The eyght tragedie of Seneca. Entituled Agamemnon. Translated out of Latin in to English, by Iohn Studley, student in Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge

¶In Agamemnona Senecae Thomae Newcei.

NOn secus a••rostro crudelis vultur, obunco•• Caucaseirodit iecur immortale promethe••, Inuida mens stolidi, vitio contorta perenni, Derogat assidue famam nomen{que} merentis•• Cum legis hanc igitur, si quicquā versio ridet, Non quid verba velint, sed quid ••es ipsa, videto. Sanguine spumante•• pateras, cum mente reuoluit, Saeuit in Atridem mens impia saenit adult••i. Et Deus Atr••••m patris de crimine, prolem Perdit: et iniustae tollunt Agamemnona, parcae. Debuit exemplum quosuis terrere superbos: Et, cuiuis, opus hoc iuuenis, laudare molestum. Sed siturbaruant in quaeuis aequora praeceps, Flumine paem••rum iusto, Deus obruet ••llos.

¶Uppon the same, to the same, the verses of the same.

SI••th frends to frends do frēdly graūt in frednly cases muche, And I perceaued that hys cause, and hys request was suche:

How that, to paynfull laboured stuffe my mynd I wolde annex: And do but as his watched worke, whych he doth here contex Deserues: when as the Poets crab∣bed style I wayd aryght: And saw how well, and saw how apt and feetly he dyd wryte: How hydden storyes oft he showes, to make his poet playne: (So as in double offyce he might seeme for to remayne) As sometyme barely to expound, to cōment sometyme eke, So that to vnderstand this booke, ye neede no farther seeke:) This well deserued worke of hys, when as I weyed well, And partly knew hys fyled frame, as other men can tell, And wholly knew his springing youth, and yeares for age yet greene, So that dame Natures graue aray, on face was scarcely seene, I could not chuse, but when I sawe his labour to be sore, And eke hys wery webbe, then this for to deserue much more,

Furthwith at hys request, both to refrsh hys watchyng eeys, And praysed paynes to others prayse, thys litle worke deuyse, Least haply he sho••ld meete with such, as wolde scarce speke the best, Nor halfe that it deserues, but vn∣to nippyng wordes be prest. And though I know this painfull wight can not hys carpers want, Whych often tymes discorage men, and make such studyes skant, Yet be not thou dismaid, go on, and bolden well thy selfe, The worthyest wyght that euer wrote, did neuer want hys Elfe. Such Emules, & such fyendly freaks, if E thou take away, Playn Mules they be, y^• mump & mow, and nothyng els can say. Who if in ranckours poysoned sincke, they lurke and wallow styll, Nor yet with cancred venome bolne, do leaue theyr waspysh wyll, But slothfull sluggerds still vpbraid, that paynfull heads deuyse, And with their tryple forked tongs, anoy thys enterpryse:

Discorage him from other worke, and further fruytes of wit, And other towarde paynes dysgrace, if they such poyson spit. Tak•• heede: if tongs far worse do bite, then double edged swerd: If bytyng tongs be stinging ills, why ma••ger then thy berd, Thou canst not shun Ioues ruddy wrath, that such deseruers haue, Which willingly, though wofully, them selues they do it craue. In whom it is, if that they will, much better to deserue: And cease, theyr wytles••e appetyte for any more to serue. This wofull worke that Senec here depayntes before thy face, The bloody yre of myghty Ioue, propounds in ruthfull case. To such as by their deuilysh deedes, and harts with rancour mixt, Alreddy be, although they lyue, in snakysh dongeon fixt. The crumpled browes of lofty lord, in cloudy throne that sytts, His sore dyspleased mynd portend to euill vsed wytts.

Who in hys fomyng wrath, can turne the worlds well ••etled seat: And make an indigested thing, and mingle mangle great•• Beware therfore: of Tantalus that stem, and lynage vyle May cause the wel, with vertues toole, thy vycious lyfe to fyle. For deadly deede whych Atreus dyd vnto Thyestes chylde, (Although Thyest hys brother, then his spousall bed defyld) Hys gryesly ghoast comes back againe from deepe infernall pyt, To make reuenge in Aegists harte, hys onely sonne to syt. That fylthy great adulter, streyght to stryfe and blood yprest, Thyestiall tables to reuendg, doth scarcely take hys rest. First Atreus lyfe he seekes, then, while that Agamemnon laye In Castrall campe, by Troyan towne for countreys cause, streight waye Thys drousie swynehead fylthy he in brutysh pleasures wrapt, Hath Agamemnons louyng wyfe, in Cupid•• snares entrapt.

Wherby, of sacred Hymeneus the bonds, he makes her flye•• And, Agamemnons pryuate bed, through pleasure to denye. And, which is greatter greefe then this, and vyllany moste vyle, with deadly thought he makes the wife vppon her husband smyle, When as tryumphantly he came a conquerour from Troy: To thend he, should suspecte the lesse, and haue the greater ioy, And thinking nought, but mening wel: myght take a cursed coat, Which doing on, they ea••ly myght the soner cut hys throte. Thys deede was done: by Talyon lawe here blood dyd blood requyer: And now Thyest hath that reuenge, that he dyd longe desyer. Wherby thou cheefly mayst be taught the prouydence of god: That so longe after, Atreus fact Thyests reuenge abod. And to thy selfe take better heede, least loytryng styll in sinne, In pinching slaunders, touching talke (whear greater greefes begyn)

Thy selfe alone thou do not plague, which of it selfe is muche, But also make thyne after stocke to smarte, and for thy ••uche. For be thou sure, though god doth spare thee for a season here, And suffer thee with poysoned tonge to frump, and carp thys gere, That eyther thou thy selfe shalt feele some bytter bytyng greese, Or els shall thy posterytie with payne haue their releefe: Unluckye chyldren reape, that wyc∣ked parents handes haue sowne: A warye wyght, by others woes that knowes tauoyde hys owne. Learne here to lyue a ryght, and know how that thear is a god, That well deseruers well rewardes, andd ill, doth scurge with rod. For to thys and is thys compylde thys play thou hast in hand, In vertues race to make thee run, and vyce for to withstand. Which well deseruyng worke of his, if thou can well digest, Then shalt thou haue hys buddyng pen, to greater matters pre••t.

¶W. R. to the Reader.

IF troublous toyles most tragicall, Or blooddie broyles of enuyous i••e, Discrybde with art poetycall Can moue thye hart or sett on fyre Thy wauering mynd, then still procede With good aduise this booke to rede. ¶For here in is se••t furthe at large, With sugred sopps of lettered tonge, Thun stable state of gloryous barge, Which enuyous harte hath freshlie stong•• For when that hate encreaseth i••e, Nought els but death can quench y^• fier. ¶What did avayle the martiall dedes, Which Agamemnons valyant hand Did bring to passe? they sowe the sedes Of enuyous hate in Mycene lande: For Aegist, and his cruell wife, At length do ridd him of his life. ¶Of fycle fortunes waueryng wyles Thys booke ensample doth declare, For when most pleasauntlye she smyles, She doth nought els but plant a snare, To catche at length w^t woefull channce The sa••e, whom she aloft did vaunce.

¶I nede not prayse this goulden booke, So fullye freyght with lerninges ••ore, The worke enough (if thou doest looke) Doth prayse it selfe, and neads no more: For woordes auayleth not a rushe, And good wine neads no tau••rne b••she. ¶Therfore ear that thou hast it redd. With temerous rancour iudge none ill, For oft the churlyshe curyous hedd Condemneth youth as wantyng skyll: Yet Daniell young sent Iudithe rest, When horye hedds had her opprest.

Idem in Zoilum.

ZOile quid frendes? quid mandis spumea labra? Quid vol at horrisono fulmen ab ore tu••? Euome corrupto tabescens gultu••e virus: Eructa bullas O furibunde vafras Faucibus igniuomis minitans et dente lupino: Proeda tuo denti non opus istud erit. Non potes istius calami corrumpere fructus•• Conseruat famulos magna Minerua s••os. Insulsus nitidum reprehendit sutor Apell••m. Inuidiam virtus clara praeire solet. Zoile tu{que}, furis, iuuenis quum musa triumphet, Iratus turges: verbula vana vomis.

Ipse tamen rigidi peries Acherontis in vrna, Et Phlegethonteas ante natabis aquas, Quam tu Studlei dimittes carmen in vmbras, Quam possis nomen dilacerare suum. Perpetuo viuet res inuictissima virtus, Non abolent enses, vnda, necignis eam.

H. C. To the reader.

BE not to rash in iudgyng ought, but waye well in thy mynde The pleasure, and commoditie, that thou herein shall fynde. And deme him not presumtious, whom muses moued ryght, The statlye style of Senec. sage in vulgar verse to wryght, For though the worke of grauer age, the connyng seme to craue, Sumtyme we se yet younger yeares, a ryper witt to haue. Accept it therfore, as it is, (of grener yeres in deede) And as his paynes deserueth prayse, So paye him for his meede.

To the Reader. Thomas Delapeend in the Translatours behalfe.

IN volume small•• a present great a worthy gyfte to thee Good reader here is offered, if thou so thankfull bee. Accordyng to the valew full, the same for to receue: Uouchsaufyng for the wryters paines, deserued paynes to geue. He bouldly hath presented here vnto thy gasyng eyes, The wisdome great, & worthy thinges•• whych erst by Tragedyes Sage Senec shewyng, so sometyme in latyn verse dyd wryte. The same, in perfect englysh ryme thys Author doth endyte. Which, though thy skilful iudgment maye dyscerne of prayse to be Well worthy. Yet by thys, I do cōmend the same to thee, Because that vertue praysed ••tyll, increaseth euery wheare: And that, eche readers rygour hard, the lerned should not feare.

Syth fame and vertue, euermore pale Enuy doth pursue, Nor Homer great hym selfe could styng•• of slaunderous wordes eschewe: Contented better, men may take the lot, whych vnto all That euer wrote, (tyll thys time) doth a lyke in commen fall. Though curious c••rping Zoili, breade rancour blacke within Theyr poysened breastes, of infamie the spytefull thred to spyn, Let folye feede theyr frensye styll•• vnto theyr owne dyspyte: For men dyscrete and learned will read thinges with iudgement right.

W. Parkar to the Reader.

TO beat y^e brain about such trifling toyes whose vaine delights by fickle fāsie fed, Enforce y^e mind tembrace such fadyng ioyes, Doth argue playne a fond vnstedfast head, As to inuey, enraged with rancours bile, & raile on thē, whose works deserueth praise, Or els to glose, and paint with colourd style Their cloked craft, when reasons groūd de∣cayes:

Or as the proude enflamed with desyer Of prayse, and gape for glorious renoume, Haue vtter shame (theyr due reward & hyer) Wheras they hopte of an immortal crowne. And some there be, that pining pangs of loue Describe at large, & shew their frantick fits, (Cupidoes thrals) whom fond affections moue, plain to bewray their wantō wauering wits. But Studley prict with feruent harty zeale, And vertues force preuailing in his mynd, Regarding laude and honour neuer a deale, Not raunging wide lyke harebraynd rouers blid attēpted hath, to publish this his boke, This tragedy of worthy Seneca, whose sawes profoūd (who so theron do loke) To vertues race do shew a ready way. Persist therfore, thy happy yeares to traine In sciēce lore, that fame thy brute may blase, And soūd thy praise, that euer shal remayne: No terme oftyme thy doinges may deface.

T. B. To. the Reader.

WHen Heiwood did in perfect verse, and dolfull tune set out, And by hys smouth and fyled style declared had aboute, What roughe reproche the Troyans o•• the hardy Grekes receyued, When they of towne, of goods, & lyue•• togyther were depryued. How wel did then hys freindes requite his trauayle and hys payne, When vnto hym they haue (as due) ten thousand thankes agayne? What greater prayse might Virgill get•• what more reno••me then this, Could haue ben gyuen vnto hym, for wrytyng verse of hys? Did Virgill ought re••uest but thys, in labouryng to excell? Or what did fame gyue to him more, then prayse to beare the bell? May Heywood this alone get prayse, and Phaer be cleane forgott.

Whose verse & style doth far surmoun•• and gotten hath the lot? Or may not Googe haue parte with hym, whose trauayle and whose payne, Whose verse also is full as good, or better of the twaine? A Neuyle also one there is, in verse that gyues no place To Heiwood (though he be full good) in vsyng of his grace. Nor Goldinge can haue lesse renome, whych Ouid dyd translate: And by the thondryng of hys vers•• hath set in chayre of state. With him also (as semeth me) our Edwardes may compare, Who nothing gyuyng place to hym doth syt in egall chayre. A great sorte more I recken myght, with Heiwood to compare, And this our Aucthor one of them to compte I will not spare. Whose paynes is egall with the re•••• in thys he hath begun, And lesser prayse deserueth not then Heiwoods worke hath done. Gy••e therfore Studley parte of prayse•• to recompence hys payne:

For egall labour euermore, deserueth egall gayne.

Read ear thou iudge, then iudge thy fill. But iudge the best, and mend the ill

Vale.