the wise, The chaste, and wanton, foul, and beautiful. Thou art a god on earth, and canst all things. Clown

Not all things, by your leave. All the gold in Crete cannot get one of yon old crones with child. But shall we go sleep?

 Jupiter Sleep thou, for I must wake for Danae. Exit Clown Hence, cloud of baseness. Thou hast done enough To blear yon Beldams. When I next appear To you, bright goddess, I will shine in gold, He puts off his disguise Decked in the high imperial robes of Crete, And on my head the wreath of majesty. For ornament is a prevailing thing, And you, bright queen, I’ll now court like a king. Exit
4.5 Enter the four old beldams, drawing out Danae’s bed, she in it. They place four tapers at at the four corners. Danae Command our eunuchs with their pleasing’st tunes To charm our eyes to rest. Leave us all, leave us. The god of dreams hath with his downy fan Swept o’er our eyelids, and sits heavy on them. 1 Beldam

Hey-ho. Sleep may enter in at my mouth, if he be no bigger than a two-penny loaf.

 Danae Then to your chambers, and let wakeless slumbers Charm you in depth of silence and repose. All. Good night to thee, fair Danae. Exit four beldams. Danae Let music through this brazen fortress sound, Till all our hearts in depth of sleep be drowned. Enter Jupiter crowned with his imperial robes. Jupiter Silence that now hath empire through the world, Express thy power and princedom. Charming sleep, Death’s younger brother, show thyself as still-less As death himself. None seem this night to live, Save Jove and Danae. But, that goddess won, Give them new life breathed with the morning sun. Yon is the door that in forbidding me She bade me enter. Women’s tongues and hearts Have different tunes, for where they most desire, Their hearts cry on when their tongues bid retire. All’s whist. I hear the snorting beldams breathe Soundness of sleep. None wakes save love, and we Yon bright imprisoned beauty to set free. O thou more beauteous in thy nakedness Than ornament can add to— How sweetly doth she breath? How well become Imaginary deadness? But I’ll wake her Unto new life. This purchase I must win. Heaven’s gates stand ope, and Jupiter will in. Danae? He lies upon her bed Danae Who’s that? Jupiter ’Tis I, King Jupiter. Danae What mean you, prince? How dare you enter here, Knowing if I but call your life is doomed, And all Crete’s treasure cannot guard your person? Jupiter You tell me now how much I rate your beauty, Which, to attain, I cast my life behind me, As loved much less than you. Danae I’ll love you too, Would you but leave me. Jupiter Repentance I’d not buy At that high rate, ten thousand times to die. You are mine own, so all the Fates have said, And by their guidance come I to your bed. The night, the time, the place, and all conspire To make me happy in my long desire. Acrisius’ eyes are charmed in golden sleep. Those beldams that were placed your bed to keep, All drownèd in Lethe. Save your downy bed, White sheets, and pillow where you rest your head, None hears or sees. And what can they devise, When they, heaven knows, have neither ears nor eyes? Danae Beshrew you, sir, that for your amorous pleasure Could thus sort all things, person, place, and leisure. Exclaim I could, and a loud uproar keep, But that you say the crones are all asleep. And to what purpose should I raise such fear, My voice being soft, they fast, and cannot hear? Jupiter They are deaf in rest. Then gentle sweet, lie further. If you should call, I thus your voice would murther, And strangle with my kisses. Danae Kisses, tush. I’ll sink into my sheets, for I shall blush. I’ll dive into my bed. Jupiter And I behind? No. Were’t the ocean, such a gem to find, I would dive after. Danae Good my lord, forbear. What do you mean? O heaven! Is no man near? If you will needs, for modesty’s chaste law, Before you come to bed, the curtains draw, But do not come. You shall not by this light! If you but offer’t, I shall cry out right. O God, how hoarse am I, and cannot? Fie! Danae thus naked and a man so nigh? Pray, leave me sir. He makes unready still. Well, I’ll even wink, and then do what you will. The bed is drawn in.
4.6 Enter the Clown, newly waked Clown

I would I were out of this tower of brass, and from all these brazen- faced beldams. If we should fall asleep, and the king come and take us napping, where were we? My lord stays long, and the night grows short, the thing you wot of hath cost him a simple sort of jewels. But if, after all this cost, the thing you wot of would not do, if the peddler should show himself a piddler, he hath brought his hogs to a fair market. Fie upon it, what a snorting forward and backward these beldams keep? But let them sleep on. Some in the house I am sure are awake, and stirring too, or I miss my aim. Well, here must I sit and wait the good hour, till the gate be open, and suffer my eyes to do that, which I am sure my cloak never will, that is, to take nap.

Exit.
4.7 Enter Jupiter and Danae in her nightgown. Danae Alas, my lord, I never loved till now, And will you leave me? Jupiter Beauteous queen, I must, But thus conditioned: to return again, With a strong army to redeem you hence, In spite of Argos, and Acrisius, That dooms you to this bondage. Danae Then farewell. No sooner meet but part? Remember me, For you, great prince, I never shall forget! I fear you have left too sure a token with me Of your remembrance. Jupiter Danae, be’t a son, It shall be ours when we have Argos won. Danae But should you fail? Jupiter I sooner should forget My name, my state, than fail to pay this debt. The day-star ’gins t’appear. The beldams stir, Ready t’unlock the gate. Fair queen, adieu. Danae All men prove false, if Jove be found untrue. Exit Jupiter My man? Enter the Clown Clown My lord. Jupiter Some cloud to cover me. Throw o’er my shoulders Some shadow for this state. The crones are up, And wait t’unprison us. Nay, quickly fellow. Clown Here my lord, cast your old cloak about you. Enter the four beldams in hasete 1 Beldam

Where be these peddlers? Nay, quickly! For heaven’s sake, the gate is open. Nay when? Farewell, my honest friends, and do our humble duties to the great King Jupiter.

 Jupiter King Jupiter shall know your gratitude. Farewell. 2 Beldam

Nay, when I say farewell, farewell.

 Clown

Farewell, good minivers.

 Exeunt diverse ways
5.1 Enter Homer Homer Fair Danae doth his richest jewel wear, That son of whom the Oracle foretold, Which cost both mother and the grandsire dear, Whose fortunes further leisure shall unfold. Think Jupiter returned to Crete in haste, To levy arms for Danae’s free release, But hindered till the time be fully past, For Saturn once more will disturb his peace. A dumb show. Enter King Tros and Ganymede with attendants, to him. Saturn makes suit for aid, shows the king his models, his inventions, his several metals, at the strangeness of which King Tros is moved, calls for drum, and clours, and marches with Saturn The exiled Saturn by King Tros is aided, Tros that gave Troy her name, and there reigned king. Crete by the help of Ganymede’s invaded, Even at that time when Jove should succors bring To rescue Danae, and that warlike power, Must now his native territories guard, Which should have brought her from the brazen tower, For to that end his forces were prepared. We grow now towards our port and wished bay. Gentle’s your love, and Homer cannot stray.
5.2 Enter Neptune and Pluto Neptune Whence are these warlike preparations Made by the king our brother? Pluto ’Tis given out, To conquer Argos. But my sister Juno Suspects some amorous purpose in the king. Neptune And blame her not: the fair Europa’s rape, Brought from Ægenor, and the Cadmian rape; Io the daughter of old Inachus, Deflower’d by him; the lovely Semele, Fair Leda, daughter to King Tyndarus; With many more may breed a just suspect. Nor hath he spared fair Ceres, Queen of Grain, Who bare to him the bright Proserpina. Such scapes may breed just fears, and what knows she But these are to surprise fair Danae. Sound. Enter Jupiter, Arcas, with drum and soldiers Jupiter Arm, royal brothers. Crete’s too small an isle To comprehend our greatness. We must add Argos and Greece to our dominions. And all the petty kingdoms of the eart, Shall pay their homage unto Saturn’s son. This day we’ll take a muster of our forces, And forward make for Argos. Arcas All Arcadia Assemble to this purpose. Jupiter Then set on. The eagle in our ensign we’ll display. Arcas Jove and his fortunes guide us in our way. Enter King Melliseus Melliseus Whither intends the king this warlike march? Jupiter For Argos and Acrisius. Melliseus Rather guard Your native confines. See upon your coast, Saturn with thirty thousand Trojans landed, And in his aid King Tros and Ganymede. Jupiter In never worse time could the tyrant come Than now, to break my faith with Danae. O beauteous love! I fear Acrisius’ ire Will with severest censure chastise thee, And thou wilt deem me faithless and unkind For promise-breach. But what we must, we must. Come, valiant lords. We’ll first our own defend Ere against foreign climes our arm extend. Sound. Enter, with drums and colours, King Tros, Saturn, Ganymede, with other lords and attendants. Saturn Degenerate boys, base bastards, not my sons! Behold, the death we threatened in your cradles We come to give you now. See here King Tros, In pity of deposed Saturn’s wrongs, Is come in person to chastise your pride, And be the heaven’s relentless justicer. Jupiter Not against Saturn as a father, we, But as a murderer, lift our opposite hands. Nature and heaven gives us this privilege, To guard our lives ’gainst tyrants and invaders. That claim we, as we’re men, we would but live. Then take not from us what you cannot give. Tros Where hath not Saturn’s fame abroad been spread For many uses he hath given to man? As navigation, tillage, archery, Weapons and gold? Yet you for all these uses Deprive him of his kingdom. Pluto We but save Our innocent bodies from th’abortive grave. Neptune We are his sons. Let Saturn be content To let us keep what heaven and nature lent. Ganymede Those filial duties you so much forget We come to teach you. Royal kings, to arms! Give Ganymede the onset of this battle, That being a son knows how to lecture them, And chastise their transgressions. Saturn Ganymede, It shall be so. Power out your spleen and rage On our proud issue. Let the thirsty soil Of barren Crete quaff their degenerate bloods, And surfeit in their sins. All Saturn’s hopes And fortunes are engaged upon this day. It is our last and all, be’t our endeavour To win’t for ay, or else to lose it ever. Alarm. The battles join. The Trojans are repulsed. Exit Saturn, Tros, and Trojans.
5.3 Enter Tros and Saturn. Tros Our Trojans are repul’st. Where’s Ganymede? Saturn Amid’st the throng of weapons, acting wonders. Twice did I call aloud to have him fly, And twice he swore he had vowed this day to die. Tros Let’s make up to his rescue. Saturn Tush, ’tis vain. To seek to save him we shall lose ourselves. The day is lost, and Ganymede lost too Without divine assistance. Hie, my lord, Unto your ships. No safety lives a land, Even to the ocean’s margent we are pursued, Then save yourself by sea. Tros Crete, thou hast won My thirty thousand soldiers and my son. Come, let’s to sea. Exit Saturn To sea must Saturn too, To whom all good stars are still opposite. My crown I first bought with my infant’s blood, Not long enjoyed, till Titan wrested it, Re-purchased, and re-lost by Jupiter. These horrid mischiefs that have crowned our brows Have bred in us such strange distemprature, That we are grown dejected and forlorn. Our blood is changed to ink, our hairs to quills, Our eyes half buried in our queachy plots. Consumptions and cold agues have devoured And eat up all our flesh, leaving behind Nought save the image of despair and death. And Saturn shall to after ages be That star that shall infuse dull melancholy. To Italy I’ll fly, and there abide, Till divine powers my place above provide. Exit
5.4 Alarm. Enter Ganymede compassed in with soldiers. To them, Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Arcas, Melliseus Jupiter Yield, noble Trojan. There’s not in the field One of thy nation lifts a hand save thee. Ganymede Why that’s my honour, when alone I stand ’Gainst thee and all the forces of thy land. Jupiter I love thy valour, and would woo thy friendship. Go freely where thou wilt, and ransomless. Ganymede Why, that’s no gift. I am no prisoner, And therefore owe no ransom, having breath. Know I have vowed to yield to none save death. Jupiter I wish thee nobly Trojan, and since favour Cannot attain thy love, I’ll try conclusions, And see if I can purchase it with blows. Ganymede Now speak’st thou like the noblest of my foes. Jupiter Stand all apart, and princes girt us round. Ganymede I love him best whose strokes can loudest sound. Alarm They fight, and losing their weapons, embrace. Jupiter I have thee, and will keep thee. Ganymede Not as pris’ner. Jupiter A prisoner to my love, else thou art free My bosom friend, for so I honour thee. Ganymede I am conquered both by arms and courtesy. Neptune The day is ours. Tros and King Saturn’s fled, And Jupiter remains sole conqueror. Pluto Peace with her golden wings hovers o’er Crete, Frighting hence discord, and remorseless war. Will Jupiter make up for Argos now? Melliseus Winter draws on. The sea’s unnavigable, To transport an army. There attends without A lord of Argos. Jupiter Bring him to our presence. Enter Lord of Argos How stands it with the beauteous Danae? Argos Lord As one distressed by fate, and miserable. Of King Acrisius, and his fort of brass, Danae’s enclosure, and her beldam guard, Who but hath heard? Yet through these brazen walls Love hath broke in, and made the maid a mother Of a fair son, which, when Acrisius heard, Her female guard unto the fire he dooms. His daughter, and the infant prince her son, He puts into a mastless boat to sea, To prove the rigour of the stormy waves. Jupiter Acrisius, Argos, and the world shall know Jove hath been wronged in this. Her further fortunes: Canst thou relate? Argos Lord I can. As far as Naples The friendly winds her mastless boat transports. There succoured by a courteous fisherman She’s first relieved, and after that presented To King Pelonnus, who at this time reigns, Who, ravished with her beauty, crowns her queen, And decks her with th’imperial robes of state. Jupiter What we have scanted is supplied by fate. Here then cease arms, and now court amorous peace With solemn triumphs. And dear Ganymede, Be henceforth called the friend of Jupiter. And if the Fates hereafter crown our brows With divine honours, as we hope they shall, We’ll style thee by the name of cup-bearer, To fill us heavenly nectar, as fair Hebe Shall do the like to Juno our bright queen. Here end the pride of our mortality. Opinion, that makes gods, must style us higher. The next you see us, we in state must shine, Eternized with honours more divine. Exeunt omnes
5.5 Enter Homer Homer Of Danae, Perseus was that night begot, Perseus that fought with the Gorgonian shield, Whose fortunes to pursue time suffers not. For that, we have prepared an ampler field. Likewise how Jove with fair Alcmene lay; Of Hercules, and of his famous deeds; How Pluto did fair Proserpine betray: Of these my muse, now travelled, next proceeds. Yet to keep promise, ere we further wade, The ground of ancient poems you shall see, And how these, first born mortal, gods were made, By virtue of divinest poesy. The Fates, to whom the heathen yield all power, Whose dooms are writ in marble to endure, Have summoned Saturn’s three sons to their tower, To them the three dominions to assure Of Heaven, of Sea, of Hell. How these are scanned, Let none decide but such as understand. Sound, a dumb show. Enter the three fatal sisters, with a rock, a thread, and a pair of shears, bringing in a globe, in which they part three lots. Jupiter draws heaven, at which Iris descends and presents him with his eagle, crown and scepter, and his thunder-bolt. Jupiter first ascends on th’eagle, and after him Ganymede. To Jupiter doth high Olympus fall, Who thunder and the trisulc lightning bears, Dreaded of all the rest in general. He on a princely eagle mounts the spheres. Sound. Neptune draws the sea, is mounted upon a seahorse. A robe and trident with a crown are given him by the Fates. Neptune is made the lord of all the seas, His mace a trident, and his habit blue. He can make tempests, or the waves appease, And unto him the seamen are still true. Sound, thunder and tempest. Enter at four several corners the four Winds. Neptune riseth disturbed. The Fates bring the four winds in a chain, and present them to Aeolus as their king. And for the winds, these brothers that still war Should not disturb his empire, the three Fates Bring them to Aeolus, chained as they are, To be enclosed in caves with brazen gates. Sound. Pluto draws hell. The Fates put upon him a burning robe, and present him with a mace and burning crown. Pluto’s made emperor of the ghosts below, Where with his black guard he in darkness reigns, Commanding Hell, where Styx and Lethe flow, And murderers are hanged up in burning chains. But leaving these, to your judicial spirits I must appeal, and to your wonted grace, To know from you what eyeless Homer merits, Whom you have power to banish from this place. But if you send me hence unchecked with fear, Once more I’ll dare upon this stage t’appear. Exeunt