The golden Age.

I that haue made th'Ægean confines shake,
And with my powerfull voyce affrighted Heauen:
From whose enraged eyes the darkned skyes
Haue borrowed luſtre,and Promethian fire,
Will fright from Creet the proud Saturnian troupe,
And thouſand hack't and mangled ſouldiers bring
To intombe the glories of the Cretan King.

I that haue curl'd the billowes with a frowne,
And with a ſmile haue made the Ocean calme,
Spurn'd downe huge mountains with my armed foot,
And with my shoulders lift the vallies high,
Wil in the wrinkles of my ſtormy brow,
Bury the glories of the Cretan King,
And on his ſlaughtered bulke braine all his ſonnes.

Ægeon. And what ſhall I do then?

Encel. Do thou ſtand ſtill,

Whilft I the foes of Tytan paſh and kill.

Am I not eldeſt from great Tytans loynes,
The Saturniſts hereditarie ſcurdge?

Leaue all theſe deeds of horror to my hand,
I like a Trophy ore their ſpoyles will ſtand.

Lica. Why breath we then?

Encel. Come arme your ſinowy limbes,
With rage and ſury fright pale pitty hence,
And drowne him in the ſweate your bodies ſtill.

With hoſtile induſtry, toſe ſlaming brands
About your fleecy lockes, to threat their Cities.

With death and deſolation, let your ſteele
Gliſtring againſt the ſunne, daze their bright eyes,

That with the dread of our aftonifhment

They may be ſunke in Lethe, and their graue
May be the darke vawlt, cal'd obliuions Caue,

Titan. Are our Embaſſadors to Saturne gone,

To let him know whence this our warre proceedes?

Lica. Your meſſage hath by this ſtartled th'urper,

Encel. Set on them, waſte their confines as we march,

And

# The Golden Age.

And let them taft the rage of sword and fire,
Th' Alarm's giuen, and hath by this arriu'd
Euen at the wals of Creet, the cittadell

Where the Cathedral'd Saturne is enthron'd.

Tytan. Warlicke Ægeon and Enceladus,
Noble Lycaon lend vs your affiſtance

To forradge as we march, plant defolation
Through all this fertile ſoile, be this your cry;

Reuendge on Saturne for his periury.

Exit.

Enter Saturne with haire and beard ouergrowne, Si-
billa, Iuno, his Lords, drum, colours and ſouldiers.

Sat. None speake, let no harſh voyce preſume to iarr
In our diſtrefſed care, I am all ſadneſſe,

All horrour and aſrightment, ſince the ſlaughter
And tragick murder of my firſt borne Ops,

Continued in the vnnaſt urall maſſacre

Of three yong Princes: not a day hath paſt me
Without diſtaſt, no night but double darkned

With terour and confuſed melancholy:

No houre but hath had care and diſcontent

Proportion'd to his minutes not an inſtant:

Without remorſe and anguich. Oh you crownes,
Why are you made, and mettald out of cares?

I am ouergrowne with ſorrow, circumuoulu'd
With multiplicity of diſtempratures,

And Saturne is a King of nothing eſſe,

But woes, vexations, ſorrowes, and laments.

To adde to theſe the threatnings of red war,
As if the murther of my Princely babes

Were not enough to plague an ſurpation,

But they muſt adde the rage of sword and fire,

To affright my people: theſe are miſeries,

Able to be compriſed in no dimenſion.

Iuno. My father ſhall not macerate himſelfe,
Ile dare to interrupt his paſſions,

Although I buy it deerely with his hate.

My Lord you are a King of a great people,

Your

The Golden Age.

Your power sufficient to repulse a foe
Greater than Tytian. Though my brothers birthes
Be crown'd in bloud, yet am I still referu'd
To be the hopefull comfort of your age.

Sat. My dearest Iune, beautifull remainder
Of Saturn, s royall iffue, but for thee
I had ere this with these my fingers torne
A graue out of the rockes, to haue entomb'd
The wretched carkaffe of a caitife King:
And I will liue, be't but to make thee Queene
Of all the triumphes and the spoyles I winne.
Speake, what's the proiect of their inuafion?

I. Lord. That the King of Creet,
Hath not (according to his vowes and oathes)
Slaine his male iffue.

Sat. Haue I not their blouds
Already quaft to angry Nemesis?
Haue not these ruthlesse and remorflesse eyes,
(Vn-father-like) beheld their panting hearts
Swimming in bowltes of bloud? Am I not fonne-leffe?
Nay child-leffe too, faue Iune whom I loue :
And dare they then? Come, our continued forrow,
Shall into scarlet indignation turne,
And my fonnes bloud shall crowne their guilty heads.
With purple vengeance. Valiant Lords, set on,
And meet them to their last destruption.

I. Lord. March forward.
Sat. Stay, becaufe wee'l ground our warres
On iustice: Faire Sibilla, on thy life,
I charge thee tell me, and difſemble not,
By all the hopes in Saturne thou haft for'd,
Our nuptiall pleafures, and affaires of loue,
As thou eſteem't our grace, or vengeance fear it,
Reſolue me truly. Haſt thou ſonnes alue?
These teares, and that deiection on thy knee,
Accompanied with dumbneſſe, argue guilt,
Arife and ſpeake.

Sibilla
kneecles.

F

Sibt

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Sib. Let Saturne know, I am a Woman then,
And more, I am a Mother: would you haue me
A monfter, to exceed in cruelty
The Sauadgeſt of Sauadges? Beares, Tygers, Wolues,
All feed their yong: would Saturne haue his Queene
More fierce then theſe? Thinke you Sibilla dare
Murder her yong, whom cruell beaſts would ſpare?
Let me be held a mother, not a murdrefſe:
For Saturne, thou haſt liuing three braue ſonnes.
But where? rather then to reueale to thee,
That thou may'ſt ſend, their guiltl eſſe bloud to ſpill,
Here ceaſe my life, for them thou ſhalt not kill.

Sat. Amazement, warre, the threatning Oracle,
All muſter ſtrange perplexions 'bout my braine,
And robbe me of the true ability
Of my direct conceiuements. Doubt, and warre,
Tytans inuaſion, and my ielouſie,
Make me vnſit for anſwere.

1. Lord. Royall Saturne,
'Twas pitty in the Queene ſo to prefere them.
Your ſtrictneſſe ſlew them, they are dead in you,
And in the pitty of your Queene ſuruine.

Sat. Diuine affiſtance plunge me from theſe troubles,
Mortality here failes me, I am wrapt
In millions of confuſions.

Enter a Lord.

2. Lord. Arme, great Saturne,
Thy Cities burne: a generall maſſacre
Threatens thy people. The bigge Tytanoys
Plow vp thy Land with their inuaſiue ſteele.
A huge vn-numbred army is at hand,
To ſet vpon thy Campe.

Sat. All my diſturbances
Conuert to rage, and make my ſpleene as high
As is their topleſſe ſury, to encounter
With equal force and vengeance. Go Sibilla,
Conuey my beauteous Iuno to the place
Of our beſt ſtrength, whil'ſt we contend in Armes

For

# The Golden Age.

For this rich Cretan wreath: the battel done,
And they confin'd, wee'l treat of these affaires.
Perhaps our loue may with this breach dispence,"
But firſt to Armes, to beate th'intruders hence. Exeunt.

Alarme. Enter Tytan, Lycaon, Enceladus, Egeon.

Tyt. Saturne giues backe, and 'gins to leaue the field.

Lica. Purſue him then vnto that place of ſtrength,
Which the proud Cretans hold impregnable.

Encel. This Gigomantichia be eternis'd

For our affright and terror: If they flye,
Toſſe rockkes, and toppes of Mountaines after them
To ſtumble them, or else entombe them quicke.

Ægeon. They haue already got into the towne,
And barricadoed 'gainſt vs their Iron gates.

What meanes then ſhall we finde to ſtartle them?

Exe. What, but to ſpurn down their offenciue mures?
To ſhake in two their Adamantine gates,
Their marble columns by the ground ſylls teare,
And kiſſe their ruin'd walles as high as heauen?

Tyt. Purſue them to their gates, and 'bout their Citie
Plant a ſtrong ſiege. Now Saturne all my ſuffrances
Shall on thy head fall heauy, wee'l not ſpare
Oldman or babe. The Tytans all things dare. Exeunt.

Alarme. Enter Saturne, Sibilla, Iuno, with other Lords of Crees.

Sat. The heauens haue for our barbarous cruelty
Done in the murther of our firſt borne Ops,
Powr'd on our head this vengeance. Where, oh where
Shall we finde rerefcue?

Sib. Patience royall Saturne.

Sat. Bid Woolues be milde, and Tygers pittiful,
Command the Libian Lions abſtinence,
Teach me to mollifie the Corſicke rocke,
Or make the Mount Chymera paſſable.
What Monarch wrapt in my confuſions,
Can tell what patience meanes?

Iuno. Oh royall Father!

Sat. Oh either teach me rerefcue from these troubles,

F 2

Or

The golden Age.

Or bid me euer laftingly, ey euer
Sinke in defpaire and horror,

Syb. Oh my Lord,
You haue from your owne loines iffue reſuerued, that may
redeeme all theſe calamities.

Saturne. Ifſue from vs?

Syb. From Saturne and Sybilla.
That royall Prince King of Pelagia,
And famous Melliseus foster-child,
Whom all the world ſtiles by the noble name
Of Iupiter, hee is King Saturnes ſonne.

Satu. Thou haſt Sybilla kept that ſonne aliue
That onely can redeeme mee from this thraldome,
Oh how ſhall we acquaint yong Iupiter,
With this his fathers hard ſucceſſe in Armes.

Syb. My care did euer theſe cuents foreſee.
And I haue ſent to your ſuruuiing ſonne,
To come vnto your reſcue; Then great Saturne,
In your wiues pitty ſeeme to applaude the heauens,
That make me their relentfull minifter,
In the repairing of your downe caſt-ſtate.

Satu. If royall Iupiter be Saturnes ſonne,
We ſhall be either reſcued or reueng'd,
And now I ſhall not dread thoſe Tytanois,
That threaten fire and ſteele.

Syb. Truſt your Sybilla.

Satu. Thou art my anchor, and the onely columne
That ſupports Saturnes glory, Oh my Iupiter,
On thee the basiſ of my hopes I erect,
And in thy life King Saturnes fame ſuruuiues.
Are meſſengers dispatch'd to ſigniſe
My ſonne of our diſtreſſe.

Sib. As farre as Empire.
Where as we vnderſtand, Ioue now remaines.

Satu. Then Tytan, and the proud Enceladus,
Hyperion and Aſgeon with the reſt,
Of all the earth-bread race we wey you not,

Threaten

The Golden Age.

Threaten your worth, let all your eyes sparke fire,
Your flaming nofthrils like *Auernus* finoake,
Your tongues speak thunder, & your armed hands
Fling Trifulke lightning: Be you Gods aboue,
Or come you with infernall hatred arm'd,
We dread you not: we haue a Sonne furuiues,
Shall calme your tempefts: beautious Iuno comfort,
And cheare Sybilla, if he vndertake
Our rescue, we from danger are secure,
Wee in his valour all our liues affure.

Exeunt.

A flourish. Enter Iupiter and Mellifeus with attendants

*Mell.* Faire Prince, for lesse by your defertes and honour,
You cannot be: your fortunes and your birth
Are both vnknowne to me: my two faire daughters
As a swath'd infant brought you to my Court,
But whence, or of what parents you proceed,
I am meerely ignorant.

Iup. Then am I nothing,
And till I know whence my descent hath bene,
Or from what house deriu'd, I am but aire,
And no effentiall substance of a man.

Enter Califto purfu'd by her yong Sonne Archas.

*Cal.* Help, help, for heauen false help, I am purfu'd,
And by my sonne, that seemes to threate my life,

Iup. Stay that bold lad.

*Cal.* What's he? false Iupiter?

Iup. Califto, or I much deceive my selfe.

*Cal.* Oh thou most false, most treacherous, and vnkind,
Behold Califto by her Sonne purfu'd,
Indeed thy Sonne: this little Sauadge youth
Hath liued'mongst Tygers, Lyons, Wolues, and Beares,
And since his birth partakes their cruelty.

*Archas.* his name: since I Diana left,
And from her chaft traine was diuorct, this youth
I childed in a caue remote and silent.

His nutture was amongst the Sauadges.

This day I by misfortune mou'd his spleene,

F 3

And

The golden Age.

And he pursu'd me with reuenge and fury,
And had I not forsooke the shades and forrefts,
And fled for rescue to these walled Townes,
He had flaine me in his fury: saue me then,
Let not the sonne the mother sacrifice
Before the fathers eye.

Iup. Archas my fonne, my yong Son Archas, Iupiters firſt borne
Oh let me hugge thee, and a thousand times
Embrace thee in myne armes. Lycaons grand-child
Califo's fonne; Oh will you beauteous Lady
Forſake the forreſts and yet liue with vs?

Cal. No thou falſe man, for thy periurious luſts
I haue abandoned humaine ſubtelties:

There take thy ſonne, and vſe him like a Prince,
Being ſonne vnto a Princeſſe. Teach him Arts,
And honoured armes. For me: I haue abiur'd
All peopled Cities, and betooke my ſelſe
To ſolitary deſetts. Ioue adue.

Thou prouing falſe, no mortall can be true Exit.

Arc. Since ſhe will needs be gone, be pleafed then,
Weari'd with beaſts, I long to liue' mong ſt men.

Iup. Yet stay Califo, why wilt thou out-runne
Thy Iupiter? Shee gone, welcome my ſonne.

My deere ſonne Archas, whom if fortune ſmile,
I will create Lord of a greater ſtyle.

Enter the Clowne with letiers.

Clowne. Saue you fir, is your name K. Mellifeus

Melli. We are Mellifeus, and the Epire King,

Clowne. Then this letter is to you, but is there not one in your
Court, cal'd (let me see) haue you here neuer a gibbit-maker?

Iup. Sirra, here's one cal'd Iupiter.

Clowne. Ey Iupiter, that's he that I would ſpeake with. Here's
another letter to you, but ere you reade it, pray let me aske you
one queſtion. Iup. What's that?

Clowne. Whether you be a wife child or no?

Iup. Your reaſon?

Clowne. Because I would know whether you know your own
father

The golden Age.

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.

Iup. Newes of a father! neuer could such tydings
Haue glutted me with gladneſſe.
They reade.

Clowne For mine owne part, though I know not what be-
longs to the getting of children, yet I know how to father a
child, & because I would be loath to haue this Parifh troubled
with you, I bring you newes where you were borne. I was the
man that laid you at this man's dore, & if you will not go home
quietly, you shall be ſent from Conſtable to Conſtable, tili you
come to the place where you were begot. Reade further & tell
me more.

Melli. Is I Jupiter then mighty Saturns ſonne?
Iup. Am I the ſonne of Saturne, King of Creet?
My father baffled by the Tytanoys?
May all my toward hopes die in my birth,
Nor let me euer worthily inherite
The name of royalty, if by my valour
I proue me not diſcended royally,

Clowne. I was the man that tooke paines with you, 'twas I
that brought you in the hand-basket.

Iup. Should I haue wifht a father through the world,
It had bene Saturne, or a royall mother,
It had bene faire Sybilla, Queene of Creet.
Great Epires King, peruse these tragicke lines,
And in thy wonted bounty grant supplies
To free my noble father.

Mel. Iupiter, as I am Mellisens Epyres King,
Thou ſhalt haue free affiſtance.

Iup. Come then, Arme,
Aſſemble all the powers that we can leauy.
Archas, we make thee of Pelagia King,
As King Lycaons Gran-childe, and the ſonne
Offaire Califto. Let that Clime henceforth
Be cal'd Arcadia, and vſurp e thy name.
Go then and preſſe th' Arcadians to the reſcue
Of royall Saturne, this great King and I

Will

The golden Age.

Will lead th'Epyrians. Faile me not to meet,
To redeem Saturne, and to rescue Creet. Exeunt. Manet Clown.

Clown. I haue no mind to this buffeting: Il'e walke after faire
and softly, in hope that all the buffeting may be done before I
come. Whether had I better go home by land, or by sea? If I
go by land, and mis-carry, then I go the way of all flesh. If I
go by sea and mis-carry, then I go the way of all fish: I am not
yet resolu'd. But how to euer, I haue done my meffage so cleanly,
that they cannot say, the meffenger is be-reau'd of any thing
that belongs to his meffage.

Alarme. Enter Tytan, Lycaon, Enceladus, with Saturne, Iuno,
and Sibilla prisoners.

Tyt. Downe trecherous Lord, and be our foot-pace now
To ascend our high tribunall. Wher's that God-head
With which the people Auee'd thee to heauen?

Encel. 'Tis funke into the deep Abyfme of hell.
Teare from his head the golden wreath of Creet.
Tread on his captiue bulke, and with thy weight
Great Tytan, finke him to the infernall shades,
So low, that with his trunke, his memory
May be extinct in Lethe.

Sat. More then tyrannous
To triumph or e the weake, and to oppreffe
The low deiested. Let your cruelty
Be the sad period of my wretchedneffe :
Onely preferue my louely Iuno's life,
And give Sibilla freedome, Encel. By these Gods,
We neither feare nor value, but contend
To equall in our actions: both shall dye.
There shall no proud Saturnian liue, to braue
The meaneft of the high-borne Tytanoyes.

Lyca. Raze from the earth their hatefull memory,
And let the bloud of Tytan sway the earth.
Speake, are the ports and confines strongly arm'd
'Gainst all inuafions?

Tytan. Who dares damadge vs?
Let all the passages be open left,

Vnguarded

## he golden Age.

Vnguarded let our ports and hauens lye.
All danger we despife,mischance or dread
We hold in bafe contempt. Encel.Conqueſt is ours.
Maugre diuine,or bafe terreſtriall powers. Alarme.

Enter Ægeon.

Æge.Arme royall Titan, Arme Enceladus,
A pale of brandisht ſteele hath girt thy land.
From the earths Cauernes breake infernall fires,
To make thy villages and hamlets burne.
Tempeſtuous ruin in the shape of warre
Clowds all thy populous kingdome,At my heeles
Confuſion dogges me,and the voyce of death
Still thunders in mine eares.

Tyt. Iſt poſſible? Beare Saturne firſt to prifon
Wee'l after parly them.

Ence. Come Angels arm'd,or Diuels'clad in flames,
Our fury ſhall repell them. Come they girt
With power celeſtiall,or infernall rage,
Wee'l ſtand their fierce oppoſure. Royall Titan,
Ægeon and Hyperion,d'on your armes,
Brauely aduance your ſtrong orbicular ſhields,
And in your right hands brandisht your bright ſteele.
Drowne your affrightments in th'amazed ſounds
Of martiall thunder (Diapason'd deep)
Wee'l ſtand them,be they Gods;(if men,) expell
Their ſtrengthles force, and ſtownd them low as hell,
A Florish. Enter marching K. Mellifeus, Iupiter, Archas,
Drumme and ſouldiers.

Tit. Whence are you that intrude vpon our confines?
Or what portend you in these hostile ſounds
Of clamorous warre? Inp. Tytans deſtruction,
With all the ruin of his giant race.

Tit. By what pretence or claime?

Inp. In right of Saturne:
Whom againſt law the Tytans haue depos'd.

Tit. What art thou speak'ft it?

Inp. I am Iupiter.

G

King

# The Golden Age.

King Saturnes fonne, immediate heire to Creet.

*Encel.* There paſſe, that word diſturbs all thy claime,
And proues that Tytan ſeates him in his owne.

*Tyt.* If Saturne (as thou ſay'ſt) hath ſonnes aliue,
His oath is broken, and we are iuſtly ſeiz'd
Of Creta's Crowne by his late forſeiture.

*Aege.* Thy tongue hath ſpoke thy owne deſtruction,
Since whom K. Saturne ſpar'd, our ſwords muſt kill,
And he is come to offer vp that life
Which hath ſo long beene forſeit.

*Imp.* Tyrants no:

The heauens prefer'd me for a further vſe,
To plague your Off-ſpring that afflict the earth,
And with your threatnings ſpurne againſt the Gods.

*Lyca.* Now Ihaſt thou pay me for Califo's wrong,
Exiling me, and for diſhonouring her.

*Imp.* Are you there Caniball? Man-eating woolſe?
Lycaon, thou art much beholding to me,
I woman'd firſt Califo, and made thee
A grand-father. Doſt not thank me for't?

See heer's the Boy, this is Archadia's King.
No more Pelagia now, ſince thy exile.

*Tyt.* To thee that ſtil'ſt thy ſelfe K. Saturnes fonne:
Know thou waſt doom'd before thy birth to dye,
Thy claime diſabled, and in ſauing thee
Thy father hath made forſeit of his Crowne.

*Imp.* Know Tytan I was borne free, as my father,
Nor had he power to take that life away
That the Gods freely gaue me. Tyrants ſee,
Here is that life you by Indenture claime,
Seize it, and take it: but before I fall,

Death and deſtruction ſhall confound you all.

*Encel.* Deſtruction is our vaffaile, and attends
Vpon the threatning of our ſtormy browes.
We trifle howers. Arme all your fronts with horror,
Your hearts with ſury, and your hands with death.
Thunder meet thunder, tempeſts ſtormes deſſe,
Saturne and all his iſſue this day dye.

Alarme

The Golden Age.

Alarme. The battels ioine, Tytan is flaine, and his party repulſt.

Enter Aſgeon.

Æge. When's now the high and proud Enceladus,
To ſtop the fury of the Aduerſe foe,
Or ſtay the bafe flight of our daſtard troupes?

Tytan is flaine, Hyperion ſtrowes the earth,
And thouſands by the hand of Iupiter
Are ſent into blacke darkneſſe. All that ſtand
Sink in the weight of his high Iouiall hand.
To ſhun whose rage, Aſgeon thou muſt flye.
Creet with our hoped conqueſts all adiew.

We muſt propoſe new queſts, ſince Saturnes ſonne
Hath by his puſſance all our campe ore-runne.

Exit.

Alarme, Enter Enceladus leading his Army. Iupiter leading his. They make a ſtand.

Ence. None ſtir, be all your armes cramp't & diſeas'd
Your ſwords vn-vſefull, may your ſteely glaues
Command your hands, and not your ſinewes them,
Till I by ſingle valor haue ſubdu'd

This murderer of my father.

Iup. Here he ſtands,
That muſt for death haue honour at thy hands.
None interrupt vs, ſingly wee'l contend,
And'twixt vs two giue theſe rude faſtions end.

Encel. Two royall armies then on both ſides ſtand,
To view this ſtrange and dreadfull Monomachy.

Thy fall, Saturnian, addes to my renowne:
For by thy death I gaine the Cretan Crowne,

Iup. Death is thy due, I finde it in thy ſtarres,
Whilft our high name giues period to theſe warres.

Alarm. They combat with iauelings firſt, after with ſwords and tar-
gets. Iupiter kils Enceladus, and enters with victory, Iupiter, Sa-
turne, Sibilla, Iuno, Mellifeus, Archas, with the Lords of Creet.

Sat. Neuer was Saturne deſi'd till now,
Nor found that perfectneſſe the Gods enioy.
Heauen can aſſure no greater happineſſe

Then I attaine in fight of Iupiter,

Sib. Oh my deare ſon, borne with my painful throws,

G 2

And

The Golden Age.

And with the hazard of my life prefer'd,
How well haſt thou acquitted all my trauels,
In this thy laſt and famous victory?

Iup. This tells me, that yon royall King of Creet
My father is: and that renowned Queene
My mother: all which proues by circumstance,
That 'tis but duty, that by me's atchieu'd.
Onely yon beauteous Lady ſtands apart,
I know not how to ſtile.

Satu. 'Tis Iuno, and thy ſifter. Iup. Oh my ſtars!
You ſeeke to make immortal, Iupiter.

Iuno. Iuno is onely happy in the fortunes,
Of her renowned brother. Iup. Royall Saturne,
If euer I deferu'd well as a victor,
Or if my warlike deedes, yet bleeding new,
And perſe&c both in eyes and memory
May pleade for me: Oh if I may obtaine,
As one that merits, or intreate of you,
As one that owes; being titled now your ſonne,
Let me eſpouſe faire Iuno: and bright Lady
Let me exchange the name of ſifter with you,
And ſtile you by a neerer name of wife.
Oh be my ſpouſe faire Iuno.

Iuno. 'Tis a name,
I prife' boue ſifter, if theſe grace the ſame.

Satu. What is it I'deny my Iupiter?
Shee is thy owne. I'l royalife thy nuptials
With all the ſolemn triunphes Creet can yeeld.
Melli. Epyre ſhall adde to theſe ſolemnities,
And with a bounteous hand ſupport theſe triumphs.

Archas. So all Archadia ſhall.
Satu. Then to our Pallace
Paſſe on in ſtate, let all raryeties
Showre downe from heauen a lardges, that theſe bridals may
exceede mortall pompe. March, March, and leauſe mee
To contemplate theſe ioyes, and to deuife,
How with beſt ſtate this night to ſolemnize.

They.

The golden Age.

They all march of and leaue Saturne alone.
Satu. Saturne at length is happy by his fonne,
Whose matchleffe and vnriual'd dignities
Are without peere on earth, Oh ioy, ioy? corfiue
Worfe then the throwes of child-birth, or the tortures
Of blacke Cimmerian darkenesse. Saturne, now
Bethinke thee of the Delphiun Oracle:
He shall his fathers vertue firft excell,
Seife Creet, and after driue him downe to hell.
The firft is paft: my vertues are exceeded:
The laft I will preuent, by force or treason.
I'l worke his ruine 'ere he grow too hygh,
His starres haue caft it, and the boy shall dy.
More fonnes I haue, more crownes I cannot winne,
The Gods fay he muft dy, and tis no finne.

Actus. 4. Scœna. I. Enter Homer.

Homer. O blind ambition and defire of raine,
What horri'd miſchiefe wilt not thou deuife?
The appetite of rule, and thirt of raigne
Befots the foolish, and corrupts the wife.
Behold a King ſuspicious of his ſonne,
Purſues his innocent life, and without cauſe.
Oh blind ambition what haſt thou not done
Againſt religion, zeale and natures lawes?

But men are borne their owne fates to purſue,
Gods will be Gods, and Saturne finds it true.

A dumbe ſhew. Enter Iupiter, Iuno, Mellifeus, Archas, as to
reuels. To them Saturne, drawes his ſword to kill Iupiter, who onely
defends himſelfe, but beeing hotly purſu'd, drawes his ſword, beates
away Saturne, ſeith his crowne, and ſweares all the Lords of Creet
to his obeyſance, ſo Exit.

Saturne againſt his ſonne his force extended,
And would haue ſlaine him by his tyrannous hand,
Whilſt Iupiter alone his life defended.
But when no prayers his fury could withstand,
Hee vſ'd his force, his father droue from Creet,
And as the Oracle before had told

G 3

Vsurpt

The golden Age.

Vsurpt the Crowne, the Lords kneele at his feete,
And Saturnes fortunes are to exile fold.
But leauing him, of Danae that bright laffe,
How amorous Ioue firft wrought her to his power,
How shee was closed in a fort of braffe,
And how he skal'd it in a golden fhowre,
Of these we next muft Ipeake, curtious and wife,
Help with your hands, for Homer wants his eyes.
A flourish. Enter Iupiter, Iuno, the Lords of Creet,
Mellifeus, Archas, Neptune, and Pluto.

Iup. Our vnkind father double tyrannous,
To proſecute the vertues of his ſonne,
Hath ſought his owne Fate, and by his ingratitude
Left to our head th'Imperiall wreath of Creet:
Which gladly we receiue. Neptune from Athens,
And Pluto from the lower Tartarie
Both welcome to the Cretan Iupiter.
Thofe Starres that gouern'd our nativity,
And ſtript our fortunes from the hand of death,
Shall guard vs and maintaine vs. Nept. Noble Saturne,
Famous in all things, and degenerate onely,
In that inhumaine prætife 'gainſt his ſonnes,
Is ſled vs, whom we came to viſite freely,
And filiall duties to expreſſe. Great Athens
The nurſe and foſtreſſe of my infancy,
I haue inſtructed in the ſea-mans craft.
And taught them truely how to ſaile by ſtarres
Befides the vnruly Iennet I haue tam'd
And train'd him to the faddle for my prætife.
The horſe to mee is ſoly confecrate.

Pluto. I from the bounds of lower Tartarie
Haue trauel'd to the fertile plaines of Creet.
Nor am I leſſe in luſtre of my fame,
Then Neptune, or renowned Iupiter.
Thofe barren Kingdomes I haue richt with spoiles,
And not a people trafficks in those worlds,
For wealth or treaſure, but we cnſtome them,

And

# The golden Age.

Nept. Of her inclosure in the Darreine Tower,
Guilt with a triple Mure of shining braffle.
Haue you not heard ?

Iup. But we desire it highly.

What marble wall, or Adamantine gate,
What Fort of steele, or Castle forg'd from braffle,
Loue cannot scale? or beauty not breake through?

Discourse the nouell Neptune.

Nept. Thus it was.

The Queene of Arges going great, the King
Sends (as the custome is) to th'Oracle,

To know what fortunes shall betide the babe.

Answer's return'd by Phæbus and his Priests:

The Queene shall childe a daughter beautifull,

Who when she growes to yeares, shall then bring forth

A valiant Princely boy, yet such a one

That shall the King his grandfire turne to stone.

Danae is borne, and as she growes to ripeneſſe,
So grew her fathers feare : and to preuent

His ominous fate pronounc'd by th'Otacle,

He mowlds this brazen Tower, impregnable

Both for the feat and guard : yet beautifull

As is the gorgeous palace of the Sunne.

Iup. Ill doth Acrisius to contend and warre

Againft the unchanging Fates, Il'e scale that Tower:

Or raine downe millions in a golden shower.

I long to be the father of that babe,

Begot on Danae, that shall proue so braue,

And turne the dotard to his marble graue.

Tis caſt already: Fate be thou my guide,

Whil't for this amorous iourney I prouide.

Mel. But is the Lady there immur'd, and clos'd

From all society and fight of man?

Nept. So full of icalous feares is King Acrisius,

That, faue himſelfe, no man muſt neere the Fort.

Only a guard of Beldams paſt their luſts,

Vnſenſible of loue, or amorous pitty,

Partly by bribes hir'd, partly curb'd with threats,

Are

The Golden Age.

Are guard vnto this bright imprisoned dame.

Plut. Too pittileſſe, and too obdur's the King,
To cloyſter beauty from the fight of man.
But this concernes not vs. Iup. That fort I'le ſcale,
Though in attempting it be death to faile.
Brothers and Princes, all our Courts rarities
Lye open to your royal ſt entertainment
Yet pardon me, ſince vrgence cals me hence.
To an inforced abſence. Nay Queene Iuno
You muſt be pleas'd, the cauſe imports vs highly.
Feaſt with theſe Princes till our free returne.
Attendance Lords, we muſt descend in gold.
Or yon imprisoned beauty ne'r behold.
Exit.

Enter ſoure old Beldams, with other women.

1. Beld. Heer's a coyle to keep fire and tow a ſunder. I won-
der the King ſhould ſhut his daughter vp so close: for any thing
I ſee, ſhe hath no minde to a man.

2. Beld. Content your ſelfe, you ſpeake according to your age and appetite. We that are full fed may praife faſt. We that in our heate of youth haue drunke our bellyfuls, may deride thofe that in the heate of their blouds are athirt. I meaſure her by what I was, not by what I am. Appetite to loue neuer failes an old woman, till cracking of nuts leaues her. When Danae hath no more teeth in her head then you and I, I'l'etrust a man in her company, and ſcarce then: for if we examine our ſelues, wee haue euen at theſe yeares, qualmes, and rhumes, and deuifes comes ouer our ſtomakes, when we but look on a proper man.

1. Beld. That's no question, I know it by my ſelfe, and while it
I ſtand centinell, I'll watch her for that I warrant her.

2. Bel. And haue we not reaſon, confidering the penalty ?

1. Bel. If any ſtand centinel in her quatters, we ſhall keep quar-
ter here no longer. If the Princesſe miſcarry we ſhall make gun-
powder, and they ſay an old woman is better for that then Salt-
peter.

*The larme bell rings.*

3. Beld. The larme bell rings,
It ſhould be K. Acrifius by the ſound of the clapper.

4. Beld. Then clap close to the gate and let him in.

H.

Enter.

The Golden Age.

Enter Acrisius.

Acri. Ladies well done: I like this prouidence
And carefull watch o're Danae: let me finde you
Faithleffe, you dye, be faithfull and you liue
Eterniz'd in our loue, Go call her hither,
Be that your charge: the rest keep watchfull eye
On your percullift entrance, which forbids
All men, faue vs, free paſſage to this place.
See! Danae is defcended. Faire daughter Enter Danae.
How do you brook this palace? Dan. Like a prifon:
What is it else? you giue me golden fetters,
As if their value could my bondage leſſen.

Acri. The architectur's ſumptuous, and the building
Of coſt inualuable, so rich a ſtructure
For beauty, or for ſtate, the world affoords not.
Is not thy attendance princely, like a Queenes?
Are not all theſe thy vaffails to attend?
Are not thy chambers faire, and richly hung?
The walkes within this barricadoed mure
Full of delight and pleafure for thy taſte
And curious palate, all the chiefest cates
Are from the furthest verges of the earth
Fetch't to content thee. What diſtates thee then?
Dan. That which alone is better then all theſe,
My liberty. Why am I cloyſter'd thus,
And kept a prifoner from the fight of man?
What hath my innocence and infancy
Deseru'd to be immur'd in brazen walls?
Can you accuſe my faith, or modeſty?
Hath any ſ loose demeanour in my carriage
Bred this diſtruſt? hath my eye plaid the rioter?
Or hath my tongue beene lauith? haue my ſauours
Vn-virginlike, to any beene profuſe,
That it ſhould breed in you ſuch ielouſe,
Or bring me to this durance?

Acri. None of theſe.
I loue my Danæ. But when I record

The

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The Oracle, it breeds such fear in me,
That makes this thy reteinement.

Danae. The Oracle?

Wherein vnto the least of all the Gods
Hath Danae beene vnthankfull, or profane,
To bondage me that am a princeſſe free,
And votareſſe to euery deity ?

Acri. Il'e tell thee Lady. The vnchanging mouth
Of Phæbus, hath this Oracle pronoun'ſt,
That Danae ſhall in time childe such a ſonne,
That ſhall Acrifius change into a ſtone.

Danae. See your vaine feares. What leſſe could Phæbus ſay?
Or what hath Danae's fate deferu'd in this?
To turne you into ſtone; that's to prepare
Your monument, and marble ſepulcher.
The meaning is, that I a ſonne ſhall haue,
That when you dye ſhall beare you to your graue.
Are you not mortall? would you euer liue ?
Your father dy'd, and to his Monument
You like a mourner did attend his herſe.
What you did to your father, let my ſonne
Performe to you, prepare your ſepulcher.
Or ſhall a ſtranger beare you to your tombe,
When from your owne bloud you may ſtore a Prince
To do thofe ſacred rights: or ſhall vaine feares
Cloifter my beauty, and confume my yeares?

Acri. Our feares are certaine, and our doome as fix't
As the degrees of Gods. Thy durance here
Is with limit endleſſe. Go attend her
Vnto her chamber, there to liue an Ankreſſe.
And changeleſſe virgin, to the period
Of her laſt hower. And you, to whom this charge
Solely belongs, baniſh all womaniſh pitty:
Be deafe vnto her prayers, blinde to her teares,
Obdure to her relenting paſſions.
Should ſhe (as heauen and th'Oracle forbid)
By your corrupting loose that precious Gemme

H 2

We

The

# The golden Age.

We haue such care to keepe and locke safe vp:
Your liues are doom'd. Be faithfull we desire,
And keepe your bodies from the threatned fire.

Exit.

1. **Beld.** Heauen be as chary of your Highneſſe life,
As we of Dana's honour. Now if ſhee bee a right woman, ſhee
will haue a minde onely to looſe that, which her father hath ſuch
care to keepe. There is a thing that commonly ſtickes vnder a
womans ſtomacke.

2. **Beld.** What do we talking of things? there muſt be no med-
ling with things in this place, come let vs fet our watch, and
take our lodgings before the Princesſe chamber,

Exit.

Enter Iupiter like a Pedler, the Clowne his man, with

packs at their backes.

(charge

Iup. Sirrah, now I haue ſworne you to ſecrecy attend your

Clo. Charge me to the mouth, and till you giue fire I'l not of.

Iup. Thou know'st I haue ſtuſt my packe with rich iewels,
to purchase one iewell worth all theſe.

Clowne. If your pretious ſtones were fet in that Iewell it
would be braue wearing.

Iup. If we get entrance, ſooth me vp in all things: & if I haue recourse to the Princesſe, if at any time thou seeſt me whisper to her, find some tricke or other to blinde the Beldams eyes.

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

Iup. No more K. Iupiter but goodman Pedler, remember that

Clow. I haue my memorandums about me. As I can beare a
packe, so I can beare a braine, & now I talke of a packe, though
I know not of the death of any of your freinds, I am forry for
your heauineſſe.

Iup, Loue and my hopes doe make my loade seeme light,
This wealth I will vnburthen in the purchase
Of yon rich beauty. Prethee ring the bell,

Clow. Nay do you take the rope in your hand for lucke ſake.
The morall is, becauſe you ſhall ring all-in. He rings the bell,

Iup. I care not if I take thy connſell.

Enter the 4. Beldams.

1. **Beld.** To the gate, to the gate, and know who tis ere you
open.

2. **Beld.**

The Golden Age.

2. Beld. I learn't that in my youth, itill to know who knockt before I would open.

Iup. Saue you gentle Matrons: may a man be so bold as aske what he may call this rich and ftately Tower?

3. Beld. Thou seem't a stranger to aske such a queftion, For where is not the tower of Darreine knowne?

Clow. It may be cal'd the tower of Barren for ought I see, for heere is none but are paft children.

4. Beld. This is the rich and famous Darreine Tower, Where King Acrifus hath inclof'd his daughter, The beautious Danae, famous through the world For all perfections,

Iup. Oh then't is here; I here I muft vnload. Comming through Greet, the great King Iupiter Intreated me to call here at this Tower, And to deliuer you some speciall Iewels, Of high prif'd worth, for he would haue his bounty Renown'd through all the earth. Downe with your packe, For here muft wee vnload.

1. Beld. Iewels to vs?

2. Beld. And from Iupiter?

Iup. Now gold proue thy true vertue. Thou canst all things and therefore this.

3. Beld. Comes he with preſents, and ſhall he vnpacke at the gate? nay come into the Porters lodge good Pedlers.

Clowne, That Lady hath some manners, ſhee hath bene well brought vp I warrant her.

4. Beld. And I can tell thee pedler, thou haſt that curteſy that neuer any man yet found but the King Acrifus.

Iup. You ſhall be well paid for your curteſy, Here's firſt for you, for you, for you, for you.

1. Beld. Rare!

2. Beld. Admirable!

3. Beld. The beſt that e're I ſaw!

4. Beld. I'l run and ſhow mine to my Lady.

1. Beld. Shut the gate for feare the King come, and if he ring clap the Pedlers into ſome of yon old rotten corners. And hath K. Iupiter bene at all this coſt? hee's a courteous Prince, & bountiſull. Keepe you the pedler coſpany, my Lady ſhall ſee mine too.

H 3

Iup.

The golden Age.

Iup. Meane you the Princesse Danae? I haue tokens from
Iupiter to her too.

1. Bel. Runne, runne, you that haue the best legges, and tell
my Lady. But haue you any more of the fame?

Clowne. Haue we quoth he? We haue things about vs, wee
haue not shewed yet, and that euery one muft not see, would
make those few teeth in your head to water, I would haue you
thinke, I haue ware too as well as my Mayster.

Enter in state Danae with the Beldams, looking upon three
feuerall jewels.

1. Bel. Yonder's my Lady. Nay neuer bee abafht Pedler,
There's a face will become thy iewels, as well as any face in
Creet or Arges either. Now your token.

Iup. I haue loft it. Tis my heart, beauty of Angels,
Thou art o're matcht, earth may contend with heauen,
Nature thou haft to make one compleate creature,
Cheated euen all mortality. This face
Hath rob'd the morning of her blush, the lilly
Of her blanch't whitnes, and like theft committed
Vpon my soule: shee is all admiration.
But in her eyes I ne're saw perfect luftre.
There is no treasure vpon earth but yonder
Shee is! (oh I shall loofe my selfe)

Clowne. Nay Sir, take heed you be not smelt out.

Iupi. I am my selfe againe.

Dan. Did hee beftow these freely? Dana's guard
Are much indebted to King Iupiter.
If he haue store wee'l buy some for our vfe,
And wearing. They are wondrous beautifull,
Where's the man that brought them?

1. Beld. Here forfooth Lady, hold vp your head and blush
not, my Lady will not hurt thee, I warrant thee.

Iup. This iewell Madam did King Iupiter
Command me to leaue heere for Danae.
Are you so fti'ld?

Danae. If sent to Danae,
'Tis due to me. And would the King of Creet,

Knew

The Golden Age.

Knew with what gratitude we take his gift.

Iup. Madame he shall. Sirrah let ope your pack,
And what the Ladies like let them take freely.

Dan. Much haue I heard of his renowne in armes,
His generousneffe, his vertues, and his fulneffe
Of all that Nature can bequeath to man.
His bounty I now taft, and I could wifh,
Your eare were his, that I might let him know
What intereft he hath in me to command,

Iup. His eare is myne, let me command you then.
Behold I am the Cretan, Iupiter,
That rate your beauty aboue all thesee gems,
What cannot loue, what dares not loue attempt?
Despight Acrisius and his armed guards,
Hether my loue hath brought me to receiue
Or life or death from you, onely from you.

Dan. We are amaz'd, and the large difference
Betwixt your name and habite, breeds in vs
Feare and distrust. Yet if I censure freely
I needes muft thinke that face and personage
Was ne're deriu'd from baseneffe. And the spirit
To venture and to dare to court a Queene
I cannot fltle leffe then to be a Kings.
Say that we grant you to be Iupiter,
What thence inferre you?

Iup. To loue Iupiter.

Dan. So far as Iupiter loues Dana's honour,
So farre willl Danae loue Iupiter.

2. Beld. We waight well vpon my Lady.

Iup. Madam you haue not seene a cleere stone,
For coulour or for quickneffe. (sweete your eare.)

Dan. Beware your ruine, if yon Beldams heare.

Iup. Sirrah shew all your wares, and let those Ladies beft
please themselues.

Clowne. Not all at thesee yeares. I spy his knauery. Now would
he haue mee keepe them buſed, whilst he courts the Lady.

3. Beld. Doth my Lady want nothing?

Shee lookes backe
Clowne

The Golden Age.

Clown. As for example, heer's a filner bodkin, this is to remoue dandriffe, and digge about the roots of your filuer-hair'd furre. This is a tooth-picker, but you hauing no teeth, heere is for you a corrall to rub your gums. This is cald a Maske.

1. Beld. Gramarcy for this, this is good to hide my wrinkles,
I neuer see of these afore.

Clown. Then you haue one wrinckle more behinde. You that are dim ey'd put this pittifull spectacle vpon your nose.

Iup. As I am fonne of Saturne, you haue wrong
To be coop't vp within a prifon strong.
Your father like a mifer cloyfters you,
But to faue coft: hee's loth to pay your dower,
And therefore keepes you in this brazen Tower.
What are you better to be beautifull,
When no mans eye can come to censure it?
What are sweet cates vntafted? gorgeous clothes
Vnworne? or beauty not beheld? yon Beldams
With all the furrowes in their wrinkled fronts
May claime with you like worth; ey and compare.
For eye to censure you none can, none dare,

Dan. All this is true.

Iup. Oh thinke you I would lye
(With any faue Danas.) Let me buy
This iewell, your bright loue, though rated higher
Then Gods can giue, or men in prayers desire.

Dan. You couet that, which faue the Prince of Creet
None dares.

Iup. That shewes how much I loue you (sweet)
I come this beauty, this rare face to faue,
And to redeeme it from this brazen graue.
Oh do not from mans eye this beauty skreene,
These rare perfections, which no earthly Queene
Enioyes faue you: 'twas made to be admir'd.
The Gods, the Fates, and all things haue confpir'd
With Iupiter, this prifon to inuade,
And bring it forth to that for which 'twas made.
Loue Iupiter, whose loue with yours shall meet,

And

# The Golden Age.

And hauing borne you hence, make at your feet
Kings lay their crownes, & mighty Emperours kneele:
Oh had you but a touch of what I feele,
You would both loue and pitty.

Dan. Both I do.

But all things hinder, yet were Danae free,
She could affect the Cretan.

Iup. Now by thee
(For what I most affect, by that I fweare)
I from this prison will bright Danae beare,
And in thy chamber will this night faft feale
This couenant made.

Dan. Which Danae must repeale.

Iup. You shall not, by this kisse.

1. Beld. Tis good to haue an eye. (She looks back.)

Clown. Your nose hath not had these spectacles on yet.

Dan. Oh Iupiter.

Iup. Oh Danae.

Dan. I muſt hence:

For if I stay, I yeeld: I'le hence, no more.

Iup. Expect me for I come.

Dan. Yon is my doore,
Dare not to enter there. I will to reft.
Attendance.

Iup. Come I will.

Dan. You had not beft.

Exit Danae.

2. Beld. My Lady calls. Wee haue trifled the night till bed-time. Some attend the Princeſſe: others ſee the Pedlers pack't out of the gate.

Clown. Will you thrufft vs out to ſeeke our lodging at Mid-night. We haue paid for our lodging, a man would thinke, we might haue laine cheaper in any Inne in Arges?

Iup. This caſtle ſtands remote, no lodging neere,
Spare vs but any corner here below,
Bee't but the Inner porch, or the leaſt ſtaire-caſe,
And we'l begone as early as you pleafe.

2. Beld. Conſider all things, we haue no reaſon to deny that.

I

What

# The golden Age.

What need we feare? alas they are but Pedlars, and the greatest Prince that breathes would be aduis'd ere he durst prelume to court the princeſſe Danae.

I. Beld. He court a princeſſe? hee lookes not with the face.
Well pedlers, for this night take a nap vpon some bench or o-
ther, and in the morning be ready to take thy yard in thy hand
to meaſure me some ſtuffe, and ſo to be gone before day. Well,
good-night, we muſt attend our princeſſe.

Iup. Gold and reward, thou art mighty, and haſt power
O're aged, yong, the foolish, and the wife,
The chafte, and wanton, fowle, and beautiſull:
Thou art a God on earth, and canſt all things.

Clown. Not all things, by your leaue. All the gold in Creete
cannot get one of you old Crones with childe. But ſhall we go
ſleepe?

Iup. Sleep thou, for I muſt wake for Danae.
Hence cloud of bafeneſſe, thou haſt done inough
To bleare you Beldams. When I next appeare
To you bright Goddeſſe, I will ſhine in gold,
Deck't in the high Imperiall robes of Creet,
And on my head the wreath of Maiety:
For Ornament is a preuailing thing,
And you bright Queene I'le now court like a King.

Hee puts
off his
disguise.

Exit.

Enter the foure old Beldams, drawing out Dana's bed: she in it. They place foure tapers at the foure corners.

Dan. Command our Eunuch's with their pleafing ſt tunes
To charme our eyes to reſt. Leaue vs all, leaue vs.
The God of dreames hath with his downy fanne
Swept or e our eye-lids, and fits heauy on them.

I. Bel. Hey-ho, Sleepe may enter in at my mouth, if he be no bigger then a two-peny-loafe.

Dan. Then to your chambers, & let wakeleſſe flubers
Charme you in depth of ſilence and repole.

All. Good night to thee faire Danae.

Dan. Let muſick through this brazen fortreſſe ſound
Till all our hearts in depth of sleepe be drown'd.

Enter

# The golden Age.

Enter Iupiter crown'd with his Imperial Robes.

Iup. Silence that now hath empire through the world
Expreſſe thy power and Princedome. Charming sleepe
Deaths yonger brother, ſhew thy ſelfe as ſtill. leſſe
As death himſelfe. None ſeeme this night to liue,
Saue Iouz and Danae. But that Goddeſſe wonne
Giue them new life breath'd with the morning ſunne,
Yon is the doore, that in forbidding me
She bad me enter. Womens tongues and hearts.
Haue different tunes: for where they moſt deſire,
Their hearts cry on, when their tongues bid retire.
Al's whiſt, I heare the ſnorting Beldams breathe
Soundneſſe of sleepe, none wakes ſaue Loue and we
Yon bright imprifoned beauty to ſet free.
Oh thou more beauteous in thy nakedneſſe
Then ornament can adde to—
How ſweetly doth ſhe breath? how well become
Imaginary deadneſſe? But I'l' e wake her
Vnto new life. This purchase I muſt win,
Heauens gates ſtand opc, and Iupiter will in.

Danae?

He lyes upon her bed.

Dan. Who's that?

Iup. Tis I, K. Iupiter.

Dan. What meane you Prince? how dare you enter here?
Knowing if I but call, your life is doom'd,
And all Creetes treaſure cannot guard your perſon.

Iup. You tell me now how much I rate your beauty,
Which to attaine, I caſt my life behinde me,
As lou'd much leſſe then you.
Dan. I'l' eloue you too,
Would you but leaue me.

Iup. Repentance I'd not buy
At that high rate, ten thouſand times to dye.
You are mine owne, so all the Fates haue ſed.
And by their guidance come I to your bed.
The night, the time, the place, and all confipre
To make me happy in my long deſire.
Acrifius eyes are charm'd in golden sleepe,

I 2

Thofe

The Golden Age

Those Beldams that were plac't your bed to keepe,
All drown'd in Lethe(faue your downy bed,
White Sheetes,and pillow where you reft your head)
None heares or lees;and what can they deuife,
When they (heauen knowes) haue neither cares nor eyes.

Dan. Befhow you fir, that for your amorous pleasure
Could thus fort all things, person, place and leasure.
Exclaine I could, and a loude vproare keepe,
But that you say the Crones are all a sleepe:
And to what purpose should I raife such feare,
My voyce being soft, they faft, and cannot heare?

Iup. They are deafe in reft, then gentle sweet ly further,
If you should call, I thus your voyce would murther,
And ftrangle with my kiffes.

Dan. Kiffes, tufsh.

I'le finke into my sheetes, for I shall bluſh.

I'le diue into my bed.

Iup. And I behind?

No: wer't the Ocean, such a gemme to find,
I would diue after. Iupiter puts out the lights

Dan. Good my Lord forbeare and makes vnready.
What do you meane? (oh heauen) is no man neere,
If you will needs, for modefties chaft law,
Before you come to bed, the curtaines draw,
But do not come,you shall not by this light,
If you but offer't, I shall cry out right.
Oh God, how hoarſe am I, and cannot? ſie
Danae thus naked and a man ſo nye.
Pray leaue me fir: he makes vnready ſtill,
Well I'le euen winke, and then do what you will.

The bed is drawne in, and enter the Clowne new wak't.

Clowne. I would I were out of this tower of Braſſe, & from all these brazen fac't Beldams: if we should fall aſleepe, and the King come and take vs napping, where were we? My Lord ſtaies long, & the night growes ſhort, the thing you wot of hath coſt him a ſimple ſort of Iewels. But if after all this coſt, the thing you wot of would not do: If the pedler should ſhow himselfe

The golden Age.

a pidler, he hath brought his hogs to a faire market. Fye vpon
it, what a snorting forward and backeward these Beldams keep?
But let them fleepe on, some in the house I am sure are awake,
and stirring too, or I miffle my aime. Well, here muft I fit and
waite the good howre, till the gate be open, and suffer my eyes
to do that, which I am sure my cloake neuer will, that is, to take
nap.

Exit.

*Enter Jupiter and Danae in her night-gowne.*

Danae. Alasse my Lord I neuer lou'd till now,
And will you leaue me?

Iup. Beauteous Queene I muft,
But thus condition'd; to returne againe,
With a strong army to redeeme you hence,
In spight of Arges, and Acrifus,
That doom's you to this bondage.

Danae. Then fare-well.

No sooner meete but part? Remember me:
For you great Prince I neuer shall forget!
I feare you haue left too sure a token with me
Of your remembrance.

Iup. Danae, be't a sonne,
It shall be ours when we haue Arges wonne.

Danae. But should you faile?

Iup. I sooner should forget
My name, my state, then faile to pay this debt,
The day-starre gins t'appeare, the Beldams ftir,
Ready t'vnlocke the gate, faire Queene adue.

Dan. All men proue fale, if Ioue be found vntrue.

Iup. My man? (Exit.)

Clown. My Lord.

Iup. Some cloud to couer mee, throw or e my shoulders
Some shadow for this state, the Crones are vp,
And waite t'vnprifon vs, nay quickly fellow.

Clow. Here My Lord, caft your old cloake about you.

*Enter the foure Beldams in haft.*

I. Beld. Where be these Pedlers? nay quickly, for heauen
fake: the gate is open, nay when? fare-well my honest friends,
and

I 3

# The Golden Age!

and do our humble duties to the great King Iupiter.

Iup. King Iupiter shall know your gratitude, Farewell.

2. Beld. Nay, when I say fare-well, fare-well.

Clow. Farewell good Miniuers.
Exeunt diners at depe.
Actus. 5. Scæn. 1.
Enter Homer.

Hom. Faire Danae doth his richeft Iewell weare.

That sonne of whom the Oracle foretold
Which coft both mother and the grand-fire deare

Whose fortunes further leaſure ſhall vnfold;

Thinke Iupiter return'd to Creet in haſt,
To leuy armes for Danaes free reſeale,

(But hundred) till the time be fully paſt,

For Saturne once more will diſturbe his peace.

A dumbe ſhew. Enter King Troos and Ganimed with attendants, To him, Saturne makes ſuite for aide, ſhewes the King his moſdels, his inuentions, his ſenerall mettals, at the ſtrang ſesse of which King Troos is moued, euals for drum, and colors, and marches with Saturne.

The exil'd Saturne by King Troos is aided,
Troos that gaue Troy her name, and there reigned King
Creet by the helpe of Ganimed's inuaded,
Euen at that time when Ioue should succors bring

To reſcue Dazae, and that warlike power,
Muſt now his natine Teritories guard,

Which ſhould haue brought her from the brazen tower,
(For to that end his forces were prepar'd)

We grow now towards our port and wiſhed bay,
Gentles your loue, and Homer cannot ſtray.

Enter Neptune and Pluto.

Nep. Whence are these warlike preparations,
Made by the King our brother.

Plu. 'Tis giuen out,
To conquer Arges. But my ſifter Iuno
Suspects some amorous purpose in the King?

Nep. And blame her not, the faire Europaes rape,
Brought from Aëgenor, and the Cadmian rape,
Io the daughter of old Inachus,
Deflour'd by him; the louely Semele,

Faire

The Golden Age.

Faire Leda daughter to King Tyndarus
With many more, may breed a just suspect,
Nor hath hee sparsd faire ſeres Queene of Graine,
Who bare to him the bright Proserpina. (shee)
Such ſcapes may breed just feares,& what knowes
But these are to surprize faire Danae.

Sound. Enter Iupiter, Archas, with drum & ſouldiers.
Iup. Arme royaall brothers, Creet's too small an Ile,
To comprehend our greatnesſe, we must adde
Arges and Greece to our Dominions.

And all the petty Kingdomes of the earth,
Shall pay their homage vnto Saturnes ſonne,
This day wee'l take a muſter of our forces,
And forward make for Arges. Archas. All Archadia
Aſſemble to this purpofe. Iup. Then fet on.
The Eagle in our enſigne wee'l diſplay,
Loue and his fortunes guide vs in our way.

Enter King Mellifeus. (march)
Melli. Whether intends the King this warlike
Iup. For Arges and Acrifius.

Melli. Rather guard,
Your native confines, ſee vpon your Coast,
Saturne with thirty thousand Troians landed
And in his aid King Troos and Ganimed.
Iup. In neuer worſe time could the Tyrant come
Then now, to breake my faith with Danae.
Oh beauteous loue, I feare Acrifius ire
Will with ſeuereſt cenſure chaſtice thee,
And thou wilt deeme me faithleſſe and vnkinde
For promife-breach, (but what we muſt we muſt)
Come valiant Lords, wee'l firſt our owne defend
Ere againſt forreine climes our arme extend.

Sownd. Enter with drum and colours, King Troos, Saturne, Ganimed, with other Lords and attendants.

Sat. Degenerate boyes, base baſtards, not my ſonnes,
Behold the death we threatned in your Cradles
We come to giue you now. See here King Troos.

In

The Golden Age.

In pitty of deposed Saturnes wrongs,
Is come in person to chaftice your pride,
And be the heauens relentlesse Iusticer.

Iup. Not againft Saturne as a Father, we,
But as a murderer, lift our opposite hands,
Nature and heauen giues vs this printiedge,
To guard our liues gainſt tyrants and inuaders,
That claime we, as we're men, we would but liue:
Then take not from vs, what you cannot giue.

Tro. Where hath not Saturns fame abrode bene ſpred
For many vſes he hath giuen to man;
As Nauiation, Tillage, Archery,
Weapons and gold? yet you for all these vſes
Depriue him of his kingdome.

Plut. We but ſaue

Our Innocent bodies from th'abortiue graue,
Nept. We are his ſonnes, let Saturne be content
To let vs keepe what Heauen and Nature lent.

Gani. Those filial duties you so much forget
We come to teach you. Royall Kings to armes,
Giue Ganimed the onset of this battell,
That being a ſonne knowes how to lecture them,
And chaſtice their transgressions.

Sat. Ganimed,
It shall be so, powre out your ſpleene and rage
On our proud Iſue. Let the thirsty ſoyle
Of barren Creet quaffe their degenerate blouds,
And ſurfeit in their ſinnes. All Saturnes hopes
And fortunes are ingag'd vpon this day.
It is our laſt, and all, bee't our endeouour
To win't for ay, or eſe to looſe it euer.

Alarme. The battels ioyne, the Troians are repulſt.

Enter Troos and Saturne.

Tro. Our Troians are repulſt, wher's Ganimed?

Sat. Amidſt the throng of weapons, acting wonders.
Twice did I call alowd to haue him flye,
And twice he ſwore he had vow'd this day to dye.

Troos

The golden Age.

Troot. Let's make vp to his rescue.

Sat. Tush, tis vaine.

To seeke to faue him we shall looke our selues.

The day is lost, and Ganimed loft too.

Without diuine affiftance. Hye my Lord

Vnto your shippes, no safety liues a land,

Euen to the Oceans margent we are purfu'd,

Then faue your selfe by fea.

Troos. Creet thou haft wonne

My thirty thousand Souldiers, and my Sonne.

Come, let's to fea.

Exit.

Sat. To fea must Saturne too,

To whom all good starres are still oppofite.

My Crowne I first bought with my infants bloud,

Not long enioy'd, till Tytan wrested it;

Re-purchaſt, and re-loft by Iupiter.

These horrid mischiefes that haue crown'd our brows,

Haue bred in vs such ſtrange diſtemprature,

That we are growne deified and forlorne.

Our bloud is chang'd to Inke, our haires to quils,

Our eyes halfe buried in our quechy plots.

Consumptions and cold agues haue deuour'd

And eate vp all our flesh, leauing behinde

Nought faue the Image of deſpaire and death:

And Saturne ſhall to after ages be

That ſtarre, that ſhall infuse dull melancholy.

To Italy I'll flye, and there abide,

Till diuine powers my place aboute prouide.

Exit.

Alarme. Enter Ganimed, compaſt in with soldiers, to thema

Iupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Archas Mellifeus.

Iup. Yeeld noble Troian, ther's not in the field

One of thy Nation lifts a hand faue thee.

Gani. Why that's my honour, when alone I stand

Gainſt thee and all the forces of thy land.

Iup. I loue thy valour, and would woo thy friendſhip,

Go freely where thou wilt, and ransom leſſe.

Gan. Why that's no gift: I am no prifoner,

K

And

Troot

# The Golden Age.

And therefore owe no ransome, hauing breath,
Know I haue vow'd to yeeld to none faue death.

Iup. I wish thee nobly Trojan, and since fatou
Cannot attaine thy love, I'le try conclusions,
And see if I can purchase it with blowes.

Gan. Now speak it thou like the noblest of my foes.

Iup. Stand all a-part, and Princes girt vs round.

Gan. I loue him best, whole strokes can lowdeft found,
Alarime, they fight, and loosing their weapons embrace.

Iup. I haue thee, and will keep thee.

Gan. Not as prisoner.

Iup. A prisoner to my loue, else thou art free,
My bosome friend, for so I honour thee.

Gan. I am conquer'd both by Armes and Courtesie.

Nept. The day is ours, Troos and K. Saturn's fled,
And Iupiter remaines sole conquerour.

Plu. Peace with her golden wings houers. ore. Creet,
Frighting hence discord, and remorſſe warre:

Will Iupiter make vp for Arges now?

Mell. Winter drawes on, the sea's vn-nauiable
To transport an Army. There attends without
A Lord of Arges.

Iup. Bring him to our preference.

Enter Arges

How stands it with the beauteous Danae?

Arg. L. As one diſtrest by Fate, and miſerable,
Of K. Acrisius, and his Fort of braſſe,
Danae incloſure, and her Beldam guard,
Who but hath heard? yet through these braſen walles
Loue hath broke in, and made the maide a mother
Of a faire ſonne, which when Acrisius heard,
Her female guard vnto the fier hee doomes,
His daughter, and the infant prince her ſonne,
He puts into a maſſles boat to ſea,
To proue the rigor of the stormy waeſ.

Iup. Acrisius, Arges, and the world shall know
Ioue hath beene wrong'd in this: her further fortunes
Canst thou relate?

Arges

The Golden Age.

Arges L. I can. As farre as Naples

The friendly winds her mastleſſe boat transports,
There succour'd by a curteous Fisber-man

Shee's firſt releeu'd, and after that preſented

To King Pelonnus, who at this time reignes:

Who rauiſht with her beauty, crownes her Queene,
And decke her with th'Imperiall robes' of ſtate.

Iup. What we haue ſcanted is ſupply'd by fate.

Here then ceaſe Armes, and now court amorous peace

With ſolemne triumphes, and deere Ganimed,

Be henceforth cal'd The friend of Iapiter.

And if the Fates hereafter crowne our browes

With diuine honours, as we hope they ſhall,

Wee'ſtyle thee by the name of Cup-bearer,

To fill vs heauenly Nectar, as faire Hebe

Shall do the like to Iuno our bright Queene.

Here end the pride of our mortality.

Opinion, that makes Gods, muſt ſtyle vs higher.

The next you ſee vs, we in ſtate muſt ſhine,

Eternized with honours more diuine.

Exeunt omnes.

Enter Homer.

Homer. Of Danae Perſeus was that night begot,

Perſeus that fought with the Gorgonian ſhield,

Whose fortunes to purſue Time ſuſiers not.

For that, we haue prepar'd an ampler field.

Likewise how Ioue with faire Alcmena lay:

Of Hercules, and of his famous deeds:

How Plato did faire Proſerpine betray:

Of these my Mufe (now trauel'd) next proceeds.

Yet to keepe promife, 'ere we further wade,

The ground of ancient Poems you ſhall ſee:

And how these (firſt borne mortall) Gods were made,

By vertue of diuineſt Poefie.

The Fates, to whom the Heathen yeeld all power,

Whose doomes are writ in marble, to endure,

Haue ſummon'd Saturnesthree ſonnes to their Tower,

To them the three Dominions to affure

K 2

Of

# The Golden Age.

Of Heaven, of Sea, of Hell. How these are scand,
Let none decide but such as vnderstand.

Sound a dumbeshew. Enter the three fatall sifters, with a rocke, a threed, and a paire of sheeres; bringing in a Gloabe, in which they put three lots. Iupiter drawes heauen: at which Iris defeends and prefents him with his Eagle, Crowne and Scepter, and his thunder-bolt. Iupiter firſt ascends vpon the Eagle, and after him Ganimed.

To Iupiter doth high Olimpus fall.

Who thunder and the trifulke lightning beares

Dreaded of all the reſt in generall:

He on a Princely Eagle mounts the Spheares,

Sound. Neptune drawes the Sea, is mounted vpon a sea-horse,
 a Roabe and Trident, with a crowne are giuen him by the Fates

Neptune is made the Lord of all the Seas,
His Mace a Trident, and his habite blew.

Hee can make Tempeſts, or the waues appeafe,
And vnto him the Sea-men are ſtill true.

Sound, Thunder and Tempeſt. Enter at 4 feuerall corners the 4 winds.
Neptune rifeth disturb'd: the Fates bring the 4 winds in a chaine, & preſent them to Æolus, as their King.

And for the winds, these brothers that ſtill warre,
Should not difturbe his Empire, the three Fates
Bring them to Æolus, chain'd as they are,
To be incloſ'd in caues with brazen gates.

Sound. Pluto drawes hell: the Fates put vpon him a burning
Roabe, and preſent him with a Mace, and burning crewne.

Pluto's made Emperour of the Ghoſts below.
Where with his black guard he in darknes raignes,
Commanding hell, where Styx and Lethe flow,
And murderer are hang'd vp in burning chaines.
But leauing these: to your iudiciall ſpirits
I muſt appeale, and to your wonted grace,
To know from you, what ey-leſſe Homer merits,
Whom you haue power to banish from this place,
But if you ſend me hence vncheckt with ſeare,
Once more I'l dare vpon this Stage t'appeare,

FINIS.