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diff --git a/old/10336-8.txt b/old/10336-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b74b900..0000000 --- a/old/10336-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,20474 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Select Collection of Old English Plays, -Vol. VII (4th edition), by Various, Edited by Robert Dodsley - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. VII (4th edition) - -Author: Various - -Release Date: November 29, 2003 [eBook #10336] - -Language: English - -Chatacter set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH -PLAYS, VOL. VII (4TH EDITION)*** - - -E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Tapio Riikonen, and Project Gutenberg -Distributed Proofreaders - - - -A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS, VOL. VII - -Fourth Edition - -Originally published by Robert Dodsley in the Year 1744. - -Now first chronologically arranged, revised and enlarged -with the Notes of all the Commentators, and new Notes. - -1876. - - - -CONTENTS: - -Tancred And Gismunda -The Wounds Of Civil War -Mucedorus -The Two Angry Women Of Abington -Look About You - - - - - - -EDITION - -The Tragedie of Tancred and Gismund. Compiled by the Gentlemen of the -Inner Temple, and by them presented before her Maiestie. Newly reuiued -and polished according to the decorum of these daies. By R.W. London, -Printed by Thomas Scarlet, and are to be solde by R. Robinson, 1591, -4to. - -[Some copies are dated 1592; but there was only a single edition. Of the -original text, as written in 1568, there is no printed copy; but MSS. of -it are in MS. Lansdowne 786, and Hargrave MS. 205, neither of which -appears to present any evidence of identity with the copy mentioned by -Isaac Reed below as then in private hands. Both these MSS. have now been -collated with the text of 1591, and the conclusion must be, that Wilmot, -though he unquestionably revived, did not do so much, as he might wish -to have it inferred, in _polishing_ the play. The production was formed -on a classical model, and bears marks of resemblance in tone and style -to the "Jocasta" of Euripides, as paraphrased by Gascoigne in 1566. The -Lansdowne MS. of "Tancred and Gismunda" was written, about 1568-70, -while the Hargrave is much more modern.] - - - -INTRODUCTION. - -It appears from William Webbe's Epistle prefixed to this piece, that -after its first exhibition it was laid aside, and at some distance of -time was new-written by R. Wilmot. The reader, therefore, may not be -displeased with a specimen of it in its original dress. It is here given -from the fragment of an ancient MS. taken out of a chest of papers -formerly belonging to Mr Powell, father-in-law to the author of -"Paradise Lost," at Forest Hill, about four miles from Oxford, where in -all probability some curiosities of the same kind may remain, the -contents of these chests (for I think there are more than one) having -never yet been properly examined. The following extract is from the -conclusion of the piece.--_Reed_. [Reed's extract has been collated with -the two MSS. before-mentioned; where the Powell MS. may now be, the -editor cannot say. The differences, on the whole, are not material; -but the Lansdowne MS. 786 has supplied a few superior readings and -corrections.] - - But in thy brest if eny spark remaine - Of thy dere love. If ever yet I coulde - So moche of thee deserve, or at the least - If with my last desire I may obtaine - This at thy handes, geve me this one request - And let me not spend my last breath in vaine. - My life desire I not, which neither is - In thee to geve nor in my self to save, - Althoughe I wolde. Nor yet I aske not this - As mercye for myne Erle in ought to crave, - Whom I to well do knowe howe thou hast slayen. - No, no, father, thy hard and cruell wronge - With pacience as I may I will sustaine - In woefull life which now shall not be longe. - But this one suite, father, if unto me - Thou graunt, though I cannot the same reacquite - Th'immortall goddes shall render unto thee - Thy due reward and largely guerdon it, - That sins it pleased thee not thus secretly - I might enjoy my love, his corps and myne - May nathelesse together graved be - And in one tombe our bodies both to shrine - With which this small request eke do I praie - That on the same graven in brasse thou place - This woefull epitaphe which I shall saye, - That all lovers may rue this mornefull case; - Loe here within one tombe where harbor twaine - Gismonda Quene and Countie Pallurine! - She loved him, he for her love was slayen, - For whoes revenge eke lyes she here in shrine. - [GISMONDA _dieth_ - - TANCRED. O me alas, nowe do the cruell paines - Of cursed death my dere daughter bereave. - Alas whie bide I here? the sight constraines - Me woefull man this woefull place to leaue. - - - - SCENE III. - - - TANCRED _cometh out of_ GISMOND'S _Chamber_. - - TANCRED. O dolorous happe, ruthefull and all of woe - Alas I carefull wretche what resteth me? - Shall I now live that with these eyes did soe - Beholde my daughter die? what, shall I see - Her death before my face that was my lyfe - And I to lyve that was her lyves decay? - Shall not this hand reache to this hart the knife - That maye bereve bothe sight and life away, - And in the shadowes darke to seke her ghoste - And wander there with her? shall not, alas, - This spedy death be wrought, sithe I have lost - My dearest ioy of all? what, shall I passe - My later dayes in paine, and spende myne age - In teres and plaint! shall I now leade my life - All solitarie as doeth bird in cage, - And fede my woefull yeres with waillfull grefe? - No, no, so will not I my dayes prolonge - To seke to live one houre sith she is gone: - This brest so can not bende to suche a wronge, - That she shold dye and I to live alone. - No, this will I: she shall have her request - And in most royall sorte her funerall - Will I performe. Within one tombe shall rest - Her earle and she, her epitaph withall - Graved thereon shal be. This will I doe - And when these eyes some aged teres have shed - The tomb my self then will I crepe into - And with my blood all bayne their bodies dead. - This heart there will I perce, and reve this brest - The irksome life, and wreke my wrathful ire - Upon my self. She shall have her request, - And I by death will purchace my desyre. - - FINIS. - - - - EPILOGUS. - - If now perhappes ye either loke to see - Th'unhappie lovers, or the cruell sire - Here to be buried as fittes their degree - Or as the dyeng ladie did require - Or as the ruthefull kinge in deepe despaire - Behight of late (who nowe himself hath slayen) - Or if perchaunse you stand in doutfull fere - Sithe mad Megera is not returnde againe - Least wandring in the world she so bestowe - The snakes that crall about her furious face - As they may raise new ruthes, new kindes of woe - Bothe so and there, and such as you percase - Wold be full lothe so great so nere to see - I am come forth to do you all to wete - Through grefe wherin the lordes of Salerne be - The buriall pompe is not prepared yet: - And for the furie, you shall onderstand - That neither doeth the litle greatest god - Finde such rebelling here in Britain land - Against his royall power as asketh rod - Of ruth from hell to wreke his names decaie - Nor Pluto heareth English ghostes complaine - Our dames disteyned lyves. Therfore ye maye - Be free from feare, sufficeth to maintaine - The vertues which we honor in you all, - So as our Britain ghostes when life is past - Maie praise in heven, not plaine in Plutoes hall - Our dames, but hold them vertuous and chast, - Worthie to live where furie never came, - Where love can see, and beares no deadly bowe, - Whoes lyves eternall tromp of glorious fame - With joyfull sounde to honest eares shall blowe. - - FINIS. - - The Tragedie of Gismonde of Salerne. - -Such is a specimen of the play as it was originally acted before Queen -Elizabeth, at the Inner Temple, in the year 1568. It was the production -of five gentlemen, who were probably students of that society; and by -one of them, Robert Wilmot, afterwards much altered and published in the -year 1591.[1] [Wilmot had meanwhile become rector of North Okenham, in -Essex];[2] and in his Dedication to the Societies of the Inner and -Middle Temples, he speaks of the censure which might be cast upon him -from the indecorum of publishing a dramatic work arising from his -calling. When he died, or whether he left any other works, are points -equally uncertain. - -"Nearly a century after the date of that play," observes Lamb, in his -'Extracts from the Garrick Plays,' "Dryden produced his admirable -version of the same story from Boccaccio. The speech here extracted -(the scene between the messengers and Gismunda) may be compared with -the corresponding passage in the 'Sigismunda and Guiscardo' with no -disadvantage to the older performance. It is quite as weighty, as -pointed, and as passionate." - - - - To the Right Worshipful and Virtuous Ladies, the Lady MARY PETER - and the Lady ANNE GRAY, long health of body, with quiet of mind, - in the favour of God and men for ever. - -It is most certain (right virtuous and worshipful) that of all human -learning, poetry (how contemptible soever it is in these days) is the -most ancient; and, in poetry, there is no argument of more antiquity and -elegancy than is the matter of love; for it seems to be as old as the -world, and to bear date from the first time that man and woman was: -therefore in this, as in the finest metal, the freshest wits have in all -ages shown their best workmanship. So amongst others these gentlemen, -which with what sweetness of voice and liveliness of action they then -expressed it, they which were of her Majesty's right Honourable maidens -can testify. - -Which being a discourse of two lovers, perhaps it may seem a thing -neither fit to be offered unto your ladyships, nor worthy me to busy -myself withal: yet can I tell you, madames, it differeth so far from the -ordinary amorous discourses of our days, as the manners of our time do -from the modesty and innocency of that age. - -And now for that weary winter is come upon us, which bringeth with him -drooping days and tedious nights, if it be true, that the motions of our -minds follow the temperature of the air wherein we live, then I think -the perusing of some mournful matter, tending to the view of a notable -example, will refresh your wits in a gloomy day, and ease your weariness -of the louring night. Which if it please you, may serve ye also for a -solemn revel against this festival time, for _Gismund's_ bloody shadow, -with a little cost, may be entreated in her self-like person to speak -to ye. - -Having therefore a desire to be known to your W., I devised this way -with myself to procure the same, persuading myself, there is nothing -more welcome to your wisdoms than the knowledge of wise, grave, and -worthy matters, tending to the good instructions of youths, of whom you -are mothers. - -In this respect, therefore, I shall humbly desire ye to bestow a -favourable countenance upon this little labour, which when ye have -graced it withal, I must and will acknowledge myself greatly indebted -unto your ladyships in this behalf: neither shall I amongst the rest, -that admire your rare virtues (which are not a few in Essex), cease to -commend this undeserved gentleness. - -Thus desiring the king of heaven to increase his graces in ye both, -granting that your ends may be as honourable as your lives are -virtuous, I leave with a vain babble of many needless words to trouble -you longer. - - Your Worships' most dutiful - and humble Orator, - ROBERT WILMOT. - - - -TO HIS FRIEND R.W. - -Master R.W., look not now for the terms of an intreater: I will beg no -longer; and for your promises, I will refuse them as bad payment: -neither can I be satisfied with anything but a peremptory performance of -an old intention of yours, the publishing I mean of those waste papers -(as it pleaseth you to call them, but, as I esteem them, a most -exquisite invention) of Gismund's tragedy. Think not to shift me off -with longer delays, nor allege more excuses to get further respite, lest -I arrest you with my _actum est_, and commence such a suit of unkindness -against you, as when the case shall be scann'd before the judges of -courtesy, the court will cry out of your immoderate modesty. And thus -much I tell you before: you shall not be able to wage against me in the -charges growing upon this action, especially if the worshipful company -of the Inner-Temple gentlemen patronise my cause, as undoubtedly they -will, yea, and rather plead partially for me, than let my cause -miscarry, because themselves are parties. The tragedy was by them most -pithily framed, and no less curiously acted in view of her Majesty, by -whom it was then as princely accepted, as of the whole honourable -audience notably applauded: yea, and of all men generally desired, as a -work, either in stateliness of show, depth of conceit, or true ornaments -of poetical art, inferior to none of the best in that kind: no, were the -Roman Seneca the censurer. The brave youths that then (to their high -praises) so feelingly performed the same in action, did shortly after -lay up the book unregarded, or perhaps let it run abroad (as many -parents do their children once past dandling) not respecting so much -what hard fortune might befall it being out of their fingers, as how -their heroical wits might again be quickly conceived have been ever -since wonderful fertile. But this orphan of theirs (for he wand'reth as -it were fatherless) hath notwithstanding, by the rare and beautiful -perfections appearing in him, hitherto never wanted great favourers and -loving preservers. Among whom I cannot sufficiently commend your -charitable zeal and scholarly compassion towards him, that have not only -rescued and defended him from the devouring jaws of oblivion, but -vouchsafed also to apparel him in a new suit at your own charges, -wherein he may again more boldly come abroad, and by your permission -return to his old parents, clothed perhaps not in richer or more costly -furniture than it went from them, but in handsomeness and fashion more -answerable to these times, wherein fashions are so often altered. Let -one word suffice for your encouragement herein; namely, that your -commendable pains in disrobing him of his antique curiosity, and -adorning him with the approved guise of our stateliest English terms -(not diminishing, but more augmenting his artificial colours of absolute -poesy, derived from his first parents) cannot but be grateful to most -men's appetites, who upon our experience we know highly to esteem such -lofty measures of sententiously composed tragedies. - -How much you shall make me and the rest of your private friends beholden -to you, I list not to discourse: and therefore grounding upon these -alleged reasons; that the suppressing of this tragedy, so worthy for the -press, were no other thing than wilfully to defraud yourself of an -universal thank, your friends of their expectations, and sweet Gismund -of a famous eternity, I will cease to doubt of any other pretence to -cloak your bashfulness, hoping to read it in print (which lately lay -neglected amongst your papers) at our next appointed meeting. - -I bid you heartily farewell. From Pyrgo in Essex, August the eighth, -1591. - - _Tuus fide & facultate_ - - GUIL. WEBBE.[3] - - - - To the Worshipful and Learned Society, the GENTLEMEN STUDENTS of - the Inner Temple, with the rest of his singular good Friends, the - GENTLEMEN of the Middle Temple, and to all other courteous Readers, - R.W. wisheth increase of all health, worship, and learning, with - the immortal glory of the graces adorning the same. - -Ye may perceive (right Worshipful) in perusing the former epistle sent -to me, how sore I am beset with the importunities of my friends to -publish this pamphlet: truly I am and have been (if there be in me any -soundness of judgment) of this opinion, that whatsoever is committed to -the press is commended to eternity, and it shall stand a lively witness -with our conscience, to our comfort or confusion, in the reckoning of -that great day. - -Advisedly, therefore, was that proverb used of our elder philosophers, -_Manum a tabula_: withhold thy hand from the paper, and thy papers from -the print or light of the world: for a lewd word escaped is irrevocable, -but a bad or base discourse published in print is intolerable. - -Hereupon I have endured some conflicts between reason and judgment, -whether it were convenient for the commonwealth, with the _indecorum_ of -my calling (as some think it) that the memory of Tancred's tragedy -should be again by my means revived, which the oftener I read over, and -the more I considered thereon, the sooner I was won to consent -thereunto: calling to mind that neither the thrice reverend and learned -father, M. Beza, was ashamed in his younger years to send abroad, in his -own name, his tragedy of "Abraham,"[4] nor that rare Scot (the scholar -of our age) Buchanan, his most pathetical Jephtha. - -Indeed I must willingly confess this work simple, and not worth -comparison to any of theirs: for the writers of them were grave men; of -this, young heads: in them is shown the perfection of their studies; in -this, the imperfection of their wits. Nevertheless herein they all -agree, commending virtue, detesting vice, and lively deciphering their -overthrow that suppress not their unruly affections. These things noted -herein, how simple soever the verse be, I hope the matter will be -acceptable to the wise. - -Wherefore I am now bold to present Gismund to your sights, and unto -yours only, for therefore have I conjured her, by the love that hath -been these twenty-four years betwixt us, that she wax not so proud of -her fresh painting, to straggle in her plumes abroad, but to contain -herself within the walls of your house; so am I sure she shall be safe -from the _tragedian tyrants_ of our time, who are not ashamed to affirm -that there can no amorous poem savour of any sharpness of wit, unless it -be seasoned with scurrilous words. - -But leaving them to their lewdness, I hope you, and all discreet -readers, will thankfully receive my pains, the fruits of my first -harvest: the rather, perceiving that my purpose in this tragedy tendeth -only to the exaltation of virtue and suppression of vice, with pleasure -to profit and help all men, but to offend or hurt no man. As for such as -have neither the grace, nor the good gift, to do well themselves, nor -the common honesty to speak well of others, I must (as I may) hear and -bear their baitings with patience. - - Yours devoted in his ability, - - R. WILMOT. - - - -A PREFACE TO THE QUEEN'S MAIDENS OF HONOUR.[5] - - -1. A SONNET OF THE QUEEN'S MAIDS. - -They which tofore thought that the heaven's throne -Is placed above the skies, and there do feign -The gods and all the heavenly powers to reign, -They err, and but deceive themselves alone. -Heaven (unless you think mo be than one) -Is here in earth, and by the pleasant side -Of famous Thames at Greenwich court doth 'bide. -And as for other heaven is there none. -There are the goddesses we honour so: -There Pallas sits: there shineth Venus' face: -Bright beauty there possesseth all the place: -Virtue and honour there do live and grow: -There reigneth she such heaven that doth deserve, -Worthy whom so fair goddesses should serve. - - -2. ANOTHER TO THE SAME. - -Flowers of prime, pearls couched all in gold, -Light of our days, that glads the fainting hearts -Of them that shall your shining gleams behold, -Salve of each sore, recure of inward smarts, -In whom virtue and beauty striveth so -As neither yields: behold here, for your gain, -Gismund's unlucky love, her fault, her woe, -And death; at last her cruel father slain -Through his mishap; and though you do not see, -Yet read and rue their woful tragedy. -So Jove, as your high virtues done deserve, -Grant you such pheers[6] as may your virtues serve -With like virtues; and blissful Venus send -Unto your happy loves an happy end. - - -3. ANOTHER TO THE SAME. - -Gismund, that whilome liv'd her father's joy -And died his death, now dead, doth (as she may) -By us pray you to pity her annoy. -And, to requite the same, doth humbly pray, -Heavens to forefend[7] your loves from like decay. -The faithful earl doth also make request, -Wishing those worthy knights whom ye embrace, -The constant truth that lodged in his breast. -His hearty love, not his unhappy case, -Befall to such as triumph in your grace. -The king prays pardon of his cruel hest,[8] -And for amends desires it may suffice. -That by his blood he warneth all the rest -Of fond fathers, that they in kinder wise -Intreat the jewels where their comfort lies. -We, as their messengers, beseech ye all -On their behalfs to pity all their smarts. -And for ourselves (although the worth be small) -We pray ye to accept our humble hearts, -Avow'd to serve with prayer and with praise -Your honours, all unworthy other ways.[9] - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE.[10] - - -CUPID. -TANCRED, _the King_. -GISMUNDA, _the King's Daughter_. -LUCRECE, _her Aunt_. -GUISCARD, _Count Palurin_. -RENUCHIO, _Captain of the Guard_. -JULIO, _Lord Chamberlain_. -MEGAERA. -CHORUSES.[11] - - - -ARGUMENT OF THE TRAGEDY.[12] - -Tancred, the Prince of Salerne, overloves -His only daughter (wonder of that age) -Gismund, who loves the County[13] Palurin -Guiscard, who quites her likings with his love: -A letter in a cane describes the means -Of their two meetings in a secret cave. -Unconstant fortune leadeth forth the king -To this unhappy sight, wherewith in rage -The gentle earl he doometh to his death, -And greets his daughter with her lover's heart. -Gismunda fills the goblet with her tears, -And drinks a poison which she had distill'd, -Whereof she dies, whose deadly countenance -So grieves her father, that he slew himself. - - -ANOTHER OF THE SAME, MORE AT LARGE, IN PROSE.[14] - -Tancred, King of Naples and Prince of Salerne, gave his only daughter -Gismund (whom he most dearly loved) in marriage to a foreign prince, -after whose death she returned home to her father, who having felt great -grief of her absence whilst her husband lived, immeasurably esteeming -her, determined never to suffer any second marriage to bereave him of -her. She, on the other side, waxing weary of that her father's purpose, -bent her mind to the secret love of the County Palurin: to whom (he -being likewise inflamed with love of her) by a letter subtly enclosed in -a cloven cane, she gave to understand a convenient way for their desired -meetings, through an old ruinous vault, whose mouth opened directly -under her chamber floor. Into this vault when she was one day descended -(for the conveyance of her lover), her father in the mean season (whose -only joy was in his daughter) came to her chamber, and not finding her -there, supposing her to have been walked abroad for her[15] disport, he -threw him down on her bed, and covered his head with a curtain, minding -to abide and rest there till her return. She, nothing suspecting this -her father's unseasonable coming, brought up her lover out of the cave -into her chamber, where her father espied their secret love: and he (not -espied of them) was upon this sight stricken with marvellous grief; but -either for that the sudden despite had amazed him, and taken from him -all use of speech, or for that he resolved himself to a more convenient -revenge, he then spake nothing, but noted their return into the vault, -and secretly departed. Afterward, bewailing his mishap, he commanded the -earl to be attached, imprisoned, strangled, unbowelled, and his heart in -a cup of gold to be presented to his daughter:[16] she thankfully -receiveth the present, filling the cup (wherein the heart was) with her -tears, with a venomous potion (by her distilled for that purpose) she -drank to her earl. Which her father hearing of, came too late to comfort -his dying daughter, who for her last request besought him that her lover -and herself might in one tomb be together buried for a perpetual memory -of their faithful loves; which request he granted, adding to the burial -himself, slain with his own hands, to his own reproach, and the terror -of all other hard-hearted fathers. - - -Introductio in Actum Secundum. - -Before the second act there was heard a sweet noise of still pipes, -which sounding, Lucrece entered, attended by a maiden of honour with a -covered goddard of gold, and, drawing the curtains, she offereth unto -Gismunda to taste thereof; which when she had done, the maid returned, -and Lucrece raiseth up Gismunda from her bed, and then it followeth _ut_ -in act ii. sc. 1. - - -Introductio in Actum Tertium. - -Before this act the hautboys sounded a lofty almain, and Cupid ushereth -after him Guiscard and Gismunda, hand in hand; Julio and Lucrece, -Renuchio and another maiden of honour. The measures trod, Gismunda gives -a cane into Guiscard's hand, and they are all led forth again by Cupid, -_ut sequitur_. - - -Introductio in Actum Quartum. - -Before this act there was heard a consort of sweet music, which playing, -Tancred cometh forth, and draweth Gismunda's curtains, and lies down -upon her bed; then from under the stage ascendeth Guiscard, and he -helpeth up Gismunda: they amorously embrace and depart. The king ariseth -enraged. Then was heard and seen a storm of thunder and lightning, in -which the furies rise up, _ut sequitur_. - - -Introductio in Actum Quintum. - -Before this act was a dead march played, during which entered on the -stage Renuchio, Captain of the Guard, attended upon by the guard. They -took up Guiscard from under the stage; then after Guiscard had kindly -taken leave of them all, a strangling-cord was fastened about his neck, -and he haled forth by them. Renuchio bewaileth it; and then, entering -in, bringeth forth a standing cup of gold, with a bloody heart reeking -hot in it, and then saith, _ut sequitur_. - - - - -TANCRED AND GISMUNDA.[17] - - - -ACT I., SCENE 1. - - - CUPID _cometh out of the heavens in a cradle of flowers, - drawing forth upon the stage, in a blue twist of silk, - from his left hand, Vain Hope, Brittle Joy: and with a - carnation twist of silk from his right hand, Fair - Resemblance, Late Repentance_. - -CUPID. There rest my chariot on the mountaintops.[18] -I, that in shape appear unto your sight[19] -A naked boy, not cloth'd but with my wings, -And that great God of Love, who with his might -Ruleth the vast wide world and living things.[20] -This left hand bears Vain Hope, short joyful state, -With Fair Resemblance, lovers to allure: -This right hand holds Repentance all too late, -War, fire,[21] blood, and pains without recure. -On sweet ambrosia is not my food, -Nectar is not my drink: as to the rest -Of all the gods: I drink the lover's blood. -And feed upon the heart[22] within his breast. -Well hath my power in heaven and earth been try'd, -And deepest hell my piercing force hath known. -The marble seas[23] my wonders hath descry'd, -Which elder age throughout the world hath blown.[24] -To me the king of gods and men doth yield, -As witness can the Greekish maid,[25] whom I -Made like a cow go glowing through[26] the field, -Lest jealous Juno should the 'scape espy. -The doubled night, the sun's restrained course, -His secret stealths, the slander to eschew, -In shape transform'd,[27] we[28] list not to discourse. -All that and more we forced him to do. -The warlike Mars hath not subdu'd our[29] might, -We fear'd him not, his fury nor disdain, -That can the gods record, before whose sight -He lay fast wrapp'd in Vulcan's subtle chain. -He that on earth yet hath not felt our power, -Let him behold the fall and cruel spoil -Of thee, fair Troy, of Asia the flower, -So foul defac'd, and levell'd[30] with the soil -Who forc'd Leander with his naked breast -So many nights to cut the frothy waves, -But Hero's love, that lay inclos'd in Sest? -The stoutest hearts to me shall yield them slaves. -Who could have match'd the huge Alcides'[31] strength? -Great Macedon[32] what force might have subdu'd? -Wise Scipio who overcame at length, -But we, that are with greater force endu'd? -Who could have conquered the golden fleece[33] -But Jason, aided by Medea's art? -Who durst have stol'n fair Helen out of Greece -But I, with love that bold'ned Paris' heart? -What bond of nature, what restraint avails[34] -Against our power? I vouch to witness truth. -The myrrh tree,[35] that with shamefast tears bewails -Her father's love, still weepeth yet for ruth,[36] -But now, this world not seeing in these days -Such present proofs of our all-daring[37] power, -Disdains our name, and seeketh sundry ways -To scorn and scoff, and shame us every hour. -A brat, a bastard, and an idle boy: -A[38] rod, a staff, a whip to beat him out! -And to be sick of love, a childish toy: -These are mine honours now the world about, -My name disgrac'd to raise again therefore, -And in this age mine ancient renown -By mighty acts intending to restore, -Down to the earth in wrath now am I come; -And in this place such wonders shall ye hear, -As these your stubborn and disdainful hearts -In melting tears and humble yielding fear -Shall soon relent by sight of others' smarts. -This princely palace will I enter in, -And there inflame the fair Gismunda so, -Enraging all her secret veins within, -Through fiery love that she shall feel much woe.[39] -Too-late-Repentance, thou shalt bend my bow; -Vain Hope, take out my pale, dead, heavy shaft, -Thou, Fair Resemblance, foremost forth shalt go, -With Brittle Joy: myself will not be least, -But after me comes Death and deadly Pain. -Thus shall ye march, till we return again.[40] -Meanwhile, sit still, and here I shall you show -Such wonders, that at last with one accord -Ye shall relent, and say that now you know -Love rules the world, Love it a mighty lord.[41] - - [CUPID _with his train entereth into_ KING TANCRED'S _palace_. - - - -ACT I., SCENE 2. - - - GISMUNDA _in purple cometh out of her chamber, - attended by four maids that are the Chorus_. - -GISMUNDA. "O vain, unsteadfast state of mortal things! -Who trust this world, leans to a brittle stay: -Such fickle fruit his flattering bloom forth brings, -Ere it be ripe, it falleth to decay." -The joy and bliss that late I did possess, -In weal at will, with one I loved best, -Is turned now into so deep distress, -As teacheth me to know the world's unrest.[42] -For neither wit nor princely stomachs serve -Against his force, that slays without respect -The noble and the wretch: ne doth reserve -So much as one for worthiness elect. -Ah me, dear lord! what well of tears may serve -To feed the streams of my foredulled eyes, -To weep thy death, as thy death doth deserve, -And wail thy want in full sufficing wise? -Ye lamps of heaven, and all ye heavenly powers,[43] -Wherein did he procure your high disdain? -He never sought with vast huge mountain towers -To reach aloft, and over-view your reign: -Or what offence of mine was it unwares, -That thus your fury should on me be thrown, -To plague a woman with such endless cares? -I fear that envy hath the heavens this shown: -The sun his glorious virtues did disdain; -Mars at his manhood mightily repin'd; -Yea, all the gods no longer could sustain, -Each one to be excelled in his kind. -For he my lord surpass'd them every one;[44] -Such was his honour all the world throughout. -But now, my love, oh! whither art thou gone? -I know thy ghost doth hover hereabout, -Expecting me, thy heart, to follow thee: -And I, dear love, would fain dissolve this strife. -But stay awhile, I may perhaps foresee -Some means to be disburden'd of this life, -"And to discharge the duty of a wife,[45] -Which is, not only in this life to love, -But after death her fancy not remove." -Meanwhile accept of these our daily rites, -Which with my maidens I shall do to thee, -Which is in songs to cheer our dying sprites -With hymns of praises of thy memory. - - _Cantant. - - Quae mihi cantio nondum occurrit_.[46] - - - -ACT I, SCENE 3. - - - _The song ended_, TANCRED _the King cometh - out of his palace with his guard_. - -TANCRED. Fair daughter, I have sought thee out with grief, -To ease the sorrows of thy vexed heart. -How long wilt thou torment thy father thus, -Who daily dies to see thy needless tears? -Such bootless plaints, that know nor mean nor end, -Do but increase the floods of thy lament; -And since the world knows well there was no want -In thee of ought, that did to him belong, -Yet all, thou seest, could not his life prolong. -Why then dost thou provoke the heavens to wrath? -His doom of death was dated by his stars, -"And who is he that may withstand his fate?" -By these complaints small good to him thou dost, -Much grief to me, more hurt unto thyself, -And unto nature greatest wrong of all. - -GISMUNDA. Tell me not of the date of nature's days, -Then in the April of her springing age: -No, no, it was my cruel destiny, -That spited at the pleasance of my life. - -TANCRED. My daughter knows the proof of nature's course. -"For as the heavens do guide the lamp of life, -So can they reach no farther forth the flame, -Than whilst with oil they do maintain the same." - -GISMUNDA. Curst be the stars, and vanish may they curst, -Or fall from heaven, that in their dire aspèct[47] -Abridg'd the health and welfare of my love. - -TANCRED. Gismund, my joy, set all these griefs apart; -"The more thou art with hard mishap beset, -The more thy patience should procure thine ease." - -GISMUNDA. What hope of hap may cheer my hapless chance? -What sighs, what tears may countervail my cares? -What should I do, but still his death bewail, -That was the solace of my life and soul? -Now, now, I want the wonted guide and stay -Of my desires and of my wreakless thoughts. -My lord, my love, my life, my liking gone, -In whom was all the fulness of my joy, -To whom I gave the first-fruits of my love, -Who with the comfort of his only sight -All care and sorrows could from me remove. -But, father, now my joys forepast to tell, -Do but revive the horrors of my hell. -As she that seems in darkness to behold -The gladsome pleasures of the cheerful light. - -TANCRED. What then avails thee fruitless thus to rue -His absence, whom the heavens cannot return? -Impartial death thy husband did subdue, -Yet hath he spar'd thy kingly father's life: -Who during life to thee a double stay, -As father and as husband, will remain, -With double love to ease thy widow's want, -Of him whose want is cause of thy complaint. -Forbear thou therefore all these needless tears, -That nip the blossoms of thy beauty's pride. - -GISMUNDA. Father, these tears love challengeth of due. - -TANCRED. But reason saith thou shouldst the same subdue. - -GISMUNDA. His funerals are yet before my sight. - -TANCRED. In endless moans princes should not delight. - -GISMUNDA. The turtle pines in loss of her true mate. - -TANCRED. And so continues poor and desolate. - -GISMUNDA. Who can forget a jewel of such price? - -TANCRED. She that hath learn'd to master her desires. -"Let reason work, what time doth easily frame -In meanest wits, to bear the greatest ills." - -GISMUNDA. So plenteous are the springs -Of sorrows that increase my passions, -As neither reason can recure my smart, -Nor can your care nor fatherly comfort -Appease the stormy combats of my thoughts; -Such is the sweet remembrance of his life. -Then give me leave: of pity, pity me, -And as I can, I shall allay these griefs. - -TANCRED. These solitary walks thou dost frequent, -Yield fresh occasions to thy secret moans: -We will therefore thou keep us company, -Leaving thy maidens with their harmony. -Wend[48] thou with us. Virgins, withdraw yourselves. - - [TANCRED _and_ GISMUNDA, _with the guard, depart into the palace; - the four maidens stay behind, as Chorus to the Tragedy_. - -CHORUS 1. The diverse haps which always work our care, -Our joys so far, our woes so near at hand, -Have long ere this, and daily do declare -The fickle foot on which our state doth stand. -"Who plants his pleasures here to gather root, -And hopes his happy life will still endure, -Let him behold how death with stealing foot -Steps in when he shall think his joys most sure." -No ransom serveth to redeem our days -If prowess could preserve, or worthy deeds, -He had yet liv'd, whose twelve labours displays -His endless fame, and yet his honour spreads. -And that great king,[49] that with so small a power -Bereft the mighty Persian of his crown, -Doth witness well our life is but a flower, -Though it be deck'd with honour and renown. - -CHORUS 2. "What grows to-day in favour of the heaven, -Nurs'd with the sun and with the showers sweet, -Pluck'd with the hand, it withereth ere even. -So pass our days, even as the rivers fleet." -The valiant Greeks, that unto Troia gave -The ten years' siege, left but their names behind. -And he that did so long and only save -His father's walls,[50] found there at last his end. -Proud Rome herself, that whilome laid her yoke -On the wide world, and vanquish'd all with war, -Yet could she not remove the fatal stroke -Of death from them that stretch'd her pow'r so far. - -CHORUS 3. Look, what the cruel sisters once decree'd, -The Thunderer himself cannot remove: -They are the ladies of our destiny, -To work beneath what is conspir'd above. -But happy he that ends this mortal life -By speedy death: who is not forc'd to see -The many cares, nor feel the sundry griefs, -Which we sustain in woe and misery. -Here fortune rules who, when she list to play, -Whirleth her wheel, and brings the high full low: -To-morrow takes, what she hath given to-day, -To show she can advance and overthrow. -Not Euripus'[51] (unquiet flood) so oft -Ebbs in a day, and floweth to and fro, -As fortune's change plucks down that was aloft, -And mingleth joy with interchange of woe. - -CHORUS 4. "Who lives below, and feeleth not the strokes, -Which often-times on highest towers do fall, -Nor blustering winds, wherewith the strongest oaks -Are rent and torn, his life is sur'st of all:" -For he may fortune scorn, that hath no power -On him, that is well pleas'd with his estate: -He seeketh not her sweets, nor fears her sour, -But lives contented in his quiet rate, -And marking how these worldly things do vade,[52] -Rejoiceth to himself, and laughs to see -The folly of men, that in their wits have made -Fortune a goddess, placed in the sky. - - _Exegit_ ROD. STAF. - -FINIS ACTUS I. - - - - -ACT II, SCENE 1. - - - GISMUNDA AND LUCRECE. - -GISMUNDA. Dear aunt, my sole companion in distress, -And true copartner of my thoughtful cares: -When with myself I weigh my present state, -Comparing it with my forepassed days, -New heaps of cares afresh begin t'assay -My pensive heart, as when the glittering rays -Of bright Phoebus are suddenly o'erspread -With dusky clouds, that dim his golden light: -Namely, when I, laid in my widow's bed, -Amid the silence of the quiet night, -With curious thought the fleeting course observe -Of gladsome youth, how soon his flower decays, -"How time once past may never have recourse, -No more than may the running streams revert -To climb the hills, when they been rolled down -The hollow vales. There is no curious art, -Nor worldly power: no, not the gods can hold -The sway of flying time, nor him return, -When he is past: all things unto his might -Must bend, and yield unto the iron teeth -Of eating time." This in the shady night -When I record: how soon my youth withdraws -Itself away, how swift my pleasant spring -Runs out his race,--this, this, aunt, is the cause, -When I advise me sadly[53] on this thing, -That makes my heart in pensive dumps dismay'd. -For if I should my springing years neglect, -And suffer youth fruitless to fade away; -Whereto live I? or whereto was I born? -Wherefore hath nature deck'd me with her grace? -Why have I tasted these delights of love, -And felt the sweets of Hymeneus' bed? -But to say sooth, dear aunt, it is not I, -Sole and alone, can thus content to spend -My cheerful years: my father will not still -Prolong my mournings, which have griev'd him, -And pleased me too long. Then this I crave, -To be resolved of his princely mind. -For, stood it with the pleasure of his will -To marry me, my fortune is not such, -So hard, that I so long should still persist -Makeless alone in woful widowhood. -And shall I tell mine aunt? Come hither then, -Give me that hand: By thine own right hand, -I charge thy heart my counsels to conceal. -Late have I seen, and seeing took delight, -And with delight, I will not say, I love -A prince, an earl, a county in the court. -But love and duty force me to refrain, -And drive away these fond affections, -Submitting them unto my father's hest. -But this, good aunt, this is my chiefest pain, -Because I stand at such uncertain stay. -For, if my kingly father would decree -His final doom, that I must lead my life -Such as I do, I would content me then -To frame my fancies to his princely hest, -And as I might, endure the grief thereof. -But now his silence doubleth all my doubts, -Whilst my suspicious thoughts 'twixt hope and fear -Distract me into sundry passions: -Therefore, good aunt, this labour must be yours, -To understand my father's will herein, -For well I know your wisdom knows the means, -So shall you both allay my stormy thoughts, -And bring to quiet my unquiet mind. - -LUCRECE. Sufficeth this, good niece, that you have said; -For I perceive what sundry passions -Strive in your breast, which oftentimes ere this -Your countenance confused did bewray. -The ground whereof since I perceive to grow -On just respect of this your sole estate, -And skilful care of fleeting youth's decay, -Your wise foresight such sorrowing to eschew -I much commend, and promise as I may -To break this matter, and impart your mind -Unto your father, and to work it so, -As both your honour shall not be impeach'd, -Nor he unsatisfied of your desire. -Be you no farther grieved, but return -Into your chamber. I shall take this charge, -And you shall shortly truly understand -What I have wrought, and what the king affirms. - -GISMUNDA. I leave you to the fortune of my stars. - - [GISMUNDA _departeth into her chamber_, LUCRECE - _abiding on the stage_. - -LUCRECE. The heavens, I hope, will favour your request. -My niece shall not impute the cause to be -In my default, her will should want effect: -But in the king is all my doubt, lest he -My suit for her new marriage should reject. -Yet shall I prove him: and I heard it said, -He means this evening in the park to hunt.[54] -Here will I wait attending his approach. - - - -ACT II., SCENE 2. - - - TANCRED _cometh out of his palace with_ GUISCARD, - _the_ COUNTY PALURIN, JULIO, _the Lord Chamberlain_, - RENUCHIO, _captain of his guard, all ready to hunt_. - -TANCRED. Uncouple all our hounds; lords, to the chase-- -Fair sister Lucre[ce], what's the news with you? - -LUCRECE. Sir, as I always have employ'd my power -And faithful service, such as lay in me, -In my best wise to honour you and yours: -So now my bounden duty moveth me -Your majesty most humbly to entreat -With patient ears to understand the state -Of my poor niece, your daughter. - -TANCRED. What of her? -Is she not well? Enjoys she not her health? -Say, sister: ease me of this jealous fear? - -LUCRECE. She lives, my lord, and hath her outward health; -But all the danger of her sickness lies -In the disquiet of her princely mind. - -TANCRED. Resolve me; what afflicts my daughter so? - -LUCRECE. Since when the princess hath entomb'd her lord, -Her late deceased husband of renown; -Brother, I see, and very well perceive, -She hath not clos'd together in his grave -All sparks of nature, kindness, nor of love: -But as she lives, so living may she feel -Such passions as our tender hearts oppress, -Subject unto th'impressions of desire: -For well I wot my niece was never wrought -Of steel, nor carved from the stony rock: -Such stern hardness we ought not to expect -In her, whose princely heart and springing years -Yet flow'ring in the chiefest heat of youth, -Is led of force to feed on such conceits, -As easily befalls that age, which asketh ruth -Of them, whom nature bindeth by foresight -Of their grave years and careful love to reach -The things that are above their feeble force: -And for that cause, dread lord, although-- - -TANCRED. Sister, I say, -If you esteem or ought respect my life, -Her honour and the welfare of our house, -Forbear, and wade[55] no farther in this speech. -Your words are wounds. I very well perceive -The purpose of this smooth oration: -This I suspected, when you first began -This fair discourse with us. Is this the end -Of all our hopes, that we have promised -Unto ourself by this her widowhood? -Would our dear daughter, would our only joy, -Would she forsake us? would she leave us now, -Before she hath clos'd up our dying eyes, -And with her tears bewail'd our funeral? -No other solace doth her father crave; -But, whilst the fates maintain his dying life, -Her healthful presence gladsome to his soul, -Which rather than he willing would forego, -His heart desires the bitter taste of death. -Her late marriage hath taught us to our grief, -That in the fruits of her perpetual sight -Consists the only comfort and relief -Of our unwieldy age: for what delight, -What joy, what comfort, have we in this world; -Now grown in years, and overworn with cares, -Subject unto the sudden stroke of death, -Already falling, like the mellowed fruit, -And dropping by degrees into our grave? -But what revives us, what maintains our soul -Within the prison of our wither'd breast, -But our Gismunda and her cheerful sight? -O daughter, daughter! what desert of mine, -Wherein have I been so unkind to thee, -Thou shouldst desire to make my naked house -Yet once again stand desolate by thee? -O, let such fancies vanish with their thoughts: -Tell her I am her father, whose estate, -Wealth, honour, life, and all that we possess, -Wholly relies upon her presence here. -Tell her, I must account her all my joy, -Work as she will: but yet she were unjust -To haste his death, that liveth by her sight. - -LUCRECE. Her gentle heart abhors such ruthless thoughts. - -TANCRED. Then let her not give place to these desires. - -LUCRECE. She craves the right that nature challengeth. - -TANCRED. Tell her, the king commandeth otherwise. - -LUCRECE. The king's commandment always should be just. - -TANCRED. Whate'er it be, the king's command is just. - -LUCRECE. Just to command: but justly must he charge. - -TANCRED. He chargeth justly that commands as king. - -LUCRECE. The king's command concerns the body best. - -TANCRED. The king commands obedience of the mind. - -LUCRECE. That is exempted by the law of kind. - -TANCRED. That law of kind[56] to children doth belong. - -LUCRECE. In due obedience to their open wrong? - -TANCRED. I then, as king and father, will command. - -LUCRECE. No more than may with right of reason stand. - -TANCRED. Thou knowest our mind, resolve[57] her, depart-- -Return the chase, we have been chas'd enough. - - [TANCRED _returneth into his palace, and leaveth the hunt_. - -LUCRECE. He cannot hear, anger hath stopp'd his ears, -And over-love his judgment hath decay'd -Ah, my poor niece! I shrewdly fear thy cause, -Thy just complaint, shall never be reliev'd. - - - -ACT II., SCENE 3. - - - GISMUNDA _cometh alone out of her chamber_. - -GISMUNDA. By this I hope my aunt hath mov'd the king, -And knows his mind, and makes return to me -To end at once all this perplexity. -Lo, where she stands. O, how my trembling heart -In doubtful thoughts panteth within my breast. -For in her message doth rely my smart, -Or the sweet quiet of my troubled mind. - -LUCRECE. Niece, on the point you lately willed me -To treat of with the king on your behalf, -I brake even now with him so far, till he -In sudden rage of grief, ere I scarce had -My tale out-told, pray'd me to stint my suit, -As that from which his mind abhorred most. -And well I see his fancy to refute, -Is but displeasure gain'd and labour lost. -So firmly fixed stands his kingly will -That, till his body shall be laid in grave, -He will not part from the desired sight -Of your presence, which silder he should have, -If he had once allied you again -In marriage to any prince or peer-- -This is his final resolution. - -GISMUNDA. A resolution that resolves my blood -Into the icy drops of Lethe's flood. - -LUCRECE. Therefore my counsel is, you shall not stir, -Nor farther wade in such a case as this: -But since his will is grounded on your love, -And that it lies in you to save or spill -His old forewasted age, you ought t'eschew -The thing that grieves so much his crazed heart, -And in the state you stand content yourself: -And let this thought appease your troubled mind, -That in your hands relies your father's death -Or blissful life; and since without your sight -He cannot live, nor can his thoughts endure -Your hope of marriage, you must then relent, -And overrule these fond affections; -Lest it be said you wrought your father's end. - -GISMUNDA. Dear aunt, I have with patient ears endur'd -The hearing of my father's hard behest; -And since I see that neither I myself, -Nor your request, can so prevail with him, -Nor any sage advice persuade his mind -To grant me my desire, in willing wise -I must submit me unto his command, -And frame my heart to serve his majesty. -And (as I may) to drive away the thoughts -That diversely distract my passions, -Which as I can, I'll labour to subdue, -But sore I fear I shall but toil in vain, -Wherein, good aunt, I must desire your pain. - -LUCRECE. What lies in me by comfort or advice, -I shall discharge with all humility. - - [GISMUNDA _and_ LUCRECE _depart into_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber_. - -CHORUS 1. Who marks our former times and present years, -What we are now, and looks what we have been, -He cannot but lament with bitter tears -The great decay and change of all women. -For as the world wore on, and waxed old, -So virtue quail'd,[58] and vice began to grow. -So that that age, that whilome was of gold, -Is worse than brass, more vile than iron now. -The times were such (that if we aught believe -Of elder days), women examples were -Of rare virtues: Lucrece disdain'd to live -Longer than chaste; and boldly without fear -Took sharp revenge on her enforced heart -With her own hands: for that it not withstood -The wanton will, but yielded to the force -Of proud Tarquin, who bought her fame with blood. - -CHORUS 2. Queen Artemisia thought an heap of stones -(Although they were the wonder of that age) -A worthless grave, wherein to rest the bones -Of her dear lord, but with bold courage -She drank his heart, and made her lovely breast -His tomb, and failed not of wifely faith, -Of promis'd love and of her bound behest, -Until she ended had her days by death. -Ulysses' wife (such was her steadfastness) -Abode his slow return whole twenty years: -And spent her youthful days in pensiveness, -Bathing her widow's bed with brinish tears.[59] - -CHORUS 3. The stout daughter of Cato, Brutus' wife, Portia, -When she had heard his death, did not desire -Longer to live: and lacking use of knife -(A most strange thing) ended her life by fire, -And ate whot-burning coals. O worthy dame! -O virtues worthy of eternal praise! -The flood of Lethe cannot wash out thy fame, -To others' great reproach, shame, and dispraise. - -CHORUS 4. Rare are those virtues now in women's mind! -Where shall we seek such jewels passing strange? -Scarce can you now among a thousand find -One woman stedfast: all delight in change. -Mark but this princess, that lamented here -Of late so sore her noble husband's death, -And thought to live alone without a pheer; -Behold how soon she changed hath that breath! -I think those ladies that have lived 'tofore, -A mirror and a glass to womenkind; -By those their virtues they did set such store, -That unto us they none bequeath'd behind; -Else in so many years we might have seen -As virtuous as ever they have been. - -CHORUS 1. Yet let not us maidens condemn our kind, -Because our virtues are not all so rare: -For we may freshly yet record in mind, -There lives a virgin,[60] one without compare, -Who of all graces hath her heavenly share; -In whose renown, and for whose happy days, -Let us record this paean of her praise. - - _Cantant_. - -FINIS ACTUS II. _Per_ HEN. NO.[61] - - - - -ACT III., SCENE 1. - - -CUPID. So now they feel what lordly Love can do, - That proudly practise to deface his name; -In vain they wrastle with so fierce a foe; - Of little sparks arise a blazing flame. -"By small occasions love can kindle heat, - And waste the oaken breast to cinder dust." -Gismund I have enticed to forget - Her widow's weeds, and burn in raging lust: -'Twas I enforc'd her father to deny -Her second marriage to any peer; -'Twas I allur'd her once again to try -The sour sweets that lovers buy too dear. -The County Palurin, a man right wise, -A man of exquisite perfections, -I have like wounded with her piercing eyes, -And burnt her heart with his reflections. -These two shall joy in tasting of my sweet, -To make them prove more feelingly the grief -That bitter brings: for when their joys shall fleet, -Their dole shall be increas'd without relief. -Thus Love shall make worldlings to know his might; -Thus Love shall force great princes to obey; -Thus Love shall daunt each proud, rebelling spirit; -Thus Love shall wreak his wrath on their decay. -Their ghosts shall give black hell to understand, -How great and wonderful a god is Love: -And this shall learn the ladies of this land -With patient minds his mighty power to prove. -From whence I did descend, now will I mount -To Jove and all the gods in their delights: -In throne of triumph there will I recount, -How I by sharp revenge on mortal wights -Have taught the earth, and learned hellish sprites -To yield with fear their stubborn hearts to Love, -Lest their disdain his plagues and vengeance -prove. - [CUPID _remounteth into the heavens_. - - - -ACT III., SCENE 2. - - - LUCRECE _cometh out of_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber solitary_. - -LUCRECE. Pity, that moveth every gentle heart -To rue their griefs, that be distress'd in pain, -Enforceth me to wail my niece's smart, -Whose tender breast no long time may sustain -The restless toil, that her unquiet mind -Hath caus'd her feeble body to endure; -But why it is (alack!) I must not find, -Nor know the man, by whom I might procure -Her remedy, as I of duty ought, -As to the law of kinship doth belong. -With careful heart the secret means I sought, -Though small effect is of my travail sprung: -Full often as I durst I have assay'd -With humble words the princess to require -To name the man which she hath so denay'd,[62] -That it abash'd me further to desire, -Or ask from whence those cloudy thoughts proceed, -Whose stony force, that smoky sighs forth send, -Is lively witness how that careful dread -And hot desire within her do contend: -Yet she denies what she confess'd of yore, -And then conjoin'd me to conceal the same; -She loved once, she saith, but never more, -Nor ever will her fancy thereto frame. -Though daily I observed in my breast -What sharp conflicts disquiet her so sore, -That heavy sleep cannot procure her rest, -But fearful dreams present her evermore -Most hideous sights her quiet to molest; -That starting oft therewith, she doth awake, -To muse upon those fancies which torment -Her thoughtful heart with horror, that doth make -Her cold chill sweat break forth incontinent -From her weak limbs. And while the quiet night -Gives others rest, she, turning to and fro, -Doth wish for day: but when the day brings light, -She keeps her bed, there to record her woe. -As soon as when she riseth, flowing tears -Stream down her cheeks, immixed with deadly groans, -Whereby her inward sorrow so appears, -That as salt tears the cruel cause bemoans. -In case she be constrained to abide -In prease[63] of company, she scarcely may -Her trembling voice restrain it be not spy'd, -From careful plaints her sorrows to bewray. -By which restraint the force doth so increase, -When time and place give liberty to plain, -That as small streams from running never cease, -Till they return into the seas again; -So her laments, we fear, will not amend, -Before they bring her princely life to end. -To others' talk when as she should attend, -Her heaped cares her senses so oppress, -That what they speak, or whereto their words tend, -She knows not, as her answers do express. -Her chief delight is still to be alone, -Her pensive thoughts within themselves debate: -But whereupon this restless life is grown, -Since I know not, nor how the same t'abate; -I can no more but wish it as I may, -That he which knows it, would the same allay, -For which the Muses with my song shall pray. - - - -ACT III., SCENE 3. - - - _After the song, which was by report very sweetly repeated - by the Chorus_, LUCRECE _departeth into_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber, - and_ GUISCARD _cometh out of the palace with_ JULIO _and_ - RENUCHIO, _gentlemen, to whom he turneth, and saith_: - -GUISCARD. Leave me, my friends; this solitary walk -Enticeth me to break your company. -Leave me, my friends, I can endure no talk. -Let me entreat this common courtesy. [_The gentlemen depart_. -What grievous pain they 'dure, which neither may -Forget their loves, ne yet enjoy their love, -I know by proof, and daily make assay. -Though Love hath brought my lady's heart to love, -My faithful love with like love to requite; -This doth not quench, but rather cause to flame -The creeping fire which, spreading in my breast -With raging heat, grants me no time of rest. -If they bewail their cruel destiny, -Which spend their love, where they no love can find, -Well may I plain, since fortune haleth[64] me -To this torment of far more grievous kind; -Wherein I feel as much extremity, -As may be felt in body or in mind. -For by that sight, which should recure my pain, -My sorrows are redoubled all in vain. -Now I perceive that only I alone -Am her belov'd, her looks assure me so: -The thought thereof provokes me to bemoan -Her heavy plight that grieveth at my woe. -This intercourse of our affections-- -I her to serve, she thus to honour me-- -Bewrays the truth of our elections, -Delighting in this mutual sympathy. -Thus love for love entreat's the queen of love, -That with her help Love's solace we may prove. -I see my mistress seeks as well as I -To stay the strife of her perplexed mind: -Full fain she would our secret company, -If she the wished way thereof might find. -Heavens, have ye seen, or hath the age of man -Recorded such a miracle as this-- -In equal love two noble hearts to frame, -That never spake one with another's bliss? -I am assured that she doth assent -To my relief, that I should reap the same, -If she could frame the means of my content, -Keeping herself from danger of defame. -In happy hour right now I did receive -This cane from her; which gift though it be small, -Receiving it, what joys I did conceive -Within my fainting spirits therewithal! -Who knoweth love aright, may well conceive -By like adventures that to them befall. -"For needs the lover must esteem that well, -Which comes from her, with whom his heart doth dwell." -Assuredly it is not without cause -She gave me this; something she meant thereby: -For therewithal I might perceive her pause -Awhile, as though some weighty thing did lie -Upon her heart, which she concealed, because -The standers-by should not our loves descry: -This clift bewrays that it hath been disclos'd; -Perhaps herein she hath something inclos'd: [_He breaks it_. -O thou great thunderer! who would not serve, -Where wit with beauty chosen have their place? -Who could devise more wisely to conserve -Things from suspect? O Venus, for this grace -That deigns me, all unworthy, to deserve -So rare a love, in heaven I should thee place. -This sweet letter some joyful news contains, -1 hope it brings recure to both our pains. - [_He reads it_. - -_Mine own, as I am yours, whose heart, I know, -No less than mine, for lingering help of woe -Doth long too long: love, tendering your case -And mine, hath taught recure of both our pain. -My chamber-floor doth hide a cave, where was -An old vault's mouth: the other in the plain -Doth rise southward, a furlong from the wall. -Descend you there. This shall suffice. And so -I yield myself, mine honour, life, and all, -To you. Use you the same, as there may grow -Your bliss and mine, mine earl, and that the same -Free may abide from danger of defame. -Farewell; and fare so well, as that your joy, -Which only can, may comfort mine annoy. - Yours more than her own,_ - GISMUND. - -O blissful chance my sorrows to assuage! -Wonder of nature, marvel of our age! -Comes this from Gismund? did she thus enfold -This letter in the cane? may it be so? -It were too sweet a joy; I am deceiv'd. -Why shall I doubt, did she not give it me? -Therewith she smil'd, she joy'd, she raught[65] the cane, -And with her own sweet hand she gave it me: -And as we danc'd, she dallied with the cane, -And sweetly whisper'd I should be her king, -And with this cane, the sceptre of our rule, -Command the sweets of her surprised heart. -Therewith she raught from her alluring locks -This golden tress, the favour of her grace, -And with her own sweet hand she gave it me: -O peerless queen, my joy, my heart's decree! -And, thou fair letter, how shall I welcome thee? -Both hand and pen, wherewith thou written wert, -Blest may ye be, such solace that impart! -And blessed be this cane, and he that taught -Thee to descry the hidden entry thus: -Not only through a dark and dreadful vault, -But fire and sword, and through whatever be, -Mistress of my desires, I come to thee. - - [GISCARD _departeth in haste unto the palace_. - -CHORUS 1. Right mighty is thy power, O cruel Love, -High Jove himself cannot resist thy bow; -Thou sent'st him down, e'en from the heavens above, -In sundry shapes here to the earth below: -Then how shall mortal men escape thy dart, -The fervent flame and burning of thy fire; -Since that thy might is such, and since thou art -Both of the seas and land the lord and sire? - -CHORUS 2. But why doth she that sprang from Jove's high head, -And Phoebus's sister sheen, despise thy power, -Ne fear thy bow? Why have they always led -A maiden life, and kept untouch'd the flower? -Why doth Aegistus love, and to obtain -His wicked will, conspire his uncle's death? -Or why doth Phaedra burn, from whom is slain -Theseus' chaste son, or Helen, false of faith? -"For love assaults not but the idle heart, -And such as live in pleasure and delight; -He turneth oft their gladsome joys to smart, -Their play to plaint, their sport into despite." - -CHORUS 3. 'Tis true, that Dian chaseth with her bow -The flying hart, the goat, and foamy boar: -By hill, by dale: in heat, in frost, in snow: -She recketh not, but laboureth evermore; -Love seeks not her, ne knoweth where[66] to find. -Whilst Paris kept his herd on Ida down, -Cupid ne'er sought him out, for he is blind; -But when he left the field to live in town, -He fell into his snare, and brought that brand -From Greece to Troy, which after set on fire -Strong Ilium, and all the Phryges land: -"Such are the fruits of love, such is his hire."[67] - -CHORUS 4. Who yieldeth unto him his captive heart, -Ere he resist, and holds his open breast -Withouten war to take his bloody dart, -Let him not think to shake off, when him list, -His heavy yoke. "Resist his first assault; -Weak is his bow, his quenched brand is cold; -Cupid is but a child, and cannot daunt -The mind that bears him, or his virtues bold." -But he gives poison so to drink in gold, -And hideth under pleasant baits his hook; -But ye beware, it will be hard to hold -Your greedy minds, but if ye wisely look -What sly snake lurks under those flowers gay. -But ye mistrust some cloudy smokes, and fear -A stormy shower after so fair a day: -Ye may repent, and buy your pleasure dear; -For seldom-times is Cupid wont to send -"Unto an idle love a joyful end." - -FINIS ACTUS. _G. Al_. - - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 1. - - - _Before this act_ MEGAERA _riseth out of hell, with the - other furies_, ALECTO _and_ TYSIPHONE _dancing an hellish - round; which done, she saith_: - -MEGAERA. Sisters, begone, bequeath the rest to me, -That yet belongs unto this tragedy. - [_The two furies depart down_. -Vengeance and death from forth the deepest hell -I bring the cursed house, where Gismund dwells. -Sent from the grisly god, that holds his reign -In Tartar's ugly realm, where Pelops' sire -(Who with his own son's flesh, whom he had slain, -Did feast the gods) with famine hath his hire; -To gape and catch at flying fruits in vain, -And yielding waters to his gasping throat; -Where stormy Aeol's son with endless pain -Rolls up the rock; where Tytius hath his lot -To feed the gripe that gnaws his growing heart;[68] -Where proud Ixion, whirled on the wheel, -Pursues himself; where due deserved smart -The damned ghosts in burning flame do feel-- -From thence I mount: thither the winged god, -Nephew to Atlas that upholds the sky, -Of late down from the earth with golden rod -To Stygian ferry Salerne souls did guide, -And made report how Love, that lordly boy, -Highly disdaining his renown's decay, -Slipp'd down from heaven, and filled with fickle joy -Gismunda's heart, and made her throw away -Chasteness of life to her immortal shame: -Minding to show, by proof of her foul end, -Some terror unto those that scorn his name. -Black Pluto (that once found Cupid his friend -In winning Ceres' daughter, queen of hells;) -And Parthie, moved by the grieved ghost -Of her late husband, that in Tartar dwells, -Who pray'd due pains for her, that thus hath lost -All care of him and of her chastity. -The senate then of hell, by grave advice -Of Minos, Aeac, and of Radamant, -Commands me draw this hateful air, and rise -Above the earth, with dole and death to daunt -The pride and present joys, wherewith these two -Feed their disdained hearts; which now to do, -Behold I come with instruments of death. -This stinging snake, which is of hate and wrath, -I'll fix upon her father's heart full fast, -And into hers this other will I cast, -Whose rankling venom shall infect them so -With envious wrath and with recureless woe, -Each shall be other's plague and overthrow. -"Furies must aid, when men surcease to know -Their gods: and hell sends forth revenging pain -On those whom shame from sin cannot restrain." - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 2. - - - MEGAERA _entereth into the palace, and meeteth with_ - TANCRED _coming out of_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber with_ - RENUCHIO _and_ JULIO, _upon whom she throweth her - snake_.[69] - -TANCRED. Gods! are ye guides of justice and revenge? -O thou great Thunderer! dost thou behold -With watchful eyes the subtle 'scapes of men -Harden'd in shame, sear'd up in the desire -Of their own lusts? why then dost thou withhold -The blast of thy revenge? why dost thou grant -Such liberty, such lewd occasion -To execute their shameless villainy? -Thou, thou art cause of all this open wrong, -Thou, that forbear'st thy vengeance all too long. -If thou spare them, rain then upon my head -The fulness of thy plagues with deadly ire, -To reave this ruthful soul, who all too sore -Burns in the wrathful torments of revenge. -O earth, the mother of each living wight, -Open thy womb, devour this wither'd corpse. -And thou, O hell (if other hell there be -Than that I feel), receive my soul to thee. -O daughter, daughter (wherefore do I grace -Her with so kind a name?) O thou fond girl, -The shameful ruin of thy father's house, -Is this my hoped joy? Is this the stay -Must glad my grief-ful years that waste away? -For life, which first thou didst receive from me, -Ten thousand deaths shall I receive by thee. -For all the joys I did repose in thee. -Which I, fond man, did settle in thy sight, -Is this thy recompense--that I must see -The thing so shameful and so villanous: -That would to God this earth had swallowed -This worthless burthen into lowest deeps, -Rather than I, accursed, had beheld -The sight that hourly massacres my life? -O whither, whither fly'st thou forth, my soul? -O whither wand'reth my tormented mind? -Those pains, that make the miser[70] glad of death, -Have seiz'd on me, and yet I cannot have -What villains may command--a speedy death. -Whom shall I first accuse for this outrage? -That God that guideth all, and guideth so -This damned deed? Shall I blaspheme their names-- -The gods, the authors of this spectacle? -Or shall I justly curse that cruel star, -Whose influence assign'd this destiny? -But may that traitor, shall that vile wretch live, -By whom I have receiv'd this injury? -Or shall I longer make account of her, -That fondly prostitutes her widow's shame?-- -I have bethought me what I shall request. [_He kneels_. -On bended knees, with hands heav'd up to heaven, -This, sacred senate of the gods, I crave: -First on the traitor your consuming ire; -Next on the cursed strumpet dire revenge; -Last on myself, the wretched father, shame. [_He riseth_. -O! could I stamp, and therewithal command -Armies of furies to assist my heart, -To prosecute due vengeance on their souls! -Hear me, my friends; but as ye love your lives, -Reply not to me; hearken and stand amaz'd. -When I, as is my wont, O fond delight! -Went forth to seek my daughter, now my death-- -Within her chamber, as I thought, she was; -But there I found her not--I deemed then -For her disport she and her maidens were -Down to the garden walk'd to comfort them; -And thinking thus, it came into my mind -There all alone to tarry her return: -And thereupon I, weary, threw myself -Upon her widow's bed, for so I thought, -And in the curtain wrapp'd my cursed head. -Thus as I lay, anon I might behold -Out of the vault, up through her chamber floor, -My daughter Gismund bringing hand in hand -The County Palurin. Alas! it is too true; -At her bed's feet this traitor made me see -Her shame, his treason, and my deadly grief-- -Her princely body yielded to this thief; -The high despite whereof so wounded me -That, trance-like, as a senseless stone I lay; -For neither wit nor tongue could use the mean -T'express the passions of my pained heart. -Forceless, perforce, I sank down to this pain, -As greedy famine doth constrain the hawk -Piecemeal to rend and tear the yielding prey: -So far'd it with me in that heavy stound. -But now what shall I do? how may I seek -To ease my mind, that burneth with desire -Of dire revenge? For never shall my thoughts -Grant ease unto my heart, till I have found -A mean of vengeance to requite his pains, -That first convey'd this sight unto my soul.-- -Renuchio! - -RENUCHIO. What is your highness' will? - -TANCRED. Call my daughter: my heart boils, till I see -Her in my sight, to whom I may discharge -All the unrest that thus distempereth me. [_Exit_ RENUCHIO. -Should I destroy them both? O gods, ye know -How near and dear our daughter is to us. -And yet my rage persuades me to imbrue -My thirsty hands in both their trembling bloods, -Therewith to cool my wrathful fury's heat. -But, Nature, why repin'st thou at this thought? -Why should I think upon a father's debt -To her that thought not on a daughter's due? -But still, methinks, if I should see her die, -And therewithal reflex her dying eyes -Upon mine eyes, that sight would slit my heart: -Not much unlike the cockatrice, that slays -The object of his foul infections, -O, what a conflict doth my mind endure! -Now fight my thoughts against my passions: -Now strive my passions against my thoughts: -Now sweats my heart, now chill cold falls it dead. -Help, heavens, and succour, ye celestial powers! -Infuse your secret virtue on my soul. -Shall nature win? shall justice not prevail? -Shall I, a king, be proved partial? -"How shall our subjects then insult on us, -When our examples, that are light to them, -Shall be eclipsed with our proper deeds?" -And may the arms be rented from the tree, -The members from the body be dissever'd? -And can the heart endure no violence? -My daughter is to me mine only heart, -My life, my comfort, my continuance; -Shall I be then not only so unkind -To pass all nature's strength, and cut her off? -But therewithal so cruel to myself, -Against all law of kind to shred in twain -The golden thread that doth us both maintain? -But were it that my rage should so command, -And I consent to her untimely death, -Were this an end to all our miseries? -No, no, her ghost will still pursue our life, -And from the deep her bloodless, ghastful spirit -Will, as my shadow in the shining day, -Follow my footsteps, till she take revenge. -I will do thus: therefore the traitor dies, -Because he scorned the favour of his king, -And our displeasure wilfully incurr'd: -His slaughter, with her sorrow for his blood, -Shall to our rage supply delightful food. -Julio-- - -JULIO. What is't your majesty commands? - -TANCRED. Julio, if we have not our hope in vain, -Nor all the trust we do repose in thee, -Now must we try, if thou approve the same. -Herein thy force and wisdom we must see, -For our command requires them both of thee. - -JULIO. How by your grace's bounty I am bound -Beyond the common bond, wherein each man -Stands bound unto his king: how I have found -Honour and wealth by favour in your sight, -I do acknowledge with most thankful mind. -My truth (with other means to serve your grace, -Whatever you in honour shall assign) -Hath sworn her power true vassal to your hest: -For proof let but your majesty command, -I shall unlock the prison of my soul; -Although unkindly horror would gainsay, -Yet in obedience to your highness' will, -By whom I hold the tenor of this life, -This hand and blade will be the instruments -To make pale death to grapple with my heart. - -TANCRED. Well, to be short, for I am griev'd too long -By wrath without revenge, I think you know -Whilom there was a palace builded strong -For war within our court, where dreadless peace -Hath planted now a weaker entrance. -But of that palace yet one vault remains -Within our court, the secret way whereof -Is to our daughter Gismund's chamber laid: -There is also another mouth hereof -Without our wall, which now is overgrown; -But you may find it out, for yet it lies -Directly south a furlong from our palace! -It may be known--hard-by an ancient stoop,[71] -Where grew an oak in elder days decay'd; -There will we that you watch; there shall you see -A villain traitor mount out of a vault. -Bring him to us; it is th'Earl Palurin. -What is his fault, neither shall you inquire, -Nor list we to disclose. These cursed eyes -Have seen the flame, this heart hath felt the fire -That cannot else be quench'd but with his blood. -This must be done: this will we have you do. - -JULIO. Both this, and else whatever you think good. - - [JULIO _departeth into the palace_. - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 3. - - - RENUCHIO _bringeth_ GISMUND _out of her chamber, to - whom_ TANCRED _saith_. - -TANCRED. Renuchio, depart: leave us alone. [_Exit_ RENUCHIO. -Gismund, if either I could cast aside -All care of thee! or if thou wouldst have had -Some care of me, it would not now betide, -That either thorough thy fault my joy should fade, -Or by thy folly I should bear the pain -Thou hast procur'd: but now 'tis neither I -Can shun the grief, whom thou hast more than slain: -Nor may'st thou heal or ease the grievous wound -Which thou hast given me. That unstained life, -Wherein I joy'd, and thought it thy delight, -Why hast thou lost it? Can it be restor'd? -Where is thy widowhood, there is thy shame. -Gismund, it is no man's nor men's report, -That have by likely proofs inform'd me thus. -Thou know'st how hardly I could be induc'd -To vex myself, and be displeas'd with thee, -With flying tales of flattering sycophants. -No, no, there was in us such settled trust -Of thy chaste life and uncorrupted mind -That if these eyes had not beheld thy shame. -In vain ten thousand censures could have told -That thou didst once unprincelike make agree -With that vile traitor County Palurin: -Without regard had to thyself or me, -Unshamefastly to stain thy state and mine. -But I, unhappiest, have beheld the same, -And, seeing it, yet feel th'exceeding grief -That slays my heart with horror of that thought: -Which grief commands me to obey my rage, -And justice urgeth some extreme revenge, -To wreak the wrongs that have been offer'd us. -But nature, that hath lock'd within thy breast -Two lives, the same inclineth me to spare -Thy blood, and so to keep mine own unspilt. -This is that overweening love I bear -To thee undutiful, and undeserved. -But for that traitor, he shall surely die; -For neither right nor nature doth entreat -For him, that wilfully, without all awe -Of gods or men, or of our deadly hate, -Incurr'd the just displeasure of his king; -And to be brief, I am content to know -What for thyself thou canst object to us, -Why thou should'st not together with him die. -So to assuage the griefs that overthrow -Thy father's heart. - -GISMUND. O king and father, humbly give her leave -To plead for grace, that stands in your disgrace. -Not that she recks this life,[72] for I confess -I have deserv'd, when so it pleaseth you, -To die the death, mine honour and my name, -As you suppose, distained with reproach: -And well contented shall I meet the stroke -That must dissever this detested head -From these lewd limbs. But this I wish were known, -That now I live not for myself alone. -For when I saw that neither my request, -Nor the entreaty of my careful aunt, -Could win your highness' pleasure to our will; -"Then love, heat of the heart, life of the soul, -Fed by desire, increasing by restraint," -Would not endure controlment any more, -But violently enforc'd my feeble heart -(For who am I, alas! still to resist -Such endless conflicts?) to relent and yield: -Therewith I chose him for my lord and pheer, -Guiscard mine Earl, that holds my love full dear. -Then if it be so settled in your mind, -He shall not live, because he dar'd to love -Your daughter: thus I give your grace to know. -Within his heart there is inclos'd my life. -Therefore, O father, if that name may be -Sweet to your ears, and that we may prevail -By name of father, that you favour us: -But otherwise, if now we cannot find -That which our falsed hope did promise us; -Why then proceed, and rid our trembling hearts -Of these suspicions; since neither in this case -His good deserts in service to your grace, -Which always have been just, nor my desires, -May mitigate the cruel rage of grief -That strains your heart, but that mine Earl must die; -Then all in vain you ask, what I can say, -Why I should live. Sufficeth for my part -To say I will not live, and so resolve. - -TANCRED. Dar'st thou so desperate decree thy death? - -GISMUND. A dreadless heart delights in such decrees. - -TANCRED. Thy kind abhorreth such unkindly thoughts. - -GISMUND. Unkindly thoughts they are to them that live -In kindly love. - -TANCRED. As I do unto thee. - -GISMUND. To take his life who is my love from me? - -TANCRED. Have I then lost thy love? - -GISMUND. If he shall lose -His life, that is my love. - -TANCRED. - Thy love? Begone. -Return into thy chamber. - -GISMUND. - I will go. - - [GISMUND _departeth to her chamber_. - - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 4. - - - JULIO _with his guard bringeth in the_ COUNTY PALURIN _prisoner_. - -JULIO. If it please your highness, hither have we brought -This captive Earl, as you commanded us. -Whom, as we were foretold, even there we found. -Where by your majesty we were enjoin'd -To watch for him. What more your highness wills. -This heart and hand shall execute your best. - -TANCRED. Julio, we thank your pains. Ah, Palurin! -Have we deserved in such traitorous sort -Thou shouldst abuse our kingly courtesies, -Which we too long in favour have bestow'd -Upon thy false, dissembling heart with us? -What grief thou therewithal hast thrown on us, -What shame upon our house, what dire distress -Our soul endures, cannot be uttered. -And durst thou, villain, dare to undermine -Our daughter's chamber? durst thy shameless face -Be bold to kiss her? th'rest we will conceal. -Sufficeth that thou know'st I too well know -All thy proceedings in thy private shames. -Herein what hast thou won? thine own content, -With the displeasure of thy lord and king; -The thought whereof if thou hadst had in mind -The least remorse of love and loyalty -Might have restrain'd thee from so foul an act. -But, Palurin, what may I deem of thee, -Whom neither fear of gods, nor love of him, -Whose princely favour hath been thine uprear, -Could quench the fuel of thy lewd desires? -Wherefore content thee, that we are resolv'd -(And therefore laid to snare thee with this bait) -That thy just death, with thine effused blood, -Shall cool the heat and choler of our mood. - -GUISCARD. My lord the king, neither do I mislike -Your sentence, nor do your smoking sighs, -Reach'd from the entrails of your boiling heart, -Disturb the quiet of my calmed thoughts: -For this I feel, and by experience prove, -Such is the force and endless might of love, -As never shall the dread of carrion death, -That hath envy'd our joys, invade my breast. -For if it may be found a fault in me, -That evermore hath lov'd your majesty, -Likewise to honour and to love your child; -If love unto you both may be a fault-- -But unto her my love exceeds compare-- -Then this hath been my fault, for which I joy, -That in the greatest lust of all my life, -I shall submit for her sake to endure -The pangs of death. O mighty lord of Love, -Strengthen thy vassal boldly to receive -Large wounds into this body for her sake! -Then use my life or death, my lord and king, -For your relief to ease your grieved soul: -For whether I live, or else that I must die -To end your pains, I am content to bear; -Knowing by death I shall bewray the truth -Of that sound heart, which living was her own, -And died alive for her, that lived mine. - -TANCRED. Thine, Palurin? What! lives my daughter thine? -Traitor, thou wrong'st me, for she liveth mine. -Rather I wish ten thousand sundry deaths, -Than I to live, and see my daughter thine. -Thine that is dearer than my life to me? -Thine whom I hope to see an emp[e]ress? -Thine whom I cannot pardon from my sight? -Thine unto whom we have bequeath'd our crown?-- -Julio, we will that thou inform from us -Renuchio the captain of our guard, -That we command this traitor be convey'd -Into the dungeon underneath our tower; -There let him rest, until he be resolv'd -What farther we intend; which to understand -We will Renuchio repair to us. - -JULIO. O, that I might your majesty entreat -With clemency to beautify your seat -Toward this prince, distress'd by his desires, -Too many, all too strong to captivate. - -TANCRED. "This is the soundest safety for a king, -To cut them off, that vex or hinder him." - -JULIO. "This have I found the safety of a king, -To spare the subjects that do honour him." - -TANCRED. Have we been honour'd by this lecher's lust? - -JULIO. No, but by his devout submission. - -TANCRED. Our fortune says we must do what we may. - -JULIO. "This is praise-worth, not to do what you may." - -TANCRED. And may the subject countermand the king? - -JULIO. No, but entreat him. - -TANCRED. What he shall decree? - -JULIO. What wisdom shall discern. - -TANCRED. Nay, what our word -Shall best determine. We will not reply. -Thou know'st our mind: our heart cannot be eas'd, -But with the slaughter of this Palurin. - [The KING hasteth into his palace. - -GUISCARD. O thou great god, who from thy highest throne -Hast stooped down, and felt the force of love, -Bend gentle ears unto the woful moan -Of me poor wretch, to grant that I require! -Help to persuade the same great god, that he -So far remit his might, and slack his fire -From my dear lady's kindled heart, that she -May hear my death without her hurt. Let not -Her face, wherein there is as clear a light -As in the rising moon: let not her cheeks, -As red as is the party-colour'd rose, -Be paled with the news hereof: and so -I yield myself, my seely soul and all, -To him, for her, for whom my death shall show -I liv'd; and as I liv'd, I died her thrall. -Grant this, thou Thunderer: this shall suffice, -My breath to vanish in the liquid skies. - - [GUISCARD _is led to prison_. - -CHORUS 1. Who doth not know the fruits of Paris' love, -Nor understand the end of Helen's joy? -He may behold the fatal overthrow -Of Priam's house and of the town of Troy-- -His death at last and her eternal shame; -For whom so many noble knights were slain. -So many a duke, so many a prince of fame -Bereft his life, and left there in the plain. -Medea's armed hand, Eliza's sword, -Wretched Leander drenched in the flood. -Phillis, so long that waited for her lord: -All these too dearly bought their loves with blood. - -CHORUS 2. But he in virtue that his lady serves. -Ne wills but what unto her honour 'longs, -He never from the rule of reason swerves; -He feeleth not the pangs ne raging throngs -Of blind Cupid: he lives not in despair, -As done his servants; neither spends his days -In joy and care, vain hope and throbbing fear: -But seeks alway what may his sovereign please -In honour: he that thus serves, reaps the fruit -Of his sweet service; and no jealous dread, -Nor base suspect of aught to let his suit, -Which causeth oft the lover's heart to bleed, -Doth fret his mind, or burneth in his breast: -He waileth not by day, nor wakes by night, -When every other living thing doth rest; -Nor finds his life or death within her sight. - -CHORUS 3. Remember thou in virtue serve therefore -Thy chaste lady: beware thou do not love, -As whilom Venus did the fair Adone, -But as Diana lov'd th'Amazon's son; -Through whose request the gods to him alone -Restor'd new life. The twine that was undone, -Was by the sisters twisted up again. -The love of virtue in thy lady's looks, -The love of virtue in her learned talk; -This love yields matter for eternal books. -This love enticeth him abroad to walk, -There to invent and write new roundelays -Of learn'd conceit, her fancies to allure -To vain delights: such humours he allays, -And sings of virtue and her garments pure. - -CHORUS 4. Desire not of thy sovereign the thing -Whereof shame may ensue by any mean; -Nor wish thou aught that may dishonour bring. -So whilom did the learned Tuscan[73] serve -His fair lady; and glory was their end. -Such are the praises lovers done deserve, -Whose service doth to virtue and honour tend. - -FINIS ACTUS IV. COMPOSUIT CH. HAT.[74] - - - - -ACT V., SCENE 1. - - - RENUCHIO _cometh out of the palace_. - -RENUCHIO. O cruel fate! O miserable chance! -O dire aspect of hateful destinies! -O woe may not be told! Suffic'd it not -That I should see, and with these eyes behold -So foul, so bloody, and so base a deed: -But more to aggravate the heavy cares -Of my perplexed mind, must only I, -Must I alone be made the messenger, -That must deliver to her princely ears -Such dismal news, as when I shall disclose, -I know it cannot but abridge her days? -As when the thunder and three-forked fire, -Rent through the clouds by Jove's almighty power, -Breaks up the bosom of our mother earth, -And burns her heart, before the heat be felt. -In this distress, whom should I most bewail, -My woe, that must be made the messenger -Of these unworthy and unwelcome news? -Or shall I moan thy death, O noble Earl? -Or shall I still lament the heavy hap, -That yet, O Queen, attends thy funeral? - -CHORUS 1. What moans be these? -Renuchio, is this Salerne I see? -Doth here King Tancred hold the awful crown? -Is this the place where civil people be? -Or do the savage Scythians here abound? - -CHORUS 2. What mean these questions? whither tend these words? -Resolve us maidens, and release our fears. -Whatever news thou bring'st, discover them. -Detain us not in this suspicious dread! -"The thought whereof is greater than the woe." - -RENUCHIO. O, whither may I cast my looks? to heaven? -Black pitchy clouds from thence rain down revenge. -The earth shall I behold, stain'd with the gore -Of his heart-blood, that died most innocent? -Which way soe'er I turn mine eyes, methinks -His butcher'd corpse stands staring in my face. - -CHORUS 3. We humbly pray thee to forbear these words, -So full of terror to our maiden hearts: -"The dread of things unknown breeds the suspect -Of greater dread, until the worst be known." -Tell therefore what hath chanc'd, and whereunto -This bloody cup thou holdest in thy hand. - -RENUCHIO. Since so is your request, that I shall do, -Although my mind so sorrowful a thing -Repines to tell, and though my voice eschews -To say what I have seen; yet since your will -So fixed stands to hear for what I rue, -Your great desires I shall herein fulfil. -Fast by Salerne city, amids the plain, -There stands a hill whose bottom, huge and round. -Thrown out in breadth, a large space doth contain: -And gathering up in height, small from the ground, -Still less and less it mounts: there sometime was -A goodly tower uprear'd, that flower'd in fame -While fate and fortune serv'd; but time doth pass, -And with his sway suppresseth all the same: -For now the walls be even'd with the plain, -And all the rest so foully lies defac'd, -As but the only shade doth there remain -Of that, which there was built in time forepass'd: -And yet that shows what worthy work tofore -Hath there been rear'd. One parcel of that tower[75] -Yet stands, which eating time could not devour: -A strong turret, compact of stone and rock, -Hugy without, but horrible within: -To pass to which, by force of handy stroke, -A crooked strait is made, that enters in, -And leads into this ugly loathsome place. -Within the which, carved into the ground, -A deep dungeon[76] there runs of narrow space. -Dreadful and dark, where never light is found: -Into this hollow cave, by cruel hest -Of King Tancred, were divers servants sent -To work the horror of his furious breast, -Erst nourish'd in his rage, and now stern bent -To have the same perform'd. I woful man, -Amongst the rest, was one to do the thing. -That to our charge so straitly did belong, -In sort as was commanded by the king. -Within which dreadful prison when we came, -The noble County Palurin, that there -Lay chain'd in gyves,[77] fast fetter'd in his bolts, -Out of the dark dungeon we did uprear, -And hal'd him thence into a brighter place, -That gave us light to work our tyranny. -But when I once beheld his manly face, -And saw his cheer, no more appall'd with fear -Of present death, than he whom never dread -Did once amate:[78] my heart abhorred then -To give consent unto so foul a deed: -That wretched death should reave so worthy a man. -On false fortune I cried with loud complaint, -That in such sort o'erwhelms nobility. -But he, whom never grief ne fear could taint, -With smiling cheer himself oft willeth me -To leave to plain his case, or sorrow make -For him; for he was far more glad apaid -Death to embrace thus for his lady's sake, -Than life or all the joys of life, he said. -For loss of life, quoth he, grieves me no more -Than loss of that which I esteemed least: -My lady's grief, lest she should rue therefore, -Is all the cause of grief within my breast. -He pray'd therefore, that we would make report -To her of those his last words he would say: -That, though he never could in any sort -Her gentleness requite, nor never lay -Within his power to serve her as he would; -Yet she possess'd his heart with hand and might, -To do her all the honour that he could. -This was to him, of all the joys that might -Revive his heart, the chiefest joy of all, -That to declare the faithful heart which he -Did bear to her, fortune so well did fall, -That in her love he should both live and die. -After these words he stay'd, and spake no more, -But joyfully beholding us each one, -His words and cheer amazed us so sore, -That still we stood; when forthwith thereupon: -But, why slack you, quoth he, to do the thing -For which you come? make speed, and stay no more: -Perform your master's will. Now tell the king -He hath his life, for which he long'd so sore: -And with those words himself with his own hand -Fast'ned the bands about his neck. The rest -Wond'ring at his stout heart, astonied[79] stand -To see him offer thus himself to death. -What stony breast, or what hard heart of flint -Would not relent to see this dreary sight? -So goodly a man, whom death nor fortune's dint -Could once disarm, murder'd with such despite; -And in such sort bereft, amidst the flowers -Of his fresh years, that ruthful was to seen: -"For violent is death, when he devours -Young men or virgins, while their years be green." -Lo! now our servants seeing him take the bands, -And on his neck himself to make them fast; -Without delay set to their cruel hands, -And sought to work their fierce intent with haste. -They stretch the bloody bands; and when the breath -Began to fail his breast, they slack'd again: -Thrice did they pull, and thrice they loosed him, -So did their hands repine against their hearts: -And ofttimes loosed to his greater pain. -"But date of death, that fixed is so fast, -Beyond his course there may no wight extend;" -For strangled is this noble Earl at last, -Bereft of life, unworthy such an end. - -CHORUS. O damned deed! - -RENUCHIO. What, deem you this to be -All the sad news that I have to unfold? -Is here, think you, end of the cruelty -That I have seen? - -CHORUS. Could any heavier woe -Be wrought to him, than to destroy him so? - -RENUCHIO. What, think you this outrage did end so well? -The horror of the fact, the greatest grief, -The massacre, the terror is to tell. - -CHORUS. Alack! what could be more? they threw percase -The dead body to be devour'd and torn -Of the wild beasts. - -RENUCHIO. Would God it had been cast a savage prey -To beasts and birds: but lo, that dreadful thing -Which e'en the tiger would not work, but to -Suffice his hunger, that hath the tyrant king -Withouten ruth commanded us to do, -Only to please his wrathful heart withal. -Happy had been his chance, too happy, alas! -If birds or beasts had eaten up his corpse, -Yea, heart and all within this cup I bring, -And am constrained now unto the face -Of his dear lady to present the same. - -CHORUS. What kind of cruelty is this you name? -Declare forthwith, and whereunto doth tend -This farther plaint. - -RENUCHIO. After his breath was gone, -Forced perforce thus from his panting breast, -Straight they despoiled him; and not alone -Contented with his death, on the dead corpse, -Which ravenous beasts forbear to lacerate, -Even upon this our villains fresh begun -To show new cruelty; forthwith they pierce -His naked belly, and unripp'd it so, -That out the bowels gush'd. Who can rehearse -Their tyranny, wherewith my heart yet bleeds? -The warm entrails were torn out of his breast, -Within their hands trembling, not fully dead; -His veins smok'd, his bowels all-to reeked, -Ruthless were rent, and thrown about the place: -All clottered lay the blood in lumps of gore, -Sprent[80] on his corpse, and on his paled face; -His trembling heart, yet leaping, out they tore, -And cruelly upon a rapier -They fix'd the same, and in this hateful wise -Unto the king this heart they do present: -A sight long'd for to feed his ireful eyes. -The king perceiving each thing to be wrought -As he had will'd, rejoicing to behold -Upon the bloody sword the pierced heart, -He calls then for this massy cup of gold, -Into the which the woful heart he cast; -And reaching me the same: now go, quoth he, -Unto my daughter, and with speedy haste -Present her this, and say to her from me, -Thy father hath here in this cup thee sent -That thing to joy and comfort thee withal, -Which thou lovedst best, even as thou wert content -To comfort him with his chief joy of all. - -CHORUS. O hateful fact! O passing cruelty! -O murder wrought with too much hard despite! -O heinous deed, which no posterity -Will once believe! - -RENUCHIO. Thus was Earl Palurin -Strangled unto the death, yea, after death -His heart and blood disbowell'd from his breast. -But what availeth plaint? It is but breath -Forewasted all in vain. Why do I rest -Here in this place? Why go I not, and do -The hateful message to my charge committed? -O, were it not that I am forced thereto -By a king's will, here would I stay my feet, -Ne one whit farther wade in this intent! -But I must yield me to my prince's hest; -Yet doth this somewhat comfort mine unrest, -I am resolv'd her grief not to behold, -But get me gone, my message being told. -Where is the princess' chamber? - -CHORUS. Lo, where she comes. - - - -ACT V., SCENE 2. - - - GISMUND _cometh out of her chamber, to whom_ - RENUCHIO _delivereth his cup, saying_: - -RENUCHIO. Thy father, O queen, here in this cup hath sent -The thing to joy and comfort thee withal -Which thou lovedst best, even as thou wast content -To comfort him with his chief joy of all. - -GISMUNDA. I thank my father, and thee, gentle squire, -For this thy travail; take thou, for thy pains, -This bracelet, and commend me to the king. [RENUCHIO _departeth_. -So, now is come the long-expected hour, -The fatal hour I have so looked for; -Now hath my father satisfied his thirst -With guiltless blood, which he so coveted. -What brings this cup? Ah me! I thought no less, -It is mine Earl's, my County's pierced heart. -Dear heart, too dearly hast thou bought my love; -Extremely rated at too high a price! -Ah, my sweet heart, sweet wast thou in thy life, -But in thy death thou provest passing sweet. -A fitter hearse than this of beaten gold -Could not be 'lotted to so good an heart: -My father therefore well provided thus -To close and wrap thee up in massy gold, -And therewithal to send thee unto me, -To whom of duty thou dost best belong. -My father hath in all his life bewray'd -A princely care and tender love to me; -But this surpasseth--in his later days -To send me this, mine own dear heart, to me. -Wert thou not mine, dear heart, whilst that my love -Danced and play'd upon thy golden strings? -Art thou not mine, dear heart, now that my love -Is fled to heaven, and got him golden wings? -Thou art mine own, and still mine own shalt be, -Therefore my father sendeth thee to me. -Ah, pleasant harborough[81] of my heart's thought! -Ah, sweet delight, the quickener of my soul! -Seven times accursed be the hand that wrought -Thee this despite, to mangle thee so foul: -Yet in this wound I see mine own true love, -And in this wound thy magnanimity, -And in this wound I see thy constancy. -Go, gentle heart, go rest thee in thy tomb, -Receive this token at thy last farewell. [_She kisseth it_. -Thine own true heart anon will follow thee, -Which panting lusteth[82] for thy company. -Thus hast thou run, poor heart! thy mortal race, -And rid thy life from fickle fortune's snares; -Thus hast thou lost this world and worldly cares, -And of thy foe, to honour thee withal, -Receiv'd a golden grave to thy desert. -Nothing doth want to thy just funeral, -But my salt tears to wash thy bloody wound: -Which to the end thou might'st receive, behold -My father sends thee in this cup of gold; -And thou shalt have them, though I was resolv'd -To shed no tears, but with a cheerful face -Once did I think to wet thy funeral -Only with blood and with no weeping eye. -This done, forthwith my soul shall fly to thee; -For therefore did my father send thee me. -Ah, my pure heart! with sweeter company -Or more content, how safer may I prove -To pass to places all unknown with thee! -Why die I not therefore? why do I stay? -Why do I not this woful life forego, -And with these hands enforce this breath away? -What means this gorgeous glittering head-attire? -How ill beseem these billaments[83] of gold -Thy mournful widowhood? away with them-- - [_She undresseth her hair_. -So let thy tresses, flaring in the wind, -Untrimmed hang about thy bared neck. -Now, hellish furies, set my heart on fire, -Bolden my courage, strengthen ye my hands, -Against their kind, to do a kindly deed. -But shall I then unwreaken[84] down descend? -Shall I not work some just revenge on him -That thus hath slain my love? shall not these hands -Fire his gates, and make the flame to climb -Up to the pinnacles with burning brands, -And on his cinders wreak my cruel teen[85]? -Be still, fond girl; content thee first to die, -This venom'd water shall abridge thy life: - [_She taketh a vial of poison out of her pocket_. -This for the same intent provided I, -Which can both ease and end this raging strife. -Thy father by thy death shall have more woe, -Than fire or flames within his gates can bring: -Content thee then in patience hence to go, -Thy death his blood shall wreak upon the king. -Now not alone (a grief to die alone) -"The only mirror of extreme annoy;" -But not alone thou diest, my love, for I -Will be copartner of thy destiny. -Be merry then, my soul; can'st thou refuse -To die with him, that death for thee did choose? - -CHORUS 1. What damned fury hath possessed our Queen? -Why sit we still beholding her distress? -Madam, forbear, suppress this headstrong rage. - -GISMUNDA. Maidens, forbear your comfortable words. - -CHORUS 2. O worthy Queen, rashness doth overthrow -The author of his resolution. - -GISMUNDA. Where hope of help is lost, what booteth fear? - -CHORUS 3. Fear will avoid the sting of infamy. - -GISMUNDA. May good or bad reports delight the dead? - -CHORUS 4. If of the living yet the dead have care. - -GISMUNDA. An easy grief by counsel may be cur'd. - -CHORUS 1. But headstrong mischiefs princes should avoid. - -GISMUNDA. In headlong griefs and cases desperate? - -CHORUS 2. Call to your mind, Gismund, you are the Queen. - -GISMUNDA. Unhappy widow, wife, and paramour. - -CHORUS 3. Think on the king. - -GISMUNDA. The king, the tyrant king? - -CHORUS 4. Your father. - -GISMUNDA. Yes, the murtherer of my love. - -CHORUS 4. His force. - -GISMUNDA. The dead fear not the force of men. - -CHORUS 1. His care and grief. - -GISMUNDA. That neither car'd for me, -Nor grieved at the murther of my love. -My mind is settled; you with these vain words -Withhold me but too long from my desire. -Depart ye to my chamber. - -CHORUS. We will haste -To tell the king hereof. - [CHORUS _depart into the palace_. - -GISMUNDA. I will prevent -Both you and him. Lo, here this hearty draught, -The last that in this world I mean to taste, -Dreadless of death, mine Earl, I drink to thee. -So now work on; now doth my soul begin -To hate this light, wherein there is no love; -No love of parents to their children; -No love of princes to their subjects true; -No love of ladies to their dearest loves: -Now pass I to the pleasant land of love, -Where heavenly love immortal flourisheth. -The gods abhor the company of men; -Hell is on earth; yea, hell itself is heaven -Compar'd with earth. I call to witness heaven; -Heaven, said I? No; hell[86] record I call, -And thou, stern goddess of revenging wrongs, -Witness with me, I die for his pure love. -That lived mine. - - [_She lieth down, and covereth her face - with her hair_. - - - -ACT V., SCENE 3. - - - TANCRED _in haste cometh out of his palace with_ JULIO. - -TANCRED. Where is my daughter? - -JULIO. Behold, here, woful king! - -TANCRED. Ah me! break, heart; and thou, fly forth, my soul. -What, doth my daughter Gismund take it so? -What hast thou done? O, let me see thine eyes! -O, let me dress up those untrimmed locks![87] -Look up, sweet child, look up, mine only joy, -'Tis I, thy father, that beseecheth thee: -Rear up thy body, strain thy dying voice -To speak to him; sweet Gismund, speak to me. - -GISMUNDA. Who stays my soul? who thus disquiets me? - -TANCRED. 'Tis I, thy father; ah! behold my tears, -Like pearled dew, that trickle down my cheeks, -To wash my silver hairs. - -GISMUNDA. O father king, -Forbear your tears, your plaint will not avail. - -TANCRED. O my sweet heart, hast thou receiv'd thy life -From me, and wilt thou, to requite the same, -Yield me my death? yea, death, and greater grief-- -To see thee die for him, that did defame -Thine honour thus, my kingdom, and thy name? - -GISMUNDA. Yea, therefore, father, gave you life to me, -That I should die, and now my date is done. -As for your kingdom and mine own renown, -Which you affirm dishonoured to be, -That fault impute it where it is; for he, -That slew mine Earl, and sent his heart to me, -His hands have brought this shame and grief on us. -But, father, yet if any spark remain -Of your dear love; if ever yet I could -So much deserve, or at your hands desire, -Grant that I may obtain this last request. - -TANCRED. Say, lovely child, say on, whate'er it be, -Thy father grants it willingly to thee. - -GISMUNDA. My life I crave not, for it is not now -In you to give, nor in myself to save; -Nor crave I mercy for mine Earl and me, -Who hath been slain with too much cruelty. -With patience I must a while abide -Within this life, which now will not be long. -But this is my request--father, I pray -That, since it pleased so your majesty, -I should enjoy my love alive no more, -Yet ne'ertheless let us not parted be, -Whom cruel death could never separate: -But as we liv'd and died together here, -So let our bodies be together tomb'd: -Let him with me, and I with him, be laid -Within one shrine, wherever you appoint. -This if you grant me, as I trust you will, -Although I live not to requite this grace, -Th'immortal gods due recompense shall give -To you for this: and so, vain world, farewell-- -My speech is painful, and mine eyesight fails. - -TANCRED. My daughter dies--see how the bitter pangs -Of tyrannous death torments her princely heart! -She looks on me, at me she shakes her head; -For me she groans; by me my daughter dies; -I, I the author of this tragedy.-- -On me, on me, ye heavens, throw down your ire! -Now dies my daughter! [_she dies_] hence with -princely robes! [_He throws aside his robes_. -O fair in life! thrice fairer in thy death! -Dear to thy father in thy life thou wert, -But in thy death dearest unto his heart; -I kiss thy paled cheeks, and close thine eyes. -This duty once I promis'd to myself -Thou shouldst perform to me; but ah! false hope, -Now ruthful, wretched king, what resteth thee? -Wilt thou now live wasted with misery? -Wilt thou now live, that with these eyes didst see -Thy daughter dead? wilt thou now live to see -Her funerals, that of thy life was stay? -Wilt thou now live that wast her life's decay? -Shall not this hand reach to this heart the stroke? -Mine arms are not so weak, nor are my limbs -So feebled with mine age, nor is my heart -So daunted with the dread of cowardice, -But I can wreak due vengeance on that head, -That wrought the means these lovers now be dead. -Julio, come near, and lay thine own right hand -Upon my thigh[88]--now take thine oath of me. - -JULIO. I swear to thee, my liege lord, to discharge -Whatever thou enjoinest Julio. - -TANCRED. First, then, I charge thee that my daughter have -Her last request: thou shalt within one tomb -Inter her Earl and her, and thereupon -Engrave some royal epitaph of love. -That done, I swear thee thou shalt take my corpse -Which thou shalt find by that time done to death, -And lay my body by my daughter's side-- -Swear this, swear this, I say. - -JULIO. I swear. -But will the king do so unkingly now? - -TANCRED. A kingly deed the king resolves to do. - -JULIO. To kill himself? - -TANCRED. To send his soul to ease. - -JULIO. Doth Jove command it? - -TANCRED. Our stars compel it. - -JULIO. The wise man overrules his stars. - -TANCRED. So we. - -JULIO. Undaunted should the minds of kings endure. - -TANCRED. So shall it in this resolution. -Julio, forbear: and as thou lov'st the king, -When thou shalt see him welt'ring in his gore. -Stretching his limbs, and gasping in his groans, -Then, Julio, set to thy helping hand, -Redouble stroke on stroke, and drive the stab -Down deeper to his heart, to rid his soul. -Now stand aside, stir not a foot, lest thou -Make up the fourth to fill this tragedy. -These eyes that first beheld my daughter's shame; -These eyes that longed for the ruthful sight -Of her Earl's heart; these eyes that now have seen -His death, her woe, and her avenging teen; -Upon these eyes we must be first aveng'd. -Unworthy lamps of this accursed lump, -Out of your dwellings! [_Puts out his eyes_] So; it fits us thus -In blood and blindness to go seek the path -That leadeth down to everlasting night. -Why fright'st thou, dastard? be thou desperate; -One mischief brings another on his neck, -As mighty billows tumble in the seas, -Now, daughter, seest thou not how I amerce -My wrath, that thus bereft thee of thy love, -Upon my head? Now, fathers, learn by me, -Be wise, be warn'd to use more tenderly -The jewels of your joys. Daughter, I come. - - [_Kills himself_. - - -FINIS. - - - -EPILOGUE. - -SPOKEN BY JULIO. - -Lo here the sweets of grisly pale despair! -These are the blossoms of this cursed tree, -Such are the fruits of too much love and care, -O'erwhelmed in the sense of misery. -With violent hands he that his life doth end, -His damned soul to endless night doth wend. -Now resteth it that I discharge mine oath, -To see th'unhappy lovers and the king -Laid in one tomb. I would be very loth -You should wait here to see this mournful thing: -For I am sure, and do ye all to wit, -Through grief wherein the lords of Salerne be, -These funerals are not prepared yet: -Nor do they think on that solemnity. -As for the fury, ye must understand, -Now she hath seen th'effect of her desire, -She is departed, and hath left our land. -Granting this end unto her hellish ire. -Now humbly pray we, that our English dames -May never lead their loves into mistrust; -But that their honours may avoid the shames, -That follow such as live in wanton lust. -We know they bear them on their virtues bold, -With blissful chastity so well content -That, when their lives and loves abroad are told, -All men admire their virtuous government; -Worthy to live where fury never came, -Worthy to live where love doth always see, -Worthy to live in golden trump of fame, -Worthy to live and honoured still to be. -Thus end our sorrows with the setting sun: -Now draw the curtains, for our scene is done. - - R.W. - - - - - - -THE WOUNDS OF CIVIL WAR. - - - -_EDITION. - -The Wounds of Civill War. Lively set forth in the true Tragedies of -Marius and Scilla. As it hath beene publiquely plaide in London, by the -Right Honourable the Lord high Admirall his Servants. Written by Thomas -Lodge, Gent_. O vita! misero longa, faelici brevis. _London, Printed by -John Danter, and are to be sold at the signe of the Sunne in Paules -Church-yarde_. 1594. 4to. - - - - -MR. COLLIER'S PREFACE.[89] - - -Thomas Lodge, in his "Alarum against Usurers," 1584, speaks of his -"birth," and of "the offspring from whence he came," as if he were at -least respectably descended; and on the authority of Anthony Wood, it -has been asserted by all subsequent biographers that he was of a -Lincolnshire family. [The fact is, that Lodge was the second son of Sir -Thomas Lodge, Lord Mayor of London, who died in 1584, by his wife, the -daughter of Sir William Laxton.] Thomas Salter, about the year 1580, -dedicated his "Mirror of Modesty" to [the poet's mother, Lady Anne -Lodge]. - -Langbaine seems to be under a mistake when he states that Lodge was of -Cambridge. Wood claims him for the University of Oxford,[90] where he -traces him as early as 1573, when he must have been about seventeen -years old, if he were born, as is generally supposed, in 1556. We are -told by himself that he was a Servitor of Trinity College, and that he -was educated under Sir Edward Hoby. At what time and for what cause -Lodge left Oxford is not known; but Stephen Gosson, in the dedication of -his "Plays Confuted in Five Actions," printed about 1582,[91] accuses -him of having become "a vagrant person, visited by the heavy hand of -God," as if he had taken to the stage, and thereby had incurred the -vengeance of heaven. In 1584, when Lodge answered Gosson, he was a -student of Lincoln's Inn;[92] and to "his courteous friends, the -Gentlemen of the Inns of Court," he dedicated his "Alarum against -Usurers." He afterwards, as he informs Lord Hunsdon, in the epistle -before his "Rosalynde," 1590, "fell from books to arms;" and he calls it -"the work of a soldier and a scholar," adding that he had sailed with -Captain Clarke to the islands of Terceras and the Canaries. In 1596, he -published his "Margarite of America," and he mentions that it was -written in the Straits of Magellan, on a voyage with Cavendish. To this -species of vagrancy, however, Gosson did not refer. - -That Lodge was vagrant in his pursuits we have sufficient evidence; for, -after having perhaps been upon the stage, having entered himself at -Lincoln's Inn, having become a soldier, and having sailed with Clarke -and Cavendish, he went, according to Wood, to study medicine at -Avignon.[93] This change, if it took place at all, which may admit of -doubt,[94] did not occur until after 1596. In 1595 his "Fig for Momus" -appeared. Besides Satires, it contains Epistles and Eclogues; and in one -of the latter Lodge speaks in his own person, under the character of -"Golde" (the same letters that compose his name), and there states his -determination no longer to pursue ill-rewarded poetry-- - - "Which sound rewards, since this neglected time, - Repines to yield to men of high desert, - I'll cease to ravel out my wits in rhyme, - For such who make so base account of art; - And since by wit there is no means to climb, - I'll hold the plough awhile, and ply the cart; - And if my muse to wonted course return, - I'll write and judge, peruse, commend and burn." - -The dedication of his "Wit's Misery, and the World's Madness," is dated -"from my house, at Low Layton, 5th November 1596." - -The principal reasons for supposing that Lodge studied medicine are the -existence of a "Treatise of the Plague," published by "Thomas Lodge, -Doctor in Physic," in 1603, and of a collection of medical recipes in -MS., called "The Poor Man's Legacy," addressed to the Countess of -Arundel, and sold among the books of the Duke of Norfolk.[95] [There can -be little or no question that the physician and poet were one and the -same. In "England's Parnassus," 1600, he is called indifferently Thomas -Lodge and Doctor Lodge.] The author of the "Treatise of the Plague" -expressly tells the Lord Mayor of London, in the dedication, that he was -"bred and brought up" in the city. Thomas Heywood, in his "Troja -Britannica," 1609, enumerates the celebrated physicians then living-- - - "As famous Butler, Pedy, Turner, Poe, - Atkinson, Lyster, _Lodge_, who still survive."--C. 3. - -It hardly deserves remark that Lodge is placed last in this list; but -had he been the same individual who had written for the stage, was the -friend of so many dramatists, and was so well known as a lyric poet, it -seems likely that Heywood would have said more about him.[96] It is a -singular coincidence, that having written how to prevent and cure the -plague, he should die of that disease during the great mortality of -1625. Wood's expressions on this point, however, are not decisive: "He -made his last _exit_ (of the plague, I think) in September 1625, leaving -then behind him a widow called Joan." It has been conjectured [rather -foolishly] that he was a Roman Catholic, from a statement made by one of -his biographers that, while he practised medicine in London, he was much -patronised by persons of that persuasion. - -There are but two existing dramatic productions on the title-pages of -which the name of Lodge is found:[97] the one he wrote alone, and the -other in partnership with Robert Greene:-- - -(1.) The Wounds of Civill War. Lively set forth in the true Tragedies of -Marius and Scilla, &c. Written by Thomas Lodge, Gent. 1594, 4to. - -(2.) A Looking Glasse for London and Englande. Made by Thomas Lodge, -Gentleman, and Robert Greene, _in Artibus Magister_. 1594, 1598, 1602, -1617, all in 4to.[98] - -The most remarkable [of his works], and that which has been most often -reprinted, is his "Rosalynde" which, as is well known, Shakespeare -closely followed in "As You Like It."[99] - -Anterior to the date of any of his other pieces must have been Lodge's -defence of stage-plays, because Stephen Gosson replied to it about 1582. -It was long thought, on the authority of Prynne, that Lodge's tract was -called "The Play of Plays," but Mr Malone ascertained that to be a -different production. The only copy of Lodge's pamphlet seen by Mr -Malone was without a title, and it was probably the same that was sold -among the books of Topham Beauclerc in 1781. It is spoken of in "The -French Academy" [1589] as having "lately passed the press;" but Lodge -himself, in his "Alarum against Usurers," very clearly accounts for its -extreme rarity: he says, "by reason of the slenderness of the subject -(because it was in defence of plaies and play-makers) the godly and -reverent that had to deal in the cause, misliking it, forbad the -publishing;" and he charges Gosson with "comming by a private unperfect -coppye," on which he framed his answer, entitled, "Plays confuted in -Five Actions." - -Mr Malone ("Shakespeare," by Boswell, ii. 250) contends that Spenser -alludes to Lodge, in his "Tears of the Muses," under the name of Alcon, -in the following lines:-- - - "And there is pleasing Alcon, could he raise - His tunes from lays to matters of more skill;" - -and he adds that Spenser calls Lodge Alcon, from one of the characters -in "A Looking Glasse for London and Englande;" but this argument would -apply just as much to Lodge's coadjutor Greene. Mr Malone further argues -that Lodge, roused by this applause (which he repaid in his "Phillis"), -produced not long afterwards a "matter of more skill," in "The Wounds of -Civil War." - - - - -THE MOST LAMENTABLE AND TRUE - - TRAGEDIES OF - -MARIUS AND SYLLA.[100] - - - - _Enter on the Capitol_ SULPITIUS, _Tribune_, CAIUS MARIUS, - Q. POMPEY, _Consul_, JUNIUS BRUTUS, LUCRETIUS, CAIUS GRANIUS, - LECTORIUS, LUCIUS MERULA, _Jupiter's Priest, and_ CINNA; - _whom placed, and their Lictors before them with their rods - and axes_, SULPITIUS _beginneth_. - -SULPITIUS. Grave senators, and fathers of this state, -Our strange protractions and unkind delays -Where weighty wars doth call us out to fight, -Our factious wits, to please aspiring lords, -(You see) have added power unto our foes, -And hazarded rich Phrygia and Bithinia, -With all our Asian holds and cities too. -Thus Sylla seeking to be general, -Who is invested in our consul's pall,[101] -Hath forced murders in a quiet state; -The cause whereof even Pompey may complain, -Who, seeking to advance a climbing friend, -Hath lost by death a sweet and courteous son. -Who now in Asia but Mithridates -Laughs at these fond dissensions I complain? -While we, in wrangling for a general, -Forsake our friends, forestal our forward war, -And leave our legions full of dalliance: -Waiting our idle wills at Capua. -Fie, Romans! shall the glories of your names, -The wondrous beauty of this capitol, -Perish through Sylla's insolence and pride; -As if that Rome were robb'd of true renown, -And destitute of warlike champions now? -Lo, here the man, the rumour of whose fame, -Hath made Iberia tremble and submit: -See Marius, that in managing estate, -Though many cares and troubles he hath pass'd, -And spent his youth, upon whose reverend head -The milk-white pledge of wisdom sweetly spreads. -He, six times consul, fit for peace or war, -Sits drooping here, content to brook disgrace, -Who glad to fight through follies of his foes -Sighs for your shame, whilst you abide secure. -And I that see and should recure these wrongs, -Through Pompey's late vacation and delay, -Have left to publish him for general, -That merits better titles far than these. -But, nobles, now the final day is come, -When I, your tribune, studying for renown, -Pronounce and publish Marius general, -To lead our legions against Mithridates, -And crave, grave fathers, signs of your content. - -Q. POMPEY. Believe me, noble Romans and grave senators, -This strange election, and this new-made law -Will witness our unstable government, -And dispossess Rome of her empery: -For although Marius be renown'd in arms, -Famous for prowess, and grave in warlike drifts, -Yet may the sunshine of his former deeds -Nothing eclipse our Sylla's dignity. -By lot and by election he was made -Chief general against Mithridates, -And shall we then abridge him of that rule? -'Twere injury to Sylla and to Rome: -Nor would the height of his all-daring mind -Brook to the death so vile and foul disgrace. - -J. BRUTUS. Why, Pompey, as if the senate had not power -To appoint, dispose, and change their generals! -Rome shall belike be bound to Sylla's rule, -Whose haughty pride and swelling thoughts puff'd-up -Foreshows the reaching to proud Tarquin's state. -Is not his ling'ring to our Roman loss -At Capua, where he braves it out with feasts, -Made known, think you, unto the senate here? -Yes, Pompey, yes; and hereof are we sure, -If Romans' state on Sylla's pride should lie, -Rome's conquests would to Pontus' regions fly; -Therefore, grave and renowned senators, -(Pillars that bear and hold our rule aloft, -You stately, true, and rich pyramids) -Descend into the depth of your estates; -Then shall you find that Sylla is more fit -To rule in Rome domestical affairs, -Than have the conquest of Bithinia, -Which, if once got, he'll but by death forego: -Therefore I say [let] Marius [be] our general. - -LUCRETIUS. So thus we strive abroad to win renown, -And nought regard at home our waning states. -Brutus, I say, the many brave exploits, -The warlike acts that Sylla has achiev'd -Show him a soldier and a Roman too, -Whose care is more for country than himself. -Sylla nill brook[102], that in so many wars, -So hard adventures and so strange extremes, -Hath borne the palm and prize of victory, -Thus with dishonour to give up his charge. -Sylla hath friends and soldiers at command, -That first will make the towers of Rome to shake, -And force the stately capitol to dance, -Ere any rob him of his just renown. -Then we that through the Caspian shores have run, -And spread with ships the Oriental sea, -At home shall make a murder of our friends, -And massacre our dearest countrymen. - -LECTORIUS. The power of Sylla nought will 'vail 'gainst Rome; -And let me die, Lucretius, ere I see -Our senate dread for any private man. Therefore, -Renown'd Sulpitius, send for Sylla back: -Let Marius lead our men in Asia. - -L. MERULA. The law the senate wholly doth affirm: -Let Marius lead our men in Asia. - -ClNNA. Cinna affirms the senate's censure just, -And saith let Marius lead the legions forth. - -C. GRANIUS. Honour and victory follow Marius' steps! -For him doth Granius wish to fight for Rome. - -SULPITIUS. Why then, you sage and ancient sires of Rome, -Sulpitius here again doth publish forth, -That Marius by the senate here is made -Chief general to lead the legions out -Against Mithridates and his competitors. -Now victory, for honour of Rome, follow Marius! - - [_Here let_ MARIUS _rouse himself_. - -MARIUS. Sage and imperial senators of Rome, -Not without good advisement have you seen -Old Marius silent during your discourse: -Yet not for that he fear'd to plead his cause, -Or raise his honour trodden down by age, -But that his words should not allure his friends -To stand on stricter terms for his behoof. -Six times the senate by election hath -Made Marius consul over warlike Rome, -And in that space nor Rome nor all the world -Could ever say that Marius was untrue. -These silver hairs, that hang upon my face, -Are witnesses of my unfeigned zeal. -The Cymbrians, that erewhile invaded France, -And held the Roman empire in disdain, -Lay all confounded under Marius' sword: -Fierce Scipio, the mirror once of Rome, -Whose loss as yet my inward soul bewails, -Being ask'd who should succeed and bear his rule, -Even this, quoth he, shall Scipio's armour bear; -And therewithal clapp'd me upon the back.[103] -If then, grave lords, my former-passed youth -Was spent in bringing honours unto[104] Rome, -Let then my age and latter date of years, -Be sealed up for honour unto Rome. - - _Here enter_ SYLLA, _with Captains and Soldiers_. - -SULPITIUS. Sylla, what mean these arms and warlike troops? -These glorious ensigns and these fierce alarm[s] -'Tis proudly done to brave the capitol! - -SYLLA. These arms, Sulpitius, are not borne for hate, -But maintenance of my confirmed state: -I come to Rome with no seditious thoughts, -Except I find too froward injuries. - -SULPITIUS. But wisdom would you did forbear -To yield these slight suspicions of contempt, -Where as the senate studieth high affairs. - -SYLLA. What serious matters have these lords in hand? - -SULPITIUS. The senators with full decree appoint -Old Marius for their captain-general, -To lead thy legions into Asia, -And fight against the fierce Mithridates. - -SYLLA. To Marius? Jolly stuff! Why then I see -Your lordships mean to make a babe of me. - -J. BRUTUS. 'Tis true, Sylla, the senate hath agreed -That Marius shall those bands and legions bear, -Which you now hold, against Mithridates. - -SYLLA. Marius should[105] lead them then, if Sylla said not no; -And I should be a consul's shadow then. -Trustless senators and ungrateful Romans, -For all the honours I have done to Rome, -For all the spoils I brought within her walls, -Thereby for to enrich and raise her pride, -Repay you me with this ingratitude? -You know, unkind, that Sylla's wounded helm -Was ne'er hung up once, or distain'd with rust: -The Marcians that before me fell amain, -And like to winter-hail on every side, -Unto the city Nuba I pursued, -And for your sakes were thirty thousand slain. -The Hippinians and the Samnites Sylla brought -As tributaries unto famous Rome: -Ay, where did Sylla ever draw his sword, -Or lift his warlike hand above his head -For Romans' cause, but he was conqueror? -And now, unthankful, seek you to disgrade -And tear the plumes that Sylla's sword hath won? -Marius, I tell thee Sylla is the man -Disdains to stoop or vail his pride to thee. -Marius, I say thou may'st nor shalt not have -The charge that unto Sylla doth belong, -Unless thy sword could tear it from my heart, -Which in a thousand folds impales[106] the same. - -MARIUS. And, Sylla, hereof be thou full assur'd: -The honour, whereto mine undaunted mind -And this grave senate hath enhanced me, -Thou nor thy followers shall derogate. -The space[107] of years that Marius hath o'erpass'd -In foreign broils and civil mutinies, -Hath taught him this: that one unbridled foe -My former fortunes never shall o'ergo. - -SYLLA. Marius, I smile at these thy foolish words; -And credit me, should laugh outright, I fear, -If that I knew not how thy froward age -Doth make thy sense as feeble as thy joints. - -MARIUS. Sylla, Sylla, Marius' years have taught -Him how to pluck so proud a younker's plumes; -And know, these hairs, that dangle down my face, -In brightness like the silver Rhodope, -Shall add so haughty courage to my mind, -And rest such piercing objects 'gainst thine eyes, -That mask'd in folly age shall force thee stoop. - -SYLLA. And by my hand I swear, ere thou shalt 'maze me so, -My soul shall perish but I'll have thy beard. -Say, grave senators, shall Sylla be your general? - -SULPITIUS. No: the senate, I, and Rome herself agrees -There's none but Marius shall be general. -Therefore, Sylla, these daring terms unfit -Beseem not thee before the capitol. - -SYLLA. Beseem not me? Senators, advise you. -Sylla hath vowed, whose vows the heavens record, -Whose oaths have pierc'd and search'd the deepest vast, -Ay, and whose protestations reign on earth: -This capitol, wherein your glories shine, -Was ne'er so press'd and throng'd with scarlet gowns -As Rome shall be with heaps of slaughtered souls, -Before that Sylla yield his titles up. -I'll make[108] her streets, that peer into the clouds, -Burnish'd with gold and ivory pillars fair, -Shining with jasper, jet, and ebony, -All like the palace of the morning sun, -To swim within a sea of purple blood, -Before I lose the name of general. - -MARIUS. These threats against thy country and these lords, -Sylla, proceed from forth a traitor's heart; -Whose head I trust to see advanced up -On highest top of all this capitol, -As erst was many of thy progeny, -Before thou vaunt thy victories in Rome. - -SYLLA. Greybeard, if so thy heart and tongue agree, -Draw forth thy legions and thy men at arms; -Rear up thy standard and thy steeled crest, -And meet with Sylla in the fields of Mars, -And try whose fortune makes him general. - -MARIUS. I take thy word: Marius will meet thee there, -And prove thee, Sylla, traitor unto Rome, -And all that march under thy trait'rous wings. -Therefore they that love the Senate and Marius, -Now follow him. - -SYLLA. And all that love Sylla come down to him: -For the rest, let them follow Marius, -And the devil himself be their captain. - - [_Here let the Senate rise and cast away their gowns, - having their swords by their sides. Exit_ MARIUS, _and - with him_ SULPITIUS, JUNIUS, BRUTUS, LECTORIUS. - -Q. POMPEY. Sylla, I come to thee. - -LUCRETIUS. Sylla, Lucretius will die with thee. - -SYLLA. Thanks, my noble lords of Rome. - - [_Here let them go down, and_ SYLLA _offers to go - forth, and_ ANTHONY _calls him back_: - -ANTHONY. Stay, Sylla; hear Anthony breathe forth -The pleading plaints of sad declining Rome. - -SYLLA. Anthony, thou know'st thy honey words do pierce -And move the mind of Sylla to remorse: -Yet neither words nor pleadings now must serve: -When as mine honour calls me forth to fight: -Therefore, sweet Anthony, be short for Sylla's haste. - -ANTHONY. For Sylla's haste! O, whither wilt thou fly? -Tell me, my Sylla, what dost thou take in hand? -What wars are these thou stirrest up in Rome? -What fire is this is kindled by thy wrath? -A fire that must be quench'd by Romans' blood. -A war that will confound our empery; -And last, an act of foul impiety. -Brute beasts nill break the mutual law of love, -And birds affection will not violate: -The senseless trees have concord 'mongst themselves, -And stones agree in links of amity. -If they, my Sylla, brook not to have jar, -What then are men, that 'gainst themselves do war? -Thou'lt say, my Sylla, honour stirs thee up; -Is't honour to infringe the laws of Rome? -Thou'lt say, perhaps, the titles thou hast won -It were dishonour for thee to forego; -O, is there any height above the highest, -Or any better than the best of all? -Art thou not consul? art thou not lord of Rome? -What greater titles should our Sylla have? -But thou wilt hence, thou'lt fight with Marius, -The man the senate, ay, and Rome hath chose. -Think this, before thou never lift'st aloft, -And lettest fall thy warlike hand adown, -But thou dost raze and wound thy city Rome: -And look, how many slaughter'd souls lie slain -Under thy ensigns and thy conquering lance, -So many murders mak'st thou of thyself. - -SYLLA. Enough, my Anthony, for thy honey'd tongue -Washed in a syrup of sweet conserves[109], -Driveth confused thoughts through Sylla's mind: -Therefore suffice thee, I may nor will not hear. -So farewell, Anthony; honour calls me hence: -Sylla will fight for glory and for Rome. - - [_Exit_ SYLLA _and his followers_. - -L. MERULA. See, noble Anthony, the trustless state of rule, -The stayless hold of matchless sovereignty: -Now fortune beareth Rome into the clouds, -To throw her down into the lowest hells; -For they that spread her glory through the world, -Are they that tear her proud, triumphant plumes: -The heart-burning pride of proud Tarquinius -Rooted from Rome the sway of kingly mace, -And now this discord, newly set abroach, -Shall raze our consuls and our senates down. - -ANTHONY. Unhappy Rome, and Romans thrice accurs'd! -That oft with triumphs fill'd your city walls -With kings and conquering rulers of the world, -Now to eclipse, in top of all thy pride, -Through civil discords and domestic broils. -O Romans, weep the tears of sad lament, -And rend your sacred robes at this exchange, -For fortune makes our Rome a banding ball[110], -Toss'd from her hand to take the greater fall. - -GRANIUS. O, whence proceed these foul, ambitious thoughts, -That fire men's hearts and make them thirst for rule? -Hath sovereignty so much bewitch'd the minds -Of Romans, that their former busied cares, -Which erst did tire in seeking city's good, -Must now be chang'd to ruin of her walls? -Must they, that rear'd her stately temples up, -Deface the sacred places of their gods? -Then may we wail, and wring our wretched hands, -Sith both our gods, our temples, and our walls, -Ambition makes fell fortune's spiteful thralls. - - [_Exeunt all_. - - [_A great alarum. Let young_ MARIUS _chase_ POMPEY - over the stage, and old_ MARIUS _chase_ LUCRETIUS. - _Then let enter three or four Soldiers, and his - ancient with his colours, and_ SYLLA _after them - with his hat in his hand: they offer to fly away_. - -SYLLA. Why, whither fly you, Romans, -What mischief makes this flight? -Stay, good my friends: stay, dearest countrymen! - -1ST SOLDIER. Stay, let us hear what our Lord Sylla say'th. - -SYLLA. What, will you leave your chieftains, Romans, then, -And lose your honours in the gates of Rome? -What, shall our country see, and Sylla rue, -These coward thoughts so fix'd and firm'd in you? -What, are you come from Capua to proclaim -Your heartless treasons in this happy town? -What, will you stand and gaze with shameless looks, -Whilst Marius' butchering knife assails our throats? -Are you the men, the hopes, the stays of state? -Are you the soldiers prest[111] for Asia? -Are you the wondered legions of the world, -And will you fly these shadows of resist? -Well, Romans, I will perish through your pride, -That thought by you to have return'd in pomp; -And, at the least, your general shall prove, -Even in his death, your treasons and his love. -Lo, this the wreath that shall my body bind, -Whilst Sylla sleeps with honour in the field: -And I alone, within these colours shut, -Will blush your dastard follies in my death. -So, farewell, heartless soldiers and untrue, -That leave your Sylla, who hath loved you. [_Exit_. - -1ST SOLDIER. Why, fellow-soldiers, shall we fly the field, -And carelessly forsake our general? -What, shall our vows conclude with no avail? -First die, sweet friends, and shed your purple blood, -Before you lose the man that wills you good. -Then to it, brave Italians, out of hand! -Sylla, we come with fierce and deadly blows -To venge thy wrongs and vanquish all thy foes. - - [_Exeunt to the alarum_. - - - - -ACTUS SECUNDUS, SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ SYLLA _triumphant_; LUCRETIUS, POMPEY, - _with Soldiers_. - -SYLLA. You, Roman soldiers, fellow-mates in arms, -The blindfold mistress of uncertain chance -Hath turn'd these traitorous climbers from the top, -And seated Sylla in the chiefest place-- -The place beseeming Sylla and his mind. -For, were the throne, where matchless glory sits -Empal'd with furies, threatening blood and death, -Begirt with famine and those fatal fears, -That dwell below amidst the dreadful vast, -Tut, Sylla's sparkling eyes should dim with clear[112] -The burning brands of their consuming light, -And master fancy with a forward mind, -And mask repining fear with awful power: -For men of baser metal and conceit -Cannot conceive the beauty of my thought. -I, crowned with a wreath of warlike state, -Imagine thoughts more greater than a crown, -And yet befitting well a Roman mind. -Then, gentle ministers of all my hopes, -That with your swords made way unto my wish, -Hearken the fruits of your courageous fight. -In spite of all these Roman basilisks, -That seek to quell us with their currish looks, -We will to Pontus: we'll have gold, my hearts; -Those oriental pearls shall deck our brows. -And you, my gentle friends, you Roman peers: -Kind Pompey, worthy of a consul's name, -You shall abide the father of the state, -Whilst these brave lads, Lucretius, and I, -In spite of all these brawling senators, -Will, shall, and dare attempt on Asia, -And drive Mithridates from out his doors. - -POMPEY. Ay, Sylla, these are words of mickle worth, -Fit for the master of so great a mind. -Now Rome must stoop, for Marius and his friends -Have left their arms, and trust unto their heels. - -SYLLA. But, Pompey, if our Spanish jennets' feet -Have learnt to post it of their mother-wind, -I hope to trip upon the greybeard's heels, -Till I have cropp'd his shoulders from his head. -And for his son, the proud, aspiring boy, -His beardless face and wanton, smiling brows, -Shall, if I catch him, deck yond' capitol. -The father, son, the friends and soldiers all, -That fawn on Marius, shall with fury fall. - -LUCRETIUS. And what event shall all these troubles bring? - -SYLLA. This--Sylla in fortune will exceed a king. -But, friends and soldiers, with dispersed bands -Go seek out Marius' fond confederates: -Some post along those unfrequented paths, -That track by nooks unto the neighbouring sea: -Murder me Marius, and maintain my life. -And that his favourites in Rome may learn -The difference betwixt my fawn and frown, -Go cut them short, and shed their hateful blood, -To quench these furies of my froward mood. - - [_Exit Soldiers_. - -LUCRETIUS. Lo, Sylla, where our senators approach; -Perhaps to 'gratulate thy good success. - - _Enter_ ANTHONY, GRANIUS, LEPIDUS. - -SYLLA. Ay, that _perhaps_ was fitly placed there: -But, my Lucretius, these are cunning lords, -Whose tongues are tipp'd with honey to deceive. -As for their hearts, if outward eyes may see them, -The devil scarce with mischief might agree them. - -LEPIDUS. Good fortune to our consul, worthy Sylla. - -SYLLA. And why not general 'gainst the King of Pontus? - -GRANIUS. And general against the King of -Pontus. - -SYLLA. Sirrah, your words are good, your thoughts are ill. -Each milkwhite hair amid this mincing beard, -Compar'd with millions of thy treacherous thoughts, -Would change their hue through vigour of thy hate. -But, did not pity make my fury thrall, -This sword should finish hate, thy life, and all. -I prythee, Granius, how doth Marius? - -GRANIUS. As he that bides a thrall to thee and fate: -Living in hope, as I and others do, -To catch good fortune, and to cross thee too. - -SYLLA. Both blunt and bold, but too much mother-wit. -To play with fire, where fury streams about: -Curtail your tale, fond man, cut off the rest; -But here I will dissemble for the best. - -GRANIUS. Sylla, my years have taught me to discern -Betwixt ambitious pride and princely zeal; -And from thy youth these peers of Home have mark'd -A rash revenging humour[113] in thy brain. -Thy tongue adorn'd with flowing eloquence, -And yet I see imprinted in thy brows -A fortunate but froward governance. -And though thy rival Marius, mated late -By backward working of his wretched fate, -Is fall'n; yet, Sylla, mark what I have seen -Even here in Rome. The fencer Spectacus -Hath been as fortunate as thou thyself; -But when that Crassus' sword assayed his crest, -The fear of death did make him droop for woe. - -SYLLA. You saw in Rome this brawling fencer die, -When Spectacus by Crassus was subdued. -Why so? but, sir, I hope you will apply, -And say like Spectacus that I shall die. -Thus peevish eld, discoursing by a fire, -Amidst their cups will prate how men aspire. -Is this the greeting, Romans, that you give -Unto the patron of your monarchy? -Lucretius, shall I play a pretty jest? - -LUCRETIUS. What Sylla will, what Roman dare withstand? - -SYLLA. A brief and pleasing answer, by my head. -Why, tell me, Granius, dost thou talk in sport? - -GRANIUS. No, Sylla, my discourse is resolute. -Not coin'd to please thy fond and cursed thoughts: -For were my tongue betray'd with pleasing words -To feed the humours of thy haughty mind, -I rather wish the rot should root it out. - -SYLLA. The bravest brawler that I ever heard. -But, soldiers, since I see he is oppress'd -With crooked choler, and our artists teach -That fretting blood will press through open'd veins, -Let him that has the keenest sword arrest -The greybeard, and cut off his head in jest. -Soldiers, lay hands on Granius. - -GRANIUS. Is this the guerdon[114] then of good advice? - -SYLLA. No, but the means to make fond men more wise. -Tut, I have wit, and carry warlike tools, -To charm the scolding prate of wanton fools. -Tell me of fencers and a tale of fate! -No, Sylla thinks of nothing but a state. - -GRANIUS. Why, Sylla, I am arm'd the worst to try. - -SYLLA, I pray thee then, Lucretius, let him die. - - [_Exeunt with_ GRANIUS. - -Beshrew me, lords, but in this jolly vein -'Twere pity but the prating fool were slain. -I fear me Pluto will be wrath with me, -For to detain so grave a man as he. - -ANTHONY. But seek not, Sylla, in this quiet state -To work revenge upon an aged man, -A senator, a sovereign of this town. - -SYLLA. The more the cedar climbs, the sooner down: -And, did I think the proudest man in Rome -Would wince at that which I have wrought or done, -I would and can control his insolence. -Why, senators, is this the true reward, -Wherewith you answer princes for their pain, -As when this sword hath made our city free, -A braving mate should thus distemper me? -But, Lepidus and fellow-senators, -I am resolved, and will not brook your taunts: -Who wrongeth Sylla, let him look for stripes. - -ANTHONY. Ay, but the milder passions show the man; -For as the leaf doth beautify the tree, -The pleasant flow'rs bedeck the painted spring, -Even so in men of greatest reach and power -A mild and piteous thought augments renown. -Old Anthony did never see, my lord, -A swelling show'r, that did continue long: -A climbing tower that did not taste the wind: -A wrathful man not wasted with repent. -I speak of love, my Sylla, and of joy, -To see how fortune lends a pleasant gale -Unto the spreading sails of thy desires; -And, loving thee, must counsel thee withal: -For, as by cutting fruitful vines increase, -So faithful counsels work a prince's peace. - -SYLLA. Thou honey-talking father, speak thy mind. - -ANTHONY. My Sylla, scarce those tears are dried up, -That Roman matrons wept to see this war: -Along the holy streets the hideous groans -Of murdered men infect the weeping air: -Thy foes are fled, not overtaken yet, -And doubtful is the hazard of this war: -Yea, doubtful is the hazard of this war, -For now our legions draw their wasteful swords -To murder whom? Even Roman citizens! -To conquer whom? Even Roman citizens! -Then, if that Sylla love these citizens, -If care of Rome, if threat of foreign foes, -If fruitful counsels of thy forward friends, -May take effect, go fortunate, and drive -The King of Pontus out of Asia; -Lest, while we dream on civil mutinies, -Our wary foes assail our city walls. - -POMPEY. My long-concealed thoughts, Mark Anthony, -Must seek discovery through thy pliant words. -Believe me, Sylla, civil mutinies -Must not obscure thy glories and our names. -Then, sith that factious Marius is suppress'd, -Go spread thy colours 'midst the Asian fields; -Meanwhile myself will watch this city's weal. - -SYLLA. Pompey, I know thy love, I mark thy words, -And, Anthony, thou hast a pleasing vein; -But, senators, I harbour[115] in my head -With every thought of honour some revenge. - - _Enter LUCRETIUS with the head_. - -Speak, what, shall Sylla be your general? - -LEPIDUS. We do decree that Sylla shall be general? - -SYLLA. And wish you Sylla's weal and honour too? - -ANTHONY. We wish both Sylla's weal and honour too. - -SYLLA. Then take away the scandal of this state, -Banish the name of tribune out of town; -Proclaim false Marius and his other friends -Foemen and traitors to the state of Rome, -And I will wend and work so much by force, -As I will master false Mithridates. - -LEPIDUS. The name of tribune hath continued long. - -SYLLA. So shall not Lepidus, if he withstand me. -Sirrah, you see the head of Granius: -Watch you his hap, unless you change your words. -Pompey, now please me: Pompey, grant my suit. - -POMPEY. Lictors, proclaim this our undaunted doom. -We will that Marius and his wretched sons: -His friends Sulpitius, Claudius, and the rest -Be held for traitors, and acquit the men, -That shall endanger their unlucky lives; -And henceforth tribune's name and state shall cease. -Grave senators, how like you this decree? - -LEPIDUS. Even as our consuls wish, so let it be. - -SYLLA. Then, Lepidus, all friends in faith for me, -So leave I Rome to Pompey and my friends, -Resolv'd to manage those our Asian wars. -Frolic, brave soldiers, we must foot it now: -Lucretius, you shall bide the brunt with me. -Pompey, farewell, and farewell, Lepidus. -Mark Anthony, I leave thee to thy books; -Study for Rome and Sylla's royalty. -But, by my sword, I wrong this greybeard's head; -Go, sirrah, place it on the capitol: -A just promotion fit for Sylla's foe. -Lordings, farewell: come, soldiers, let us go. - - [_Exit_. - -POMPEY. Sylla, farewell, and happy be thy chance, -Whose war both Rome and Romans must advance. - - [_Exeunt Senators_. - - _Enter the Magistrates of Minturnum with_ MARIUS - _very melancholy_: LUCIUS FAVORINUS, PAUSANIUS, - _with some attendants_. - -PAUSANIUS. My lord, the course of your unstayed fate, -Made weak through that your late unhappy fight, -Withdraws our wills that fain would work your weal: -For long experience and the change of times, -The innocent suppressions of the just, -In leaning to forsaken men's relief, -Doth make us fear, lest our unhappy town -Should perish through the angry Roman's sword. - -MARIUS. Lords of Minturnum, when I shap'd my course, -To fly the danger of pursuing death, -I left my friends, and all alone attain'd, -In hope of succours, to this little town, -Relying on your courtesies and truth. -What foolish fear doth then amaze you thus? - -FAVORINUS. O Marius, thou thyself, thy son, thy friends, -Are banished, and exiles out of Rome, -Proclaim'd for traitors, reft of your estates, -Adjudg'd to death with certain warrantise: -Should then so small a town, my lord, as this -Hazard their fortunes to supply your wants? - -MARIUS. Why, citizens, and what is Marius? -I tell you, not so base as to despair, -Yea, able to withstand ingratitudes. -Tell me of foolish laws, decreed at Rome -To please the angry humours of my foe! -Believe me, lords, I know and am assur'd, -That magnanimity can never fear, -And fortitude so conquer silly fate, -As Sylla, when he hopes to have my head, -May hap ere long on sudden lose his own. - -PAUSANIUS. A hope beseeming Marius; but, I fear, -Too strange to have a short and good event. - -MARIUS. Why, Sir Pausanius, have you not beheld -Campania plains fulfill'd with greater foes, -Than is that wanton milk-sop, nature's scorn. -Base-minded men to live in perfect hope, -Whose thoughts are shut within your cottage eaves, -Refuse not Marius, that must favour you: -For these are parts of unadvised men, -With present fear to lose a perfect friend, -That can, will, may control, command, subdue, -That braving boy, that thus bewitcheth you. - -FAVORINUS. How gladly would we succour you, my lord, -But that we fear-- - -MARIUS. What? the moonshine in the water! -Thou wretched stepdame of my fickle state, -Are these the guerdons of the greatest minds? -To make them hope and yet betray their hap, -To make them climb to overthrow them straight? -Accurs'd thy wreak[116], thy wrath, thy bale, thy weal, -That mak'st me sigh the sorrows that I feel! -Untrodden paths my feet shall rather trace, -Than wrest my succours from inconstant hands: -Rebounding rocks shall rather ring my ruth, -Than these Campanian piles, where terrors bide: -And nature, that hath lift my throne so high, -Shall witness Marius' triumphs, if he die. -But she, that gave the lictor's rod and axe -To wait my six times consulship in Rome, -Will not pursue where erst she flattered so. -Minturnum then, farewell, for I must go; -But think for to repent you of your no. - -PAUSANIUS. Nay stay, my lord, and deign in private here -To wait a message of more better worth: -Your age and travels must have some relief; -And be not wrath, for greater men than we -Have feared Rome and Roman tyranny. - -MARIUS. You talk it now like men confirmed in faith. -Well, let me try the fruits of your discourse, -For care my mind and pain my body wrongs. - -PAUSANIUS. Then, Favorinus, shut his lordship up -Within some secret chamber in the state. -Meanwhile, we will consult to keep him safe, -And work some secret means for his supply. - -MARIUS. Be trusty, lords; if not, I can but die. - [_Exit_ MARIUS. - -PAUSANIUS. Poor, hapless Roman, little wottest thou -The weary end of thine oppressed life. - -LUCIUS. Why, my Pausanius, what imports these words? - -PAUSANIUS. O Lucius, age hath printed in my thoughts -A memory of many troubles pass'd. -The greatest towns and lords of Asia -Have stood on tickle terms through simple truth: -The Rhodian records well can witness this. -Then, to prevent our means of overthrow, -Find out some stranger, that may suddenly -Enter the chamber, where as Marius lies, -And cut him short; the present of whose head -Shall make the Romans praise us for our truth, -And Sylla prest to grant us privilege. - -LUCIUS. A barbarous act to wrong the men that trust. - -PAUSANIUS. In country's cause injustice proveth just. -Come, Lucius, let not silly thought of right -Subject our city to the Roman's might: -For why you know in Marius only end -Rome will reward, and Sylla will befriend. - -LUCIUS. Yet all successions will us discommend. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MARIUS _the younger_; CETHEGUS, LECTORIUS, - _with Roman Lords and Soldiers_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. The wayward lady of this wicked world, -That leads in luckless triumph wretched men, -My Roman friends, hath forced our desires, -And fram'd our minds to brook too base relief. -What land or Lybian desert is unsought -To find my father Marius and your friend? -Yea, they whom true relent could never touch-- -These fierce Numidians, hearing our mishaps, -Weep floods of moan to wail our wretched fates. -Thus we, that erst with terrors did attaint -The Bactrian bounds, and in our Roman wars -Enforc'd the barbarous borderers of the Alps -To tremble with the terrors of our looks, -Now fly, poor men, affrighted without harms: -Seeking amidst the desert rocks and dens -For him, that whilom in our capitol -Even with a beck commanded Asia. -Thou woful son of such a famous man, -Unsheathe thy sword, conduct these warlike men -To Rome, unhappy mistress of our harms: -And there, since tyrants' power hath thee oppress'd, -And robb'd thee of thy father, friends, and all, -So die undaunted, killing of thy foes, -That were the offspring of these wretched woes. - -LECTORIUS. Why, how now, Marius, will you mate us thus, -That with content adventure for your love? -Why, noble youth, resolve yourself on this, -That son and father both have friends in Rome, -That seek old Marius' rest and your relief. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lectorius, friends are geason[117] now-a-days, -And grow to fume, before they taste the fire. -Adversities bereaving man's avails, -They fly like feathers dallying in the wind: -They rise like bubbles in a stormy rain, -Swelling in words, and flying faith and deeds. - -CETHEGUS. How fortunate art thou, my lovely lord, -That in thy youth may'st reap the fruits of age; -And having lost occasion's holdfast now, -May'st learn hereafter how to entertain her well. -But sudden hopes do swarm about my heart: -Be merry, Romans; see, where from the coast -A weary messenger doth post him fast. - - _Enter_ CINNA'S SLAVE, _with a letter enclosed, - posting in haste_. - -LECTORIUS. It should be Cinna's slave, or else I err, -For in his forehead I behold the scar, -Wherewith he marketh still his barbarous swains. - -YOUNG MARIUS. O, stay him, good Lectorius, for me-seems -His great post-haste some pleasure should present. - -LECTORIUS. Sirrah, art thou of Rome? - -SLAVE. Perhaps, sir, no. - -LECTORIUS. Without perhaps, say, sirrah, is it so? - -SLAVE. This is Lectorius, Marius' friend, I trow; -Yet were I best to learn the certainty, -Lest some dissembling foes should me descry. [_Aside_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Sirrah, leave off this foolish dalliance, -Lest with my sword I wake you from your trance. - -SLAVE. O happy man, O labours well-achiev'd! -How hath this chance my weary limbs revived: -O noble Marius! O princely Marius! - -YOUNG MARIUS. What means this peasant by his great rejoice? - -SLAVE. O worthy Roman, many months have past -Since Cinna, now the consul and my lord, -Hath sent me forth to seek thy friends and thee. -All Lybia, with our Roman presidents, -Numidia, full of unfrequented ways, -These weary limbs have trod to seek you out, -And now, occasion pitying of my pains, -I late arriv'd upon this wished shore, -Found out a sailor born in Capua, -That told me how your lordship pass'd this way. - -YOUNG MARIUS. A happy labour, worthy some reward. -How fares thy master? What's the news at Rome? - -SLAVE. Pull out the pike from off this javelin-top, -And there are tidings for these lords and thee. - -YOUNG MARIUS. A policy beseeming Cinna well: -Lectorius, read, and break these letters up.[118] - - LETTER. - -To his Honourable friend Marius the younger, greeting. - -_Being consul (for the welfare both of father and son, with other thy -accomplices), I have, under an honest policy, since my instalment in the -consulship, caused all Sylla's friends that were indifferent, with the -other neighbouring cities, to revolt. Octavius, my fellow-consul, with -the rest of the senate, mistrusting me, and hearing how I sought to -unite the old citizens with the new, hath wrought much trouble, but to -no effect. I hope the soldiers of Capua shall follow our faction, for -Sylla, hearing of these hurly-burlies, is hasting homeward, very -fortunate in his wars against Mithridates. And it is to be feared that -some of his friends here have certified him of my proceedings, and -purpose to restore you. Cethegus and Lectorius I hear say are with you. -Censorinus and Albinovanus will shortly visit you. Therefore haste and -seek out your father, who is now, as I hear, about Minturnum. Levy what -power you can with all expedition, and stay not_. - -Rome, the 5 Kalends of December. - _Your unfeigned friend,_ - CINNA, _Consul_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Yea, fortune, shall young Marius climb aloft? -Then woe to my repining foes in Rome! -And if I live, sweet queen of change, thy shrines -Shall shine with beauty 'midst the capitol. -Lectorius, tell me what were best be done? - -LECTORIUS. To sea, my lord; seek your warlike sire: -Send back this peasant with your full pretence, -And think already that our pains have end, -Since Cinna, with his followers, is your friend. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Yea, Romans, we will furrow through the foam -Of swelling floods, and to the sacred twins -Make sacrifice, to shield our ships from storms. -Follow me, lords; come, gentle messenger, -Thou shalt have gold and glory for thy pains. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS TERTIUS. SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ CINNA, OCTAVIUS, ANTHONY, _Lictors, Citizens_. - -CINNA. Upbraiding senators, bewitch'd with wit, -That term true justice innovation; -You ministers of Sylla's mad conceits, -Will consuls, think you, stoop to your controls? -These younger citizens, my fellow-lords, -Bound to maintain both Marius and his son, -Crave but their due, and will be held as good -For privilege as those of elder age; -For they are men conform'd to feats of arms, -That have both wit and courage to command. -These favourites of Octavius, that[119] with age -And palsies shake their javelins in their hands, -Like heartless men attainted all with fear: -And should they then overtop the youth? -No, nor this consul, nor Mark Anthony, -Shall make my followers faint or lose their right; -But I will have them equal with the best. - -ANTHONY. Why then the senate's name, whose reverend rule -Hath blazed our virtues 'midst the western isle, -Must be obscur'd by Cinna's forced power. -O citizens! are laws of country left? -Is justice banish'd from this capitol? -Must we, poor fathers, see your drooping bands -Enter the sacred synod of this state? -O brutish fond presumptions of this age! -Rome! would the mischiefs might obscure my life, -So I might counsel consuls to be wise. -Why, countrymen, wherein consists this strife? -Forsooth the younger citizens will rule; -The old men's heads are dull and addle now; -And in elections youth will bear the sway. -O Cinna, see I not the woful fruits -Of these ambitious stratagems begun? -Each flattering tongue that dallieth pretty words -Shall change our fortunes and our states at once. -Had I ten thousand tongues to talk the care, -So many eyes to weep their woful miss, -So many pens to write these many wrongs, -My tongue your thoughts, my eyes your tears, should move, -My pen your pains by reason should approve. - -CINNA. Why, Anthony, seal up those sugar'd lips, -For I will bring my purpose to effect. - -ANTHONY. Doth Cinna like to interrupt me, then? - -CINNA. Ay, Cinna, sir, will interrupt you now. -I tell thee, Mark, old Marius is at hand, -The very patron of this happy law, -Who will revenge thy cunning eloquence. - -ANTHONY. I talk not, I, to please or him or thee, -But what I speak, I think and practise too: -'Twere better Sylla learnt to mend in Rome, -Than Marius come to tyrannise in Rome. - -OCTAVIUS. Nay, Marius shall not tyrannise in Rome, -Old citizens; as Sylla late ordain'd, -King Tullius' laws shall take their full effect: -The best and aged men shall in their choice, -Both bear the day, and firm [th'] election. - -CINNA. O brave! Octavius, you will beard me then, -The elder consul and old Marius' friend; -And these Italian freemen must be wrong'd. -First shall the fruit of all thine honours fail, -And this my poniard shall despatch thy life. - -LEPIDUS. Such insolence was never seen in Rome: -Nought wanteth here but name to make a king. - -OCTAVIUS. Strike, villain, if thou list, for I am prest -To make as deep a furrow in thy breast! - -YOUNG CITIZEN. The young men's voices shall prevail, my lords. - -OLD CITIZEN. And we will firm our honours by our bloods. - - [_Thunder_. - -ANTHONY. O false ambitious pride in young and old! -Hark, how the heavens our follies hath controll'd. - -OLD CITIZEN. What, shall we yield for this religious fear? - -ANTHONY. If not religious fear, what may repress -These wicked passions, wretched citizens? -O Rome, poor Rome, unmeet for these misdeeds, -I see contempt of heaven will breed a cross. -Sweet Cinna, govern rage with reverence. [_Thunder_. -O fellow-citizens, be more advis'd! - -LEPIDUS. We charge you, consuls, now dissolve the court; -The gods condemn this brawl and civil jars. - -OCTAVIUS. We will submit our honours to their wills: -You, ancient citizens, come follow me. - - [_Exit_ OCTAVIUS; _with him_ ANTHONY _and_ LEPIDUS. - -CINNA. High Jove himself hath done too much for thee, -Else should this blade abate thy royalty. -Well, young Italian citizens, take heart, -He is at hand that will maintain your right; -That, entering in these fatal gates of Rome, -Shall make them tremble that disturb you now. -You of Preneste and of Formiae, -With other neighbouring cities in Campania, -Prepare to entertain and succour Marius. - -YOUNG CITIZEN. For him we live, for him we mean to die. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ OLD MARIUS _with his_ KEEPER _and two_ SOLDIERS. - -MARIUS. Have these Minturnians, then, so cruelly -Presum'd so great injustice 'gainst their friends? - -JAILER. Ay, Marius, all our nobles have decreed -To send thy head a present unto Rome. - -MARIUS. A Tantal's present it will prove, my friend, -Which with a little smarting stress will end -Old Marius' life, when Rome itself at last -Shall rue my loss, and then revenge my death. -But tell me, jailer, could'st thou be content, -In being Marius, for to brook this wrong. - -JAILER. The high estate your lordship once did wield, -The many friends that fawn'd, when fortune smil'd, -Your great promotions and your mighty wealth, -These, were I Marius, would amate me so,[120] -As loss of them would vex me more than death. - -MARIUS. Is lordship then so great a bliss, my friend? - -JAILER. No title may compare with princely rule. - -MARIUS. Are friends so faithful pledges of delight? - -JAILER. What better comforts than are faithful friends? - -MARIUS. Is wealth a mean to lengthen life's content? - -JAILER. Where great possessions bide, what care can touch? - -MARIUS. These stales[121] of fortune are the common plagues, -That still mislead the thoughts of simple men. -The shepherd-swain that, 'midst his country-cot, -Deludes his broken slumbers by his toil, -Thinks lordship sweet, where care with lordship dwells. -The trustful man that builds on trothless vows, -Whose simple thoughts are cross'd with scornful nays, -Together weeps the loss of wealth and friend: -So lordship, friends, wealth spring and perish fast, -Where death alone yields happy life at last. -O gentle governor of my contents, -Thou sacred chieftain of our capitol, -Who in thy crystal orbs with glorious gleams -Lend'st looks of pity mix'd with majesty, -See woful Marius careful for his son, -Careless of lordship, wealth, or worldly means, -Content to live, yet living still to die: -Whose nerves and veins, whose sinews, by the sword -Must lose their workings through distempering stroke, -But yet whose mind, in spite of fate and all, -Shall live by fame, although the body fall. - -JAILER. Why mourneth Marius this recureless chance? - -MARIUS. I pray thee, jailer, would'st thou gladly die? - -JAILER. If needs, I would. - -MARIUS. Yet were you loth to try? - -JAILER. Why, noble lord, when goods, friends, fortune fail, -What more than death might woful man avail? - -MARIUS. Who calls for death, my friend, for all his scorns? -With Aesop's slave will leave his bush of thorns. -But since these trait'rous lords will have my head, -Their lordships here upon this homely bed -Shall find me sleeping, breathing forth my breath, -Till they their shame, and I my fame, attain by death. -Live, gentle Marius, to revenge my wrong! -And, sirrah, see they stay not over-long; -For he that erst hath conquer'd kingdoms many, -Disdains in death to be subdu'd by any. - [_He lies down_. - - _Enter_ LUCIUS FAVORINUS, PAUSANIUS, _with_ - PEDRO, _a Frenchman_. - -JAILER. The most undaunted words that ever were. -The mighty thoughts of his imperious mind, -Do wound my heart with terror and remorse. - -PAUSANIUS. 'Tis desperate, not perfect nobleness: -For to a man that is prepar'd to die, -The heart should rend, the sleep should leave the eye. -But say, Pedro, will you do the deed? - -PEDRO.[122] Mon monsieurs, per la sang Dieu, me will make a trou so -large in ce belly, dat he sal cry hough, come un porceau. Featre de -lay, il a tue me fadre, he kill my modre. Faith a my trote mon espee -fera le fay dun soldat, sau sau. Ieievera come il founta pary: me will -make a spitch-cock of his persona. - -L. FAVORINUS. If he have slain thy father and thy friends, -The greater honour shall betide the deed; -For to revenge on righteous estimate -Beseems the honour of a Frenchman's name. - -PEDRO. Mes messiers, de fault avoir argent; me no point de argent, no -point kill Marius. - -PAUSANIUS. Thou shalt have forty crowns; will that content thee? - -PEDRO. Quarante escus, per le pied de madam, me give more dan foure to -se prittie damosele, dat have le dulces tittinos, le levres Cymbrines. -O, they be fines! - -L. FAVORINUS. Great is the hire, and little is the pain; -Make therefore quick despatch, and look for gain. -See where he lies in drawing on his death, -Whose eyes, in gentle slumber sealed up, -Present no dreadful visions to his heart. - -PEDRO. Bien, monsieur, je demourera content: Marius, tu es mort. Speak -dy preres in dy sleepe, for me sal cut off your head from your epaules, -before you wake. Qui es stia? what kinde a man be dis? - -L. FAVORINUS. Why, what delays are these? why gaze ye thus? - -PEDRO. Nostre dame! Jesu! estiene! O my siniors, der be a great diable -in ce eyes, qui dart de flame, and with de voice d'un bear cries out, -Villain! dare you kill Marius? Je tremble: aida me, siniors, autrement -I shall be murdered. - -PAUSANIUS. What sudden madness daunts this stranger thus? - -PEDRO. O me, no can kill Marius; me no dare kill Marius! adieu, -messieurs, me be dead, si je touche Marius. Marius est un diable. -Jesu Maria, sava moy![123] - [_Exit fugiens_. - -PAUSANIUS. What fury haunts this wretch on sudden thus? - -L. FAVORINUS. Ah, my Pausanius, I have often heard, -That yonder Marius in his infancy -Was born to greater fortunes than we deem: -For, being scarce from out his cradle crept, -And sporting prettily with his compeers, -On sudden seven young eagles soar'd amain, -And kindly perch'd upon his tender lap. -His parents, wondering at this strange event, -Took counsel of the soothsayers in this; -Who told them that these sevenfold eagles' flight -Forefigured his seven times consulship:[124] -And we ourselves (except bewitch'd with pride) -Have seen him six times in the capitol, -Accompanied with rods and axes too. -And some divine instinct so presseth me, -That sore I tremble, till I set him free. - -PAUSANIUS. The like assaults attain my wand'ring mind, -Seeing our bootless war with matchless fate. -Let us entreat him to forsake our town; -So shall we gain a friend of Rome and him. - [MARIUS _awaketh_. -But mark how happily he doth awake. - -MARIUS. What, breathe I yet, poor man, with mounting sighs, -Choking the rivers of my restless eyes? -Or is their rage restrain'd with matchless ruth? -See how amaz'd these angry lords behold -The poor, confused looks of wretched Marius. -Minturnians, why delays your headsman thus -To finish up this ruthful tragedy? - -L. FAVORINUS. Far be it, Marius, from our thoughts or hands -To wrong the man protected by the gods: -Live happy, Marius, so thou leave our town. - -MARIUS. And must I wrestle once again with fate, -Or will these princes dally with mine age? - -PAUSANIUS. No, matchless Roman; thine approved mind, -That erst hath alter'd our ambitious wrong, -Must flourish still, and we thy servants live -To see thy glories, like the swelling tides, -Exceed the bounds of fate and Roman rule. -Yet leave us, lord, and seek some safer shed, -Where, more secure, thou may'st prevent mishaps; -For great pursuits and troubles thee await. - -MARIUS. Ye piteous powers, that with successful hopes -And gentle counsels thwart my deep despairs, -Old Marius to your mercies recommends -His hap, his life, his hazard, and his son. -Minturnians, I will hence, and you shall fly -Occasions of those troubles you expect. -Dream not on dangers, that have sav'd my life. -Lordings, adieu: from walls to woods I wend; -To hills, dales, rocks, my wrong for to commend. - [_Exit_. - -L. FAVORINUS. Fortune, vouchsafe his many woes to end. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ SYLLA[125] _in triumph in his chair triumphant of gold, - drawn by four Moors; before the chariot, his colours, his crest, - his captains, his prisoners_: ARCATHIUS, _Mithridates' son_; - ARISTION, ARCHELAUS, _bearing crowns of gold, and manacled. After - the chariot, his soldier's bands_; BASILLUS, LUCRETIUS, LUCULLUS, - _besides prisoners of divers nations and sundry disguises_. - -SYLLA. You men of Rome, my fellow-mates in arms, -Whose three years' prowess, policy, and war, -One hundred threescore thousand men at arms -Hath overthrown and murder'd in the field; -Whose valours to the empire have restor'd -All Grecia, Asia, and Ionia, -With Macedonia, subject to our foe, -You see the froward customs of our state -Who, measuring not our many toils abroad, -Sit in their cells, imagining our harms: -Replenishing our Roman friends with fear. -Yea, Sylla, worthy friends, whose fortunes, toils, -And stratagems these strangers may report, -Is by false Cinna and his factious friends -Revil'd, condemn'd, and cross'd without a cause: -Yea, Romans, Marius must return to Rome, -Of purpose to upbraid your general. -But this undaunted mind that never droop'd; -This forward body, form'd to suffer toil, -Shall haste to Rome, where every foe shall rue -The rash disgrace both of myself and you. - -LUCRETIUS. And may it be that those seditious brains -Imagine these presumptuous purposes? - -SYLLA. And may it be? Why, man, and wilt thou doubt, -Where Sylla deigns these dangers to aver? -Sirrah, except not so, misdoubt not so: -See here Aneparius' letters, read the lines, -And say, Lucretius, that I favour thee, -That darest but suspect thy general. - [_Read the letters and deliver them_. - -LUCRETIUS. The case conceal'd hath mov'd the more misdoubt; -Yet pardon my presumptions, worthy Sylla, -That to my grief have read these hideous harms. - -SYLLA. Tut, my Lucretius, fortune's ball is toss'd -To form the story of my fatal power: -Rome shall repent; babe, mother, shall repent: -Air, weeping cloudy sorrows, shall repent: -Wind, breathing many sorrows, shall repent-- -To see those storms, concealed in my breast, -Reflect the hideous flames of their unrest. -But words are vain, and cannot quell our wrongs: -Brief periods serve for them that needs must post it. -Lucullus, since occasion calls me hence, -And all our Roman senate think it meet, -That thou pursue the wars I have begun, -As by their letters I am certified, -I leave thee Cymbria's legions to conduct, -With this proviso that, in ruling still, -You think on Sylla and his courtesies. - -LUCULLUS. The weighty charge of this continued war, -Though strange it seem, and over-great to wield, -I will accept, if so the army please. - -SOLDIERS. Happy and fortunate be Lucullus our general. - -SYLLA. If he be Sylla's friend, else not at all: -For otherwise the man were ill-bested, -That gaining glories straight should lose his head. -But, soldiers, since I needly[126] must to Rome, -Basillus' virtues shall have recompense. -Lo, here the wreath, Valerius, for thy pains, -Who first didst enter Archilaus' trench: -This pledge of virtue, sirrah, shall approve -Thy virtues, and confirm me in thy love. - -BASILLUS. Happy be Sylla, if no foe to Rome. - -SYLLA. I like no ifs from such a simple groom. -I will be happy in despite of state. -And why? because I never feared fate. -But come, Arcathius, for your father's sake: -Enjoin your fellow-princes to their tasks, -And help to succour these my weary bones. -Tut, blush not, man, a greater state than thou -Shall pleasure Sylla in more baser sort. -Aristion is a jolly-timber'd man, -Fit to conduct the chariot of a king: -Why, be not squeamish, for it shall go hard, -But I will give you all a great reward. - -ARCATHIUS. Humbled by fate, like wretched men we yield. - -SYLLA. Arcathius, these are fortunes of the field. -Believe me, these brave captives draw by art, -And I will think upon their good desert. -But stay you, strangers, and respect my words. -Fond heartless men, what folly have I seen! -For fear of death can princes entertain -Such bastard thoughts, that now from glorious arms -Vouchsafe to draw like oxen in a plough? -Arcathius, I am sure Mithridates -Will hardly brook the scandal of his name: -'Twere better in Pisae[127] to have died, -Aristion, than amidst our legions thus to draw. - -ARISTION. I tell thee, Sylla, captives have no choice, -And death is dreadful to a captive man. - -SYLLA. In such imperfect mettles[128] as is yours: -But Romans, that are still allur'd by fame, -Choose rather death than blemish of their name. -But I have haste, and therefore will reward you. -Go, soldiers, with as quick despatch as may be, -Hasten their death, and bring them to their end, -And say in this that Sylla is your friend. - -ARCATHIUS. O, ransom thou our lives, sweet conqueror! - -SYLLA. Fie, foolish men, why fly you happiness? -Desire you still to lead a servile life? -Dare you not buy delights with little pains? -Well, for thy father's sake, Arcathius, -I will prefer thy triumphs with the rest. -Go, take them hence, and when we meet in hell, -Then tell me, princes, if I did not well. - [_Exeunt milites_. -Lucullus, thus these mighty foes are down, -Now strive thou for the King of Pontus' crown. -I will to Rome; go thou, and with thy train -Pursue Mithridates, till he be slain. - -LUCULLUS. With fortune's help: go calm thy country's woes, -Whilst I with these seek out our mighty foes. - - _Enter MARIUS solus, from the Numidian mountains, - feeding on roots_. - -MARIUS. Thou, that hast walk'd with troops of flocking friends, -Now wand'rest 'midst the labyrinth of woes; -Thy best repast with many sighing ends, -And none but fortune all these mischiefs knows. -Like to these stretching mountains, clad with snow, -No sunshine of content my thoughts approacheth: -High spire their tops, my hopes no height do know, -But mount so high as time their tract reproacheth. -They find their spring, where winter wrongs my mind, -They weep their brooks, I waste my cheeks with tears. -O foolish fate, too froward and unkind, -Mountains have peace, where mournful be my years. -Yet high as they my thoughts some hopes would borrow; -But when I count the evening end with sorrow. -Death in Minturnum threaten'd Marius' head, -Hunger in these Numidian mountains dwells: -Thus with prevention having mischief fled, -Old Marius finds a world of many hells, -Such as poor simple wits have oft repin'd; -But I will quell, by virtues of the mind, -Long years misspent in many luckless chances, -Thoughts full of wrath, yet little worth succeeding, -These are the means for those whom fate advances: -But I, whose wounds are fresh, my heart still bleeding, -Live to entreat this blessed boon from fate, -That I might die with grief to live in state. -Six hundred suns with solitary walks -I still have sought for to delude my pain, -And friendly echo, answering to my talks, -Rebounds the accent of my ruth again: -She, courteous nymph, the woful Roman pleaseth, -Else no consorts but beasts my pains appeaseth. -Each day she answers in yon neighbouring mountain, -I do expect, reporting of my sorrow, -Whilst lifting up her locks from out the fountain, -She answereth to my questions even and morrow: -Whose sweet rebounds, my sorrow to remove, -To please my thoughts I mean for to approve. -Sweet nymph, draw near, thou kind and gentle echo, - [_Echo_[129]. _I_. -What help to ease my weary pains have I? -What comfort in distress to calm my griefs? - _Griefs_. -Sweet nymph, these griefs are grown, before I thought so. - _I thought so_. -Thus Marius lives disdain'd of all the gods. - _Gods_. -With deep despair late overtaken wholly. - _O lie_. -And will the heavens be never well appeased? - _Appeased_. -What mean have they left me to cure my smart? - _Art_. -Nought better fits old Marius' mind than war. - _Then war_[130]. -Then full of hope, say, Echo, shall I go? - _Go_. -Is any better fortune then at hand? - _At hand_. -Then farewell, Echo, gentle nymph, farewell. - _Farewell_. -O pleasing folly to a pensive man! -Well, I will rest fast by this shady tree, -Waiting the end that fate allotteth me. - [_Sits down_. - - _Enter_ MARIUS _the son_, ALBINOVANUS, CETHEGUS, - LECTORIUS, _with Soldiers_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My countrymen, and favourites of Rome, -This melancholy desert where we meet, -Resembleth well young Marius' restless thoughts. -Here dreadful silence, solitary caves, -No chirping birds with solace singing sweetly, -Are harbour'd for delight; but from the oak, -Leafless and sapless through decaying age, -The screech-owl chants her fatal-boding lays. -Within my breast care, danger, sorrow dwell; -Hope and revenge sit hammering in my heart: -The baleful babes of angry Nemesis -Disperse their furious fires upon my soul. - -LECTORIUS. Fie, Marius, are you discontented still, -When as occasion favoureth your desire! -Are not these noble Romans come from Rome? -Hath not the state recall'd your father home? - -YOUNG MARIUS. And what of this? What profit may I reap, -That want my father to conduct us home? - -LECTORIUS. My lord, take heart; no doubt this stormy flaw[131], -That Neptune sent to cast us on this shore, -Shall end these discontentments at the last. - -MARIUS. Whom see mine eyes? What, is not yon my son? - -YOUNG MARIUS. What solitary father walketh there? - -MARIUS. It is my son! these are my friends I see. -What, have sore-pining cares so changed me? -Or are my looks distemper'd through the pains -And agonies that issue from my heart? -Fie, Marius! frolic, man! thou must to Rome, -There to revenge thy wrongs, and wait thy tomb. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Now, fortune, frown and palter if thou please. -Romans, behold my father and your friend. -O father! - -MARIUS. Marius, thou art fitly met. -Albinovanus, and my other friends, -What news at Rome? What fortune brought you hither? - -ALBINOVANUS. My lord, the Consul Cinna hath restor'd -The doubtful course of your betrayed state, -And waits your present swift approach to Rome, -Your foeman Sylla posteth very fast -With good success from Pontus, to prevent -Your speedy entrance into Italy. -The neighbouring cities are your very friends; -Nought rests, my lord, but you depart from hence. - -YOUNG MARIUS. How many desert ways hath Marius sought, -How many cities have I visited! -To find my father, and relieve his wants! - -MARIUS. My son, I 'quite thy travails with my love. -And, lords and citizens, we will to Rome, -And join with Cinna. Have you shipping here? -What, are these soldiers bent to die with me? - -SOLDIERS. Content to pledge our lives for Marius. - -LECTORIUS. My lord, here, in the next adjoining port, -Our ships are rigg'd, and ready for to sail. - -MARIUS. Then let us sail unto Etruria, -And cause our friends, the Germans, to revolt, -And get some Tuscans to increase our power. -Deserts, farewell! Come, Romans, let us go-- -A scourge for Rome, that hath depress'd us so. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS QUARTUS, SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ MARK ANTHONY, LEPIDUS, OCTAVIUS, FLACCUS, _Senators_. - -OCTAVIUS. What helps, my lords, to overhale these cares? -What means or motions may these mischiefs end? -You see how Cinna, that should succour Rome -Hath levied arms to bring a traitor in. -O worthless traitor, woe to thine and thee, -That thus disquieteth both Rome and us? - -ANTHONY. Octavius, these are scourges for our sins; -These are but ministers to heap our plague. -These mutinies are gentle means and ways, -Whereby the heavens our heavy errors charm. -Then with content and humbled eyes behold -The crystal shining globe of glorious Jove; -And, since we perish through our own misdeeds, -Go let us flourish in our fruitful prayers. - -LEPIDUS. 'Midst these confusions, mighty men of Rome, -Why waste we out these troubles all in words? -Weep not your harms, but wend we straight to arms, -Lo, Ostia[132] spoil'd, see Marius at our gate! -And shall we die like milksops, dreaming thus? - -OCTAVIUS. A bootless war to see our country spoil'd. - -LEPIDUS. Fruitless is dalliance, whereas dangers be. - -ANTHONY. My lord, may courage wait on conquer'd men? - -LEPIDUS. Ay, even in death most courage doth appear. - -OCTAVIUS. Then, waiting death, I mean to seat me here; -Hoping that consuls' name and fear of laws -Shall justify my conscience and my cause. - - _Enter a_ MESSENGER. - -Now, sirrah, what confused looks are these? -What tidings bringest thou of dreariment?[133] - -MESSENGER. My lords, the Consul Cinna, with his friends, -Have let in Marius by _Via Appia_, -Whose soldiers waste and murder all they meet; -Who, with the consul and his other friends, -With expedition hasteth to this place. - -ANTHONY. Then to the downfal of my happiness, -Then to the ruin of this city Rome. -But if mine inward ruth were laid in sight, -My streams of tears should drown my foes' despite. - -OCTAVIUS. Courage, Lord Anthony: if fortune please, -She will and can these troubles soon appease; -But if her backward frowns approach us nigh, -Resolve with us with honour for to die. - -LEPIDUS. No storm of fate shall bring my sorrows down; -But if that fortune list, why, let her frown. - -ANTHONY. Where states oppress'd by cruel tyrants be, -Old Anthony, there is no place for thee. - [_Drum strikes within_. -Hark, by this thundering noise of threatening drums, -Marius with all his faction hither comes. - -OCTAVIUS. Then like a traitor he shall know, ere long, -In levying arms he doth his country wrong. - - _Enter_ MARIUS, _his Son_, CINNA, CETHEGUS, LECTORIUS, _with - Soldiers: upon sight of whom_ MARK ANTHONY _presently flies_. - -MARIUS. And have we got the goal of honour now, -And in despite of consuls enter'd Rome? -Then rouse thee, Marius. leave thy ruthful thoughts; -And for thy many cares and toils sustain'd, -Afflict thy foes with quite as many pains. -Go, soldiers, seek out Bebius and his friends, -Attilius, Munitorius, with the rest; -Cut off their heads, for they did cross me once; -And if your care can compass my decree, -Remember that same fugitive Mark Anthony, -Whose fatal end shall be my fruitful peace. -I tell thee, Cinna, nature armeth beasts -With just revenge, and lendeth in their kinds -Sufficient warlike weapons of defence; -If then by nature beasts revenge their wrong, -Both heavens and nature grant me vengeance now. -Yet whilst I live and suck this subtle air, -That lendeth breathing coolness to my lights, -The register of all thy righteous acts, -Thy pains, thy toils, thy travails for my sake, -Shall dwell by kind impressions in my heart, -And I with links of true, unfeigned love -Will lock these Roman favourites in my breast, -And live to hazard life for their relief. - -CINNA. My lord, your safe and swift return to Rome -Makes Cinna fortunate and well a-paid; -Who, through the false suggestions of my foes, -Was made a cypher[134] of a consul here: -Lo, where he sits commanding in his throne, -That wronged Marius, me, and all these lords. - -YOUNG MARIUS. To 'quite his love, Cinna, let me alone. -How fare these lords that, lumping, pouting, proud, -Imagine now to quell me with their looks? -Now welcome, sirs, is Marius thought so base? -Why stand you looking babies in my face? -Who welcomes me, him Marius makes his friend; -Who lowers on me, him Marius means to end. - -FLACCUS. Happy and fortunate thy return to Rome. - -LEPIDUS. And long live Marius[135] with fame in Rome. - -MARIUS. I thank you, courteous lords, that are so kind. - -YOUNG MARIUS. But why endures your grace that braving mate, -To sit and face us in his robes of state? - -MARIUS. My son, he is a consul at the least, -And gravity becomes Octavius best, -But, Cinna, would in yonder empty seat -You would for Marius' freedom once entreat. - - _CINNA presseth up, and OCTAVIUS stayeth him_. - -OCTAVIUS. Avaunt, thou traitor, proud and insolent! -How dar'st thou press near civil government. - -MARIUS. Why, Master Consul, are you grown so hot? -I'll have a present cooling card for you. -Be therefore well advis'd, and move me not: -For though by you I was exil'd from Rome, -And in the desert from a prince's seat -Left to bewail ingratitudes of Rome; -Though I have known your thirsty throats have long'd -To bathe themselves in my distilling blood, -Yet Marius, sirs, hath pity join'd with power. -Lo, here the imperial ensign which I wield, -That waveth mercy to my wishers-well: -And more: see here the dangerous trote of war, -That at the point is steel'd with ghastly death. - -OCTAVIUS. Thou exile, threaten'st thou a consul then? -Lictors, go draw him hence! such braving mates -Are not to boast their arms in quiet states. - -MARIUS. Go draw me hence! What! no relent, Octavius? - -YOUNG MARIUS. My lord, what heart indurate with revenge -Could leave this lozel[136], threat'ning murder thus? -Vouchsafe me leave to taint that traitor seat -With flowing streams of his contagious blood. - -OCTAVIUS. The father's son, I know him by his talk, -That scolds in words, when fingers cannot walk. -But Jove, I hope, will one day send to Rome -The blessed patron of this monarchy, -Who will revenge injustice by his sword. - -CINNA. Such braving hopes, such cursed arguments: -So strict command, such arrogant controls! -Suffer me, Marius, that am consul now, -To do thee justice, and confound the wretch. - -MARIUS. Cinna, you know I am a private man, -That still submit my censures to your will. - -CINNA. Then, soldiers, draw this traitor from the throne, -And let him die, for Cinna wills it so. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Ay, now, my Cinna, noble consul, speaks. -Octavius, your checks shall cost you dear. - -OCTAVIUS. And let me die, for Cinna wills it so! -Is then the reverence of this robe contemn'd? -Are these associates of so small regard? -Why then, Octavius willingly consents -To entertain the sentence of his death. -But let the proudest traitor work his will; -I fear no strokes, but here will sit me still. -Since justice sleeps, since tyrants reign in Rome, -Octavius longs for death to die in Rome. - -CINNA. Then strike him where he sits; then hale him hence. - -OCTAVIUS. Heavens punish Cinna's pride and thy offence. - - [_A Soldier stabs him; he is carried away_. - -CINNA. Now is he fallen that threaten'd Marius; -Now will I sit and plead for Marius. - -MARIUS. Thou dost me justice, Cinna, for you see -These peers of Rome of[137] late exiled me. - -LEPIDUS. Your lordship doth injustice to accuse -Those, who in your behalf did not offend. - -FLACCUS. We grieve to see the aged Marius -Stand like a private man in view of Rome. - -CINNA. Then bid him sit; and lo, an empty place: -Revoke his exile from his government, -And so prevent your farther detriment. - -LEPIDUS. We will account both Marius and his friends, -His son and all his followers, free in Rome: -And since we see the dangerous times at hand, -And hear of Sylla's confidence and haste, -And know his hate and rancour to these lords, -We[138] him create for consul, to prevent -The policies of Sylla and his friends. - -CINNA. Then, both confirm'd by state and full consent, -The rods and axe to Marius I present, -And here invest thee with the consul's pall. - -FLACCUS. Long, fortunate, and happy life betide -Old Marius in his sevenfold consulship. - -YOUNG MARIUS. And so let Marius live and govern Rome, -As cursed Sylla never look on Rome. - -MARIUS. Then plac'd in consul's throne, you Roman states, - [_He takes his seat_. -Recall'd from banishment by your decrees, -Install'd in this imperial seat to rule, -Old Marius thanks his friends and favourites, -From whom this final favour he requires: -That, seeing Sylla by his murderous blade -Brought fierce seditions first to head in Rome, -And forced laws to banish innocents, -I crave by course of reason and desert, -That he may be proclaimed, as erst was I, -A traitor and an enemy of Rome. -Let all his friends be banish'd out of town; -Then, cutting off the branch where troubles spring, -Rome shall have peace and plenty in her walls. - -CINNA. In equity it needs must be, my friends, -That one be guilty of our common harms: -And since that Marius is accounted free, -Sylla with all his friends must traitors be. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My father's reasons, Romans, are of force; -For if you see, and live not to secure, -You know that, in so great a state as this, -Two mighty foes can never well agree. - -LEPIDUS. Then let us seek to please our consul first, -And then prepare to keep the exile out. -Cinna, as Marius and these lords agree, -Firm this edict, and let it pass for me. - -CINNA. Then, Romans, in the name of all this state, -I here proclaim and publish this decree; -That Sylla with his friends, allies, and all, -Are banish'd exiles, traitors unto Rome: -And to extinguish both his name and state, -We will his house be razed to the ground, -His goods confiscate: this our censure is. -Lictor, proclaim this in the market-place, -And see it executed out of hand. - [_Exit Lictor_. - -MARIUS. Now see I, senators, the thought, the care, -The virtuous zeal that leads your toward minds -To love your friends, and watch your common good: -And now, establish'd consul in this place, -Old Marius will foresee advenient harms. -Sylla, the scourge of Asia, as we hear, -Is press'd to enter Italy with sword. -He comes in pomp to triumph here in Rome: -But, senators, you know the wavering wills -Of foolish men--I mean the common sort-- -Who, through report of innovations, -Of flattering humours of well-temper'd tongues, -Will change, and draw a second mischief on. -I like your care, and will myself apply -To aim and level at my country's weal. -To intercept these errors by advice, -My son young Marius, Cethegus, and my friends, -Shall to Praeneste, to prevent and stop -The speedy purpose of our forward foe. -Meanwhile, ourselves will fortify this town, -This beauty of the world, this maiden-town; -Where streaming Tybris, with a pleasant tide, -Leads out the stately buildings of the world. -Marius, my hope, my son, you know your charge: -Take those Iberian legions in your train, -And we will spare some Cymbrians to your use. -Remember thou art Marius' son, and dream -On nought but honour and a happy death! - -YOUNG MARIUS. I go, my lord, in hope to make the world -Report my service and my duty too; -And that proud challenger of Asia -Shall find that Marius' son hath force and wit. - [_Exit cum_ CETHEGO. - -MARIUS. Go, thou, as fortunate as Greeks to Troy; -As glorious as Alcides in thy toils; -As happy as Sertorius in thy fight; -As valiant as Achilles in thy might: -Go, glorious, valiant, happy, fortunate, -As all those Greeks and him of Roman state! - - _Enter, led in with Soldiers_, CORNELIA and FULVIA. - -CORNELIA. Traitors! why drag you thus a prince's wife, -As if that beauty were a thrall to fate? -Are Romans grown more barbarous than Greeks, -That hate more greater than Cassandra now? -The Macedonian monarch was more kind, -That honour'd and reliev'd in warlike camp -Darius' mother, daughters, and his wife. -But you unkind to Roman ladies now, -Perhaps as constant as the ancient queens; -For they, subdu'd, had friendship in disgrace, -Where we, unconquer'd, live in woful case. - -MARIUS. What plaintive pleas presents that lady there? -Why, soldiers, make you prisoners here in Rome? - -1ST SOLDIER. Dread consul, we have found Cornelia here -And Sylla's daughter posting out of town. - -MARIUS. Ladies of worth, both beautiful and wise, -But near allied unto my greatest foe: -Yet Marius' mind, that never meant disgrace, -More likes their courage than their comely face. -Are you Cornelia, madam, Sylla's wife? - -CORNELIA. I am Cornelia, Sylla's wife; what then? - -MARIUS. And is this Fulvia, Sylla's daughter, too? - -FULVIA. And this is Fulvia, Sylla's daughter, too. - -MARIUS. Two welcome guests, in whom the majesty -Of my conceit and courage must consist. -What think you, senators and countrymen? -See, here are two, the fairest stars of Rome. -The dearest dainties of my warlike foe, -Whose lives upon your censures do subsist.[139] - -LEPIDUS. Dread consul, the continuance of their lives -Shall egg on Sylla to a greater haste; -And, in bereaving of their vital breath, -Your grace shall force more fury from your foe. -Of these extremes we leave the choice to you. - -MARIUS. Then think that some strange fortune shall ensue. - -FULVIA. Poor Fulvia, now thy happy days are done! -Instead of marriage pomp, the fatal lights -Of funerals must masque about thy bed: -Nor shall thy father's arms with kind embrace -Hem in thy shoulders, trembling now for fear. -I see in Marius' looks such tragedies, -As fear my heart; and fountains fill mine eyes. - -CORNELIA. Fie, Fulvia! shall thy father's daughter faint, -Before the threats of danger shall approach? -Dry up those tears, and like a Roman maid, -Be bold and silent, till our foe have said. - -MARIUS. Cornelia, wife unto my traitor-foe, -What gadding mood hath forc'd thy speedy flight -To leave thy country, and forsake thy friends? - -CORNELIA. Accursed Marius, offspring of my pains, -Whose furious wrath hath wrought thy country's woe, -What may remain for me or mine in Rome, -That see the tokens of thy tyrannies? -Vile monster, robb'd of virtue, what revenge -Is this, to wreak thine anger on the walls? -To raze our house, to banish all our friends, -To kill the rest, and captive us at last? -Think'st thou by barbarous deeds to boast thy state, -Or spoiling Sylla, to depress his hate? -No, Marius, but for every drop of blood -And inch of wrong he shall return thee two. - -FLACCUS. Madam, in danger wisdom doth advise -In humble terms to reconcile our foes. - -MARIUS. She is a woman, Flaccus; let her talk, -That breathes forth bitter words instead of blows. - -CORNELIA. And in regard of that, immodest man, -Thou shouldst desist from outrage and revenge. - -LECTORIUS. What, can your grace endure these cursed scoffs? - -MARIUS. Why, my Lectorius, I have ever learnt -That ladies cannot wrong me with upbraids; -Then let her talk, and my concealed hate -Shall heap revengement upon Sylla's pate. - -FULVIA. Let fevers first afflict thy feeble age; -Let palsies make thy stubborn fingers faint; -Let humours, streaming from thy moisten'd brains, -With clouds of dimness choke thy fretful eyes, -Before these monstrous harms assail my sire. - -MARIUS. By'r lady,[140] Fulvia, you are gaily read: -Your mother well may boast you for her own; -For both of you have words and scoffs at will. -And since I like the compass of your wit, -Myself will stand, and, ladies, you shall sit. -And, if you please to wade in farther words, -Let's see what brawls your memories affords. - -CORNELIA. Your lordship's passing mannerly in jest; -But that you may perceive we smell your drift, -We both will sit, and countenance your shift. - -MARIUS. Where constancy and beauty do consort, -There ladies' threatenings turn to merry sport. -How fare these beautiful? what, well at ease? - -FULVIA. As ready as at first for to displease; -For, full confirm'd that we shall surely die, -We wait our ends with Roman constancy. - -MARIUS. Why, think you Marius hath confirm'd your death? - -FULVIA. What other fruit may spring from tyrant's hands? - -MARIUS. In faith then, ladies, thus the matter stands: -Since you mistake my love and courtesy, -Prepare yourselves, for you shall surely die. - -CORNELIA. Ay, Marius, now I know thou dost not lie; -And that thou mayst, unto thy lasting blame, -Extinguish in our deaths thy wished fame, -Grant us this boon that, making choice of death, -We may be freed from fury of thine ire. - -MARIUS. An easy boon; ladies, I condescend. - -CORNELIA. Then suffer us in private chamber close -To meditate a day or two alone; -And, tyrant, if thou find us living then, -Commit us straight unto thy slaughtering-men. - -MARIUS. Ladies, I grant; for Marius nill deny -A suit so easy and of such import; -For pity 'twere that dames of constancy -Should not be agents of their misery. - [_Here he whispers_ LECTORIUS. -Lectorius, hark, despatch. - [_Exit_ LECTORIUS. - -CORNELIA. So, Fulvia, now the latest doom is fix'd, -And nought remains but constant Roman hearts -To bear the brunt of irksome fury's spite. -Rouse thee, my dear, and daunt those faint conceits, -That trembling stand aghast at bitter death. -Bethink thee now that Sylla was thy sire, -Whose courage heaven nor fortune could abate: -Then, like the offspring of fierce Sylla's house, -Pass with the thrice-renowned Phrygian dame, -As to thy marriage, so unto thy death: -For nought to wretches is more sweet than death. - -FULVIA. Madam, confirm'd as well to die as live, -Fulvia awaiteth nothing but her death. -Yet had my father known the course of change, -Or seen our loss by lucky augury, -This tyrant nor his followers had liv'd -To 'joy the ruin of fierce Sylla's house. - -MARIUS. But, lady, they that dwell on fortune's call -No sooner rise, but subject are to fall. - -FULVIA. Marius, I doubt not but our constant ends -Shall make thee wail thy tyrant's government. - -MARIUS. When tyrant's rule doth breed my care and woe, -Then will I say two ladies told me so. -But here comes Lectorius. Now, my lord. -Have you brought those things? - - _Enter_ LECTORIUS. - -LECTORIUS. I have, noble consul. - -MARIUS. Now, ladies, you are resolute to die? - -CORNELIA. Ay, Marius, for terror cannot daunt us. -Tortures were framed to dread the baser eye, -And not t'appal a princely majesty. - -MARIUS. And Marius lives to triumph o'er his foes, -That train their warlike troops amidst the plains, -And are enclos'd and hemm'd with shining arms, -Not to appal such princely majesty. -Virtue, sweet ladies, is of more regard -In Marius' mind, where honour is enthron'd, -Than Rome or rule of Roman empery. - [_Here he puts chains about their necks_. -The bands, that should combine your snow-white wrists, -Are these which shall adorn your milk-white necks. -The private cells, where you shall end your lives, -Is Italy, is Europe--nay the world. -Th'Euxinian Sea, the fierce Sicilian Gulf, -The river Ganges and Hydaspes' stream -Shall level lie, and smooth as crystal ice, -While Fulvia and Cornelia pass thereon. -The soldiers, that should guard you to your deaths, -Shall be five thousand gallant youths of Rome, -In purple robes cross-barr'd with pales of gold, -Mounted on warlike coursers for the field, -Fet[141] from the mountain-tops of Corsica, -Or bred in hills of bright Sardinia, -Who shall conduct and bring you to your lord. -Ay, unto Sylla, ladies, shall you go, -And tell him Marius holds within his hands -Honour for ladies, for ladies rich reward; -But as for Sylla and for his compeers, -Who dare 'gainst Marius vaunt their golden crests, -Tell him for them old Marius holds revenge, -And in his hands both triumphs life and death. - -CORNELIA. Doth Marius use with glorious words to jest, -And mock his captives with these glosing[142] terms? - -MARIUS. No, ladies; -Marius hath sought for honour with his sword, -And holds disdain to triumph in your falls. -Live, Cornelia: live, fair and fairest Fulvia! -If you have done or wrought me injury, -Sylla shall pay it through his misery. - -FULVIA. So gracious, famous consul, are thy words, -That Rome and we shall celebrate thy worth, -And Sylla shall confess himself o'ercome. - -CORNELIA. If ladies' prayers or tears may move the heavens, -Sylla shall vow himself old Marius' friend. - -MARIUS. Ladies, for that I nought at all regard: -Sylla's my foe, I'll triumph over him; -For other conquest glory doth not win. -Therefore come on, -That I may send you unto Sylla. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter a_ CLOWN, _drunk, with a pint of wine in his hand, - and two or three_ SOLDIERS. - -1ST SOLDIER. Sirrah, dally not with us; you know where he is. - -CLOWN. O, sir, a quart is a quart in any man's purse, and drink is -drink, and can my master live without his drink, I pray you? - -2D SOLDIER. You have a master then, sirrah? - -CLOWN. Have I a master, thou scoundrel? I have an orator to my master, -a wise man to my master. But, fellows, I must make a parenthesis of -this pint-pot, for words make men dry: now, by my troth, I drink to -Lord Anthony. - -3D SOLDIER. Fellow-soldiers, the weakness of his brain hath made his -tongue walk largely; we shall have some novelties by-and-by. - -CLOWN. O most surpassing wine, -Thou marrow of the vine! -More welcome unto me -Than whips to scholars be. -Thou art, and ever was, -A means to mend an ass; -Thou makest some to sleep, -And many mo to weep, -And some be glad and merry, -With heigh down derry, derry. -Thou makest some to stumble, -And many mo to fumble, -And me have pinky neyne.[143] -More brave and jolly wine! -What need I praise thee mo, -For thou art good, with heigh-ho! - -3D SOLDIER. If wine then be so good, I prithee, for thy part, -Tell us where Lord Anthony is, and thou shalt have a quart. - -CLOWN. First shall the snow be black, -And pepper lose his smack, -And stripes forsake my back: -First merry drunk with sack, -I will go boast and track, -And all your costards crack, -Before I do the knack -Shall make me sing alack. -Alack, the old man is weary, -For wine hath made him merry. -With a heigh-ho. - -1ST SOLDIER. I prythee leave these rhymes, and tell us where thy -master is? - -CLOWN. Faith, where you shall not be, -Unless ye go with me. -But shall I tell them so? -O, no, sir, no, no, no. -The man hath many a foe, -As far as I do know: -You do not flout me, I hope. -See how this liquor fumes, -And how my force presumes. -You would know where Lord Anthony is? I perceive you. -Shall I say he is in yond farmhouse? I deceive you. -Shall I tell you this wine is for him? The gods forfend, -And so I end. Go, fellow-fighters, there's a bob for ye. - -2D SOLDIER. My masters, let us follow this clown, for questionless this -grave orator is in yonder farmhouse[144]. But who cometh yonder? - - _Enter_ OLD ANTHONY. - -ANTHONY. I wonder why my peasant stays so long, -And with my wonder hasteth on my woe, -And with my woe I am assailed with fear, -And with my fear await with faintful breath -The final period of my pains by death. - -1ST SOLDIER. Yond's the man we seek for, soldiers. Unsheathe your -swords, and make a riddance of Marius' ancient enemy. - -CLOWN. Master, fly, fly, -Or else you shall die! -A plague on this wine, -Hath made me so fine! -And will you not be gone? -Then I'll leave you alone, -And sleep upon your woe, -With a lamentable heigh-ho. - [_Exit_. - -ANTHONY. Betrayed at last by witless oversight! -Now, Anthony, prepare thyself to die. -Lo, where the monstrous ministers of wrath -Menace thy murder with their naked swords. - -2D SOLDIER. Anthony, well-met: the consul Marius, with other confederate -senators, have adjudged thee death, therefore prepare thyself, and think -we favour thee in this little protraction. - -ANTHONY. Immortal powers, that know the painful cares -That wait upon my poor distressed heart, -O, bend your brows, and level all your looks -Of dreadful awe upon these daring men! -And thou, sweet niece of Atlas, on whose lips -And tender tongue the pliant muses sit, -Let gentle course of sweet aspiring speech, -Let honey-flowing terms of weary woe, -Let fruitful figures and delightful lines -Enforce a spring of pity from their eyes, -Amaze the murd'rous passions of their minds, -That they may favour woful Anthony. -O countrymen, what shall become of Rome, -When reverend duty droopeth through disgrace? -O countrymen, what shall become of Rome, -When woful nature, widow of her joys, -Weeps on our walls to see her laws depress'd? -O Romans, hath not Anthony's discourse -Seal'd up the mouths of false seditious men, -Assoil'd[145] the doubts and quaint controls of power, -Relieved the mournful matron with his pleas? -And will you seek to murder Anthony? -The lions brook with kindness their relief; -The sheep reward the shepherd with their fleece; -Yet Romans seek to murder Anthony. - -1ST SOLDIER. Why, what enchanting terms of art are these, -That force my heart to pity his distress? - -2D SOLDIER. His action, speech, his favour and his grace, -My rancour rage and rigour doth deface. - -3D SOLDIER. So sweet his words, that now of late, meseems, -His art doth draw my soul from out my lips. - -ANTHONY. What envious eyes, reflecting nought but rage, -What barbarous heart, refresh'd with nought but blood, -That rends not to behold the senseless trees -In doly[146] season drooping without leaves? -The shepherd sighs upon the barren hills, -To see his bleating lambs with faintful looks -Behold the valleys robb'd of springing flowers, -That whilom wont to yield them yearly food. -Even meanest things, exchang'd from former state, -The virtuous mind with some remorse doth mate. -Can then your eyes with thundering threats of rage -Cast furious gleams of anger upon age? -Can then your hearts with furies mount so high, -As they should harm the Roman Anthony? -I, far more kind than senseless tree, have lent -A kindly sap to our declining state, -And like a careful shepherd have foreseen -The heavy dangers of this city Rome; -And made the citizens the happy flock, -Whom I have fed with counsels and advice: -But now those locks that, for their reverend white, -Surpass the down on Aesculapius' chin: -But now that tongue, whose terms and fluent style -For number pass'd the hosts of heavenly fires: -But now that head, within whose subtle brains -The queen of flowing eloquence did dwell-- - - _Enter a_ CAPTAIN. - -These locks, this tongue, this head, this life, and all, -To please a tyrant, trait'rously must fall. - -CAPTAIN. Why, how now, soldiers, is he living yet? -And will you be bewitched with his words? -Then take this fee, false orator, from me: [_Stabs him_. -Elysium best beseems thy faintful limbs. - -ANTHONY. O blissful pains! now Anthony must die, -Which serv'd and lov'd Rome and her empery. - [_Moritur[147]. - -CAPTAIN. Go, curtal off that neck with present stroke, -And straight present it unto Marius. - -1ST SOLDIER. Even in this head did all the muses dwell: -The bees, that sat upon the Grecian's lips, -Distill'd their honey on his temper'd tongue. - -2D SOLDIER. The crystal dew of fair Castalian springs -With gentle floatings trickled on his brains: -The graces kissed his kind and courteous brows, -Apollo gave the beauties of his harp, - - _Enter_ LECTORIUS _pensive_. - -And melodies unto his pliant speech. - -CAPTAIN. Leave these presumptuous praises, countrymen: -And see Lectorius, pensive where he comes. -Lo, here, my lord, the head of Anthony; -See here the guerdon fit for Marius' foe, -Whom dread Apollo prosper in his rule. - -LECTORIUS. O Romans, Marius sleeps among the dead, -And Rome laments the loss of such a friend. - -CAPTAIN. A sudden and a woful chance, my lord, -Which we intentive[148] fain would understand. - -LECTORIUS. Though swoll'n with sighs, my heart for sorrow burst, -And tongue with tears and plaints be choked up, -Yet will I furrow forth with forced breath -A speedy passage to my pensive speech. -Our consul Marius, worthy soldiers, -Of late within a pleasant plot of ground -Sat down for pleasure near a crystal spring, -Accompanied with many lords of Rome. -Bright was the day, and on the spreading trees -The frolic citizens[149] of forest sung -Their lays and merry notes on perching boughs; -When suddenly appeared in the east -Seven mighty eagles with their talons fierce, -Who, waving oft about our consul's head, -At last with hideous cry did soar away. -When suddenly old Marius aghast, -With reverend smile, determin'd with a sigh -The doubtful silence of the standers-by. -Romans, said he, old Marius now must die: -These seven fair eagles, birds of mighty Jove, -That at my birthday on my cradle sat, -Now at my last day warn[150] me to my death, -And lo, I feel the deadly pangs approach. -What should I more? In brief, with many prayers -For Rome, his son--his goods and lands dispos'd-- -Our worthy consul to our wonder died. -The city is amaz'd, for Sylla hastes -To enter Rome with fury, sword and fire. -Go place that head upon the capitol, -And to your wards, for dangers are at hand. - [_Exit_. - -CAPTAIN. Had we foreseen this luckless chance before, -Old Anthony had liv'd and breathed yet. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS QUINTUS. - - - _A great skirmish in Rome and long, some slain. At - last enter_ SYLLA _triumphant, with_ POMPEY, METELLUS, - _Citizens, Soldiers_. - -SYLLA. Now, Romans, after all these mutinies, -Seditions, murders and conspiracies, -Imagine with impartial hearts at last, -What fruits proceed from these contentious brawls. -Your streets, where erst the fathers of your state -In robes of purple walked up and down, -Are strewed with mangled members, streaming blood: -And why? the reasons of this ruthful wrack -Are your seditious innovations, -Your fickle minds inclin'd to foolish change. -Ungrateful men! whilst I with tedious pain -In Asia seal'd my duty with my blood, -Making the fierce Dardanians faint for fear, -Spreading my colours in Galatia, -Dipping my sword in the Enetans' blood, -And foraging the fields of Phocida, -You called my foe from exile with his friends; -You did proclaim me traitor here in Rome; -You raz'd my house, you did defame my friends. -But, brawling wolves, you cannot bite the moon, -For Sylla lives, so forward to revenge, -As woe to those that sought to do me wrong. -I now am entered Rome in spite of force, -And will so hamper all my cursed foes. -As be he tribune, consul, lord, or knight, -That hateth Sylla, let him look to die. -And first to make an entrance to mine ire, -Bring me that traitor Carbo out of hand. - -POMPEY. O Sylla, in revenging injuries, -Inflict the pain where first offence did spring, -And for my sake establish peace in Rome, -And pardon these repentant citizens. - -SYLLA. Pompey, I love thee, Pompey, and consent -To thy request; but, Romans, have regard, -Lest over-reaching in offence again, -I load your shoulders with a double pain. - - [_Exeunt citizens. - - Bring in_ CARBO _bound_. - -But, Pompey, see where jolly Carbo comes, -Footing it featly like a mighty man. -What, no obeisance, sirrah, to your lord? - -CARBO[151]. My lord? No, Sylla: he that thrice hath borne -The name of consul scorns to stoop to him, -Whose heart doth hammer nought but mutinies. - -POMPEY. And doth your lordship then disdain to stoop? - -CARBO. Ay, to mine equal, Pompey, as thou art. - -SYLLA. Thine equal, villain? no, he is my friend; -Thou, but a poor anatomy of bones, -Cas'd in a knavish tawny withered skin. -Wilt thou not stoop? art thou so stately then? - -CARBO. Sylla, I honour gods, not foolish men. - -SYLLA. Then break that wither'd bough, that will not bend[152], -And, soldiers, cast him down before my feet: [_They throw him down_. -Now, prating sir, my foot upon thy neck, -I'll be so bold to give your lordship check. -Believe me, soldiers, but I over-reach; -Old Carbo's neck at first was made to stretch. - -CARBO. Though body bend, thou tyrant most unkind, -Yet never shalt thou humble Carbo's mind. - -SYLLA. O sir, I know, for all your warlike pith -A man may mar your worship with a with.[153] -You, sirrah, levied arms to do me wrong; -You brought your legions to the gates of Rome; -You fought it out in hope that I would faint; -But, sirrah, now betake you to your books, -Entreat the gods to save your sinful soul: -For why this carcase must in my behalf -Go feast the ravens that serve our augurs' turn. -Methinks I see already, how they wish -To bait their beaks in such a jolly dish. - -CARBO. Sylla, thy threats and scoffs amate me not. -I prythee, let thy murderers hale me hence; -For Carbo rather likes to die by sword, -Than live to be a mocking-stock to thee. - -SYLLA. The man hath haste; good soldiers, take him hence: -It would be good to alter his pretence. -But be advis'd that, when the fool is slain, -You part the head and body both in twain. -I know that Carbo longs to know the cause, -And shall: thy body for the ravens[154], thy head for daws. - -CARBO. O matchless ruler of our capitol, -Behold poor Rome with grave and piteous eye -Fulfilled with wrong and wretched tyranny! - [_Exit_ CARBO _cum militibus. - - Enter_ SCIPIO, NORBANUS, _and_ CARINNA.[155] - -SYLLA. Tut, the proud man's prayer will never pierce the sky. -But whither press these mincing senators? - -NORBANUS. We press with prayers, we come with mournful tears, -Entreating Sylla by those holy bands, -That link fair Juno with her thundering Jove, -Even by the bonds of hospitality, -To pity Rome afflicted through thy wrath. -Thy soldiers (Sylla) murder innocents: -O, whither will thy lawless fury stretch, -If little ruth ensue thy country's harms? - -SYLLA. Gay words, Norbanus, full of eloquence, -Accompanied with action and conceit: -But I must teach thee judgment therewithal -Dar'st thou approach my presence, that hast borne -Thine arms in spite of Sylla and his friends? -I tell thee, foolish man, thy judgment wanted -In this presumptuous purpose that is pass'd: -And, loitering scholar, since you fail in art, -I'll learn you judgment shortly to your smart. -Despatch him, soldiers; I must see him die. -And you, Carinna, Carbo's ancient friend, -Shall follow straight your headless[156] general. -And, Scipio, were it not I lov'd thee well, -Thou should'st accompany these slaves to hell: -But get you gone, and if you love yourself. - - [_Exit_ SCIPIO. - -CARINNA. Pardon me, Sylla! pardon, gentle Sylla! - -SYLLA. Sirrah, this gentle name was coin'd too late, -And shadow'd in the shrouds of biting hate. -Despatch! [_Kill him_.] why so; good fortune to my friends-- -As for my foes, even such shall be their ends. -Convey them hence. Metellus, gentle Metellus, -Fetch me Sertorius from Iberia: -In doing so thou standest me in stead, -For sore I long to see the traitor's head. - -METELLUS. I go, confirm'd to conquer him by sword, -Or in th'exploit to hazard life and all. [_Exit_. - -SYLLA. Now, Pompey, let me see: those senators -Are dangerous stops of our pretended[157] state, -And must be curtail'd, lest they grow too proud. -I do proscribe just forty senators, -Which shall be leaders in my tragedy. -And for our gentlemen are over-proud, -Of them a thousand and six hundred die; -A goodly army, meet to conquer hell. -Soldiers, perform the course of my decree. -Their friends my foes, their foes shall be my friends. -Go sell their goods by trumpet at your wills: -Meanwhile Pompey shall see, and Rome shall rue, -The miseries that shortly shall ensue. - [_Exeunt_. - - _Alarum, skirmish, a retreat. Enter_ YOUNG MARIUS - _upon the walls of_ PRAENESTE _with some Soldiers, - all in black and wonderful melancholy_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. O endless course of needy man's avail! -What silly thoughts, what simple policies, -Make man presume upon this traitorous life! -Have I not seen the depth of sorrow once, -And then again have kiss'd the queen of chance. -O Marius, thou, Tillitius, and thy friends, -Hast seen thy foe discomfited in fight: -But now the stars have form'd my final harms. -My father Marius lately dead in Rome; -My foe with honour doth triumph in Rome, -My friends are dead and banished from Rome. -Ay, Marius, father, friends, more blest than thee! -They dead, I live; I thralled, they are free. -Here in Praeneste am I cooped up, -Amongst a troop of hunger-starved men, -Set to prevent false Sylla's fierce approach, -But now exempted both of life and all. -Well, fortune, since thy fleeting change hath cast -Poor Marius from his hopes and true desires, -My resolution shall exceed thy power. -Thy colour'd wings steeped in purple blood, -Thy blinding wreath distain'd in purple blood, -Thy royal robes wash'd in my purple blood, -Shall witness to the world thy thirst of blood; -And when the tyrant Sylla shall expect -To see the son of Marius stoop to fear, -Then, then, O, then, my mind shall well appear, -That scorn my life, and hold mine honour dear. - - [_Alarum. A retreat_. - -Hark how these murderous Romans, viper-like, -Seek to bewray their fellow-citizens. -O wretched world, from whence with speedy flight -True love, true zeal, true honour late is fled! - -SOLDIER. What makes my lord so careless and secure, -To leave the breach and here lament alone? - -YOUNG MARIUS. Not fear, my friend, for I could never fly; -But study how with honour for to die. -I pray thee, call the chiefest citizens; -I must advise them in a weighty cause: -Here shall they meet me; and, until they come, -I will go view the danger of the breach. - - [_Exit_ YOUNG MARIUS, _with the Soldiers_. - - _Enter, with drums and Soldiers_, LUCRETIUS, _with - other Romans, as_ TUDITANUS, &c. - -LUCRETIUS. Say, Tuditanus, didst thou ever see -So desperate defence as this hath been. - -TUDITANUS. As in Numidia, tigers wanting food, -Or, as in Lybia, lions full of ire, -So fare these Romans on Praeneste walls. - -LUCRETIUS. Their valour, Tuditanus, and resist, -The man-like fight of younger Marius, -Makes me amaz'd to see their miseries, -And pity them, although they be my foes. -What said I? Foes? O Rome, with ruth I see -Thy state consum'd through folly and dissension! -Well, sound a parley; I will see if words - - [_Sound a parley_--YOUNG MARIUS _appears - upon the walls with the Citizens_. - -Can make them yield, which will not fly for strokes. - -YOUNG MARIUS. What seeks this Roman warrior at our hands? - -LUCRETIUS. That seeks he, Marius, that he wisheth thee: -An humble heart and then a happy peace. -Thou see'st thy fortunes are depress'd and down; -Thy victuals spent; thy soldiers weak with want; -The breach laid open, ready to assault: -Now, since thy means and maintenance are done, -Yield, Marius, yield. Praenestians, be advis'd; -Lucretius is advis'd to favour you. -I pray thee, Marius, mark my last advice: -Relent in time; let Sylla be thy friend; -So thou in Rome may'st lead a happy life, -And those with thee shall pray for Marius still. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lucretius, I consider on thy words: -Stay there awhile; thou shalt have answer straight. - -LUCRETIUS. Apollo grant that my persuasions may -Preserve these Roman soldiers from the sword. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My friends and citizens of Praeneste town, -You see the wayward working of our stars; -Our hearts confirm'd to fight, our victuals spent. -If we submit, it's Sylla must remit; -A tyrant, traitor, enemy to Rome, -Whose heart is guarded still with bloody thoughts. -These flattering vows Lucretius here avows, -Are pleasing words to colour poison'd thoughts. -What, will you live with shame, or die with fame? - -1ST CITIZEN. A famous death, my lord, delights us most. - -2D CITIZEN. We of thy faction, Marius, are resolv'd -To follow thee in life and death together. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Words full of worth, beseeming noble minds: -The very balsamum to mend my woes. -O countrymen! you see Campania spoil'd; -A tyrant threat'ning mutinies in Rome; -A world despoil'd of virtue, faith, and trust. -If then, no peace, no liberty, no faith, -Conclude with me, and let it be no life! -Live not to see your tender infants slain; -These stately towers made level with the land; -This body mangled by our enemy's sword: -But full resolv'd to do as Marius doth, -Unsheathe your poniards, and let every friend -Bethink him of a soldier-like farewell. -Sirrah, display my standard on the walls, -And I will answer yond Lucretius: -Who loveth Marius, now must die with Marius! - -LUCRETIUS. What answer will your lordship then return us? - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lucretius, we that know what Sylla is-- -How dissolute, how trothless and corrupt, -In brief conclude to die, before we yield: -But so to die--Lucretius, mark me well-- -As loth to see the fury of our swords -Should murther friends and Roman citizens. -Fie, countrymen! what fury doth infect -Your warlike bosoms, that were wont to fight -With foreign foes, not with Campanian friends. -Now unadvised youth must counsel eld; -For governance is banish'd out of Rome. -Woe to that bough, from whence these blooms are sprung! -Woe to that Aetna, vomiting this fire! -Woe to that brand, consuming country's weal! -Woe to that Sylla, careless and secure, -That gapes with murder for a monarchy! -Go, second Brutus, with a Roman mind, -And kill that tyrant. And for Marius' sake, -Pity the guiltless wives of these your friends. -Preserve their weeping infants from the sword, -Whose fathers seal their honours with their bloods. -Farewell, Lucretius: first I press in place [_Stab_. -To let thee see a constant Roman die. -Praenestians, lo, a wound, a fatal wound! -The pain but small, the glory passing great! -Praenestians, see a second stroke! why so; [_Again_. -I feel the dreeping dimness of the night, -Closing the coverts of my careful eyes. -Follow me, friends; for Marius now must die -With fame, in spite of Sylla's tyranny.[158] - [_Moritur_. - -1ST CITIZEN. We follow thee our chieftain even in death. -Our town is thine, Lucretius; but we pray -For mercy for our children and our wives. - [_Moritur_. - -2D CITIZEN. O, save my son, Lucretius; let him live. - [_Moritur_. - -LUCRETIUS. A wondrous and bewitched constancy, -Beseeming Marius' pride and haughty mind. -Come, let us charge the breach; the town is ours. -Both male and female, put them to the sword: -So please you, Sylla, and fulfil his word. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _A little skirmish. A retreat. Enter in royally_ LUCRETIUS. - -LUCRETIUS. Now, Romans, we have brought Praeneste low, -And Marius sleeps amidst the dead at last: -So then to Rome, my countrymen, with joy, -Where Sylla waits the tidings of our fight. -Those prisoners that are taken, see forthwith -With warlike javelins you put them to death. -Come, let us march! See Rome in sight, my hearts, -Where Sylla waits the tidings of our war. - - _Enter_ SYLLA, VALERIUS FLACCUS, LEPIDUS, POMPEY, _Citizens' - Guard_: SYLLA, _seated in his robes of state, is saluted by - the Citizens, &c_. - -FLACCUS. Romans, you know, and to your griefs have seen -A world of troubles hatched here at home, -Which through prevention being well-nigh cross'd -By worthy Sylla and his warlike band, -I, consul, with these fathers think it meet -To fortify our peace and city's weal, -To name some man of worth that may supply -Dictator's power and place; whose majesty -Shall cross the courage of rebellious minds. -What think you, Romans, will you condescend? - -SYLLA. Nay, Flaccus, for their profits they must yield; -For men of mean condition and conceit -Must humble their opinions to their lords. -And if my friends and citizens consent, -Since I am born to manage mighty things, -I will, though loth, both rule and govern them. -I speak not this, as though I wish to reign, -But for to know my friends: and yet again -I merit, Romans, far more grace than this. - -FLACCUS. Ay, countrymen, if Sylla's power and mind, -If Sylla's virtue, courage, and device, -If Sylla's friends and fortunes merit fame, -None then but he should bear dictator's name. - -POMPEY. What think you, citizens, why stand ye mute? -Shall Sylla be dictator here in Rome? - -CITIZENS. By full consent Sylla shall be dictator. - -FLACCUS. Then in the name of Rome I here present -The rods and axes into Sylla's hand; -And fortunate prove Sylla, our dictator. - - [_Trumpets sound: cry within_, SYLLA _Dictator_. - -SYLLA. My fortunes, Flaccus, cannot be impeach'd. -For at my birth the planets passing kind -Could entertain no retrograde aspects: -And that I may with kindness 'quite their love, -My countrymen, I will prevent the cause -'Gainst all the false encounters of mishap. -You name me your dictator, but prefix -No time, no course, but give me leave to rule -And yet exempt me not from your revenge. -Thus by your pleasures being set aloft, -Straight by your furies I should quickly fall. -No, citizens, who readeth Sylla's mind, -Must form my titles in another kind: -Either let Sylla be dictator ever, -Or flatter Sylla with these titles never. - -CITIZENS. Perpetual be thy glory and renown: -Perpetual lord dictator shalt thou be. - -POMPEY. Hereto the senate frankly doth agree. - -SYLLA. Then so shall Sylla reign, you senators. -Then so shall Sylla rule, you citizens, -As senators and citizens that please me -Shall be my friends; the rest cannot disease me. - - _Enter_ LUCRETIUS, _with Soldiers_. - -But see, whereas Lucretius is return'd! -Welcome, brave Roman: where is Marius? -Are these Praenestians put unto the sword? - -LUCRETIUS. The city, noble Sylla, razed is, -And Marius dead--not by our swords, my lord, -But with more constancy than Cato died. - -SYLLA. What, constancy! and but a very boy? -Why then I see he was his father's son. -But let us have this constancy described. - -LUCRETIUS. After our fierce assaults and their resist, -Our siege, their sallying out to stop our trench, -Labour and hunger reigning in the town, -The younger Marius on the city's wall -Vouchsaf'd an inter-parley at the last; -Wherein with constancy and courage too -He boldly arm'd his friends, himself, to death; -And, spreading of his colours on the wall, -For answer said he could not brook to yield, -Or trust a tyrant such as Sylla was. - -SYLLA. What, did the brainsick boy upbraid me so? -But let us hear the rest, Lucretius. - -LUCRETIUS. And, after great persuasions to his friends -And worthy resolution of them all, -He first did sheathe his poniard in his breast, -And so in order died all the rest. - -SYLLA. Now, by my sword, this was a worthy jest.[159] -Yet, silly boy, I needs must pity thee, -Whose noble mind could never mated be. -Believe me, countrymen, a sudden thought, -A sudden change in Sylla now hath wrought. -Old Marius and his son were men of name, -Nor fortune's laughs nor low'rs their minds could tame, -And when I count their fortunes that are past, -I see that death confirm'd their fames at last. -Then he that strives to manage mighty things, -Amidst his triumphs gains a troubled mind. -The greatest hope, the greatest harm it brings, -And poor men in content their glory find. -If then content be such a pleasant thing, -Why leave I country life to live a king? -Yet kings are gods, and make the proudest stoop; -Yea, but themselves are still pursued with hate: -And men were made to mount and then to droop. -Such chances wait upon uncertain fate. -That where she kisseth once, she quelleth twice; -Then whoso lives content is happy, wise. -What motion moveth this philosophy? -O Sylla, see the ocean ebbs and flows;[160] -The spring-time wanes, when winter draweth nigh: -Ay, these are true and most assured notes. -Inconstant chance such tickle turns has lent. -As whoso fears no fall, must seek content. - -FLACCUS. Whilst graver thoughts of honour should allure thee, -What maketh Sylla muse and mutter thus? - -SYLLA. I, that have pass'd amidst the mighty troops -Of armed legions, through a world of war, -Do now bethink me, Flaccus, of my chance: -How I alone, where many men were slain, -In spite of fate am come to Rome again. -And though[161] I wield the reverend stiles of state; -She[162], Sylla, with a beck could break thy neck. -What lord of Rome hath dar'd as much as I? -Yet, Flaccus, know'st thou not that I must die? -The labouring sisters on the weary looms -Have drawn my web of life at length, I know; -And men of wit must think upon their tombs: -For beasts with careless steps to Lethe go -Where men, whose thoughts and honours climb on high, -Living with fame, must learn with fame to die. - -POMPEY. What lets, my lord, in governing this state, -To live in rest, and die with honour too? - -SYLLA. What lets me, Pompey? why, my courteous friend, -Can he remain secure that wields a charge, -Or think of wit when flatterers do commend, -Or be advis'd that careless runs at large? -No, Pompey: honey words make foolish minds, -And pow'r the greatest wit with error blinds. -Flaccus, I murder'd Anthony, thy friend; -Romans, some here have lost at my command -Their fathers, mothers, brothers, and allies; -And think you, Sylla, thinking these misdeeds, -Bethinks not on your grudges and mislike? -Yes, countrymen, I bear them still in mind: -Then, Pompey, were I not a silly man -To leave my rule, and trust these Romans then? - -POMPEY. Your grace hath small occasions of mistrust, -Nor seek these citizens for your disclaim. - -SYLLA. But, Pompey, now these reaching plumes of pride, -That mounted up my fortunes to the clouds, -By grave conceits shall straight be laid aside, -And Sylla thinks of far more simple shrouds. -For having tried occasion in the throne, -I'll see if she dare frown, when state is gone. -Lo, senators, the man that sat aloft, -Now deigns to give inferiors highest place. -Lo, here the man whom Rome repined oft, -A private man content to brook disgrace. -Romans, lo, here the axes, rods, and all: -I'll master fortune, lest she make me thrall. -Now whoso list accuse me, tell my wrongs, -Upbraid me in the presence of this state. -Is none these jolly citizens among, -That will accuse, or say I am ingrate? -Then will I say, and boldly boast my chances, -That nought may force the man whom fate advances. - -FLACCUS. What meaneth Sylla in this sullen mood, -To leave his titles on the sudden thus? - -SYLLA. Consul, I mean with calm and quiet mind -To pass my days, till[163] happy death I find. - -POMPEY. What greater wrong than leave thy country so? - -SYLLA. Both it and life must Sylla leave in time. - -CITIZEN. Yet during life have care of Rome and us. - -SYLLA. O wanton world, that flatter'st in thy prime, -And breathest balm and poison mixed in one! -See how these wavering Romans wish'd my reign, -That whilom fought and sought to have me slain. [_Aside_.] -My countrymen, this city wants no store -Of fathers, warriors, to supply my room; -So grant me peace, and I will die for Rome. - - _Enter two Burglars to them_, POPPEY _and_ CURTALL. - -CURTALL. These are very indiscreet counsels, neighbour Poppey, -and I will follow your misadvisement. - -POPPEY. I tell you, goodman Curtall, the wench hath wrong. O vain -world, O foolish men! Could a man in nature cast a wench down, and -disdain in nature to lift her up again? Could he take away her -dishonesty without bouncing up the banns of matrimony? O learned -poet, well didst thou write fustian verse. - - _These maids are daws - That go to the laws, - And a babe in the belly_. - -CURTALL. Tut, man, 'tis the way the world must follow, for - - _Maids must be kind, - Good husbands to find_. - -POPPEY. But mark the fierse[164], - - _If they swell before, - It will grieve them sore_. - -But see, yond's Master Sylla: faith, a pretty fellow is a. - -SYLLA. What seek my countrymen? what would my friends? - -CURTALL. Nay, sir, your kind words shall not serve the turn: why, think -you to thrust your soldiers into our kindred with your courtesies, sir? - -POPPEY. I tell you, Master Sylla, my neighbour will have the law: he had -the right, he will have the wrong; for therein dwells the law. - -CONSUL. What desire these men of Rome? - -CURTALL. Neighbour, sharpen the edge-tool of your wits upon the -whetstone of indiscretion, that your words may shine like the razors -of Palermo[165]: [_to_ POPPEY] you have learning with ignorance, -therefore speak my tale. - -POPPEY. Then, worshipful Master Sylla, be it known unto you, -That my neighbour's daughter Dority -Was a maid of restority; -Fair, fresh, and fine -As a merry cup of wine; -Her eyes like two potch'd eggs, -Great and goodly her legs; -But mark my doleful ditty, -Alas! for woe and pity! -A soldier of your's -Upon a bed of flowers -Gave her such a fall, -As she lost maidenhead and all. -And thus in very good time -I end my rudeful rhyme. - -SYLLA. And what of this, my friend? why seek you me, -Who have resign'd my titles and my state, -To live a private life, as you do now? -Go move the Consul Flaccus in this cause, -Who now hath power to execute the laws. - -CURTALL. And are you no more master dixcator, nor generality of the -soldiers? - -SYLLA. My powers do cease, my titles are resign'd. - -CURTALL. Have you signed your titles? O base mind, that being in the -Paul's steeple of honour, hast cast thyself into the sink of simplicity. -Fie, beast! -Were I a king, I would day by day -Suck up white bread and milk, -And go a-jetting in a jacket of silk; -My meat should be the curds, -My drink should be the whey, -And I would have a mincing lass to love me every day. - -POPPEY. Nay, goodman Curtall, your discretions are very simple; let -me cramp him with a reason. Sirrah, whether is better good ale or -small-beer? Alas! see his simplicity that cannot answer me: why, -I say ale. - -CURTALL. And so say I, neighbour. - -POPPEY. Thou hast reason; ergo, say I, 'tis better be a king than -a clown. Faith, Master Sylla, I hope a man may now call ye knave by -authority. - -SYLLA. With what impatience hear I these upbraids, -That whilom plagued the least offence with death. -O Sylla, these are stales of destiny -By some upbraids to try thy constancy. -My friends, these scorns of yours perhaps may move -The next dictator shun to yield his state, -For fear he find as much as Sylla doth. -But, Flaccus, to prevent their farther wrong, -Vouchsafe some lictor may attach the man, -And do them right that thus complain abuse. - -FLACCUS. Sirrah, go you and bring the soldier, -That hath so loosely lean'd to lawless lust: -We will have means sufficient, be assured, -To cool his heat, and make the wanton chaste. - -CURTALL. We thank your mastership. Come, neighbour, let us jog. -Faith, this news will set my daughter Dorothy agog. - - [_Exeunt cum Lictore_. - -SYLLA. Grave senators and Romans, now you see -The humble bent of Sylla's changed mind. -Now will I leave you, lords, from courtly train -To dwell content amidst my country cave, -Where no ambitious humours shall approach -The quiet silence of my happy sleep: -Where no delicious jouissance or toys -Shall tickle with delight my temper'd ears; -But wearying out the lingering day with toil, -Tiring my veins, and furrowing of my soul, -The silent night, with slumber stealing on, -Shall lock these careful closets of mine eyes. -O, had I known the height of happiness, -Or bent mine eyes upon my mother-earth, -Long since, O Rome, had Sylla with rejoice -Forsaken arms to lead a private life! - -FLACCUS. But in this humbleness of mind, my lord, -Whereas experience prov'd and art do meet, -How happy were these fair Italian fields, -If they were graced with so sweet a sun. -Then I for Rome, and Rome with me, requires -That Sylla will abide, and govern Rome. - -SYLLA. O Flaccus, if th'Arabian phoenix strive -By nature's warning to renew her kind, -When, soaring nigh the glorious eye of heaven, -She from her cinders doth revive her sex, -Why should not Sylla learn by her to die, -That erst have been the Phoenix of this land? -And drawing near the sunshine of content, -Perish obscure to make your glories grow. -For as the higher trees do shield the shrubs -From posting Phlegon's[166] warmth and breathing fire, -So mighty men obscure each other's fame, -And make the best deservers fortune's game. - - _Enter_ GENIUS. - -But ah, what sudden furies do affright? -What apparitious fantasies are these? -O, let me rest, sweet lords, for why methinks -Some fatal spells are sounded in mine ears. - -GENIUS. _Subsequitur tua mors: privari lumine Syllam, -Numina Parcarum jam fera precipiunt -Precipiunt fera jam Parcarum numina Syllam -Lumine privari: mors tua subsequitur. -Elysium petis, ô faelix! et fatidici astri -Praescius: Heroes, ô, petis innumeros! -Innumeros petis, ô, Heroes, praescius astri -Fatidici: et faelix, ô, petis Elysium_! - [Evanescit subitò. - -SYLLA. _Ergó-ne post dulces annos properantia fata? -Ergo-ne jam tenebrae praemia lucis erunt? -Attamen, ut vitae fortunam gloria mortis -Vincat, in extremo funere cantet olor_. - -POMPEY. How fares my lord? what dreadful thoughts are these? -What doubtful answers on a sudden thus? - -SYLLA. Pompey, the man that made the world to stoop, -And fetter'd fortune in the chains of power, -Must droop and draw the chariot of fate -Along the darksome banks of Acheron. -The heavens have warn'd me of my present fall. -O, call Cornelia forth: let Sylla see -His daughter Fulvia, ere his eyes be shut. - - [_Exit one for_ CORNELIA. - -FLACCUS. Why, Sylla, where is now thy wonted hope -In greatest hazard of unstayed chance. -What, shall a little biting blast of pain -Blemish the blossoms of thy wonted pride? - -SYLLA. My Flaccus, worldly joys and pleasures fade; -Inconstant time, like to the fleeting tide, -With endless course man's hopes doth overbear: -Nought now remains that Sylla fain would have, -But lasting fame, when body lies in grave. - - _Enter_ CORNELIA, FULVIA. - -CORNELIA. How fares my lord? How doth my gentle Sylla. - -SYLLA. Ah, my Cornelia! passing happy now: -Free from the world, allied unto the heavens: -Not curious of incertain chances now. - -CORNELIA. Words full of woe, still adding to my grief, -A cureless cross of many hundred harms. -O, let not Rome and poor Cornelia lose, -The one her friend, the other her delight. - -SYLLA. Cornelia, man hath power by some instinct -And gracious revolution of the stars, -To conquer kingdoms, not to master fate: -For when the course of mortal life is run, -Then Clotho ends the web her sister spun. -Pompey, Lord Flaccus, fellow-senators, -In that I feel the faintful dews of death -Steeping mine eyes within their chilly wet, -The care I have of wife and daughter both, -Must on your wisdom happily rely. -With equal distribution see you part -My lands and goods betwixt these lovely twain: -Only bestow a hundred thousand sesterces -Upon my friends and fellow-soldiers. -Thus, having made my final testament, -Come, Fulvia, let thy father lay his head -Upon thy lovely bosom, and entreat -A virtuous boon and favour at thy hands. -Fair Roman maid, see that thou wed thy fairness[167] -To modest, virtuous, and delightful thoughts: -Let Rome, in viewing thee, behold thy sire. -Honour Cornelia, from whose fruitful womb -Thy plenteous beauties sweetly did appear; -And with this lesson, lovely maid, farewell. - -FULVIA. O tedious and unhappy chance for me. - -SYLLA. Content thee, Fulvia, for it needs must be. -Cornelia, I must leave thee to the world; -And by those loves that I have lent thee oft, -In mutual wedlock-rites and happy war, -Remember Sylla in my Fulvia still. -Consul, farewell! my Pompey, I must hence: -And farewell, Rome: and, Fortune, now I bless thee, -That both in life and death would'st not oppress me! - [_Dies_. - -CORNELIA. O hideous storms of never-daunted fate! -Now are those eyes, whose sweet reflections cool'd -The smother'd rancours of rebellious thoughts, -Clad with the sable mantles of the night; -And like the tree that, robb'd of sun and showers, -Mourns desolate withouten leaf or sap, -So poor Cornelia, late bereft of love, -Sits sighing, hapless, joyless, and forlorn. - -FULVIA. Gone is the flow'r that did adorn our fields; -Fled are those sweet reflections of delight: -Dead is my father! Fulvia, dead is he -In whom thy life, for whom thy death, must be. - -FLACCUS. Ladies, to tire the time in restless moan -Were tedious unto friends and nature too. -Sufficeth you, that Sylla so is dead, -As fame shall sing his power, though life be fled. - -POMPEY. Then to conclude his happiness, my lords, -Determine where shall be his funeral. - -LEPIDUS. Even there where other nobles are interr'd. - -POMPEY. Why, Lepidus, what Roman ever was, -That merited so high a name as he? -Then why with simple pomp and funeral -Would you entomb so rare a paragon? - -CORNELIA. An urn of gold shall hem his ashes in: -The vestal virgins with their holy notes -Shall sing his famous, though too fatal, death. -I and my Fulvia with dispersed hair -Will wait upon this noble Roman's hearse. - -FULVIA. And Fulvia, clad in black and mournful pall, -Will wait upon her father's funeral. - -POMPEY. Come, bear we hence this trophy of renown, -Whose life, whose death, was far from fortune's frown. - - [_Exeunt omnes. - - The funerals of_ SYLLA _in great pomp. - - Deo juvante, nil nocet livor malus: - Et non juvante nil juvat labor gravis_. - - - FINIS. - - - - - - -MUCEDORUS. - - - -_EDITIONS. - -A Most pleasant Comedie of Mucedorus the kings sonne of Valentia and -Amadine the Kings daughter of Arragon, with the merie conceites of -Mouse. Newly set foorth, as it hath bin sundrie times plaide in the -honorable Cittie of London. Very delectable and full of mirth. London -Printed for William Iones, dwelling at Holborne conduit, at the signe of -the Gunne_. 1598. 4°. - -_A Most pleasant Comedie of Mucedorus the Kings sonne of Valentia, and -Amadine the Kings daughter of Aragon. With the merry conceites of Mouse. -Amplified with new additions, as it was acted before the Kings Maiestie -at White-hall on Shroue-Sunday night. By his Highnes Seruants vsually -playing at the Globe. Very delectable, and full of conceited Mirth. -Imprinted at London for William Iones, dwelling neare Holborne Conduit, -at the signe of the Gunne_. 1610. 4°. - -An edition of 1606 is mentioned in "Beauclerc's Catalogue," 1781, as -noticed by Hazlitt. There were others in 1613, 1615, 1619, 1668, and -without date, all in 4°. - -This drama, at one time conjecturally given to Shakespeare, is now first -reprinted from the original copy of 1598, collated with that of 1610; -and the additions are inserted between brackets. Whether the additions -and corrections were the work of the original writer, or of some one -else, is uncertain; but it does not appear improbable that they were the -author's. - -From the play of "Mucedorus" was formed a ballad entitled "The Wandering -Prince and Princess, or Mucedorus and Amadine." - - - -THE PROLOGUE.[168] - -Most sacred Majesty, whose great deserts -Thy subject England, nay, the world, admires: -Which heaven grant still increase! O, may your praise -Multiplying with your hours, your fame still raise. -Embrace your Council: love with faith them guide, -That both at one bench, by each other's side. -So may your life pass on, and run so even, -That your firm zeal plant you a throne in heaven, -Where smiling angels shall your guardians be -From blemish'd traitors, stain'd with perjury. -And, as the night's inferior to the day, -So be all earthly regions to your sway! -Be as the sun to day, the day to night, -For from your beams Europe shall borrow light. -Mirth drown your bosom, fair delight your mind, -And may our pastime your contentment find. - [_Exit_ Prologue. - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE. - - -_Eight[169] persons may easily play it. - -The_ KING _and_ RUMBELO. _For one_. -MUCEDORUS, _the Prince of Valencia. For one_. -AMADINE, _the_ KING'S _daughter of Arragon. For one_. -SEGASTO, _a Nobleman. For one_. -ENVY: TREMELIO, _a Captain. | For one_. -BREMO, _a wild man_. | -COMEDY, _a boy, an old woman. | For one_. -ARIENA, AMADINE'S _maid_. | -COLLEN, _a Councillor, a Messenger. For one_. -MOUSE, _the Clown. For one_. - - - - -MUCEDORUS. - - - _Enter_ COMEDY _joyfully, with a garland of bays on her head_. - -Why so; thus do I hope to please: -Music revives, and mirth is tolerable, -Comedy, play thy part, and please; -Make merry them that come to joy with thee. -Joy, then, good gentles; I hope to make you laugh. -Sound forth Bellona's silver-tuned strings. -Time fits us well, the day and place is ours. - - _Enter_ ENVY, _his arms naked, besmeared with blood_. - -ENVY. Nay, stay, minion; there lies a block! -What, all on mirth? I'll interrupt your tale, -And mix your music with a tragic end. - -COMEDY. What monstrous ugly hag is this, -That dares control the pleasures of our will? -Vaunt, churlish cur, besmear'd with gory blood, -That seem'st to check the blossoms of delight, -And stifle the sound of sweet Bellona's breath, -Blush, monster, blush, and post away with shame, -That seekest disturbance of a goddess' deeds. - -ENVY. Post hence thyself, thou counterchecking trull; -I will possess this habit, spite of thee, -And gain the glory of thy wished port. -I'll thunder music shall appal the nymphs, -And make them shiver their clattering strings: -Flying for succour to their Danish caves. - - _Sound drums within, and cry, Stab, stab_! - -Hearken, thou shalt hear a noise -Shall fill the air with a shrilling sound, -And thunder music to the gods above: -Mars shall himself breathe down -A peerless crown upon brave Envy's head, -And raise his chival with a lasting fame. -In this brave music Envy takes delight, -Where I may see them wallow in their blood, -To spurn at arms and legs quite shivered off, -And hear the cry of many thousand slain, -How lik'st thou this, my trull? this sport alone for me! - -COMEDY. Vaunt, bloody cur, nurs'd up with tigers' sap, -That so dost seek to quail a woman's mind. -Comedy is mild, gentle, willing for to please, -And seeks to gain the love of all estates. -Delighting in mirth, mix'd all with lovely tales, -And bringeth things with treble joy to pass. -Thou bloody envious disdainer of men's joys, -Whose name is fraught with bloody stratagems, -Delights in nothing but in spoil and death, -Where thou may'st trample in their lukewarm blood, -And grasp their hearts within thy cursed paws. -Yet veil thy mind; revenge thou not on me; -A silly woman begs it at thy hands. -Give me the leave to utter out my play; -Forbear this place; I humbly crave thee, hence! -And mix not death 'mongst pleasing comedies, -That treat nought else but pleasure and delight. -If any spark of human rests in thee, -Forbear; begone; tender the suit of me. - -ENVY. Why, so I will; forbearance shall be such, -As treble death shall cross thee with despite, -And make thee mourn, where most thou joyest, -Turning thy mirth into a deadly dole: -Whirling thy pleasures with a peal of death, -And drench thy methods in a sea of blood. -This will I do; thus shall I bear with thee; -And, more to vex thee with a deeper spite, -I will with threats of blood begin thy play: -Favouring thee with envy and with hate. - -COMEDY. Then, ugly monster, do thy worst; -I will defend them in despite of thee: -And though thou think'st with tragic fumes -To brave my play unto my deep disgrace, -I force it not, I scorn what thou canst do; -I'll grace it so, thyself shall it confess, -From tragic stuff to be a pleasant comedy. - -ENVY. Why then, Comedy, send thy actors forth, -And I will cross the first steps of their tread, -Making them fear the very dart of death. - -COMEDY. And I'll defend them, maugre all thy spite. -So, ugly fiend, farewell, till time shall serve, -That we may meet to parley for the best. - -ENVY. Content, Comedy; I'll go spread my branch -And scattered blossoms from mine envious tree, -Shall prove two monsters, spoiling of their joys. - [_Exit. - - [_Sound.] Enter_ MUCEDORUS _and_ ANSELMO, _his friend_. - -MUCEDORUS. Anselmo. - -ANSELMO. My lord and friend. - -MUCEDORUS. True, my Anselmo, both thy lord and friend, -Whose dear affections bosom with my heart, -And keep their domination in one orb. - -ANSELMO. Whence ne'er disloyalty shall root it forth, -But faith plant firmer in your choice respect. - -MUCEDORUS. Much blame were mine, if I should other deem, -Nor can coy Fortune contrary allow. -But, my Anselmo, loth I am to say, -I must estrange that friendship. -Misconstrue not; 'tis from the realm, not thee: -Though lands part bodies, hearts keep company. -Thou know'st that I imparted often have -Private relations with my royal sire, -Had as concerning beauteous Amadine, -Rich Arragon's blight jewel, whose face (some say) -That blooming lilies never shone so gay, -Excelling, not excell'd: yet, lest report -Does mangle verity, boasting of what is not, -Wing'd with desire, thither I'll straight repair, -And be my fortunes, as my thoughts are, fair! - -ANSELMO. Will you forsake Valencia, leave the court, -Absent you from the eye of sovereignty? -Do not, sweet prince, adventure on that task, -Since danger lurks each where; be won from it. - -MUCEDORUS. Desist dissuasion, -My resolution brooks no battery, -Therefore, if thou retain thy wonted form, -Assist what I intend. - -ANSELMO. Your miss will breed a blemish in the court, -And throw a frosty dew upon that beard, -Whose front Valencia stoops to. - -MUCEDORUS. If thou my welfare tender, then no more; -Let love's strong magic charm thy trivial phrase, -Wasted as vainly as to gripe the sun. -Augment not then more answers; lock thy lips, -Unless thy wisdom suit me with disguise, -According to my purpose. - -ANSELMO. That action craves no counsel, -Since what you rightly are, will more command, -Than best usurped shape. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou still art opposite in disposition; -A more obscure servile habiliment -Beseems this enterprise. - -ANSELMO. Then like a Florentine or mountebank! - -MUCEDORUS. 'Tis much too tedious; I dislike thy judgment, -My mind is grafted on an humbler stock. - -ANSELMO. Within my closet does there hang a cassock-- -Though base the weed is, 'twas a shepherd's-- -Which I presented in Lord Julio's masque. - -MUCEDORUS. That, my Anselmo, and none else but that, -Mask Mucedorus from the vulgar view. -That habit suits my mind; fetch me that weed. - [_Exit ANSELMO_. -Better than kings have not disdain'd that state, -And much inferior, to obtain their mate. - - _Re-enter_ ANSELMO _with a shepherd's coat, which he - gives to_ MUCEDORUS. - -MUCEDORUS. So let our respect command thy secrecy. -At once a brief farewell; -Delay to lovers is a second hell. - [_Exit MUCEDORUS_. - -ANSELMO. Prosperity forerun thee: awkward chance -Never be neighbour to thy wishes' venture: -Content and Fame advance thee: ever thrive, -And glory thy mortality survive! - - _Enter_ MOUSE _with a bottle of hay_. - -MOUSE. O, horrible, terrible! Was ever poor gentleman so scar'd out of -his seven senses? A bear? Nay, sure it cannot be a bear, but some devil -in a bear's doublet; for a bear could never have had that agility to -have frighted me. Well, I'll see my father hanged before I'll serve his -horse any more. Well, I'll carry home my bottle of hay, and for once -make my father's horse turn Puritan, and observe fasting-days, for he -gets not a bit. But soft! this way she followed me; therefore I'll take -the other path; and because I'll be sure to have an eye on him, I will -take hands with some foolish creditor, and make every step backward. - - [_As he goes backwards, the bear comes in, and - he tumbles over her, and runs away, and leaves - his bottle of hay behind him.] - - Enter_ SEGASTO _running, and_ AMADINE _after him, - being pursued with a bear_. - -SEGASTO. O, fly, madam, fly, or else we are but dead! - -AMADINE. Help, Segasto! help, help, sweet Segasto, or else I die! - - [SEGASTO _runs away_. - -SEGASTO. Alas, madam! there is no way but flight; -Then haste, and save yourself. - -AMADINE. Why then I die; ah! help me in distress. - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS _like a shepherd, with a sword - drawn and a bear's head in his hand_. - -MUCEDORUS. Stay, lady, stay; and be no more dismay'd; -That cruel beast, most merciless and fell, -Which hath bereaved thousands of their lives, -Affrighted many with his hard pursues, -Prying from place to place to find his prey, -Prolonging thus his life by others' death, -His carcase now lies headless, void of breath. - -AMADINE. That foul, deformed monster, is he dead? - -MUCEDORUS. Assure yourself thereof--behold his head; -Which, if it please you, lady, to accept, -With willing heart I yield it to your majesty. - -AMADINE. Thanks, worthy shepherd, thanks a thousand times; -This gift, assure thyself, contents me more -Than greatest bounty of a mighty prince, -Although he were the monarch of the world. - -MUCEDORUS. Most gracious goddess, more than mortal wight-- -Your heavenly hue of right imports no less-- -Most glad am I, in that it was my chance -To undertake this enterprise in hand, -Which doth so greatly glad your princely mind. - -AMADINE. No goddess, shepherd, but a mortal wight-- -A mortal wight distressed as thou seest: -My father here is King of Arragon: -I, Amadine, his only daughter am, -And after him sole heir unto the crown. -Now, whereas it is my father's will -To marry me unto Segasto, one, -Whose wealth through father's former usury -Is known to be no less than wonderful, -We both of custom oftentimes did use, -Leaving the court, to walk within the fields -For recreation, especially [in] the spring, -In that it yields great store of rare delights; -And, passing farther than our wonted walks, -Scarce ent'red were within these luckless woods. -But right before us down a steep-fall hill, -A monstrous ugly bear did hie him fast -To meet us both--I faint to tell the rest, -Good shepherd--but suppose the ghastly looks, -The hideous fears, the thousand hundred woes, -Which at this instant Amadine sustained. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet, worthy princess, let thy sorrow cease, -And let this sight your former joys revive. - -AMADINE. Believe me, shepherd, so it doth no less. - -MUCEDORUS. Long may they last unto your heart's content. -But tell me, lady, what is become of him, -Segasto call'd, what is become of him? - -AMADINE. I know not, I; that know the powers divine; -But God grant this, that sweet Segasto live! - -MUCEDORUS. Yet hard-hearted he, in such a case, -So cowardly to save himself by flight, -And leave so brave a princess to the spoil. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, for thy worthy valour tried, -Endangering thyself to set me free, -Unrecompensed, sure, thou shalt not be. -In court thy courage shall be plainly known; -Throughout the kingdom will I spread thy name. -To thy renown and never-dying fame; -And that thy courage may be better known, -Bear thou the head of this most monstrous beast -In open sight to every courtier's view. -So will the king, my father, thee reward: -Come, let's away and guard me to the court. - -[MUCEDORUS. With all my heart.] - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _solus_. - -SEGASTO. When heaps of harms do hover over-head, -'Tis time as then, some say, to look about, -And so [of] ensuing harms to choose the least. -But hard, yea hapless, is that wretch's chance, -Luckless his lot and caitiff-like accurs'd, -At whose proceedings fortune ever frowns-- -Myself, I mean, most subject unto thrall; -For I, the more I seek to shun the worst, -The more by proof I find myself accurs't. -Erewhiles assaulted with an ugly bear: -Fair Amadine in company all alone: -Forthwith by flight I thought to save myself, -Leaving my Amadine unto her shifts; -For death it was for to resist the bear, -And death no less of Amadine's harms to hear. -Accursed I in ling'ring life thus long -In living thus, each minute of an hour -Doth pierce my heart with darts of thousand deaths: -If she by flight her fury do escape, -What will she think? -Will she not say--yea, flatly to my face, -Accusing me of mere disloyalty-- -A trusty friend is tried in time of need; -But I, when she in danger was of death, -And needed me, and cried, Segasto, help! -I turn'd my back, and quickly ran away, -Unworthy I to bear this vital breath! -But what, what needs these plaints? -If Amadine do live, then happy I. -She will in time forgive, and so forget. -Amadine is merciful, not Juno-like, -In harmful heart to harbour hatred long. - - _Enter_ MOUSE _the Clown running, crying, Clubs_! - -MOUSE. Clubs, prongs, pitchforks, bills! O help! -A bear, a bear, a bear! - -SEGASTO. Still bears, and nothing else but bears? -Tell me, sirrah, where she is. - -CLOWN. O sir, she is run down the woods: -I see her white head and her white belly. - -SEGASTO. Thou talkest of wonders, to tell me of white bears; -But, sirrah, didst thou ever see any such? - -CLOWN. No, faith, I never saw any such; -But I remember my father's words, -He bad me take heed I was not caught with a white bear. - -SEGASTO. A lamentable tale, no doubt. - -CLOWN. I tell you what, sir; as I was going afield to serve my father's -great horse, and carried a bottle of hay upon my head--now, do you see, -sir?--I, fast hoodwinked, that I could see nothing, perceiving the bear -coming, I threw my hay into the hedge and ran away. - -SEGASTO. What, from nothing? - -CLOWN. I warrant you, yes; I saw something; for there was two load of -thorns besides my bottle of hay, and that made three. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, sirrah; the bear that thou didst see, -Did she not bear a bucket on her arm? - -CLOWN. Ha, ha, ha! I never saw bear go a-milking in all my life. -But hark you, sir, I did not look so high as her arm; -I saw nothing but her white head and her white belly. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, sirrah, where dost thou dwell? - -CLOWN. Why, do you not know me? - -SEGASTO. Why, no; how should I know thee? - -CLOWN. Why then you know nobody, and you know not me[170]. I tell you, -sir, I am the goodman Rat's son, of the next parish over the hill. - -SEGASTO. Goodman Rat's son; why, what's thy name? - -CLOWN. Why, I am very near kin unto him. - -SEGASTO. I think so; but what's thy name. - -CLOWN. My name? I have [a] very pretty name; I'll tell you what my name -is--my name is Mouse. - -SEGASTO. What, plain Mouse? - -CLOWN. Ay, plain Mouse, without either welt or gard. -But do you hear, sir, I am but a very young Mouse, -For my tail is scarce grown out yet. Look you here else. - -SEGASTO. But I pray thee, who gave thee that name? - -CLOWN. Faith, sir, I know not that; but if you would fain know, ask -my father's great horse, for he hath been half a year longer with my -father than I have. - -SEGASTO. This seems to be a merry fellow; -I care not if I take him home with me. -Mirth is a comfort to a troubled mind, -A merry man a merry master makes. [_Aside_. -How say'st thou, sirrah? wilt thou dwell with me? - -CLOWN. Nay, soft, sir, two words to a bargain; pray you, what -occupation are you? - -SEGASTO. No occupation; I live upon my lands. - -CLOWN. Your lands; away, you are no master for me. Why, do you think -that I am so mad, to go seek my living in the lands amongst the stones, -briars and bushes, and tear my holiday apparel? Not I, by your leave. - -SEGASTO. Why, I do not mean thou shalt. - -CLOWN. How then? - -SEGASTO. Why, thou shalt be my man, and wait upon me at the court. - -CLOWN. What's that? - -SEGASTO. Where the king lies. - -CLOWN. What's that same king--a man or a woman? - -SEGASTO. A man, as thou art. - -CLOWN. As I am? Hark you, sir; pray you, what kin is he to goodman King -of our parish, the churchwarden? - -SEGASTO. No kin to him; he is the king of the whole land. - -CLOWN. King of the land? I never see him. - -SEGASTO. If thou wilt dwell with me, thou shalt see him every day. - -CLOWN. Shall I go home again to be torn in pieces with bears? No, not I; -I will go home and put on a clean shirt, and then go drown myself. - -SEGASTO. Thou shalt not need, if thou wilt dwell with me; thou shalt -want nothing. - -CLOWN. Shall I not? Then here's my hand: I'll dwell with you. And hark -you, sir! now you have entertained me, I will tell you what I can do. -I can keep my tongue from picking and stealing, and my hands from lying -and slandering, I warrant you, as well as ever you had man, in all your -life. - -SEGASTO. Now will I to court with sorrowful heart, rounded with doubts. -If Amadine do live, then happy I: yea, happy I, if Amadine do live! - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter the_ KING, _with a young Prince prisoner_, - AMADINE[171], _with_ COLLEN _and Councillors_. - -KING. Now, brave lords, [that] our wars are brought to end; -Our foes [have had] the foil, and we in safety rest, -It us behoves to use such clemency -In peace, as valour in the wars. It is -As great honour to be bountiful -At home, as to be conquerors in the field. -Therefore, my lords, the more to my content, -Your liking, and your country's safeguard, -We are dispos'd in marriage for to give -Our daughter to Lord Segasto here, -Who shall succeed the diadem after me, -And reign hereafter as I tofore have done, -Your sole and lawful King of Arragon: -What say you, lordings, like you of my advice? - -COLLEN. An't please your majesty, we do not only allow of your -highness's pleasure, but also vow faithfully in what we may to -further it. - -KING. Thanks, good my lords, if long Adrostus live, -He will at full requite your courtesies. -Tremelio, in recompense of thy late valour done, -Take unto thee the Catalonian prince[172], -Lately our prisoner taken in the wars. -Be thou his keeper; his ransom shall be thine; -We'll think of it, when leisure shall afford. -Meanwhile, do use him well; his father is a king. - -TREMELIO. Thanks to your majesty, his usage shall be such -As he thereat shall think no cause to grutch. - - [_Exeunt_ TREMELIO _and Prince_. - -KING. Then march we on to court, and rest our wearied limbs. -But, Collen, I have a tale in secret kept for thee: -When thou shalt hear a watchword from thy king, -Think then some weighty matter is at hand, -That highly shall concern our state, -Then, Collen, look thou be not far from me: -And for thy service thou tofore hast done, -Thy truth and valour prov'd in every point, -I shall with bounties thee enlarge therefore: -So guard us to the court. - -COLLEN. What so my sovereign doth command me do, -With willing mind I gladly yield consent. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _and the_ CLOWN, _with weapons about him_. - -SEGASTO. Tell me, sirrah, how do you like your weapons? - -CLOWN. O, very well, very well; they keep my sides warm. - -SEGASTO. They keep the dogs from your shins very well, do they not? - -CLOWN. How, keep the dogs from my shins? I would scorn but my shins -could keep the dogs from them. - -SEGASTO. Well, sirrah, leaving idle talk, tell me, -Dost thou know Captain Tremelio's chamber? - -CLOWN. Ay, very well, it hath a door. - -SEGASTO. I think so; for so hath every chamber. -But dost thou know the man? - -CLOWN. Ay forsooth, he hath a nose on his face. - -SEGASTO. Why, so hath every one. - -CLOWN. That's more than I know. - -SEGASTO. But dost thou remember the Captain, that was here with the -King even now, that brought the young prince prisoner? - -CLOWN. O, very well. - -SEGASTO. Go unto him, and bid him come to me. Tell him I have a matter -in secret to impart to him. - -CLOWN. I will, master; master, what's his name? - -SEGASTO. Why, Captain Tremelio. - -CLOWN. O, the meal-man. I know him very well. He brings meal every -Saturday; but hark you, master, must I bid him come to you, or must -you come to him? - -SEGASTO. No, sirrah, he must come to me. - -CLOWN. Hark you, master; how, if he be not at home? -What shall I do then? - -SEGASTO. Why then, leave word with some of his folks. - -CLOWN. How,[173] master, if there be nobody within? -I will leave word with his dog. - -SEGASTO. Why, can his dog speak? - -CLOWN. I cannot tell; wherefore doth he keep his chamber else? - -SEGASTO. To keep out such knaves as thou art. - -CLOWN. Nay, by'r Lady, then go yourself. - -SEGASTO. You will go, sir, will ye not? - -CLOWN. Yes, marry, will I. O, 'tis come to my head; -And a' be not within, I'll bring his chamber to you. - -SEGASTO. What, wilt thou pluck down the King's house? - -CLOWN. Nay, by'r Lady, I'll know the price of it first. -Master, it is such a hard name, I have forgotten it again. I pray you, -tell me his name. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, Captain Tremelio. - -CLOWN. O, Captain Treble-knave, Captain Treble-knave. - - _Enter_ TREMELIO. - -TREMELIO. How now, sirrah, dost thou call me? - -CLOWN. You must come to my master, Captain Treble-knave. - -TREMELIO. My Lord Segasto, did you send for me? - -SEGASTO. I did, Tremelio. Sirrah, about your business. - -CLOWN. Ay, marry, what's that, can you tell? - -SEGASTO. No, not well. - -CLOWN. Marry, then, I can; straight to the kitchen-dresser, to John -the cook, and get me a good piece of beef and brewis; and then to the -buttery-hatch, to Thomas the butler for a jack of beer, and there for -an hour I'll so belabour myself; and therefore I pray you call me not -till you think I have done, I pray you, good master. - -SEGASTO. Well, sir, away. [_Exit_ MOUSE. -Tremelio, this it is. Thou knowest the valour of Segasto, -Spread through all the kingdom of Arragon, -And such as hath found triumph and favours, -Never daunted at any time? But now a shepherd -[Is] admired at in court for worthiness, -And Segasto's honour [is] laid aside. -My will therefore is this, that thou dost find -Some means to work the shepherd's death; I know -Thy strength sufficient to perform my desire, and thy love no otherwise - than to revenge my injuries. - -TREMELIO. It is not the frowns of a shepherd that Tremelio fears, -Therefore account it accomplished, what I take in hand. - -SEGASTO. Thanks, good Tremelio, and assure thyself, -What I promise that will I perform. - -TREMELIO. Thanks, my good lord, and in good time see where -He cometh. Stand by awhile, and you shall see -Me put in practice your intended drifts. -Have at thee, swain, if that I hit thee right! - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS. - -MUCEDORUS. Vile coward, so without cause to strike a man--Turn, -coward, turn; now strike, and do thy worst. - [MUCEDORUS _killeth him_. - -SEGASTO. Hold, shepherd, hold; spare him, kill him not. -Accursed villain, tell me, what hast thou done? -Ah, Tremelio, trusty Tremelio! -I sorrow for thy death, and since that thou -Living didst prove faithful to Segasto, -So Segasto now living shall honour the dead corpse -Of Tremelio with revenge. Bloodthirsty villain, -Born and bred to merciless murther, tell me -How durst thou be so bold, as once to lay -Thy hands upon the least of mine? Assure thyself -Thou shalt be us'd according to the law. - -MUCEDORUS. Segasto, cease; these threats are needless. -But in mine own defence accuse not me -Of murther that have done nothing. - -SEGASTO. Nay, shepherd, reason not with me; -I'll manifest the fact unto the King, -Whose doom will be thy death, as thou deserv'st. -What ho, Mouse, come away! - - _Enter_ MOUSE. - -CLOWN. Why, how now, what's the matter? -I thought you would be calling before I had done. - -SEGASTO. Come, help, away with my friend. - -CLOWN. Why, is he drunk? cannot he stand on his feet? - -SEGASTO. No, he is not drunk; he is slain. - -CLOWN. Flain! no, by['r] Lady, he is not flain. - -SEGASTO. He's killed, I tell thee. - -CLOWN. What, do you use to kill your friends? -I will serve you no longer. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee the shepherd kill'd him. - -CLOWN. O, did a so? -But, master, I will have all his apparel -If I carry him away. - -SEGASTO. Why, so thou shalt. - -CLOWN. Come, then, I will help; mass, master, I think -His mother sang _looby_ to him, he is so heavy. - - [_Exeunt_. - -MUCEDORUS. Behold the fickle state of man, always mutable; -Never at one. -Sometimes we feed on fancies -With the sweet of our desires: sometimes again -We feel the heat of extreme miseries. -Now am I in favour about the court and country, -To-morrow those favours will turn to frowns, -To-day I live revenged on my foe, -To-morrow I die, my foe revenged on me. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ BREMO, _a wild man_. - -BREMO. No passenger this morning? what, not one? -A chance that seldom doth befall. -What, not one? then lie thou there, -And rest thyself, till I have further need. - [_Lays down his club_. -Now, Bremo, sith thy leisure so affords, -An endless thing. Who knows not Bremo's strength, -Who like a king commands within these woods. -The bear, the boar, dares not abide my sight, -But hastes away to save themselves by flight. -The crystal waters in the bubbling brooks, -When I come by, doth swiftly slide away, -And claps themselves in closets under banks, -Afraid to look bold Bremo in the face: -The aged oaks at Bremo's breath do bow, -And all things else are still at my command, -Else what would I? -Rend them in pieces, and pluck them from the earth, -And each way else I would revenge myself. -Why, who comes here, with whom I dare not fight? -Who fights with me, and doth not die the death? -Not one. What favour shows this sturdy stick to those, that here -Within these woods are combatants with me? -Why, death, and nothing else but present death. -With restless rage I wander through these woods; -No creature here but feareth Bremo's force, -Man, woman, child; beast and bird, -And everything that doth approach my sight, -Are forc'd to fall, if Bremo once do frown. -Come, cudgel, come, my partner in my spoils, -For here I see this day it will not be. -But when it falls, that I encounter any, -One pat sufficeth for to work my will. -What, comes not one? Then let's begone; -A time will serve, when we shall better speed. - [_Exit. - - Enter the_ KING, SEGASTO, _the_ SHEPHERD, _and the_ - CLOWN, _with others_. - -KING. Shepherd, -Thou hast heard thine accusers. Murther -Is laid to thy charge; what canst thou say? -Thou hast deserved death. - -MUCEDORUS. Dread sovereign, I must needs confess -I slew this captain in mine own defence, -Not of any malice, but by chance; -But mine accuser hath a further meaning. - -SEGASTO. Words will not here prevail, -I seek for justice, and justice craves his death. - -KING. Shepherd, thine own confession hath condemned thee. -Sirrah, take him away, and do him to execution straight. - -CLOWN. So he shall, I warrant him. But do you hear, Master King, he is -kin to a monkey; his neck is bigger than his head. - -SEGASTO. Sirrah, away with him, and hang him about the middle. - -CLOWN. Yes, forsooth, I warrant you. Come on, sir, a so like a -sheep-biter a looks. - - _Enter_ AMADINE, _and a boy with a bear's head_. - -AMADINE. Dread sovereign and well-beloved sire, -On benden knees I crave the life of this -Condemn'd shepherd, which heretofore preserved -The life of thy sometime distressed daughter. - -KING. Preserved the life of my sometime distressed daughter? -How can that be? I never knew the time, -Wherein thou wast distress'd. I never knew the day -But that I have maintained thy estate, -As best beseem'd the daughter of a king: -I never saw the shepherd until now. -How comes it then, that he preserv'd thy life? - -AMADINE. Once walking with Segasto in the woods, -Further than our accustom'd manner was, -Right before us down a steep-fall hill, -A monstrous ugly bear did hie him fast -To meet us both--now whether this be true, -I refer it to the credit of Segasto. - -SEGASTO. Most true, an't like your majesty. - -KING. How then? - -AMADINE. The bear, being eager to obtain his prey, -Made forward to us with an open mouth, -As if he meant to swallow us both at once. -The sight whereof did make us both to dread, -But specially your daughter Amadine, -Who for I saw no succour incident, -But in Segasto's valour, I grew desperate, -And he most coward-like began to fly. -Left me distress'd to be devour'd of him-- -How say you, Segasto? is it not true? - -KING. His silence verifies it to be true. What then? - -AMADINE. Then I amaz'd, distressed, all alone, -Did hie me fast to 'scape that ugly bear. -But all in vain; for why he reached after me, -And oft I hardly did[174] escape his paws, -Till at the length this shepherd came, -And brought to me his head. -Come hither, boy; lo, here it is, -Which I present unto your majesty. - -KING. The slaughter of this bear deserves great fame. - -SEGASTO. The slaughter of a man deserves great blame. - -KING. Indeed occasion oftentimes so falls out. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio in the wars, O King, preserved thee. - -AMADINE. The shepherd in the woods, O King, preserved me. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio fought, when many men did yield. - -AMADINE. So would the shepherd, had he been in field. - -CLOWN. So would my master, had he not run away. [_Aside_. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio's force saved thousands from the foe. - -AMADINE. The shepherd's force hath saved thousands mo. - -CLOWN. Ay, shipsticks, nothing else. [_Aside_. - -KING. Segasto, cease to accuse the shepherd; -His worthiness deserves a recompense, -All we are bound to do the shepherd good. -Shepherd, whereas -It was my sentence thou should'st die, -So shall my sentence stand, for thou shalt die. - -SEGASTO. Thanks to your majesty. - -KING. But soft, Segasto, not for this offence. -Long may'st thou live; and when the Sisters shall decree -To cut in twain the twisted thread of life, -Then let him die: for this I set him free, -And for thy valour I will honour thee. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks to your majesty. - -KING. Come, daughter, let us now depart -To honour the worthy valour of the shepherd -With our rewards. - - [_Exeunt_. - -CLOWN. O master, hear you; you have made a fresh hand now; you would be -slow, you. Why, what will you do now? You have lost me a good occupation -by this means. Faith, master, now I cannot hang the shepherd. I pray you, -let me take the pains to hang you: it is but half an hour's exercise. - -SEGASTO. You are still in your knavery; but, sith I cannot have his life, -I will procure his banishment for ever. -Come on, sirrah. - -CLOWN. Yes, forsooth, I come. -Laugh at him, I pray you. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. From Amadine, and from her father's court, -With gold and silver, and with rich rewards -Flowing from the banks of golden treasuries. -More may I boast, and say, but I, -Was never shepherd in such dignity. - - _Enter the_ MESSENGER _and the_ CLOWN. - -MESSENGER. All hail, worthy shepherd! - -CLOWN. All rain, lousy shepherd! - -MUCEDORUS. Welcome, my friends, from whence come you? - -MESSENGER. The King and Amadine greet thee well, -And after greetings done, bids thee depart the court -Shepherd, begone. - -CLOWN. Shepherd, take law legs; fly away, shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. Whose words are these? Come these from Amadine? - -MESSENGER. Ay, from Amadine. - -CLOWN. Ay, from Amadine. - -MUCEDORUS. Ah! luckless fortune, worse than Phaeton's tale, -My former bliss is now become my bale. - -CLOWN. What, wilt thou poison thyself? - -MUCEDORUS. My former heaven is now become my hell. - -CLOWN. The worst alehouse -That I ever came in in all my life. - -MUCEDORUS. What shall I do? - -CLOWN. Even go hang thyself half an hour. - -MUCEDORUS. Can Amadine so churlishly command, -To banish the shepherd from her father's court? - -MESSENGER. What should shepherds do in the court? - -CLOWN. What should shepherds do among us? -Have we not lords enough o'er[175] us in the court? - -MUCEDORUS. Why, shepherds are men, and kings are no more. - -MESSENGER. Shepherds are men, and masters over their flock. - -CLOWN. That's a lie; who pays them their wages, then? - -MESSENGER. Well, you are always interrupting of me, -But you are best look to him, -Lest you hang for him, when he is gone. - [_Exit. - - The_ CLOWN _sings_. - -CLOWN. _And you shall hang for company, - For leaving me alone_. - -Shepherd, stand forth, and hear thy sentence. -Shepherd, begone within three days, in pain of -My displeasure; shepherd, begone; shepherd, begone, -Begone, begone, begone; shepherd, shepherd, shepherd. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. And must I go, and must I needs depart? -Ye goodly groves, partakers of my songs, -In time tofore, when fortune did not frown, -Pour forth your plaints, and wail awhile with me. -And thou bright sun, my comfort in the cold, -Hide, hide thy face, and leave me comfortless. -Ye wholesome herbs and sweet-smelling savours-- -Yea, each thing else prolonging life of man-- -Change, change your wonted course, that I, -Wanting your aid, in woful sort may die. - - _Enter_ AMADINE [_and_ ARIENA, _her maid_.] - -AMADINE. Ariena, if anybody ask for me, -Make some excuse, till I return. - -ARIENA. What, and Segasto call? - -AMADINE. Do thou the like to him? I mean not to stay long. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. This voice so sweet my pining spirits revives. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, well-met; tell me how thou doest. - -MUCEDORUS. I linger life, yet wish for speedy death. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, although thy banishment -Already be decreed, and all against my will, -Yet Amadine---- - -MUCEDORUS. Ah, Amadine! to hear -Of banishment is death--ay, double death to me; -But since I must depart, one thing I crave. - -AMADINE. Say on, with all my heart. - -MUCEDORUS. That in absence either far or near, -You honour me as servant with your name. - -AMADINE. Not so. - -MUCEDORUS. And why? - -AMADINE. I honour thee as sovereign of my heart. - -MUCEDORUS. A shepherd and a sovereign nothing like. - -AMADINE. Yet like enough, where there is no dislike. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet great dislike, or else no banishment. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, it is only Segasto that -Procures thy banishment. - -MUCEDORUS. Unworthy wights are most in jealousy. - -AMADINE. Would God they would -Free thee from banishment, or likewise banish me. - -MUCEDORUS. Amen say I, to have your company. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, sith thou sufferest -This for my sake, -With thee in exile also let me live, -On this condition, shepherd, thou canst love. - -MUCEDORUS. No longer love, no longer let me live. - -AMADINE. Of late I loved one indeed, now love -I none but only thee. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, worthy princess: -I burn likewise, yet smother up the blast, -I dare not promise what I may perform. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, hark what I shall say, -I will return unto my father's court, -There[176] to provide me of such necessaries -As for my journey I shall think most fit. -This being done, I will return to thee. Do thou -Therefore appoint the place, where we may meet. - -MUCEDORUS. Down in the valley where I slew the bear; -And there doth grow a fair broad branchèd beech, -That overshades a well: so who comes first, -Let them abide the happy meeting of -Us both. How like you this? - -AMADINE. I like it very well. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, if you please, you may appoint the time. - -AMADINE. Full three hours hence, God willing, I will return. - -MUCEDORUS. The thanks that Paris gave the Grecian queen, -The like doth Mucedorus yield. - -AMADINE. Then, Mucedorus, for three hours, farewell. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. Your departure, lady, breeds a privy pain. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _solus_. - -SEGASTO. 'Tis well, Segasto, that thou hast thy will. -Should such a shepherd, such a simple swain, -As he eclipse thy credit, famous through -The court? No, ply, Segasto, ply; -Let it not in Arragon be said, -A shepherd hath Segasto's honour won. - - _Enter_ MOUSE, _the Clown, calling his master_. - -CLOWN. What ho! master, will you come away? - -SEGASTO. Will you come hither, I pray you, what's the matter? - -CLOWN. Why, is it not past eleven o'clock? - -SEGASTO. How then, sir? - -CLOWN. I pray you, come away to dinner. - -SEGASTO. I pray you, come hither. - -CLOWN. Here's such a-do with you, will you never come? - -SEGASTO. I pray you, sir, what news of the message I sent you about? - -CLOWN. I tell you, all the messes be on the table already-- -(There wants not so much as a mess of mustard) half an hour ago. - -SEGASTO. Come, sir, your mind is all upon your belly. -You have forgotten what I did bid you do. - -CLOWN. Faith, I know nothing, but you bad me go to breakfast. - -SEGASTO. Was that all? - -CLOWN. Faith, I have forgotten it, the very scent of the meat made -me forget[177] it quite. - -SEGASTO. You have forgotten the errand I bid you do? - -CLOWN. What arrant? an arrant knave or an arrant whore? - -SEGASTO. Why, thou knave, did I not bid thee banish the shepherd? - -CLOWN. O, the shepherd's bastard? - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, the shepherd's banishment. - -CLOWN. I tell you, the shepherd's bastard shall be well kept; I'll look -to it myself. But I pray you, come away to dinner. - -SEGASTO. Then you will not tell me whether you have banished him, or no? - -CLOWN. Why, I cannot say _banishment_, and you would give me a thousand -pounds to say so. - -SEGASTO. Why, you whoreson slave, have you forgotten that I sent you -and another to drive away the shepherd. - -CLOWN. What an ass are you; here's a stir indeed, here's message, -arrant, banishment, and I cannot tell what. - -SEGASTO. I pray you, sir, shall I know whether you have drove him away. - -CLOWN. Faith, I think I have; and you will not believe me, ask my staff. - -SEGASTO. Why, can thy staff tell? - -CLOWN. Why, he was with me too. - -SEGASTO. Then happy I, that have obtain'd my will. - -CLOWN. And happier I, if you would go to dinner. - -SEGASTO. Come, sirrah, follow me. - -CLOWN. I warrant you, I will not lose an inch of you now you are going -to dinner, I promise you. I thought [it] seven year, before I could get -him away. [_Aside.] - [Exeunt. - - Enter_ AMADINE _sola_ - -AMADINE. God grant my long delay procures no harm, -Nor this my tarrying frustrate my pretence. -My Mucedorus surely stays for me, -And thinks me over long. At length I come, -My present promise to perform. -Ah, what a thing is firm, unfeigned love! -What is it which true love dares not attempt? -My father he may make, but I must match; -Segasto loves; but Amadine must like, -Where likes her best; compulsion is a thrall. -No, no, the hearty choice is all in all, -The shepherd's virtue Amadine esteems. -But what, methinks my shepherd is not come; -I muse at that, the hour is sure at hand. -Well, here I'll rest, till Mucedorus come. - [_She sits her down. - - Enter_ BREMO, _looking about; hastily [he] taketh hold of her_. - -BREMO. A happy prey! now, Bremo, feed on flesh: -Dainties, Bremo, dainties, thy hungry paunch to fill: -Now glut thy greedy guts with lukewarm blood. -Come, fight with me; I long to see thee dead. - -AMADINE. How can she fight, that weapons cannot wield? - -BREMO. What, canst not fight? Then lie thou down and die. - -AMADINE. What, must I die? - -BREMO. What needs these words? I thirst to suck thy blood. - -AMADINE. Yet pity me, and let me live awhile. - -BREMO. No pity I; I'll feed upon thy flesh, -I'll tear thy body piecemeal joint from joint. - -AMADINE. Ah, how I want my shepherd's company! - -BREMO. I'll crush thy bones betwixt two oaken trees. - -AMADINE. Haste, shepherd, haste, or else thou com'st too late. - -BREMO. I'll suck the sweetness from thy marrow bones. - -AMADINE. Ah, spare, ah, spare to shed my guiltless blood! - -BREMO. With this my bat will I beat out -Thy brains. Down, down, I say: -Prostrate thyself upon the ground. - -AMADINE. Then, Mucedorus, farewell, my hoped joys, farewell! -Yea, farewell life, and welcome present death. [_She kneels_. -To thee, O God, I yield my dying ghost. - -BREMO. Now, Bremo, play thy part. -How now, what sudden chance is this? -My limbs do tremble, and my sinews shake; -My unweak'ned arms have lost their former force. -Ah, Bremo, Bremo! what a foil hast thou, -That yet at no time ever wast afraid -To dare the greatest gods to fight with thee, [_He strikes_. -And now want strength for one down-driving blow? -Ah, how my courage fails, when I should strike! -Some new-come spirit abiding in my breast, -Say'th, _Spare her, Bremo; spare her, do not kill_. -Shall I[178] spare her, which never spared any? -To it, Bremo, to it; essay[179] again. -I cannot wield my weapons in my hand; -Methinks I should not strike so fair a one, -I think her beauty hath bewitch'd my force, -Or else within me altered nature's course. -Ay, woman, wilt thou live in woods with me? - -AMADINE. Fain would I live, yet loth to live in woods. - -BREMO. Thon shalt not choose; it shall be as I say; -And therefore follow me. - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. It was my will an hour ago and more, -As was my promise, for to make return; -But other business hind'red my pretence. -It is a world to see, when man appoints, -And purposely one certain thing decrees, -How many things may hinder his intent. -What one would wish, the same is farthest off. -But yet th'appointed time cannot be past, -Nor hath her presence yet prevented[180] me. -Well, here I'll stay, and expect the coming. - - [_They cry within, Hold him, stay him, hold_! - -MUCEDORUS. Some one or other is pursued, no doubt; -Perhaps some search for me; 'tis good -To doubt the worst, therefore I will be gone. - [_Exit. - - Cry within, Hold him, hold him! Enter_ MOUSE, _the - Clown, with a pot_. - -CLOWN. Hold him, hold him, hold him! here's a stir indeed. Here came -hue after the crier, and I was set close at mother Nip's house, and -there I call'd for three pots of ale, as 'tis the manner of us courtiers. -Now, sirrah, I had taken the maidenhead of two of them--now, as I was -lifting up the third to my mouth, there came, Hold him, hold him! Now I -could not tell whom to catch hold on; but I am sure I caught one, -perchance a may be in this pot. Well, I'll see. Mass, I cannot see him -yet; well, I'll look a little further. Mass, he is a little slave, if a -be here; why here's nobody. All this goes well yet; but if the old trot -should come for her pot?--ay, marry, there's the matter. But I care not; -I'll face her out, and call her old rusty, dusty, musty, fusty, crusty -firebrand, and worse than all that, and so face her out of her pot. But -soft! here she comes. - - _Enter the_ OLD WOMAN. - -OLD WOMAN. Come on, you knave; where's my pot, you knave? - -CLOWN. Go, look your pot; come not to me for your pot, 'twere good -for you. - -OLD WOMAN. Thou liest, thou knave; thou hast my pot. - -CLOWN. You lie, and you say it. I, your pot? I know what I'll say. - -OLD WOMAN, Why, what wilt thou say? - -CLOWN. But say I have him, and thou dar'st. - -OLD WOMAN. Why, thou knave, thou hast not only my pot, but my drink -unpaid for. - -CLOWN. You lie like an old--I will not say whore. - -OLD WOMAN. Dost thou call me whore? I'll cap thee for my pot. - -CLOWN. Cap me, and thou darest; search me, whether I have it or no. - - [_She searcheth him, and he drinketh over her - head, and casts down the pot. She stumbleth - at it, then they fall together by the ears; - she takes her pot and goes out. - - Enter_ SEGASTO. - -SEGASTO. How now, sirrah, what's the matter? - -CLOWN. O, flies, master, flies. - -SEGASTO. Flies? where are they? - -CLOWN. O, here, master, all about your face. - -SEGASTO. Why, thou liest; I think thou art mad. - -CLOWN. Why, master, I have kill'd a dungcartful at the least. - -SEGASTO. Go to, sirrah. Leaving this idle talk, give ear to me. - -CLOWN. How, give you one of my ears? not, and you were ten masters. - -SEGASTO. Why, sir, I bad you give ear to my words. - -CLOWN. I tell you, I will not be made a curtal for no man's pleasure. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, attend what I say. Go thy ways straight, and rear -the whole town. - -CLOWN. How, rear the town? even go yourself; it is more than I can do. -Why, do you think I can rear a town, that can scarce rear a pot of ale -to my head? I should rear a town, should I not! - -SEGASTO. Go to the constable, and make a privy search; for the shepherd -is run away with the King's daughter. - -CLOWN. How? is the shepherd run away with the King's daughter, or is the -King's daughter run away with the shepherd? - -SEGASTO. I cannot tell; but they are both gone together. - -CLOWN. What a fool she is to run away with the shepherd! Why, I think I -am a little handsomer man than the shepherd myself; but tell me, master, -must I make a privy search, or search in the privy? - -SEGASTO. Why, dost thou think they will be there? - -CLOWN. I cannot tell. - -SEGASTO. Well, then, search everywhere; leave no place unsearched -for them. - [_Exit_. - -CLOWN. O, now am I in office, now will I to that old firebrand's house, -and will not leave one place unsearched. Nay, I'll to her ale-stand, -and drink as long as I can stand; and when I have done, I'll let out -all the rest, to see if he be not hid in the barrel. And I find him not -there, I'll to the cupboard. I'll not leave one corner of her house -unsearched. I'faith, ye old crust, I will be with you now. - [_Exit. - - [Sound music.] - - Enter the_ KING OF VALENTIA, ANSELMO, RODERIGO, - LORD BORACHIUS, _with others_. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Enough of music; it but adds to torment. -Delights to vexed spirits are as dates -Set to a sickly man, which rather cloy than comfort: -Let me entreat you to entreat no more. - -RODERIGO. Let yon strings sleep; have done there. - - [_Let the music cease_. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Mirth to a soul disturb'd is[181] embers turn'd, -Which sudden gleam with molestation, -But sooner lose their sight for it. -'Tis gold bestow'd upon a rioter, -Which not relieves, but murders him: -'Tis a drug given to the healthful, -Which infects, not cures. -How can a father, that hath lost his son: -A prince both wise, virtuous, and valiant, -Take pleasure in the idle acts of time? -No, no; till Mucedorus I shall see again, -All joy is comfortless, all pleasure pain. - -ANSELMO. Your son, my lord, is well. - -KING OF VALENTIA. I prythee, speak that thrice. - -ANSELMO. The prince, your son, is safe. - -KING OF VALENTIA. O, where, Anselmo? surfeit me with that. - -ANSELMO. In Arragon, my liege; and at his 'parture, -[He] bound my secrecy by his affection's love, -Not to disclose it. -But care of him, and pity of your age, -Makes my tongue blab what my breast vow'd-- -Concealment. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Thou not deceiv'st me? I ever thought thee -What I find thee now, an upright, loyal man. -But what desire or young-fed humour, nurs'd -Within the brain, drew him so privately -To Arragon? - -ANSELMO. A forcing adamant: -Love, mix'd with fear and doubtful jealousy: -Whether report gilded a worthless trunk, -Or Amadine deserved her high extolment. - -KING OF VALENTIA. See our provision be in readiness, -Collect us followers of the comeliest hue, -For our chief guardians; we will thither wend. -The crystal eyes of heaven shall not thrice wink, -Nor the green flood six times his shoulders turn, -Till we salute the Arragonian king. -Music, speak loudly; now the season's apt, -For former dolors are in pleasure wrapt. - - [_Exeunt omnes] - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS, _to disguise himself_. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, Mucedorus, whither wilt thou go? -Home to thy father to thy native soil, -Or try some long abode within these woods? -Well, I will hence depart, and hie me home. -What, hie me home, said I? that may not be; -In Amadine rests my felicity. -Then, Mucedorus, do as thou didst decree: -Attire thee hermit-like within these groves; -Walk often to the beech, and view the well; -Make settles there, and seat thyself thereon; -And when thou feelest thyself to be athirst, -Then drink a hearty draught to Amadine. -No doubt, she thinks on thee, and will one day -Come pledge thee at this well. -Come, habit, thou art fit for me. [_He disguiseth himself_. -No shepherd now: a hermit I must be. -Methinks this fits me very well. -Now must I learn to bear a walking-staff, -And exercise some gravity withal. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN. - -CLOWN. Here's through the woods and through the woods, to look out a -shepherd and stray king's daughter. But soft! who have we here? what -art thou? - -MUCEDORUS. I am an hermit. - -CLOWN. An emmet? I never saw such a big emmet in all my life before. - -MUCEDORUS. I tell you, sir, I am an hermit: one that leads a solitary -life within these woods. - -CLOWN. O, I know thee now, thou art he[182] that eats up all the hips -and haws; we could not have one piece of fat bacon for thee all this -year. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou dost mistake me; but I pray thee, tell me what dost -thou seek in these woods? - -CLOWN. What do I seek? for a stray king's daughter run away with a -shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. A stray king's daughter run away with a shepherd. -Wherefore? canst thou tell? - -CLOWN. Yes, that I can; 'tis this. My master and Amadine walking one -day abroad, nearer to these woods than they were used (about what I -cannot tell); but toward them comes running a great bear. Now my master -he played the man, and ran away; and Amadine, crying after him;--now, -sir, comes me a shepherd, and he strikes off the bear's head. Now, -whether the bear were dead before or no, I cannot tell; for bring -twenty bears before me, and bind their hands and feet, and I'll kill -them all. Now, ever since, Amadine hath been in love with the shepherd; -and for goodwill she's even run away with the shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. What manner of man was a? canst describe him unto me? - -CLOWN. Scribe him? ay, I warrant you, that I can. A was a little, low, -broad, tall, narrow, big, well-favoured fellow: a jerkin of white cloth, -and buttons of the same cloth. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou describest him well; but if I chance to see any such, -pray you, where shall I find you, or what's your name? - -CLOWN. My name is called Master Mouse. - -MUCEDORUS. O Master Mouse, I pray you, what office might you bear -in the court? - -CLOWN. Marry, sir, I am a rusher of the stable. - -MUCEDORUS. O, usher of the table. - -CLOWN. Nay, I say rusher, and I'll prove my office good. For look, sir, -when any comes from under the sea or so, and a dog chance to blow his -nose backward, then with a whip I give him the good time of the day, -and straw rushes presently. Therefore I am a rusher: a high office, -I promise ye. - -MUCEDORUS. But where shall I find you in the court? - -CLOWN. Why, where it is best being, either in the kitchen a eating, or -in the buttery drinking. But if you come, I will provide for thee a -piece of beef and brewis knuckle-deep in fat. Pray you, take pains; -remember Master Mouse. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. Ay, sir, I warrant I will not forget you. -Ah, Amadine! what should become of thee? -Whither shouldst thou go so long unknown? -With watch and ward each passage is beset, -Doubtless she hath lost herself within these woods, -And wand'ring to and fro she seeks the well, -Which yet she cannot find; -Therefore will I seek her out. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ BREMO _and_ AMADINE. - -BREMO. Amadine! -How like you Bremo and his woods? - -AMADINE. As like the woods of Bremo's cruelty. -Though I were dumb, and could not answer him, -The beasts themselves would with relenting tears -Bewail thy savage and unhuman deeds. - -BREMO. My love, why dost thou murmur to thyself? -Speak louder, for thy Bremo hears thee not. - -AMADINE. My Bremo? no, the shepherd is my love. - -BREMO. Have I not saved thee from sudden death, -Giving thee leave to live, that thou might'st love? -And dost thou whet me on to cruelty? -Come, kiss me (sweet) for all my favours past. - -AMADINE. I may not, Bremo, and therefore pardon me. - -BREMO. See how she flings away from me; -I will follow and give a rend[183] to her. [_Aside_. -Deny my love; ah, worm of beauty! -I will chastise thee; come, come, -Prepare thy head upon the block. - -AMADINE. O, spare me, Bremo! love should limit life, -Not to be made a murderer of himself. -If thou wilt glut thy loving heart with blood, -Encounter with the lion or the bear, -And (like a wolf) prey not upon a lamb. - -BREMO. Why, then, dost thou repine at me? -If thou wilt love me, thou shalt be my queen; -I will crown thee with a complet made of ivory, -And make the rose and lily wait on thee. -I'll rend the burly branches from the oak,[184] -To shadow thee from burning sun: -The trees shall spread themselves where thou dost go; -And as they spread, I'll trace along with thee. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. Thou shalt be fed with quails and partridges, -With blackbirds, larks, thrushes, and nightingales. -Thy drink shall be goats' milk and crystal water, -Distill'd from the fountains and the clearest springs, -And all the dainties that the woods afford -I'll freely give thee to obtain thy love. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. The day I'll spend to recreate my love, -With all the pleasures that I can devise, -And in the night I'll be thy bed-fellow, -And lovingly embrace thee in mine arms. - -AMADINE. One may; so may not you. [_Aside_. - -BREMO. The satyrs and the wood-nymphs shall attend -On thee, and lull thee asleep with music's sound, -And in the morning, when thou dost awake, -The lark shall sing good morrow to my queen, -And whilst he sings, I'll kiss my Amadine. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. When thou art up, the wood-lanes shall be strawed -With violets, cowslips, and sweet marigolds, -For thee to trample and to trace upon; -And I will teach thee how to kill the deer, -To chase the hart, and how to rouse the roe, -If thou wilt live to love and honour me. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS. - -BREMO. Welcome, sir, an hour ago I look'd for such a guest. -Be merry, wench, we'll have a frolic feast, -Here's flesh enough for to suffice us both, -Say, sirrah, wilt thou fight, or dost thou yield to die? - -MUCEDORUS. I want a weapon; how can I fight? - -BREMO. Thou want'st a weapon? why, then thou yield'st to die. - -MUCEDORUS. I say not so; I do not yield to die. - -BREMO. Thou shalt not choose; I long to see thee dead. - -AMADINE. Yet spare him, Bremo, spare him. - -BREMO. Away, I say, I will not spare him. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet give me leave to speak. - -BREMO. Thou shalt not speak. - -AMADINE. Yet give him leave to speak for my sake. - -BREMO. Speak on; but be not over-long. - -MUCEDORUS. In time of yore, when men (like brutish beasts) -Did lead their lives in loathsome cells and woods, -And wholly gave themselves to witless will -(A rude, unruly rout), then man to man became -A present prey: then might prevailed: -The weakest went to wall, -Right was unknown; for wrong was all in all. -As men thus lived in this[185] great outrage, -Behold, one Orpheus came (as poets tell), -And them from rudeness unto reason brought: -Who led by reason, some forsook the woods; -Instead of caves, they built them castles strong; -Cities and towns were founded by them then. -Glad were they, [that] they found such ease, -And in the end they grew to perfect amity. -Weighing their former wickedness, -They term'd the time, wherein they lived then -A golden age, a goodly golden age. -Now, Bremo, for so I hear thee called, -If men which lived tofore, as thou dost now, -Wildly[186] in wood, addicted all to spoil, -Returned were by worthy Orpheus' means, -Let me (like Orpheus) cause thee to return -From murder, bloodshed, and like cruelty. -What, should we fight before we have a cause? -No, let us live and love together faithfully-- -I'll fight for thee-- - -BREMO. Fight for me or die? Or fight, or else thou diest? - -AMADINE. Hold, Bremo, hold! - -BREMO. Away, I say; thou troublest me. - -AMADINE. You promised me to make me your queen. - -BREMO. I did; I mean no less. - -AMADINE. You promised that I should have my will. - -BREMO. I did; I mean no less. - -AMADINE. Then save this hermit's life; for he may save us both. - -BREMO. At thy request I'll spare him, -But never any after him. Say, hermit, -What canst thou do? - -MUCEDORUS. I'll wait on thee; sometime upon thy queen. -Such service shalt thou shortly have as Bremo never had. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO, _the_ CLOWN, _and_ RUMBELO. - -SEGASTO. Come, sirs; what, shall I never have you -Find out Amadine and the shepherd. - -CLOWN. And I have been through the woods, and through the woods, -And could see nothing but an emmet. - -RUMBELO. Why, I see a thousand emmets; thou meanest a little one? - -CLOWN. Nay, that emmet that I saw was bigger than thou art. - -RUMBELO. Bigger than I? what a fool have you to your man? I pray you, -master, turn him away. - -SEGASTO. But dost thou hear, was he not a man? - -CLOWN. I think he was, for he said he did lead a salt-seller's life -about the woods. - -SEGASTO. Thou wouldest say, a solitary life about the woods? - -CLOWN. I think it was so indeed. - -RUMBELO. I thought what a fool thou art. - -CLOWN. Thou art a wise man; why, he did nothing but sleep since he went. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, Mouse, how did he go? - -CLOWN. In a white gown, and a white hat on his head, and a staff -in his hand. - -SEGASTO. I thought so; it was a hermit that walked a solitary life -in the woods. Well, get you to dinner; and after never leave seeking, -till you bring some news of them, or I'll hang you both. - [_Exit_. - -CLOWN. How now, Rumbelo, what shall we do now? - -RUMBELO. Faith, I'll home to dinner, and afterward to sleep. - -CLOWN. Why, then thou wilt be hanged. - -RUMBELO. Faith, I care not; for I know I shall never find them. -Well, I'll once more abroad, and if I cannot find them, I'll never -come home again. - -CLOWN. I tell thee what, Rumbelo; thou shalt go in at one end of the -wood, and I at the other, and we will meet both together in the midst. - -RUMBELO. Content; let's away to dinner. - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. Unknown to any here within these woods, -With bloody Bremo do I lead my life. -The monster he doth murther all he meets; -He spareth none, and none doth him escape. -Who would continue--who, but only I-- -In such a cruel cutthroat's company? -Yet Amadine is there; how can I choose? -Ah, silly soul! how oftentimes she sits -And sighs, and calls, _Come, shepherd, come; -Sweet Mucedorus, come and set me free_, -When Mucedorus present stands her by! -But here she comes. - - _Enter_ AMADINE. - -What news, fair lady, as you walk these woods? - -AMADINE. Ah, hermit! none but bad, and such -As thou knowest. - -MUCEDORUS. How do you like -Your Bremo and his woods? - -AMADINE. Not my Bremo, -Nor Bremo's[187] woods. - -MUCEDORUS. And why not yours? -Methinks he loves you well. - -AMADINE. I like him not. -His love to me is nothing worth. - -MUCEDORUS. Lady, in this (methinks) you offer wrong, -To hate the man that ever loves you best. - -AMADINE. Hermit,[188] I take no pleasure in his love, -Neither doth Bremo like me best. - -MUCEDORUS. Pardon my boldness, lady,[189] sith we both -May safely talk now out of Bremo's sight. Unfold -To me (if so you please) the full discourse, -How, when, and why you came into these woods, -And fell into this bloody butcher's hands. - -AMADINE. Hermit, I will; -Of late a worthy shepherd I did love-- - -MUCEDORUS. A shepherd, lady? Sure, a man unfit -To match with you! - -AMADINE. Hermit, 'tis[190] true; and when we had-- - -MUCEDORUS. Stay there, the wild man comes; -Refer the rest until another time. - - _Enter_ BREMO. - -BREMO. What secret tale is this, what whispering have we here? -Villain, I charge thee tell thy tale again. - -MUCEDORUS. If needs I must, lo! here it is again: -When as we both had lost the sight of thee, -It griev'd us both, but specially the queen. -Who in thy absence ever fears the worst, -Lest some mischance befall your royal grace. -Shall my sweet Bremo wander through the woods: -Toil to and fro for to redress my wants: -Hazard his life, and all to cherish me? -I like not this, quoth she. -And thereupon [she] crav'd to know of me, -If I could teach her handle weapons well. -My answer was, I had small skill therein, -But glad, most mighty king, to learn of thee. -And this was all. - -BREMO. Was't so? -None can dislike of this. I'll teach -You both to fight. But first, my queen, begin: -Here, take this weapon; see how thou canst use it. - -AMADINE. This is too big; -I cannot wield it in my arm. - -BREMO. Is't so, we'll have a knotty crabtree staff for thee: -But, sirrah, tell me, what say'st thou? - -MUCEDORUS. With all my heart I willing am to learn. - -BREMO. Then take my staff, and see how thou canst wield it. - -MUCEDORUS. First teach me how to hold it in my hand. - -BREMO. Thou hold'st it well. [To _Amadine_.] -Look how he doth; -Thou mayest the sooner learn. - -MUCEDORUS. Next tell me how and when 'tis best to strike. - -BREMO. 'Tis best to strike when time doth serve, -'Tis best to lose no time. - -MUCEDORUS. Then now or never is my time to strike. - -BREMO. And when thou strikest, be sure to hit the head. - -MUCEDORUS. The head? - -BREMO. The very head. - -MUCEDORUS. Then have at thine, -So lie there and die; [_He strikes him down dead_. -A death, no doubt, according to desert, -Or else a worse, as thou deservest a worse. - -AMADINE. It glads my heart this tyrant's death to see. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, lady, it remains in you -To end the tale you lately had begun, -Being interrupted by this wicked wight-- -You said you loved a shepherd? - -AMADINE. Ay, so I do, and none but only him; -And will do still, as long as life shall last. - -MUCEDORUS. But tell me, lady, sith I set you free, -What course of life do you intend to take? - -AMADINE. I will (disguised) wander through the world -Till I have found him out. - -MUCEDORUS. How, if you find your shepherd in these woods? - -AMADINE. Ah! none so happy then as Amadine.[191] - -MUCEDORUS. In tract of time a man may alter much: -Say, lady, do you know your shepherd well? - [_He discovers himself_. - -AMADINE. My Mucedorus, hath he set me free? - -MUCEDORUS. He hath set thee free. - -AMADINE. And lived so long -Unknown to Amadine? - -MUCEDORUS. Ay, that's a question -Whereof you may not be resolved. -You know that I am banish'd from the court, -I know likewise each passage is beset, -So that we cannot long escape unknown, -Therefore my will is this, that we return, -Right through the thickets, to the wild man's cave, -And there a while live on his provision, -Until the search and narrow watch be past: -This is my counsel, and I think it best. - -AMADINE. I think the very same. - -MUCEDORUS. Come, let's begone. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN, _who searches and falls over the - wild man, and so carries him away_. - -CLOWN. Nay, soft, sir, are you here? a bots on you! -I was like to be hanged for not finding you, -We would borrow a certain stray king's daughter of you; -A wench, a wench, sir, we would have. - -MUCEDORUS. A wench of me? I'll make thee eat my sword. - -CLOWN. O Lord, nay, and you are so lusty, -I'll call a cooling card for you: -Ho, master, master, come away quickly! - - _Enter_ SEGASTO. - -SEGASTO. What's the matter? - -CLOWN. Look, master, Amandine and the shepherd! O brave! - -SEGASTO. What, minion, have I found you out? - -CLOWN. Nay, that's a lie, I found her out myself. - -SEGASTO. Thou gadding huswife, -What cause hadst thou to gad abroad, -When as thou knowest our wedding-day so nigh? - -AMADINE. Not so, Segasto; no such thing in hand. -Show your assurance, then I'll answer you? - -SEGASTO. Thy father's promise my assurance is. - -AMADINE. But what he promis'd he hath not perform'd. - -SEGASTO. It rests in thee to perform the same. - -AMADINE. Not I. - -SEGASTO. And why? - -AMADINE. So is my will, and therefore even so. - -CLOWN. Master, with a nonny, nonny, no.[192] - -SEGASTO. Ah, wicked villain! art thou here? - -MUCEDORUS. What needs these words? we weigh them not. - -SEGASTO. We weigh them not! proud shepherd, I scorn thy company. - -CLOWN. We'll not have a corner of thy company. - -MUCEDORUS. I scorn not thee, nor yet the least of thine. - -CLOWN. That's a lie, a would have kill'd me with his pugs-nando. - -SEGASTO. This stoutness, Amadine, contents me not. - -AMADINE. Then seek another, that may you better please. - -MUCEDORUS. Well, Amadine. it only rests in thee -Without delay to make thy choice of three. -There stands Segasto: here a shepherd stands: -There stands the third. Now make thy choice. - -CLOWN. A lord at the least I am. - -AMADINE. My choice is made; for I will none but thee. - -SEGASTO. A worthy mate, no doubt, for such a wife. - -MUCEDORUS. And, Amadine, why wilt thou none but me? -I cannot keep thee, as thy father did; -I have no lands for to maintain thy state; -Moreover, if thou mean to be my wife, -Commonly this must be thy use: -To bed at midnight, up at four, -Drudge all day, and trudge from place to place, -Whereby our daily victuals for to win: -And last of all, which is the worst of all, -No princess then, but a plain shepherd's wife. - -CLOWN. Then God gi' you good morrow, goody shepherd! [_Aside_. - -AMADINE. It shall not need; if Amadine do live, -Thou shalt be crowned King of Arragon. - -CLOWN. O master, laugh; when he's king, then I'll be a queen. [_Aside_. - -MUCEDORUS. Then know that, which never tofore was known, -I am no shepherd, no Arragonian I, -But born of royal blood. My father's of Valentia -King, my mother Queen: who, for thy secret[193] sake, -Took this hard task in hand. - -AMADINE. Ah, how I joy my fortune is so good! - -SEGASTO. Well, now I see Segasto shall not speed; -But, Mucedorus, I as much do joy -To see thee here within our Court of Arragon, -As if a kingdom had befallen me this time. -I with my heart surrender her to thee. - [_He giveth her unto him_. -And loose[194] what right to Amadine I have. - -CLOWN. What, [a] barn's door, and born where my father -Was constable. A bots on thee! how dost thee? [_Aside_. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, Segasto; but yet you levell'd at the crown. - -CLOWN. Master, bear this and bear all. - -SEGASTO. Why so, sir? - -CLOWN. He sees you take a goose by the crown. - -SEGASTO. Go to, sir, away, post you to the King, -Whose heart is fraught with careful doubts; -Glad him up, and tell him these good news, -And we will follow as fast as we may. - -CLOWN. I go, master; I run, master. - - [_Exeunt severally. - - Enter the_ KING _and_ COLLEN. - -KING. Break, heart, and end my pallid[195] woes! -My Amadine, the comfort of my life, -How can I joy, except she were in sight? -Her absence breedeth sorrow to my soul, -And with a thunder breaks my heart in twain. - -COLLEN. Forbear those passions, gentle King, -And you shall see 'twill turn unto the best, -And bring your soul to quiet and to joy. - -KING. Such joy as death, I do assure me that, -And nought but death, unless of her I hear, -And that with speed; I cannot sigh thus long-- -But what a tumult do I hear within? - - [_They cry within, Joy and happiness_! - -COLLEN. I hear a noise of overpassing joy -Within the court. My lord, be of good comfort. -And here comes one in haste. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN, _running_. - -CLOWN. A King, a king, a king! - -COLLEN. Why, how now, sirrah? what's the matter? - -CLOWN. O, 'tis news for a king; 'tis worth money. - -KING. Why, sirrah, thou shalt have silver and gold, if it be good. - -CLOWN. O, 'tis good, 'tis good. Amadine-- - -KING. O, what of her? tell me, and I will make thee a knight. - -CLOWN. How, a sprite? no, by Lady, I will not be a sprite, masters. -Get ye away; if I be a sprite, I shall be so lean, I shall make you -all afraid. - -COLLEN. Thou sot, the King means to make thee a gentleman. - -CLOWN. Why, I shall want 'pparel. - -KING. Thou shalt want for nothing. - -CLOWN. Then stand away; trick[196] up thyself; here they come. - - _Enter_ SEGASTO, MUCEDORUS, _and_ AMADINE. - -AMADINE. My gracious father, pardon thy disloyal daughter. - -KING. What, do mine eyes behold my daughter -Amadin? Rise up, dear daughter, -And let these my embracing arms show some -Token of thy father's joy, which, ever since -Thy departure, hath languished in sorrow. - -AMADINE. Dear father, -Never were your sorrows greater than my griefs: -Never you so desolate as I comfortless. -Yet, nevertheless, acknowledging myself -To be the cause of both, on bended knees -I humbly crave your pardon. - -KING. I'll pardon thee, dear daughter, but as for -Him---- - -AMADINE. Ah, father! what of him? - -KING. As sure as I am king, and wear the crown, -I will revenge on that accursed wretch. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet, worthy prince, work not thy will in wrath: -Show favour. - -KING. Ay, such favour as thou deservest. - -MUCEDORUS. I do deserve the daughter of a king. - -KING. O, impudent! a shepherd and so insolent? - -MUCEDORUS. No shepherd [am] I, but a worthy prince. - -KING. In fair conceit, not princely born. - -MUCEDORUS. Yes, princely born; my father is a king, -My mother queen, and of Valentia both. - -KING. What, Mucedorus? welcome to our court! -What cause hadst thou to come to me disguis'd? - -MUCEDORUS. No cause to fear; I caused no offence, -But this--desiring thy daughter's virtues for to see, -Disguis'd myself from out my father's court, -Unknown to any. In secret I did rest, -And passed many troubles near to death; -So hath your daughter my partaker been, -As you shall know hereafter more at large, -Desiring you, you will give her to me, -Even as mine own, and sovereign of my life, -Then shall I think my travels are well spent. - -KING. With all my heart, but this-- -Segasto claims my promise made tofore, -That he should have her as his only wife, -Before my council, when we came from war. -Segasto, may I crave thee let it pass, -And give Amadine as wife to Mucedorus. - -SEGASTO. With all my heart, were it a far greater thing, -And what I may to furnish up their rites, -With pleasing sports and pastimes you shall see. - -KING. Thanks, good Segasto; I will think of this. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, good my lord; and while I live, -Account of me in what I can or may. - -AMADINE. And, good Segasto, these great courtesies -Shall not be forgot. - -CLOWN. Why, hark you, master! bones, what have you done? What, given -away the wench you made me take such pains for? you are wise indeed; -mass, and I had known of that, I would have had her myself. Faith, -master, now we may go to breakfast with a woodcock-pie. - -SEGASTO. Go, sir; you were best leave this knavery. - -KING. Come on, my lords, let's now to court, -Where we may finish up the joyfullest day -That ever happ'd to a distressed king.[197] -With mirth and joy and great solemnity -We'll finish up these Hymen's rites most pleasantly. - -CLOWN. Ho, lords! at the first, I am one too; but hear, Master King, -by your leave, a cast. Now you have done with them, I pray you begin -with me. - -KING. Why, what wouldst thou have? - -CLOWN. O, you forgot now! a little apparel to make's handsome. What, -should lords go so beggarly as I do? - -KING. What I did promise thee, I will perform. -Attend on me: come, let's depart. - - [_They all speak_. - -We'll wait on you with all our hearts. - -CLOWN. And with a piece of my liver too. - - [_Exeunt omnes_. - - _Enter_ COMEDY _and_ ENVY. - -COMEDY. How now, Envy? what, blushest thou already? -Peep forth, hide not thy head with shame; -But with a courage praise a woman's deeds. -Thy threats were vain, thou couldst do me no hurt, -Although thou seem'st to cross me with despite, -I overwhelm'd and turn'd upside down thy block, -And made thyself to stumble at the same. - -ENVY. Though stumbled, yet not overthrown: -Thou canst not draw my heart to mildness, -Yet must I needs confess thou hast done well, -And play'd thy part with mirth and pleasant glee. -Say all this; yet canst thou not conquer me, -Although this time thou hast got-- -Yet not the conquest neither, -A double revenge another time I'll have.[198] - -COMEDY. Then, caitiff cursed, stoop upon thy knee; -Yield to a woman, though not to me, -And from her foes high God defend her still, -That they 'gainst her may never work their will. - -ENVY. Envy, were he never so stout -Would beck and bow unto her majesty. -Indeed, Comedy, thou hast overrun me now, -And forc'd me stoop unto a woman's sway. -God grant her grace amongst us long may reign, -And those that would not have it so, -Would that by Envy soon their hearts they might forego. - -COMEDY. The council, nobles, and this realm, -Lord, guide it still with thy most holy hand! -The Commons and the subjects, grant them grace. -Their prince to serve, her to obey, and treason to deface: -Long may she reign in joy and great felicity, -Each Christian heart do say amen with me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - - - -THE TWO ANGRY WOMEN OF ABINGTON. - - - -_EDITION. - -The Pleasant Historie of the two angrie women of Abington. With the -humorous mirthe of Dick Coomes and Nicholas Prouerbes, two Seruingmen. -As it was lately playde by the right Honorable the Earle of Nottingham, -Lord high Admirall, his seruants. By Henry Porter Gent. Imprinted at -London for Ioseph Hunt, and William Ferbrand, and are to be solde at -the Corner of Colman-streete, neere Loathburie_. 1599. 4º. - -Another 4º, printed for Ferbrand alone, was published during the same -year.--_Dyce_. - - - - -[DYCE'S PREFACE.][199] - - -The text of the former 4°, which is, I apprehend, the earlier impression, -has been adopted in the present reprint, except where the readings of the -other edition have been occasionally preferred, and where obvious -typographical errors have been rectified. Every minute particular in -which the second 4° differs from the first, I have thought it unnecessary -to note. The absurd punctuation and faulty metrical arrangement of the -old copy have not been followed; and I must be allowed to add that I have -retained the original spelling only in accordance to the decision of the -Percy Council.[200] - -Though Henry Porter was a dramatist of considerable reputation, all his -productions, except the copy now reprinted, appear to have utterly -perished; and, I believe, the only materials to be found for his -biography are the subjoined memoranda in the Diary of Henslowe:[201]-- - - Pd this 23 of Aguste 1597 to Harey Porter to carye to | - T. Nashe now at this tyme in the fflete for wrytinge of | s - _the eylle of Dogges_ ten shellinges to bee paide agen to | x - me when he canne I say ten shillinges | - - Lent unto the company the 30 of Maye 1598 to bye a boocke | li - [202] called _Love prevented_ the some of fower powndes dd. | iiij - to Thomas Dowton, Mr Porter | - - Lent unto the company the 18 of Aguste 1598 to bye a Booke | li - called _Hoote Anger sone cowld_ of Mr Porter, Mr Cheattell | vj - and bengemen Johnson in full payment, the some of | - - Lent unto Thomas Dowton the 22 of Desember 1598 to bye a | li - boocke of Harey Porter called _the 2 pte of the 2 angrey_ | v - _Wemen of Abengton_ | - - Let unto Harey Porter at the request of the company in | - earnest of his booke called _ij merey women of abington_ | - the some of forty shellings and for the resayte of that | s - money he gave me his faythfull promise that I should have | xl - alle his bookes which he writte ether him selfe or with | - any other which some was dd. the 28th of febreary 1598[-9]. | - - Lent unto Harey Cheattell the 4 of March 1598[-9] in | s - earneste of his boocke which Harey Porter and he is a | x - writtinge the some of--called _the Spencers_. | - - Lent Harey Porter the 11 of Aprell 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Lent Hary Porter the 16 of Aprell 1599 the some of[203] | d - | xij - - Lent Harey Porter the 5 of Maye 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Lent Harey Porter the 15 of Maye 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Be it knowne unto all men that I Henry Porter do owe unto - Phillip Henchlowe the some of x's of lawfull money of - England which I did borrowe of hym the 26 of Maye a'o. dom. - 1599 Henry Porter[204]. - -"The Two Angry Women of Abington" is thus noticed by the late Charles -Lamb: "The pleasant comedy from which these extracts are taken is -contemporary with some of the earliest of Shakespeare's, and is no whit -inferior to either the 'Comedy of Errors' or the 'Taming of the Shrew,' -for instance. It is full of business, humour, and merry malice. Its -night scenes are peculiarly sprightly and wakeful. The versification -unencumbered, and rich with compound epithets."[205] - A.D. - - - -THE PROLOGUE. - -Gentlemen, I come to ye like one that lacks and would borrow, but was -loth to ask, lest he should be denied: I would ask, but I would ask to -obtain; O, would I knew that manner of asking! To beg were base; and to -couch low, and to carry an humble show of entreaty, were too dog-like, -that fawns on his master to get a bone from his trencher: out, cur! I -cannot abide it; to put on the shape and habit of this new world's -new-found beggars, mistermed soldiers[206], as thus: "Sweet gentlemen, -let a poor scholar implore and exerate that you would make him rich in -the possession of a mite of your favours, to keep him a true man in wit, -and to pay for his lodging among the Muses! so God him help, he is -driven to a most low estate! 'tis not unknown what service of words he -hath been at; he lost his limbs in a late conflict of flout; a brave -repulse and a hot assault it was, he doth protest, as ever he saw, since -he knew what the report of a volley of jests were; he shall therefore -desire you"--A plague upon it, each beadle disdained would whip him from -your company. Well, gentlemen, I cannot tell how to get your favours -better than by desert: then the worse luck, or the worse wit, or -somewhat, for I shall not now deserve it. Well, then[207], I commit -myself to my fortunes and your contents; contented to die, if your severe -judgments shall judge me to be stung to death with the adder's hiss. - - - -THE NAMES OF THE SPEAKERS.[208] - - -M[ASTER] GOURSEY. -MIST[RESS] GOURSEY. -M[ASTER] BARNES. -MIST[RESS] BARNES. -FRANK GOURSEY. -PHILIP [BARNES.] -BOY. -MALL BARNES. -DICK COOMES. -HODGE. -NICHOLAS PROVERBS. -SIR RALPH SMITH. -[LADY SMITH.] -WILL, _Sir Ralph's man. -[Other Attendants_.] - - - - -THE PLEASANT COMEDY OF THE TWO ANGRY WOMEN OF ABINGTON. - - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY _and his wife, and_ MASTER BARNES - _and his wife, with their two sons, and their two servants_. - -MASTER GOURSEY. Good Master Barnes, this entertain of yours, -So full of courtesy and rich delight, -Makes me misdoubt my poor ability -In quittance of this friendly courtesy. - -MR BAR. O Master Goursey, neighbour-amity -Is such a jewel of high-reckoned worth, -As for the attain of it what would not I -Disburse, it is so precious in my thoughts! - -MR GOUR. Kind sir, near-dwelling amity indeed -Offers the heart's inquiry better view -Than love that's seated in a farther soil: -As prospectives[209], the[210] nearer that they be, -Yield better judgment to the judging eye; -Things seen far off are lessened in the eye, -When their true shape is seen being hard by. - -MR BAR. True, sir, 'tis so; and truly I esteem -Mere[211] amity, familiar neighbourhood, -The cousin german unto wedded love. - -MR GOUR. Ay, sir, there's surely some alliance 'twixt them, -For they have both the offspring from the heart: -Within the heart's-blood-ocean still are found -Jewels of amity and gems of love. - -MR BAR. Ay, Master Goursey, I have in my time -Seen many shipwrecks of true honesty; -But incident such dangers ever are -To them that without compass sail so far: -Why, what need men to swim, when they may wade?-- -But leave this talk, enough of this is said: -And, Master Goursey, in good faith, sir, welcome;-- -And, Mistress Goursey, I am much in debt -Unto your kindness that would visit me. - -MRS GOUR. O Master Barnes, you put me but in mind -Of that which I should say; 'tis we that are -Indebted to your kindness for this cheer: -Which debt that we may repay, I pray let's have -Sometimes your company at our homely house. - -MRS BAR. That, Mistress Goursey, you shall surely have; -He'll[212] be a bold guest, I warrant ye, -And bolder too with you than I would have him. - -MRS. GOUR. How, do you mean he will be bold with me? - -MRS BAR. Why, he will trouble you at home, forsooth, -Often call in, and ask ye how ye do; -And sit and chat with you all day till night, -And all night too,[213] if he might have his will. - -MR BAR. Ay, wife, indeed I thank her for her kindness; -She hath made me much good cheer passing that way. - -MRS BAR. Passing well-done of her, she is a kind wench. -I thank ye, Mistress Goursey, for my husband; -And if it hap your husband come our way -A-hunting or such ordinary sports, -I'll do as much for yours as you for mine. - -MR GOUR. Pray do, forsooth.--God's Lord, what means the woman? -She speaks it scornfully: faith, I care not; -Things are well-spoken, if they be well-taken. [_Aside_.] -What, Mistress Barnes, is it not time to part? - -MRS BAR. What's a-clock, sirrah? - -NICHOLAS. 'Tis but new-struck one. - -MR GOUR. I have some business in the town by three. - -MR BAR. Till then let's walk into the orchard, sir. -What, can you play at tables? - -MR GOUR. Yes, I can. - -MR BAR. What, shall we have a game? - -MR GOUR. And if you please. - -MR BAR. I'faith, content; we'll spend an hour so. -Sirrah, fetch the tables.[214] - -NICH. I will, sir. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Sirrah Frank, whilst they are playing here, -We'll to the green to bowls. - -FRAN. Philip, content. Coomes, come hither, sirrah: -When our fathers part, call us upon the green. -Philip, come, a rubbers[215], and so leave. - -PHIL. Come on. - [_Exeunt_ PHILIP _and_ FRANCIS.] - -COOMES. 'Sbloud, I do not like the humour of these springals; they'll -spend all their fathers' good at gaming. But let them trowl the bowls -upon the green. I'll trowl the bowls in the buttery by the leave of God -and Master Barnes: and his men be good fellows, so it is; if they be -not, let them go snick up[216]. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ NICHOLAS _with the tables_. - -MR BAR. So, set them down. -Mistress Goursey, how do you like this game? - -MRS GOUR. Well, sir. - -MR BAR. Can ye play at it? - -MRS GOUR. A little, sir. - -MR BAR. Faith, so can my wife. - -MR GOUR. Why, then, Master Barnes, and if you please, -Our wives shall try the quarrel 'twixt us two, -And we'll look on. - -MR BAR. I am content. What, women[217], will you play? - -MRS GOUR. I care not greatly. - -MRS BAR. Nor I, but that I think she'll play me false. - -MR GOUR. I'll see she shall not. - -MRS BAR. Nay, sir, she will be sure you shall not see; -You, of all men, shall not mark her hand; -She hath such close conveyance in her play. - -MR GOUR. Is she so cunning grown? Come, come, let's see. - -MRS GOUR. Yea, Mistress Barnes, will ye not house your jests, -But let them roam abroad so carelessly? -Faith, if your jealous tongue utter another, -I'll cross ye with a jest, and ye were my mother.-- -Come, shall we play? [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Ay, what shall we play a game? - -MRS GOUR. A pound a game. - -MR GOUR. How, wife? - -MRS GOUR. Faith, husband, not a farthing less. - -MR GOUR. It is too much; a shilling were good game. - -MRS GOUR. No, we'll be ill-huswives once; -You have been oft ill husbands: let's alone. - -MR BAR. Wife, will you play so much? - -MRS BAR. I would be loth to be so frank a gamester -As Mistress Goursey is; and yet for once -I'll play a pound a game as well as she. - -MR BAR. Go to, you'll have your will - [_Offer to go from them_. - -MRS BAR. Come, there's my stake. - -MRS GOUR. And there's mine. - -MRS BAR. Throw for the dice. Ill luck! then they are yours. - -MR BAR. Master Goursey, who says that gaming's bad, -When such good angels[218] walk 'twixt every cast? - -MR GOUR. This is not noble sport, but royal play. - -MR BAR. It must be so, where royals[218] walk so fast. - -MRS BAR. Play right, I pray. - -MRS GOUR. Why, so I do. - -MRS BAR. Where stands your man? - -MRS GOUR. In his right place. - -MRS BAR. Good faith, I think ye play me foul an ace. - -MR BAR. No, wife, she plays ye true. - -MRS BAR. Peace, husband, peace; I'll not be judg'd by you. - -MRS GOUR. Husband, Master Barnes, pray, both go walk! -We cannot play if standers-by do talk. - -MR GOUR. Well, to your game; we will not trouble ye. - [_Go from them_. - -MRS GOUR. Where stands your man now? - -MRS BAR. Doth he not stand right? - -MRS GOUR. It stands between the points. - -MRS BAR. And that's my spite. -But yet methinks the dice runs much uneven. -That I throw but deuce-ace and you eleven. - -MRS GOUR. And yet you see that I cast down the hill. - -MRS BAR. Ay, I beshrew ye, 'tis not with my will. - -MRS GOUR. Do ye beshrew me? - -MRS BAR. No, I beshrew the dice, -That turn you up more at once than me at twice. - -MRS GOUR. Well, you shall see them turn for you anon. - -MRS BAR. But I care not for them, when your game is done. - -MRS GOUR. My game! what game? - -MRS BAR. Your game, your game at tables. - -MRS GOUR. Well, mistress, well; I have read Aesop's fables, -And know your moral meaning well enough. - -MRS BAR. Lo, you'll be angry now! here's[219] good stuff. - -MR GOUR. How now, women?[220] who hath won the game? - -MRS GOUR. Nobody yet. - -MR BAR. Your wife's the fairest for't. - -MRS BAR. Ay, in your eye. - -MRS GOUR. How do you mean? - -MRS BAR. He holds you fairer for't than I. - -MRS GOUR. For what, forsooth? - -MRS BAR. Good gamester, for your game. - -MR BAR. Well, try it out; 'tis all but in the bearing[221]. - -MRS BAR. Nay, if it come to bearing, she'll be best. - -MRS GOUR. Why, you're as good a bearer as the rest. - -MRS BAR. Nay, that's not so; you bear one man too many. - -MRS GOUR. Better do so than bear not any. - -MR BAR. Beshrew me, but my wife's jests grow too bitter; -Plainer speeches for her were more fitter[222]: -Malice lies embowelled in her tongue, -And new hatch'd hate makes every jest a wrong. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Look ye, mistress, now I hit ye. - -MRS BAR. Why, ay, you never use to miss a blot[223], -Especially when it stands so fair to hit. - -MRS GOUR. How mean ye, Mistress Barnes? - -MRS BAR. That Mistress Goursey's in the hitting vein. - -MRS GOUR. I hot[224] your man. - -MRS BAR. Ay, ay, my man, my man; but, had I known, -I would have had my man stood nearer home. - -MRS GOUR. Why, had ye kept your man in his right place, -I should not then have hit him with an ace. - -MRS BAR. Right, by the Lord! a plague upon the bones! - -MRS GOUR. And a hot mischief on the curser too! - -MR BAR. How now, wife? - -MR GOUR. Why, what's the matter, woman? - -MRS GOUR. It is no matter; I am-- - -MRS BAR. Ay, you are-- - -MRS GOUR. What am I? - -MRS BAR. Why, that's as you will be ever. - -MRS GOUR. That's every day as good as Barnes's wife. - -MRS BAR. And better too: then, what needs all this trouble? -A single horse is worse than that bears double. - -MR BAR. Wife, go to, have regard to what you say; -Let not your words pass forth the verge of reason, -But keep within the bounds of modesty; -For ill-report doth like a bailiff stand, -To pound the straying and the wit-lost tongue, -And makes it forfeit into folly's hands. -Well, wife, you know it is no honest part -To entertain such guests with jests and wrongs: -What will the neighbouring country vulgar say, -When as they hear that you fell out at dinner? -Forsooth, they'll call it a pot-quarrel straight; -The best they'll name it is a woman's jangling. -Go to, be rul'd, be rul'd. - -MRS BAR. God's Lord, be rul'd, be rul'd! -What, think ye I have such a baby's wit, -To have a rod's correction for my tongue? -School infancy! I am of age to speak, -And I know when to speak: shall I be chid -For such a-- - -MRS GOUR. What-a? nay, mistress, speak it out; -I scorn your stopp'd compares: compare not me -To any but your equals, Mistress Barnes. - -MR GOUR. Peace, wife, be quiet. - -MR BAR. O, persuade, persuade! -Wife, Mistress Goursey, shall I win your thoughts -To composition of some kind effects? -Wife, if you love your credit, leave this strife, -And come shake hands with Mistress Goursey here. - -MRS BAR. Shall I shake hands? let her go shake her heels; -She gets nor hands nor friendship at my hands: -And so, sir, while I live, I will take heed, -What guests I bid again unto my house. - -MR BAR. Impatient woman, will you be so stiff -In this absurdness? - -MRS BAR. I am impatient now I speak; -But, sir, I'll tell you more another time: -Go to, I will not take it as I have done. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. Nay, she might stay; I will not long be here -To trouble her. Well, Master Barnes, -I am sorry that it was our haps to-day, -To have our pleasures parted with this fray: -I am sorry too for all that is amiss, -Especially that you are mov'd in this; -But be not so, 'tis but a woman's jar: -Their tongues are weapons, words their blows of war; -'Twas but a while we buffeted, you saw, -And each of us was willing to withdraw; -There was no harm nor bloodshed, you did see: -Tush, fear us not, for we shall well agree. -I take my leave, sir. Come, kind-hearted man, -That speaks his wife so fair--ay, now and then; -I know you would not for an hundreth pound, -That I should hear your voice's churlish sound; -I know you have a far more milder tune -Than "Peace, be quiet, wife;" but I have done. -Will ye go home? the door directs the way; -But, if you will not, my duty is to stay[225]. - -MR BAR. Ha, ha! why, here's a right woman, is there not? -They both have din'd, yet see what stomachs they have! - -MR. GOUR. Well, Master Barnes, we cannot do withal[226]: -Let us be friends still-- - -MR BAR. O Master Goursey, the mettle of our minds, -Having the temper of true reason in them. -Affords[227] a better edge of argument -For the maintain of our familiar loves -Than the soft leaden wit of women can; -Wherefore with all the parts of neighbour-love -I [do] impart[228] myself to Master Goursey. - -MR GOUR. And with exchange of love I do receive it: -Then here we'll part, partners of two curs'd wives. - -MR BAR. O, where shall we find a man so bless'd that is not? -But come; your business and my home-affairs -Makes me deliver that unfriendly word -'Mongst friends--farewell. - -MR GOUR. Twenty farewells, sir. - -MR BAR. But hark ye, Master Goursey; -Look ye persuade at home, as I will do: -What, man! we must not always have them foes. - -MR GOUR. If I can help it. - -MR BAR. God help, God help! -Women are even untoward creatures still. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP, FRANCIS, _and his_ BOY, _from bowling_. - -PHIL. Come on, Frank Goursey: you have had good luck -To win the game. - -FRAN. Why, tell me, is't not good, -That never play'd before upon your green? - -PHIL. 'Tis good, but that it cost me ten good crowns; -That makes it worse. - -FRAN. Let it not grieve thee, man; come o'er to us; -We will devise some game to make you win -Your money back again, sweet Philip. - -PHIL. And that shall be ere long, and if I live: -But tell me, Francis, what good horses have ye, -To hunt this summer? - -FRAN. Two or three jades, or so. - -PHIL. Be they but jades? - -FRAN. No, faith; my wag-string here -Did founder one the last time that he rid-- -The best grey nag that ever I laid my leg over. - -BOY. You mean the flea-bitten. - -FRAN. Good sir, the same. - -BOY. And was the same the best that e'er you rid on? - -FRAN. Ay, was it, sir. - -BOY. I'faith, it was not, sir. - -FRAN. No! where had I one so good? - -BOY. One of my colour, and a better too. - -FRAN. One of your colour? I ne'er remember him: -One of that colour! - -BOY. Or of that complexion. - -FRAN. What's that ye call complexion in a horse? - -BOY. The colour, sir. - -FRAN. Set me a colour on your jest, or I will-- - -BOY. Nay, good sir, hold your hands! - -FRAN. What, shall we have it? - -BOY. Why, sir, I cannot paint. - -FRAN. Well, then, I can; -And I shall find a pencil for ye, sir. - -BOY. Then I must find the table, if you do. - -FRAN. A whoreson, barren, wicked urchin! - -BOY. Look how you chafe! you would be angry more, -If I should tell it you. - -FRAN. Go to, I'll anger ye, and if you do not. - -BOY. Why, sir, the horse that I do mean -Hath a leg both straight and clean, -That hath nor spaven, splint, nor flaw, -But is the best that ever ye saw; -A pretty rising knee--O knee! -It is as round as round may be; -The full flank makes the buttock round: -This palfrey standeth on no ground, -When as my master's on her back, -If that he once do say but, tack:[229] -And if he prick her, you shall see -Her gallop amain, she is so free; -And if he give her but a nod, -She thinks it is a riding-rod; -And if he'll have her softly go, -Then she trips it like a doe; -She comes so easy with the rein, -A twine-thread turns her back again; -And truly I did ne'er see yet -A horse play proudlier on the bit: -My master with good managing -Brought her first unto the ring;[230] -He likewise taught her to corvet, -To run, and suddenly to set; -She's cunning in the wild-goose race, -Nay, she's apt to every pace; -And to prove her colour good, -A flea, enamour'd of her blood, -Digg'd for channels in her neck, -And there made many a crimson speck: -I think there's none that use to ride -But can her pleasant trot abide; -She goes so even upon the way, -She will not stumble in a day; -And when my master-- - -FRAN. What do I? - -BOY. Nay, nothing, sir. - -PHIL. O, fie, Frank, fie! -Nay, nay, your reason hath no justice now, -I must needs say; persuade him first to speak, -Then chide him for it! Tell me, pretty wag, -Where stands this prancer, in what inn or stable? -Or hath thy master put her out to run, -Then in what field, what champion,[231] feeds this courser, -This well-pac'd, bonny steed that thou so praisest? - -BOY. Faith, sir, I think-- - -FRAN. Villain, what do ye think? - -BOY. I think that you, sir, have been ask'd by many, -But yet I never heard that ye told any. - -PHIL. Well, boy, then I will add one more to many. -And ask thy master where this jennet feeds. -Come, Frank, tell me--nay, prythee, tell me, Frank, -My good horse-master, tell me--by this light, -I will not steal her from thee; if I do, -Let me be held a felon to thy love. - -FRAN. No, Philip, no. - -PHIL. What, wilt thou wear a point[232] but with one tag? -Well, Francis, well, I see you are a wag. - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. 'Swounds, where be these timber-turners, -these trowl-the-bowls, these green-men, these-- - -FRAN. What, what, sir? - -COOMES. These bowlers, sir. - -FRAN. Well, sir, what say you to bowlers? - -COOMES. Why, I say they cannot be saved. - -FRAN. Your reason, sir? - -COOMES. Because they throw away their souls at every mark. - -FRAN. Their souls! how mean ye? - -PHIL. Sirrah, he means the soul of the bowl. - -FRAN. Lord, how his wit holds bias like a bowl! - -COOMES. Well, which is the bias? - -FRAN. This next to you. - -COOMES. Nay, turn it this way, then the bowl goes true. - -BOY. Rub, rub! - -COOMES. Why rub? - -BOY. Why, you overcast the mark, and miss the way. - -COOMES. Nay, boy, I use to take the fairest of my play. - -PHIL. Dick Coomes, methinks thou art[233] very pleasant: -Where[234] got'st thou this merry humour? - -COOMES. In your father's cellar, the merriest place in th' house. - -PHIL. Then you have been carousing hard? - -COOMES. Yes, faith, 'tis our custom, when your father's men and we meet. - -PHIL. Thou art very welcome thither, Dick. - -COOMES. By God, I thank ye, sir, I thank ye, sir: by God, I have a quart -of wine for ye, sir, in any place of the world. There shall not a -servingman in Barkshire fight better for ye than I will do, if you have -any quarrel in hand: you shall have the maidenhead of my new sword; I -paid a quarter's wages for't, by Jesus. - -PHIL. O, this meat-failer Dick! -How well't has made the apparel of his wit, -And brought it into fashion of an honour! -Prythee, Dick Coomes, but tell me how thou dost? - -COOMES. Faith, sir, like a poor man of service. - -PHIL. Or servingman. - -COOMES. Indeed, so called by the vulgar. - -PHIL. Why, where the devil hadst thou that word? - -COOMES. O, sir, you have the most eloquent ale in all the[235] world; -our blunt soil affords none such. - -FRAN. Philip, leave talking with this drunken fool. Say, sirrah, -where's my father? - -COOMES. "Marry, I thank ye for my very good cheer,--O Lord, it is not -so much worth.--You see I am bold with ye.--Indeed, you are not so bold -as welcome; I pray ye, come oft'ner.--Truly, I shall trouble ye." All -these ceremonies are despatch'd between them, and they are gone. - -FRAN. Are they so? - -COOMES. Ay, before God, are they. - -FRAN. And wherefore came not you to call me then? - -COOMES. Because I was loth to change my game. - -FRAN. What game? - -COOMES. You were at one sort of bowls as I was at another. - -PHIL. Sirrah, he means the butt'ry bowls of beer. - -COOMES. By God, sir, we tickled it. - -FRAN. Why, what a swearing keeps this drunken ass? -Canst thou not say but swear at every word? - -PHIL. Peace, do not mar his humour, prythee, Frank. - -COOMES. Let him alone; he's a springall; he knows not what belongs -to an oath. - -FRAN. Sirrah, be quiet, or I do protest-- - -COOMES. Come, come, what do you protest? - -FRAN. By heaven, to crack your crown. - -COOMES. To crack my crown! I lay ye a crown of that, lay it down, and -ye dare; nay, 'sblood, I'll venture a quarter's wages of that. Crack my -crown, quotha! - -FRAN. Will ye not yet be quiet? will ye urge me? - -COOMES. Urge ye, with a pox! who urges ye? You might have said so much -to a clown, or one that had not been o'er the sea to see fashions: I -have, I tell ye true; and I know what belongs to a man. Crack my crown, -and ye can. - -FRAN. And I can, ye rascal! - -PHIL. Hold, hair-brain, hold! dost thou not see he's drunk? - -COOMES. Nay, let him come: though he be my master's son, I am my -master's man, and a man is a man in any ground of England. Come, and he -dares, a comes upon his death: I will not budge an inch, no, 'sblood, -will I[236] not. - -FRAN. Will ye not? - -PHIL. Stay, prythee, Frank. Coomes, dost thou hear? - -COOMES. Hear me no hears: stand away, I'll trust none of you all. If I -have my back against a cartwheel, I would not care if the devil came. - -PHIL. Why, ye fool, I am your friend. - -COOMES. Fool on your face! I have a wife. - -FRAN. She's a whore, then. - -COOMES. She's as honest as Nan Lawson. - -PHIL. What's she? - -COOMES. One of his whores. - -PHIL. Why, hath he so many? - -COOMES. Ay, as many as there be churches in London. - -PHIL. Why, that's a hundred and nine. - -BOY. Faith, he lies a hundred. - -PHIL. Then thou art a witness to nine. - -BOY. No, by God, I'll be witness to none. - -COOMES. Now do I stand like the George at Colebrook. - -BOY. No, thou stand'st like the Bull at St Alban's. - -COOMES. Boy, ye lie--the Horns.[237] - -BOY. The bull's bitten; see, how he butts! - -PHIL. Coomes, Coomes, put up;[238] my friend and thou art friends. - -COOMES. I'll hear him say so first. - -PHIL. Frank, prythee, do; be friends, and tell him so. - -FRAN. Go to, I am. - -BOY. Put up, sir; and ye be a man, put up. - -COOMES. I am easily persuaded, boy. - -PHIL. Ah, ye mad slave! - -COOMES. Come, come, a couple of whoremasters I found ye, -and so I leave ye. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Lo, Frank, dost thou not see he's drunk, -That twits thee[239] with thy disposition? - -FRAN. What disposition? - -PHIL. Nan Lawson, Nan Lawson. - -FRAN. Nay, then-- - -PHIL. Go to, ye wag, 'tis well: -If ever ye get a wife, i'faith I'll tell. -Sirrah, at home we have a servingman; -He is[240] not humour'd bluntly as Coomes is, -Yet his condition[241] makes me often merry: -I'll tell thee, sirrah, he's a fine neat fellow, -A spruce slave; I warrant ye, he will[242] have -His cruel garters[243] cross about the knee, -His woollen hose as white as th'driven snow, -His shoes dry-leather neat, and tied with red ribbons, -A nosegay bound with laces in his hat-- -Bridelaces, sir--and his hat all green[244], -Green coverlet for such a grass-green wit. -"The goose that grazeth on the green," quoth he, -"May I eat on, when you shall buried be!" -All proverbs is his speech, he's proverbs all. - -FRAN. Why speaks he proverbs? - -PHIL. Because he would speak truth, -And proverbs, you'll confess, are old-said sooth. - -FRAN. I like this well, and one day I will see him: -But shall we part? - -PHIL. Not yet, I'll bring ye somewhat on your way, -And as we go, between your boy and you -I'll know where that brave prancer stands at livery. - -FRAN. Come, come, you shall not. - -PHIL. I'faith, I will. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MASTER BARNES _and his Wife_. - -MR BAR. Wife, in my mind to-day you were to blame, -Although my patience did not blame ye for it: -Methought the rules of love and neighbourhood -Did not direct your thoughts; all indiscreet[245] -Were your proceedings in the entertain -Of them that I invited to my house. -Nay, stay, I do not chide, but counsel, wife, -And in the mildest manner that I may: -You need not view me with a servant's eye, -Whose vassal[246] senses tremble at the look -Of his displeased master. O my wife, -You are myself! when self sees fault in self, -Self is sin-obstinate, if self amend not: -Indeed, I saw a fault in thee myself, -And it hath set a foil upon thy fame, -Not as the foil doth grace the diamond. - -MRS BAR. What fault, sir, did you see in me to-day? - -MR BAR. O, do not set the organ of thy voice -On such a grunting key of discontent! -Do not deform the beauty of thy tongue -With such misshapen answers. Rough wrathful words -Are bastards got by rashness in the thoughts: -Fair demeanours are virtue's nuptial babes, -The offspring of the well-instructed soul; -O, let them call thee mother, then, my wife! -So seem not barren of good courtesy. - -MRS BAR. So; have ye done? - -MR BAR. Ay, and I had done well, -If you would do what I advise for well. - -MRS BAR. What's that? - -MR BAR. Which is, that you would be good friends -With Mistress Goursey. - -MRS BAR. With Mistress Goursey! - -MR BAR. Ay, sweet wife. - -MRS BAR. Not so, sweet husband. - -MR BAR. Could you but show me any grounded cause. - -MRS BAR. The grounded cause I ground, because I will not. - -MR BAR. Your will hath little reason, then, I think. - -MRS BAR. Yes, sir, my reason equalleth my will. - -MR BAR. Let's hear your reason, for your will is great. - -MRS BAR. Why, for I will not. - -MR BAR. Is all your reason "for I will not," wife? -Now, by my soul, I held ye for more wise, -Discreet, and of more temp'rature in sense, -Than in a sullen humour to affect -That woman's[247] will--borne, common, scholar phrase: -Oft have I heard a timely-married girl, -That newly left to call her mother mam, -Her father dad: but yesterday come from -"That's my good girl, God send thee a good husband!" -And now being taught to speak the name of husband, -Will, when she would be wanton in her will, -If her husband ask'd her why, say "for I will." -Have I chid men for[248] [an] unmanly choice, -That would not fit their years? have I seen thee -Pupil such green young things, and with thy counsel -Tutor their wits? and art thou now infected -With this disease of imperfection? -I blush for thee, ashamed at thy shame. - -MRS BAR. A shame on her that makes thee rate me so! - -MR BAR. O black-mouth'd rage, thy breath is boisterous, -And thou mak'st virtue shake at this high storm! -She is[249] of good report; I know thou know'st it. - -MRS BAR. She is not, nor I know not, but I know -That thou dost love her, therefore think'st her so; -Thou bear'st with her, because she bears with thee. -Thou may'st be ashamed to stand in her defence: -She is a strumpet, and thou art no honest man -To stand in her defence against thy wife. -If I catch her in my walk, now, by Cock's[250] bones, -I'll scratch out both her eyes. - -MR BAR. O God! - -MRS BAR. Nay, never say "O God" for the matter: -Thou art the cause; thou bad'st her to my house, -Only to blear the eyes of Goursey, did'st not? -But I will send him word, I warrant thee, -And ere I sleep too, trust upon it, sir. - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Methinks this is a mighty fault in her; -I could be angry with her: O, if I be so, -I shall but put a link unto a torch, -And so give greater light to see her fault. -I'll rather smother it in melancholy: -Nay, wisdom bids me shun that passion; -Then I will study for a remedy. -I have a daughter,--now, heaven invocate, -She be not of like spirit as her mother! -If so, she'll be a plague unto her husband, -If that he be not patient and discreet, -For that I hold the ease of all such trouble. -Well, well, I would my daughter had a husband, -For I would see how she would demean herself -In that estate; it may be, ill enough,-- -And, so God shall help me, well-remembered now! -Frank Goursey is his father's son and heir: -A youth that in my heart I have good hope on; -My senses say a match, my soul applauds -The motion: O, but his lands are great, -He will look high; why, I will strain myself -To make her dowry equal with his land. -Good faith, and 'twere a match, 'twould be a means -To make their mothers friends. I'll call my daughter, -To see how she's dispos'd to marriage.-- -Mall, where are ye? - - _Enter_ MALL. - -MALL. Father, here I am. - -MR BAR. Where is your mother? - -MALL. I saw her not, forsooth, since you and she -Went walking both together to the garden. - -MR BAR. Dost thou hear me, girl? I must dispute with thee. - -MALL. Father, the question then must not be hard, -For I am very weak in argument. - -MR BAR. Well, this it is; I say 'tis good to marry. - -MALL. And this say I, 'tis not good to marry. - -MR BAR. Were it not good, then all men would not marry; -But now they do. - -MALL. Marry, not all; but it is good to marry. - -MR BAR. Is it both good and bad; how can this be? - -MALL. Why, it is good to them that marry well; -To them that marry ill, no greater hell. - -MR BAR. If thou might marry well, wouldst thou agree? - -MALL. I cannot tell; heaven must appoint for me. - -MR BAR. Wench, I am studying for thy good indeed. - -MALL. My hopes and duty wish your thoughts good speed. - -MR BAR. But tell me, wench, hast thou a mind to marry? - -MALL. This question is too hard for bashfulness; -And, father, now ye pose my modesty. -I am a maid, and when ye ask me thus, -I, like a maid, must blush, look pale and wan, -And then look red[251] again; for we change colour, -As our thoughts change. With true-fac'd passion -Of modest maidenhead I could adorn me, -And to your question make a sober cour'sey, -And with close-clipp'd civility be silent; -Or else say "No, forsooth," or "Ay, forsooth." -If I said, "No, forsooth," I lied forsooth: -To lie upon myself were deadly sin, -Therefore I will speak truth and shame the devil. -Father, when first I heard ye name a husband, -At that same very time my spirits quickened. -Despair before had kill'd them, they were dead: -Because it was my hap so long to tarry, -I was persuaded I should never marry; -And sitting sewing thus upon the ground, -I fell in trance of meditation; -But coming to myself, "O Lord," said I, -"Shall it be so I must I unmarried die?" -And, being angry, father, farther, said-- -"Now, by Saint Anne, I will not die a maid!" -Good faith, before I came to this ripe growth, -I did accuse the labouring time of sloth; -Methought the year did run but slow about, -For I thought each year ten I was without. -Being fourteen and toward the tother year, -Good Lord, thought I, fifteen will ne'er be here! -For I have heard my mother say that then -Pretty maids were fit for handsome men: -Fifteen past, sixteen, and seventeen too, -What, thought I, will not this husband do? -Will no man marry me? have men forsworn -Such beauty and such youth? shall youth be worn -As rich men's gowns, more with age than use? -Why, then I let restrained fancy loose, -And bad it gaze for pleasure; then love swore me -To do whate'er my mother did before me; -Yet, in good faith, I have been very loth, -But now it lies in you to save my oath: -If I shall have a husband, get him quickly, -For maids that wear cork shoes may step awry. - -MR BAR. Believe me, wench, I do not reprehend[252] thee, -But for this pleasant answer do commend thee. -I must confess, love doth thee mighty wrong, -But I will see thee have thy right ere long; -I know a young man, whom I hold most fit -To have thee both for living and for wit: -I will go write about it presently. - -MALL. Good father, do. [_Exit_ [BARNES]. - O God, methinks I should -Wife it as fine as any woman could! -I could carry a port to be obeyed, -Carry a mastering eye upon my maid, -With "Minion, do your business, or I'll make ye," -And to all house authority betake me. -O God! would I were married! by my troth, -But if I be not, I swear I'll keep my oath. - - _Enter_ MRS BARNES. - -MRS BAR. How now, minion, where have you been gadding? - -MALL. Forsooth, my father called me forth to him. - -MRS BAR. Your father! and what said he to ye, I pray? - -MALL. Nothing, forsooth. - -MRS BAR. Nothing! that cannot be; something he said. - -MALL. Ay, something that as good as nothing was. - -MRS BAR. Come, let me hear that something-nothing, then. - -MALL. Nothing but of a husband for me, mother. - -MRS BAR. A husband! that was something; but what husband? - -MALL. Nay, faith, I know not, mother: would I did! - -MRS BAR. Ay, "would ye did!" i'faith, are ye so hasty? - -MALL. Hasty, mother! why, how old am I? - -MRS BAR. Too young to marry. - -MALL. Nay, by the mass, ye lie. -Mother, how old were you when you did marry? - -MRS BAR. How old soe'er I was, yet you shall tarry. - -MALL. Then the worse for me. Hark, mother, hark! -The priest forgets that e'er he was a clerk: -When you were at my years, I'll hold my life, -Your mind was to change maidenhead for wife. -Pardon me, mother, I am of your mind, -And, by my troth, I take it but by kind.[253] - -MRS BAR. Do ye hear, daughter? you shall stay my leisure. - -MALL. Do you hear, mother? would you stay from pleasure, -When ye have mind to it? Go to, there's no wrong -Like this, to let maids lie alone so long: -Lying alone they muse but in their beds, -How they might lose their long-kept maidenheads. -This is the cause there is so many scapes, -For women that are wise will not lead apes -In hell: I tell ye, mother, I say true; -Therefore come husband: maidenhead adieu! [_Exit_. - -MRS BAR. Well, lusty guts, I mean to make ye stay, -And set some rubs in your mind's smoothest way[254]. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. Mother-- - -MRS BAR. How now, sirrah; where have you been walking? - -PHIL. Over the meads, half-way to Milton, mother, -To bear my friend, Frank Goursey, company. - -MRS BAR. Where's your blue coat[255], your sword and buckler, sir? -Get you such like habit for a serving-man, -If you will wait upon the brat of Goursey. - -PHIL. Mother, that you are mov'd, this makes me wonder; -When I departed, I did leave ye friends: -What undigested jar hath since betided? - -MRS BAR. Such as almost doth choke thy mother, boy, -And stifles her with the conceit of it; -I am abus'd, my son, by Goursey's wife. - -PHIL. By Mistress Goursey. - -MRS BAR. Mistress Flirt--yea[256], foul strumpet, -Light-a-love, short-heels! Mistress Goursey -Call her again, and thou wert better no. - -PHIL. O my dear mother, have some patience! - -MRS BAR. Ay, sir, have patience, and see your father -To rifle up the treasure of my love, -And play the spendthrift upon such an harlot! -This same will make me have patience, will it not? - -PHIL. This same is women's most impatience: -Yet, mother, I have often heard ye say, -That you have found my father temperate, -And ever free from such affections. - -MRS BAR. Ay, till[257] my too much love did glut his thoughts, -And make him seek for change. - -PHIL. O, change your mind! -My father bears more cordial love to you. - -MRS BAR. Thou liest, thou liest, for he loves Goursey's wife, -Not me. - -PHIL. Now I swear, mother, you are much to blame; -I durst be sworn he loves you as his soul. - -MRS BAR. Wilt thou be pampered by affection? -Will nature teach thee such vild[258] perjury? -Wilt thou be sworn, ay, forsworn,[259] careless boy? -And if thou swear't, I say he loves me not. - -PHIL. [Mother] he loves[260] ye but too well, I swear, -Unless ye knew much better how to use him. - -MRS BAR. Doth he so, sir? thou unnatural boy! -"Too well," sayest thou? that word shall cost thee[261] somewhat: -O monstrous! have I brought thee up to this? -"Too well!" O unkind, wicked, and degenerate, -Hast thou the heart to say so of thy mother? -Well, God will plague thee for't, I warrant thee: -Out on thee, villain! fie upon thee, wretch! -Out of my sight, out of my sight, I say! - -PHIL. This air is pleasant, and doth please me well, -And here I will stay. - -MRS BAR. Wilt thou, stubborn villain? - - _Enter_ MR BARNES. - -MR BAR. How now, what's the matter? - -MRS BAR. Thou sett'st thy son to scoff and mock at me: -Is't not sufficient I am wrong'd of thee, -But he must be an agent to abuse me? -Must I be subject to my cradle too? -O God, O God, amend it! - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Why, how now, Philip? is this true, my son? - -PHIL. Dear father, she is much impatient: -Ne'er let that hand assist me in my need, -If I more said than that she thought amiss -To think that you were so licentious given; -And thus much more, when she inferr'd it more, -I swore an oath you lov'd her but too well: -In that as guilty I do hold myself. -Now that I come to more considerate trial, -I know my fault: I should have borne with her: -Blame me for rashness, then, not for want of duty. - -MR BAR. I do absolve thee; and come hither, Philip: -I have writ a letter unto Master Goursey, -And I will tell thee the contents thereof; -But tell me first, think'st thou Frank Goursey loves thee? - -PHIL. If that a man devoted to a man, -Loyal, religious in love's hallowed vows-- -If that a man that is sole laboursome -To work his own thoughts to his friend's delight, -May purchase good opinion with his friend, -Then I may say, I have done this so well, -That I may think Frank Goursey loves me well. - -MR BAR. 'Tis well; and I am much deceived in him, -And if he be not sober, wise, and valiant. - -PHIL. I hope my father takes me for thus wise, -I will not glue myself in love to one -That hath not some desert of virtue in him: -Whate'er you think of him, believe me, father, -He will be answerable to your thoughts -In any quality commendable. - -MR BAR. Thou cheer'st my hopes in him; and, in good faith, -Thou'st[262] made my love complete unto thy friend: -Philip, I love him, and I love him so, -I could afford him a good wife, I know. - -PHIL. Father, a wife! - -MR BAR. Philip, a wife. - -PHIL. I lay my life--my sister! - -MR BAR. Ay, in good faith. - -PHIL. Then, father, he shall have her; he shall, I swear. - -MR BAR. How canst thou say so, knowing not his mind? - -PHIL. All's one for that; I will go to him straight. -Father, if you would seek this seven-years'-day, -You could not find a fitter match for her; -And he shall have her, I swear he shall; -He were as good be hanged, as once deny[263] her. -I'faith, I'll to him. - -MR BAR. Hairbrain, hairbrain, stay! -As yet we do not know his father's mind: -Why, what will Master Goursey say, my son, -If we should motion it without his knowledge? -Go to, he's a wise and discreet gentleman, -And that expects from me all honest parts; -Nor shall he fail his expectation; -First I do mean to make him privy to it: -Philip, this letter is to that effect. - -PHIL. Father, for God's[264] sake, send it quickly, then: -I'll call your man. What, Hugh! where's Hugh, there, ho? - -MR BAR. Philip, if this would prove a match, -It were the only means that could be found -To make thy mother friends with Mistress Goursey. - -PHIL. How, a match! I'll warrant ye, a match. -My sister's fair, Frank Goursey he is rich; -Her[265] dowry, too, will be sufficient; -Frank's young,[266] and youth is apt to love; -And, by my troth, my sister's maidenhead -Stands like a game at tennis: if the ball -Hit into the hole, or hazard, farewell all: - -MR BAR. How now, where's Hugh? - - [_Enter_ NICHOLAS.] - -PHIL. Why, what doth this proverbial with us? -Why, where's Hugh? - -MR BAR. Peace, peace. - -PHIL. Where's Hugh, I say? - -MR BAR. Be not so hasty, Philip. - -PHIL. Father, let me alone, -I do it but to make myself some sport. -This formal fool, your man, speaks nought but proverbs, -And speak men what they can to him, he'll answer -With some rhyme-rotten sentence or old saying, -Such spokes as th'ancient of the parish use, -With, "Neighbour, 'tis an old proverb and a true, -Goose giblets are good meat, old sack better than new;" -Then says another, "Neighbour, that is true;" -And when each man hath drunk his gallon round-- -A penny pot, for that's the old man's gallon-- -Then doth he lick his lips, and stroke his beard, -That's glued together with his slavering drops -Of yeasty ale, and when he scarce can trim -His gouty fingers, thus he'll phillip it, -And with a rotten hem, say, "Ay, my hearts, -Merry go sorry! cock and pie, my hearts"! -But then their saving penny proverb comes, -And that is this, "They that will to the wine, -By'r Lady[267] mistress, shall lay their penny to mine." -This was one of this penny-father's[268] bastards, -For, on my life, he was never[269] begot -Without the consent of some great proverb-monger. - -MR BAR. O, ye are a wag. - -PHIL. Well, now unto my business. -'Swounds, will that mouth, that's made of old-said saws -And nothing else, say nothing to us now? - -NICH. O Master Philip, forbear; you must not leap over the stile, before -you come at it; haste makes waste; soft fire makes sweet malt; not too -fast for falling; there's no haste to hang true men.[270] - -PHIL. Father, we ha't, ye see, we ha't. Now will I see if my memory will -serve for some proverbs too. O--a painted cloth were as well worth a -shilling as a thief worth a halter; well, after my hearty commendations, -as I was at the making hereof; so it is, that I hope as you speed, so -you're sure; a swift horse will tire, but he that trots easily will -endure. You have most learnedly proverb'd it, commending the virtue of -patience or forbearance, but yet, you know, forbearance is no quittance. - -NICH. I promise ye, Master Philip, you have spoken as true as steel. - -PHIL. Father, there's a proverb well applied. - -NICH. And it seemeth unto me, ay, it seems to me, that you, Master -Philip, mock me: do you not know, _qui mocat mocabitur_? mock age, -and see how it will prosper. - -PHIL. Why, ye whoreson proverb-book bound up in folio, -Have ye no other sense to answer me -But every word a proverb? no other English? -Well, I'll fulfil a proverb on thee straight. - -NICH. What is it, sir? - -PHIL. I'll fetch my fist from thine ear. - -NICH. Bear witness, he threatens me! - -PHIL. That same is the coward's common proverb. -But come, come, sirrah, tell me where Hugh is. - -NICH. I may, and I will; I need not, except I list; you shall not -command me, you give me neither meat, drink, nor wages; I am your -father's man, and a man's a man, and a have but a hose on his head; -do not misuse me so, do not; for though he that is bound must obey, -yet he that will not tarry, may[271] run away--so he may. - -MR BAR. Peace, Nick, I'll see he shall use thee well; -Go to, peace, sirrah: here, Nick, take this letter, -Carry it to him to whom it is directed. - -NICH. To whom is it? - -MR BAR. Why, read it: canst thou read? - -NICH. Forsooth, though none of the best, yet meanly. - -MR BAR. Why, dost thou not use it? - -NICH. Forsooth, as use makes perfectness, so seldom seen is soon -forgotten. - -MR BAR. Well-said: but go; it is to Master Goursey. - -PHIL. Now, sir, what proverb have ye to deliver a letter? - -NICH. What need you to care? who speaks to you? you may speak when ye -are spoken to, and keep your wind to cool your pottage. Well, well, you -are my master's son, and you look for his land; but they that hope for -dead men's shoes may hap go barefoot: take heed, as soon goes the young -sheep to the pot as the old. I pray God save my master's life, for -seldom comes the better! - -PHIL. O, he hath given it me! Farewell, Proverbs. - -NICH. Farewell, frost.[272] - -PHIL. Shall I fling an old shoe after ye? - -NICH. No; you should say, God send fair weather after me! - -PHIL. I mean for good luck. - -NICH. A good luck on ye! - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Alas, poor fool! he uses all his wit. -Philip, in faith[273] this mirth hath cheered thought, -And cosen'd it of his right play of passion. -Go after Nick, and, when thou think'st he's there, -Go in and urge to that which I have writ: -I'll in these meadows make a circling walk, -And in my meditation conjure so, -As that same[274] fiend of thought, self-eating anger, -Shall by my spells of reason[275] vanish quite: -Away, and let me hear from thee to-night. - -PHIL. To-night! yes, that you shall: but hark ye, father; -Look that you my sister waking keep, -For Frank, I swear, shall kiss her, ere I sleep. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ FRANK _and_ BOY. - -FRAN. I am very dry with walking o'er the green.-- -Butler, some beer! Sirrah, call the butler. - -BOY. Nay, faith, sir, we must have some smith to give the butler a -drench, or cut him in the forehead, for he hath got a horse's disease, -namely the staggers; to-night he's a good huswife, he reels all that he -wrought to-day; and he were good now to play at dice, for he casts[276] -excellent well. - -FRAN. How mean'st thou? is he drunk? - -BOY. I cannot tell; but I am sure he hath more liquor in him than a -whole dicker of hides; he's soak'd throughly, i'faith. - -FRAN. Well, go and call him; bid him bring me drink. - -BOY. I will, sir. - [_Exit_. - -FRAN. My mother pouts, and will look merrily -Neither upon my father nor on me: -He says she fell out with Mistress Barnes to-day; -Then I am sure they'll not be quickly friends. -Good Lord, what kind of creatures women are! -Their love is lightly[277] won and lightly lost; -And then their hate is deadly and extreme: -He that doth take a wife betakes himself -To all the cares and troubles of the world. -Now her disquietness doth grieve my father, -Grieves me, and troubles all the house besides. -What, shall I have some drink? [_Horn sounded within_]--How now? a horn! -Belike the drunken knave is fall'n asleep, -And now the boy doth wake him with his horn. - - _Enter_ BOY. - -How now, sirrah, where's the butler? - -BOY. Marry, sir, where he was even now, asleep; but I wak'd him, and -when he wak'd he thought he was in Master Barnes's buttery, for he -stretch'd himself thus, and yawning, said, "Nick, honest Nick, fill a -fresh bowl of ale; stand to it, Nick, and thou beest a man of God's -making, stand to it;" and then I winded my horn, and he's horn-mad. - - _Enter_ HODGE. - -HOD. Boy, hey! ho, boy! and thou beest a man, draw.--O, here's a blessed -moonshine, God be thanked!--Boy, is not this goodly weather for barley? - -BOY. Spoken like a right malster, Hodge: but dost thou hear? thou art -not drunk? - -HOD. No, I scorn that, i'faith. - -BOY.[278] But thy fellow Dick Coomes is mightily drunk. - -HOD. Drunk! a plague on it, when a man cannot carry his drink well! -'sblood, I'll stand to it. - -BOY. Hold, man; see, and thou canst stand first. - -HOD. Drunk! he's a beast, and he be drunk; there's no man that is a -sober man will be drunk; he's a boy, and he be drunk. - -BOY. No, he's a man as thou art. - -HOD. Thus 'tis, when a man will not be ruled by his friends: I bad him -keep under the lee, but he kept down the weather two bows; I told him he -would be taken with a planet, but the wisest of us all may fall. - -BOY. True, Hodge. [_Boy trips him_. - -HOD. Whoop! lend me thy hand, Dick, I am fall'n into a well; lend me thy -hand, I shall be drowned else. - -BOY. Hold fast by the bucket, Hodge. - -HOD. A rope on it! - -BOY. Ay, there is a rope on it; but where art thou, Hodge? - -HOD. In a well; I prythee, draw up. - -BOY. Come, give up thy body; wind up, hoist - -HOD. I am over head and ears. - -BOY. In all, Hodge, in all. - -FRAN. How loathsome is this beast-man's shape to me, -This mould of reason so unreasonable!-- -Sirrah, why dost thou trip him down, seeing he's drunk? - -BOY. Because, sir, I would have drunkards cheap.[279] - -FRAN. How mean ye? - -BOY. Why, they say that, when anything hath a fall, it is cheap; and so -of drunkards. - -FRAN. Go to, help him up: [_Knocking without_] but, hark, who knocks? - - [BOY _goes to the door, and returns_.] - -BOY. Sir, here's one of Master Barnes's men with a letter to my old -master. - -FRAN. Which of them is it? - -BOY. They call him Nicholas, sir. - -FRAN. Go, call him in. - - [_Exit_ BOY.] - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. By your leave, ho! How now, young master, how is't? - -FRAN. Look ye, sirrah, where your fellow lies: -He's[280] in a fine taking, is he not? - -COOMES. Whoop, Hodge! where art thou, man, where art thou? - -HOD. O, in a well. - -COOMES. In a well, man! nay, then, thou art deep in understanding. - -FRAN. Ay, once to-day you were almost so, sir. - -COOMES. Who, I! go to, young master, I do not like this humour in ye, I -tell ye true; give every man his due, and give him no more: say I was -in such a case! go to, 'tis the greatest indignation that can be offered -to a man; and, but a man's more godlier given, you were able to make him -swear out his heart-blood. What, though that honest Hodge have cut his -finger here, or, as some say, cut a feather: what, though he be mump, -misled, blind, or as it were--'tis no consequent to me: you know I have -drunk all the ale-houses in Abington dry, and laid the taps on the -tables, when I had done: 'sblood, I'll challenge all the true rob-pots -in Europe to leap up to the chin in a barrel of beer, and if I cannot -drink it down to my foot, ere I leave, and then set the tap in the midst -of the house, and then turn a good turn on the toe on it, let me be -counted nobody, a pingler,[281]--nay, let me be[282] bound to drink -nothing but small-beer seven years after--and I had as lief be hanged. - - _Enter_ NICHOLAS. - -FRAN. Peace, sir, I must speak with one.-- -Nicholas, I think, your name is. - -NlCH. True as the skin between your brows. - -FRAN. Well, how doth thy master? - -NlCH. Forsooth, live, and the best doth no better. - -FRAN. Where is the letter he hath sent me? - -NlCH. _Ecce signum_! here it is. - -FRAN. 'Tis right as Philip said, 'tis a fine fool [_Aside_]. ---This letter is directed to my father; -I'll carry it to him. Dick Coomes, make him drink. - [_Exit_. - -COOMES. Ay, I'll make him drunk,[283] and he will. - -NICH. Not so, Richard; it is good to be merry and wise. - -DICK[284] [COOMES]. Well, Nicholas, as thou art Nicholas, welcome; but -as thou art Nicholas and a boon companion, ten times welcome. Nicholas, -give me thy hand: shall we be merry? and we shall, say but we shall, and -let the first word stand. - -NICH. Indeed, as long lives the merry man as the sad; an ounce of debt -will not pay a pound of care. - -COOMES. Nay, a pound of care will not pay an ounce of debt. - -NICH. Well, 'tis a good horse never stumbles: but who lies here? - -COOMES. 'Tis our Hodge, and I think he lies asleep: you made him drunk -at your house to-day; but I'll pepper some of you for't. - -NICH. Ay, Richard, I know you'll put a man over the shoes, and if you -can; but he's a fool will take more than will do him good. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, ye shall take more than will do ye good, or I'll make -ye clap under the table. - -NICH. Nay, I hope, as I have temperance to forbear drink, so have I -patience to endure drink: I'll do as company doth; for when a man doth -to Rome come, he must do as there is done.[285] - -COOMES. Ha, my resolved Nick, froligozene! Fill the pot, hostess; -swouns, you whore! Harry Hook's a rascal. Help me, but carry my fellow -Hodge in, and we'll c'rouse[286] it, i'faith. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. By this, I think, the letter is delivered, -And 'twill be shortly time that I step in, -And woo their favours for my sister's fortune: -And yet I need not; she may do as well, -But yet not better, as the case doth stand, -Between our mothers; it may make them friends; -Nay, I would swear that she would do as well, -Were she a stranger to one quality, -But they are so acquainted, they'll ne'er part. -Why, she will flout the devil, and make blush -The boldest face of man that e'er man saw; -He that hath best opinion of his wit, -And hath his brainpan fraught with bitter jests, -Or of his own, or stol'n, or howsoever, -Let him stand ne'er so high in his own conceit, -Her wit's a sun that melts him down like butter, -And makes him sit at table pancake-wise, -Flat, flat, God knows, and ne'er a word to say; -Yet she'll not leave him then, but like a tyrant -She'll persecute the poor wit-beaten man, -And so bebang him with dry bobs and scoffs, -When he is down, most coward-like, good faith, -As I have pitied the poor patient. -There came a farmer's son a-wooing to her, -A proper man: well-landed too he was, -A man that for his wit need not to ask -What time a year 'twere good to sow his oats, -Nor yet his barley; no, nor when to reap, -To plough his fallows, or to fell his trees, -Well-experienc'd thus each kind of way; -After a two months' labour at the most-- -And yet 'twas well he held it out so long-- -He left his love, she had so lac'd his lips -He could say nothing to her but "God be with ye!" -Why she, when men have din'd and call for cheese, -Will straight maintain jests bitter to disgest;[287] -And then some one will fall to argument, -Who if he over-master her with reason, -Then she'll begin to buffet him with mocks. -Well, I do doubt Francis hath so much spleen, -They'll ne'er agree; but I will moderate. -By this time it is time, I think, to enter: -This is the house; shall I knock? no; I will not. -[Nor] wait, while one comes out to answer [me]:[288] -I'll in, and let them be as bold with us. - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY, _reading a letter_. - -MR GOUR. _If that they like, her dowry shall be equal -To your son's wealth or possibility: -It is a means to make our wives good friends, -And to continue friendship 'twixt us two_. -'Tis so, indeed: I like this motion, -And it hath my consent, because my wife -Is sore infected and heart-sick with hate; -And I have sought the Galen of advice, -Which only tells me this same potion -To be most sovereign for her sickness' cure. - - _Enter_ FRANK _and_ PHILIP. - -Here comes my son, conferring with his friend.-- -Francis, how do you like your friend's discourse? -I know he is persuading to this motion. - -FRAN. Father, as matter that befits a friend, -But yet not me, that am too young to marry. - -MR GOUR. Nay, if thy mind be forward with thy years, -The time is lost thou tarriest. Trust me, boy, -This match is answerable to thy birth; -Her blood and portion give each other grace; -These indented lines promise a sum, -And I do like the value: if it hap -Thy liking to accord to my consent, -It is a match. Wilt thou go see the maid? - -FRAN. Ne'er trust me, father, the shackles[289] of marriage, -Which I do see in others, seem so severe, -I dare not put my youngling liberty -Under the awe of that instruction; -And yet I grant the limits of free youth -Going astray are often restrain'd by that. -But mistress wedlock, to my scholar-thoughts, -Will be too curs'd, I fear: O, should she snip -My pleasure-aiming mind, I shall be sad, -And swear, when I did marry, I was mad! - -MR GOUR. But, boy, let my experience teach thee this-- -Yet, in good faith, thou speak'st not much amiss-- -When first thy mother's fame to me did come, -Thy grandsire thus then came to me his son, -And even my words to thee to me he said, -And as to me thou say'st to him I said, -But in a greater huff and hotter blood,-- -I tell ye, on youth's tip-toes then I stood: -Says he (good faith, this was his very say), -"When I was young, I was but reason's fool, -And went to wedding as to wisdom's school; -It taught me much, and much I did forget, -But, beaten much, by it I got some wit; -Though I was shackled from an often scout, -Yet I would wanton it, when I was out; -'Twas comfort old acquaintance then to meet, -Restrained liberty attain'd is sweet." -Thus said my father to thy father[290], son, -And thou mayst do this too, as I have done. - -PHIL. In faith, good counsel, Frank: what say'st thou to it? - -FRAN. Philip, what should I say? - -PHIL. Why, either ay or no. - -FRAN. O, but which rather? - -PHIL. Why, that which was persuaded by thy father. - -FRAN. That's ay then[291]. Ay. O, should it fall out ill, -Then I, for I am guilty of that ill!-- -I'll not be guilty. No. - -PHIL. What, backward gone! - -FRAN. Philip, no whit backward; that is, on. - -PHIL. On, then. - -FRAN. O, stay! - -PHIL. Tush, there is no good luck in this delay. -Come, come; late-comers, man, are shent. - -FRAN. Heigho, I fear I shall repent! -Well, which way, Philip[292]? - -PHIL. Why, this way. - -FRAN. Canst thou tell, -And takest upon thee to be my guide to hell?-- -But which way, father? - -MR GOUR. That way. - -FRAN. Ay, you know, -You found the way to sorrow long ago. -Father, God be wi' ye[293]: you have sent your son -To seek on earth an earthly day of doom, -Where I shall be adjudged, alack the ruth, -To penance for the follies of my youth! -Well, I must go; but, by my troth, my mind -Is not capable to love [in][294] that kind. -O, I have look'd upon this mould of men, -As I have done upon a lion's den! -Praised I have the gallant beast I saw, -Yet wish'd me no acquaintance with his paw: -And must I now be grated with them? well, -Yet I may hap to prove a Daniel; -And, if I do, sure it would make me laugh, -To be among wild beasts and yet be safe. -Is there a remedy to abate their rage? -Yes, many catch them, and put them in a cage. -Ay, but how catch them? marry, in your hand -Carry me forth a burning firebrand, -For with his sparkling shine, old rumour says, -A firebrand the swiftest runner frays: -This I may do; but, if it prove not so, -Then man goes out to seek his adjunct woe. -Philip, away! and, father, now adieu! -In quest of sorrow I am sent by you. - -MR GOUR. Return, the messenger of joy, my son. - -FRAN. Seldom in this world such a work is done. - -PHIL. Nay, nay, make haste, it will be quickly night. - -FRAN. Why, is it not good to woo by candle-light? - -PHIL. But, if we make not haste, they'll be a-bed. - -FRAN. The better, candles out and curtains spread. - - [_Exeunt_ FRANCIS and PHILIP.] - -MR GOUR. I know, though that my son's years be not many, -Yet he hath wit to woo as well as any. -Here comes my wife: I am glad my boy is gone. - - _Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY. - -Ere she came hither. How now, wife? how is't? -What, are ye yet in charity and love -With Mistress Barnes? - -MRS GOUR. With Mistress Barnes! why Mistress[295] Barnes, I pray? - -MR GOUR. Because she is your neighbour and-- - -MRS GOUR. And what? -And a jealous, slandering, spiteful quean she is, -One that would blur my reputation -With her opprobrious malice, if she could; -She wrongs her husband, to abuse my fame: -'Tis known that I have lived in honest name -All my lifetime, and been your right true wife. - -MR GOUR. I entertain no other thought, my wife, -And my opinion's sound of your behaviour. - -MRS GOUR. And my behaviour is as sound as it; -But her ill-speeches seeks to rot my credit, -And eat it with the worm of hate and malice. - -MR GOUR. Why, then, preserve it you by patience. - -MRS GOUR. By patience! would ye have me shame myself, -And cosen myself to bear her injuries? -Not while her eyes be open, will I yield -A word, a letter, a syllable's value. -But equal and make even her wrongs to me -To her again. - -MR GOUR. Then, in good faith, wife, ye are more to blame. - -MRS GOUR. Am I to blame, sir? pray, what letter's this? - [_Snatches the letter_.] - -MR GOUR. There is a dearth of manners in ye, wife, -Rudely to snatch it from me. Give it me. - -MRS GOUR. You shall not have it, sir, till I have read it. - -MR GOUR. Give me it, then, and I will read it to you. - -MRS GOUR. No, no, it shall not need: I am a scholar -Good enough to read a letter, sir. - -MR GOUR. God's passion, if she know but the contents, -She'll seek to cross this match! she shall not read it. [_Aside_.] -Wife, give it me; come, come, give it me. - -MRS GOUR. Husband, in very deed, you shall not have it. - -MR GOUR. What, will you move me to impatience, then? - -MRS GOUR. Tut, tell not me of your impatience; -But since you talk, sir, of impatience, -You shall not have the letter, by this light, -Till I have read it; soul, I'll burn it first! - -MR GOUR. Go to, ye move me, wife; give me the letter; -In troth, I shall grow angry, if you do not. - -MRS GOUR. Grow to the house-top with your anger, sir! -Ne'er tell me, I care not thus much for it. - -MR GOUR. Well, I can bear enough, but not too much. -Come, give it me; 'twere best you be persuaded; -By God--ye make me swear--now God forgive me!-- -Give me, I say, and stand not long upon it; -Go to, I am angry at the heart, my very heart. - -MRS GOUR. Heart me no hearts! you shall not have it, sir, -No, you shall not; ne'er look so big, -I will not be afraid at your great looks; -You shall not have it, no, you shall not have it. - -MR GOUR. Shall I not have it? in troth, I'll try that: -Minion, I'll ha''t; shall I not ha''t?--I am loth-- -Go to, take pausement, be advis'd-- -In faith, I will; and stand not long upon it-- -A woman of your years! I am asham'd -A couple of so long continuance -Should thus--God's foot--I cry God heart'ly mercy!-- -Go to, ye vex me; and I'll vex ye for it; -Before I leave ye, I will make ye glad -To tender it on your knees; hear ye, I will, I will. -What, worse and worse stomach! true faith, -Shall I be cross'd by you in my old age? -And where I should have greatest comfort, too, -A nurse of you?--nurse in the devil's name!-- -Go to, mistress; by God's precious deer, -If ye delay-- - -MRS GOUR. Lord, Lord, why, in what a fit -Are you in, husband! so enrag'd, so mov'd, -And for so slight a cause, to read a letter! -Did this letter, love, contain my death, -Should you deny my sight of it, I would not -Nor see my sorrow nor eschew my danger, -But willingly yield me a patient -Unto the doom that your displeasure gave. -Here is the letter; not for that your incensement - [_Gives back the letter_.] -Makes me make offer of it, but your health, -Which anger, I do fear, hath craz'd[296], -And viper-like hath suck'd away the blood -That wont was to be cheerful in this cheek: -How pale ye look! - -MR GOUR. Pale! Can ye blame me for it? I tell you true, -An easy matter could not thus have moved me. -Well, this resignment--and so forth--but, woman, -This fortnight shall I not forget ye for it.-- -Ha, ha, I see that roughness can do somewhat! -I did not think, good faith, I could have set -So sour a face upon it, and to her, -My bed-embracer, my right bosom friend. -I would not that she should have seen the letter-- -As poor a man as I am--by my troth, -For twenty pound: well, I am glad I have it. [_Aside_.] -Ha, here's ado about a thing of nothing! -What, stomach, ha! 'tis happy you're come down. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. Well, crafty[297] fox, I'll hunt ye, by my troth, -Deal ye so closely! Well, I see his drift: -He would not let me see the letter, lest -That I should cross the match; and I will cross it. -Dick Coomes! - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. Forsooth. - -MRS GOUR. Come hither, Dick; thou art a man I love, -And one whom I have much in my regard. - -COOMES. I thank ye for it, mistress, I thank ye for it. - -MRS GOUR. Nay, here's my hand, I will do very much -For thee, if e'er thou stand'st in need of me; -Thou shalt not lack, whilst thou hast a day to live, -Money, apparel-- - -COOMES. And sword and bucklers? - -MRS GOUR. And sword and bucklers too, my gallant Dick, -So thou wilt use but this in my defence. - [_Pointing to his sword_.] - -COOMES. This! no, faith, I have no mind to this; break my head, if this -break not, if we come to any tough play. Nay, mistress, I had a sword, -ay, the flower of Smithfield for a sword, a right fox,[298] i'faith; -with that, and a man had come over with a smooth and a sharp stroke, it -would have cried twang, and then, when I had doubled my point, trac'd my -ground, and had carried my buckler before me like a garden-butt, and -then come in with a cross blow, and over the pick[299] of his buckler -two ells long, it would have cried twang, twang, metal, metal: but a -dog hath his day; 'tis gone, and there are few good ones made now. I see -by this dearth of good swords, that[300] dearth of sword-and-buckler -fight begins to grow out:[301] I am sorry for it; I shall never see -good manhood again, if it be once gone; this poking fight of rapier and -dagger will come up then; then a man, a tall[302] man, and a good -sword-and-buckler man, will be spitted like a cat or a coney; then a boy -will be as good as a man, unless the Lord show mercy unto us; well, I -had as lief be hang'd as live to see that day. Well, mistress, what -shall I do? what shall I do? - -MRS GOUR. Why, this, brave Dick. Thou knowest that Barnes's wife -And I am foes: now, man me to her house; -And though it be dark, Dick, yet we'll have no light. -Lest that thy master should prevent our journey -By seeing our depart. Then, when we come, -And if that she and I do fall to words, -Set in thy foot and quarrel with her men, -Draw, fight, strike, hurt, but do not kill the slaves, -And make as though thou strookest[303] at a man, -And hit her, and thou canst,--a plague upon her!-- -She hath misus'd me, Dick: wilt thou do this? - -COOMES. Yes, mistress, I will strike her men; but God forbid that e'er -Dick Coomes should be seen to strike a woman! - -MRS GOUR. Why, she is mankind;[304] therefore thou mayest strike her. - -COOMES. Mankind! nay, and she have any part of a man, I'll strike her, -I warrant. - -MRS GOUR. That's my good Dick, that's my sweet Dick! - -COOMES. 'Swouns, who would not be a man of valour to have such words of -a gentlewoman! one of their words are more to me than twenty of these -russet-coats, cheese-cakes, and butter-makers. Well, I thank God, I am -none of these cowards; well, and a man have any virtue in him, I see he -shall be regarded. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Art thou resolved, Dick? wilt thou do this for me? -And if thou wilt, here is an earnest-penny -Of that rich guerdon I do mean to give thee. - [_Gives money_.] - -COOMES. An angel,[305] mistress! let me see. Stand you on my left hand, -and let the angel lie on my buckler on my right hand, for fear of losing. -Now, here stand I to be tempted. They say, every man hath two spirits -attending on him, either good or bad; now, I say, a man hath no other -spirits but either his wealth or his wife: now, which is the better of -them? Why, that is as they are used; for use neither of them well, and -they are both nought. But this is a miracle to me, that gold that is -heavy hath the upper, and a woman that is light doth soonest fall, -considering that light things aspire, and heavy things soonest go down: -but leave these considerations to Sir John;[306] they become a -black-coat better than a blue.[307] Well, mistress, I had no mind to-day -to quarrel; but a woman is made to be a man's seducer; you say, quarrel? - -MRS GOUR. Ay. - -COOMES. There speaks an angel: is it good? - -MRS GOUR. Ay. - -COOMES. Then, I cannot do amiss; the good angel goes with me. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH, _his_ LADY, WILL, [_and_ ATTENDANTS]. - -SIR RALPH. Come on, my hearts: i'faith, it is ill-luck, -To hunt all day, and not kill anything. -What sayest thou, lady? art thou weary yet? - -LADY. I must not say so, sir. - -SIR RALPH. Although thou art! - -WILL. And can you blame her, to be forth so long, -And see no better sport? - -SIR RALPH. Good faith, 'twas very hard. - -LADY. No, 'twas not ill, -Because, you know, it is not good to kill. - -SIR RALPH. Yes, venison, lady. - -LADY. No, indeed, nor them; -Life is as dear in deer as 'tis in men. - -SIR RALPH. But they are kill'd for sport. - -LADY. But that's bad play, -When they are made to sport their lives away. - -SIR RALPH. 'Tis fine to see them run. - -LADY. What, out of breath? -They run but ill that run themselves to death. - -SIR RALPH. They might make, then, less haste, and keep their wind. - -LADY. Why, then, they see the hounds brings death behind. - -SIR RALPH. Then, 'twere as good for them at first to stay, -As to run long, and run their lives away. - -LADY. Ay, but the stoutest of you all that's here -Would run from death and nimbly scud for fear. -Now, by my troth, I pity these poor elves.[308] - -SIR RALPH. Well, they have made us but bad sport to-day. - -LADY. Yes, 'twas my sport to see them 'scape away. - -WILL. I wish that I had been at one buck's fall. - -LADY. Out, thou wood-tyrant! thou art worst of all. - -WILL. A wood-man,[309] lady, but no tyrant I. - -LADY. Yes, tyrant-like thou lov'st to see lives die. - -SIR RALPH. Lady, no more: I do not like this luck, -To hunt all day, and yet not kill a buck. -Well, it is late; but yet I swear I will -Stay here all night, but I a buck will kill. - -LADY. All night! nay, good Sir Ralph Smith, do not so. - -SIR RALPH. Content ye, lady. Will, go fetch my bow: -A berry[310] of fair roes I saw to-day -Down by the groves, and there I'll take my[311] stand, -And shoot at one--God send a lucky hand! - -LADY. Will ye not, then, Sir Ralph, go home with me? - -SIR RALPH. No, but my men shall bear thee company.-- -Sirs, man her home. Will, bid the huntsmen couple, -And bid them well reward their hounds to-night.-- -Lady, farewell. Will, haste ye with the bow; -I'll stay for thee here by the grove below. - -WILL. I will; but 'twill be dark, I shall not see: -How shall I see ye, then? - -SIR RALPH. Why, halloo to me, and I will answer thee. - -WILL. Enough, I will. - -SIR RALPH. Farewell. - [_Exit_. - -LADY. How willingly dost thou consent to go -To fetch thy master that same killing bow! - -WILL. Guilty of death I willing am in this, -Because 'twas our ill-haps to-day to miss: -To hunt, and not to kill, is hunter's sorrow. -Come, lady, we'll have venison ere to-morrow. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP, FRANK [_and_ BOY]. - -PHIL. Come, Frank, now are we hard by the[312] house: -But how now? Sad? - -FRAN. No, to study how to woo thy sister. - -PHIL. How, man? how to woo her! why, no matter how; -I am sure thou wilt not he ashamed to woo. -Thy cheeks not subject to a childish blush, -Thou hast a better warrant by thy wit; -I know thy oratory can unfold -[A] quick invention, plausible discourse, -And set such painted beauty on thy tongue, -As it shall ravish every maiden sense; -For, Frank, thou art not like the russet youth -I told thee of, that went to woo a wench, -And being full stuff'd up with fallow wit -And meadow-matter, ask'd the pretty maid -How they sold corn last market-day with them, -Saying, "Indeed, 'twas very dear with [us]." -And, do ye hear, ye[313] had not need be so, -For she[314] will, Francis, throughly[315] try your wit; -Sirrah, she'll bow the metal of your wits, -And, if they crack, she will not hold ye current; -Nay, she will weigh your wit, as men weigh angels,[316] -And, if it lack a grain, she will not change with ye. -I cannot speak it but in passion, -She is a wicked wench to make a jest; -Ah me, how full of flouts and mocks she is! - -FRAN. Some aqua-vitae reason to recover -This sick discourser! Sound[317] not, prythee, Philip. -Tush, tush, I do not think her as thou sayest: -Perhaps she's[318] opinion's darling, Philip, -Wise in repute, the crow's bird. O my friend, -Some judgments slave themselves to small desert, -And wondernise the birth of common wit, -When their own[319] strangeness do but make that strange, -And their ill errors do but make that good: -And why should men debase to make that good? -Perhaps such admiration wins her wit. - -PHIL. Well, I am glad to hear this bold prepare -For this encounter. Forward, hardy Frank! -Yonder's the window with the candle in't; -Belike she's putting on her night attire: -I told ye, Frank, 'twas late. Well, I will call her, -Marry, softly, that my mother may not hear. -Mall, sister Mall! - - _Enter_ MALL _in the window_. - -MAL. How now, who's there? - -PHIL. 'Tis I. - -MAL. 'Tis I! Who I? I, quoth the dog, or what? -A Christcross row I?[320] - -PHIL. No, sweet pinkany.[321] - -MAL. O, is't you, wild-oats? - -PHIL. Ay, forsooth, wanton. - -MAL. Well said, scapethrift. - -FRAN. Philip, be these your usual best salutes? [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Is this the harmless chiding of that dove? [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Dove! One of those that draw the queen of love? [_Aside_.] - -MAL. How now? who's that, brother? who's that with ye? - -PHIL. A gentleman, my friend. - -MAL. By'r lady, he hath a pure wit. - -FRAN. How meane your holy judgment? - -MAL. O, well put-in, sir! - -FRAN. Up, you would say. - -MAL. Well climb'd, gentleman! -I pray, sir, tell me, do you cart the queen of love? - -FRAN. Not cart her, but couch her in your eye, -And a fit place for gentle love to lie. - -MAL. Ay, but methinks you speak without the book, -To place a four[322]-wheel waggon in my look: -Where will you have room to have the coachman sit? - -FRAN. Nay, that were but small manners, and not fit: -His duty is before you bare to stand, -Having a lusty whipstock[323] in his hand. - -MAL. The place is void; will you provide me one? - -FRAN. And if you please, I will supply the room. - -MAL. But are ye cunning in the carman's lash? -And can ye whistle well? - -FRAN. Yes, I can well direct the coach of love. - -MAL. Ah, cruel carter! would you whip a dove? - -PHIL. Hark ye, sister-- - -MAL. Nay, but hark ye, brother; -Whose white boy[324] is that same? know ye his mother? - -PHIL. He is a gentleman of a good house. - -MAL. Why, is his house of gold? -Is it not made of lime and stone like this? - -PHIL. I mean he's well-descended. - -MAL. God be thanked! -Did he descend some steeple or some ladder? - -PHIL. Well, you will still be cross; I tell ye, sister-- -This gentleman, by all your friends' consent -Must be your husband. - -MAL. Nay, not all, some sing another note; -My mother will say no, I hold a groat. -But I thought 'twas somewhat, he would be a carter; -He hath been whipping lately some blind bear, -And now he would ferk the blind boy here with us. - -PHIL. Well, do you hear, you, sister, mistress [that] would have-- -You that do long for somewhat, I know what-- -My father told me--go to, I'll tell all, -If ye be cross--do you hear me? I have labour'd -A year's work in this afternoon for ye: -Come from your cloister, votary, chaste nun, -Come down and kiss Frank Goursey's mother's son. - -MAL. Kiss him, I pray? - -PHIL. Go to, stale maidenhead! come down, I say, -You seventeen and upward, come, come down; -You'll stay till twenty else for your wedding gown. - -MAL. Nun, votary, stale maidenhead, seventeen and upward! -Here be names! what, nothing else? - -FRAN. Yes, or a fair-built steeple without bells. - -MAL. Steeple! good people, nay, another cast. - -FRAN. Ay, or a well-made ship without a mast. - -MAL. Fie, not so big, sir, by one part of four. - -FRAN. Why, then, ye are a boat without an oar. - -MAL. O well row'd wit! but what's your fare, I pray? - -FRAN. Your fair self must be my fairest pay. - -MAL. Nay, and you be so dear, I'll choose another. - -FRAN. Why, take your first man, wench, and go no further. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Peace, Francis. Hark ye, sister, this I say: -You know my mind; or answer ay or nay. -[Your] wit and judgment hath resolv'd his mind, -And he foresees what after he shall find: -If such discretion, then, shall govern you, -Vow love to him, he'll do the like to you. - -MAL. Vow love! who would not love such a comely feature, -Nor high nor low, but of the middle stature? -A middle man, that's the best size indeed; -I like him well: love grant us well to speed! - -FRAN. And let me see a woman of that tallness, -So slender and of such a middle smallness, -So old enough, and in each part so fit, -So fair, so kind, endued with so much wit, -Of so much wit as it is held a wonder, -'Twere pity to keep love and her asunder; -Therefore go up, my joy, call down my bliss; -Bid her come seal the bargain with a kiss. - -MAL. Frank, Frank, I come through dangers, death, and harms, -To make love's patent[325] with my[326] seal of arms. - -PHIL. But, sister, softly, lest my mother hear. - -MAL. Hush, then; mum, mouse in cheese[327], cat is near. - [_Exit_ MAL. - -FRAN. Now, in good faith, Philip, this makes me smile, -That I have wooed and won in so small while. - -PHIL. Francis, indeed my sister, I dare say. -Was not determined to say thee nay; -For this same tother thing, call'd maiden-head, -Hangs by so small a hair or spider's thread, -And worn so too[328] with time, it must needs fall, -And, like a well-lur'd hawk, she knows her call. - - [_Enter_ MALL.] - -MAL. Whist, brother, whist! my mother heard me tread, -And ask'd, Who's there? I would not answer her; -She call'd, A light! and up she's gone to seek me: -There when she finds me not, she'll hither come; -Therefore dispatch, let it be quickly done. -Francis, my love's lease I do let to thee, -Date of my life and thine: what sayest thou to me? -The ent'ring, fine, or income thou must pay, -Are kisses and embraces every day; -And quarterly I must receive my rent; -You know my mind. - -FRAN. I guess at thy intent: -Thou shalt not miss a minute of thy time. - -MAL. Why, then, sweet Francis, I am only thine.-- -Brother, bear witness. - -PHIL. Do ye deliver this as your deed? - -MAL. I do, I do. - -PHIL. God send ye both good speed! -God's Lord, my mother! Stand aside, -And closely too, lest that you be espied. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES.] - -MRS BAR. Who's there? - -PHIL. Mother, 'tis I. - -MRS BAR. You disobedient ruffian, careless wretch, -That said your father lov'd me but too well? -I'll think on't, when thou think'st I have forgot it: -Who's with thee else?--How now, minion? you! -With whom? with him!--Why, what make you here, sir, - - [_Discovers_ FRANCIS _and_ MALL.] - -And thus late too? what, hath your mother sent ye -To cut my throat, that here you be in wait?-- -Come from him, mistress, and let go his hand.-- -Will ye not, sir? - -FRAN. Stay, Mistress Barnes, or mother--what ye will; -She is[329] my wife, and here she shall be still. - -MRS BAR. How, sir? your wife! wouldst thou my daughter have? -I'll rather have her married to her grave.[330] -Go to; be gone, and quickly, or I swear -I'll have my men beat ye for staying here. - -PHIL. Beat him, mother! as I am true[331] man, -They were better beat the devil and his dam. - -MRS BAR. What, wilt thou take his part? - -PHIL. To do him good, -And 'twere to wade hitherto up in blood. - -FRAN. God-a-mercy, Philip!--But, mother, hear me. - -MRS BAR. Call'st thou me mother? no, thy mother's name -Carries about with it reproach and shame. -Give me my daughter: ere that she shall wed -A strumpet's son, and have her so misled, -I'll marry her to a carter; come, I say, -Give me her from thee. - -FRAN. Mother, not to-day, -Nor yet to-morrow, till my life's last morrow -Make me leave that which I with leave did borrow: -Here I have borrowed love, I'll not denay[332] it.-- -Thy wedding night's my day, then I'll repay it.-- -Till then she'll trust me. Wench, is't[333] not so? -And if it be, say ay, if not, say no. - -MAL. Mother, good mother, hear me! O good God, -Now we are even, what, would you make us odd? -Now, I beseech ye, for the love of Christ, -To give me leave once to do what I list. -I am as you were, when you were a maid; -Guess by yourself how long you would have stay'd, -Might you have had your will: as good begin -At first as last, it saves us from much sin; -Lying alone, we muse on things and things, -And in our minds one thought another brings: -This maid's life, mother, is an idle life, -Therefore I'll be, ay, I will be a wife; -And, mother, do not mistrust[334] my age or power, -I am sufficient, I lack ne'er an hour; -I had both wit to grant, when he did woo me, -And strength to bear whate'er he can do to me. - -MRS BAR. Well, bold-face, but I mean to make ye stay. -Go to, come from him, or I'll make ye come: -Will ye not come? - -PHIL. Mother, I pray, forbear; -This match is for my sister. - -MRS BAR. Villain, 'tis not; -Nor she shall not be so match'd now.[335] - -PHIL. In troth, she shall, and your unruly hate -Shall not rule us; we'll end all this debate -By this begun device. - -MRS BAR. Ay, end what you begun! Villains, thieves, -Give me my daughter! will ye rob me of her?-- -Help, help! they'll rob me here, they'll rob me here! - - _Enter_ MASTER BARNES _and his men_. - -MR BAR. How now? what outcry's here? why, how now, woman? - -MRS BAR. Why, Goursey's son, confederate[336] with this boy, -This wretch unnatural and undutiful, -Seeks hence to steal my daughter: will you suffer it? -Shall he, that's son to my arch-enemy, -Enjoy her? Have I brought her up to this? -O God, he shall not have her, no, he shall not! - -MR BAR. I am sorry she knows it. [_Aside_.]--Hark ye, wife, -Let reason moderate your rage a little. -If you examine but his birth and living, -His wit and good behaviour, you will say, -Though that ill-hate make your opinion bad, -He doth deserve as good a wife as she. - -MRS BAR. Why, will you give consent he shall enjoy her? - -MR BAR. Ay, so that thy mind would agree with mine? - -MRS BAR. My mind shall ne'er agree to this agreement. - - _Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.[337] - -MR BAR. And yet it shall go forward:--but who's here? -What, Mistress Goursey! how knew she of this? - -PHIL. Frank, thy mother! - -FRAN. 'Sowns, where? a plague upon it! -I think the devil is set to cross this match. - -MRS GOUR. This is the house, Dick Coomes, and yonder's [th'] light: -Let us go near. How now? methinks I see -My son stand hand in hand with Barnes his daughter. -Why, how now, sirrah? is this time of night -For you to be abroad? what have we here? -I hope that love hath not thus coupled you. - -FRAN. Love, by my troth, mother, love: she loves me, -And I love her; then we must needs agree. - -MRS BAR. Ay, but I'll keep her sure enough from thee. - -MRS GOUR. It shall not need, I'll keep him safe enough; -Be sure he shall not graft in such a stock. - -MRS BAR. What stock, forsooth? as good a stock as thine: -I do not mean that he shall graft in mine. - -MRS GOUR. Nor shall he, mistress. Hark, boy; th'art but mad -To love the branch that hath a root so bad. - -FRAN. Then, mother, I will graft a pippin on a crab. - -MRS GOUR. It will not prove well. - -FRAN. But I will prove my skill. - -MRS BAR. Sir, but you shall not. - -FRAN. Mothers both, I will. - -MR BAR. Hark, Philip: send away thy sister straight; -Let Francis meet her where thou shalt appoint; -Let them go several to shun suspicion, -And bid them go to Oxford both this night; -There to-morrow say that we will meet them, -And there determine of their marriage. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. I will: though it be very late and dark. -My sister will endure it for a husband. [_Aside_.] - -MR BAR. Well, then, at Carfax,[338] boy, I mean to meet them. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Enough. _Exit_ [MASTER BARNES.] -Would they would begin to chide! -For I would have them brawling, that meanwhile -They may steal hence, to meet where I appoint it. [_Aside_.] -What, mother, will you let this match go forward? -Or, Mistress Goursey, will you first agree? - -MRS GOUR. Shall I agree first? - -PHIL. Ay, why not? come, come. - -MRS GOUR. Come from her, son, and if thou lov'st thy mother. - -MRS BAR. With the like spell, daughter, I conjure thee. - -MRS GOUR. Francis, by fair means let me win thee from her, -And I will gild my blessing, gentle son, -With store of angels. I would not have thee -Check thy good fortune by this cos'ning choice: -O, do not thrall thy happy liberty -In such a bondage! if thou'lt needs be bound, -Be then to better worth; this worthless choice -Is not fit for thee. - -MRS BAR. Is't not fit for him? wherefore is't not fit? -Is he too brave[339] a gentleman, I pray? -No, 'tis not fit; she shall not fit his turn: -If she were wise, she would be fitter for -Three times his better. Minion, go in, or I'll make ye; -I'll keep ye safe from him, I warrant ye. - -MRS GOUR. Come, Francis, come from her. - -FRAN. Mothers, with both hands shove I hate from love, -That like an ill-companion would infect -The infant mind of our affection: -Within this cradle shall this minute's babe -Be laid to rest; and thus I'll hug my joy. - -MRS GOUR. Wilt thou be obstinate, thou self-will'd boy? -Nay, then, perforce I'll part ye, since ye will not. - -COOMES. Do ye hear, mistress? pray ye give me leave to talk two or three -cold words with my young master.--Hark ye, sir, ye are my master's son, -and so forth; and indeed I bear ye some good-will, partly for his sake, -and partly for your own; and I do hope you do the like to me,--I should -be sorry else. I must needs say ye are a young man; and for mine own -part, I have seen the world, and I know what belongs to causes, and the -experience that I have, I thank God I have travelled for it. - -FRAN. Why, how far have ye travell'd for it? - -BOY. From my master's house to the ale-house. - -COOMES. How, sir? - -BOY. So, sir. - -COOMES. Go to. I pray, correct your boy; 'twas ne'er a good world, since -a boy would face a man so. - -FRAN. Go to. Forward, man. - -COOMES. Well, sir, so it is, I would not wish ye to marry without my -mistress' consent. - -FRAN. And why? - -COOMES. Nay, there's ne'er a why but there is a wherefore; I have -known some have done the like, and they have danc'd a galliard at -beggars'-bush[340] for it. - -BOY. At beggars'-bush! Hear him no more, master; he doth bedaub ye with -his dirty speech. Do ye hear, sir? how far stands beggars'-bush from -your father's house, sir? Why, thou whoreson refuge[341] of a tailor, -that wert 'prentice to a tailor half an age, and because, if thou hadst -served ten ages thou wouldst prove but a botcher, thou leapst from the -shop-board to a blue coat, doth it become thee to use thy terms so? -well, thou degree above a hackney, and ten degrees under a page, sew up -your lubber lips, or 'tis not your sword and buckler shall keep my -poniard from your breast. - -COOMES. Do ye hear, sir? this is your boy. - -FRAN. How then? - -COOMES. You must breech him for it. - -FRAN. Must I? how, if I will not? - -COOMES. Why, then, 'tis a fine world, when boys keep boys, and know not -how to use them. - -FRAN. Boy, ye rascal! - -MRS GOUR. Strike him, and thou darest. - -COOMES. Strike me? alas, he were better strike his father! Sowns, go to, -put up your bodkin.[342] - -FRAN. Mother, stand by; I'll teach that rascal-- - -COOMES. Go to, give me good words, or, by God's dines,[343] I'll buckle -ye for all your bird-spit. - -FRAN. Will you so, sir? - -PHIL. Stay, Frank, this pitch of frenzy will defile thee; -Meddle not with it: thy unreproved valour -Should be high-minded; couch it not so low. -Dost hear me? take occasion to slip hence, -But secretly, let not thy mother see thee: -At the back-side there is a coney-green;[344] -Stay there for me, and Mall and I will come to thee. [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Enough, I will [_Aside_.] Mother, you do me wrong -To be so peremptory in your command, -And see that rascal to abuse me so. - -COOMES. Rascal! take that and take all! Do ye hear, sir? I do not mean -to pocket up this wrong. - -Boy. I know why that is. - -COOMES. Why? - -Boy. Because you have ne'er a pocket. - -COM. A whip, sirrah, a whip! But, sir, provide your tools against -to-morrow morning; 'tis somewhat dark now, indeed: you know Dawson's -close, between the hedge and the pond; 'tis good even ground; I'll meet -you there; and I do not, call me cut;[345] and you be a man, show -yourself a man; we'll have a bout or two; and so we'll part for that -present. - -FRAN. Well, sir, well. - -NICH. Boy, have they appointed to fight? - -BOY. Ay, Nicholas; wilt not thou go see the fray? - -NICH. No, indeed; even as they brew, so let them bake. I will not thrust -my hand into the flame, and [I] need not; 'tis not good to have an oar -in another man's boat; little said is soon amended, and in little -meddling cometh great rest; 'tis good sleeping in a whole skin; so a man -might come home by Weeping-Cross:[346] no, by lady, a friend is not so -soon gotten as lost; blessed are the peace-makers; they that strike with -the sword, shall be beaten with the scabbard. - -PHIL. Well-said, Proverbs: ne'er another to that purpose? - -NICH. Yes, I could have said to you, sir, Take heed is a good reed.[347] - -PHIL. Why to me, take heed? - -NICH. For happy is he whom other men's harms do make to beware. - -PHIL. O, beware, Frank! Slip away, Mall, you know what I told ye. I'll -hold our mothers both in talk meanwhile. [_Aside_.] -Mother and Mistress Barnes, methinks you should not stand in hatred so -hard one with another. - -MRS BAR. Should I not, sir? should I not hate a harlot, -That robs me of my right, vild[348] boy? - -MRS GOUR. That title I return unto thy teeth, - [_Exeunt_ FRANCIS _and_ MALL. -And spit the name of harlot in thy face. - -MRS BAR. Well, 'tis not time of night to hold out chat -With such a scold as thou art; therefore now -Think that I hate thee, as I do the devil. - -MRS GOUR. The devil take thee, if thou dost not, wretch! - -MRS BAR. Out upon thee, strumpet! - -MRS GOUR. Out upon thee, harlot! - -MRS BAR. Well, I will find a time to be reveng'd: -Meantime I'll keep my daughter from thy son.-- -Where are ye, minion? how now, are ye gone? - -PHIL. She went in, mother. - -MRS GOUR. Francis, where are ye? - -MRS BAR. He is not here. O, then, they slipp'd away, -And both together! - -PHIL. I'll assure ye, no: -My sister she went in--into the house. - -MRS BAR. But then she'll out again at the back door, -And meet with him: but I will search about -All these same fields and paths near to my house: -They are not far, I am sure, if I make haste. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. O God, how went he hence, I did not see him? -It was when Barnes's wife did scold with me; -A plague on[349] her!--Dick, why didst not thou look to him? - -COOMES. What should I look for him? no, no. -I look not for him while[350] to-morrow morning. - -MRS GOUR. Come, go with me to help me look him out. -Alas! I have nor light, nor link, nor torch! -Though it be dark, I will take any pains -To cross this match. I prithee, Dick, away. - -COOMES. Mistress, because I brought ye out, I'll bring ye home; but, -if I should follow, so he might have the law on his side. - -MRS GOUR. Come, 'tis no matter; prythee, go with me. - - _Exeunt_ [MRS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.] - -MR BAR. Philip, thy mother's gone to seek thy sister, -And in a rage, i'faith: but who comes here? - -PHIL. Old Master Goursey, as I think, 'tis he. - -MR BAR. 'Tis so, indeed. - - [_Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY.] - -MR GOUR. Who's there? - -MR BAR. A friend of yours. - -MR GOUR. What, Master Barnes! did ye not see my wife? - -MR BAR. Yes, sir, I saw her; she was here even now. - -MR GOUR. I doubted that; that made me come unto you: -But whither is she gone? - -PHIL. To seek your son, who slipp'd away from her -To meet with Mall my sister in a place, -Where I appointed; and my mother too -Seeks for my sister; so they both are gone: -My mother hath a torch; marry, your wife -Goes darkling up and down, and Coomes before her. - -MR GOUR. I thought that knave was with her; but 'tis well: -I pray God, they may come by ne'er a light, -But both be led a dark dance in the night! - -HOD. Why, is my fellow, Dick, in the dark with my mistress? I pray God, -they be honest, for there may be much knavery in the dark: faith, if I -were there, I would have some knavery with them. [_Aside_] -Good master, will ye carry the torch yourself, and give me leave to play -at blind-man-buff with my mistress. - -PHIL. On that condition thou wilt do thy best -To keep thy mistress and thy fellow, Dick, -Both from my sister and thy master's son, -I will entreat thy master let thee go. - -HOD. O, ay, I warrant ye, I'll have fine tricks to cosen them. - -MR GOUR. Well, sir, then, go your ways; I give you leave. - -HOD. O brave! but whereabout are they? - -PHIL. About our coney-green they surely are, -If thou canst find them. - -HOD. O, let me alone to grope for cunnies. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Well, now will I to Frank and to my sister. -Stand you two heark'ning near the coney-green; -But sure your light in you must not be seen; -Or else let Nicholas stand afar off with it, -And as his life keep it from Mistress Goursey. -Shall this be done? - -MR BAR. Philip, it shall. - -PHIL. God be with ye! I'll be gone. - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Come on, Master Goursey: this same is a means -To make our wives friends, if they resist not. - -MR GOUR. Tut, sir, howsoever, it shall go forward. - -MR BAR. Come, then, let's do as Philip hath advis'd. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MALL. - -MAL. Here is the place where Philip bad me stay, -Till Francis came; but wherefore did my brother -Appoint it here? why in the coney-burrow? -He had some meaning in't, I warrant ye. -Well, here I'll set me down under this tree, -And think upon the matter all alone. -Good Lord, what pretty things these conies are! -How finely they do feed till they be fat, -And then what a sweet meat a coney is! -And what smooth skins they have, both black and gray! -They say they run more in the night than day: -What is the reason? mark; why in the light -They see more passengers than in the night; -For harmful men many a hay[351] do set, -And laugh to see them tumble in the net; -And they put ferrets in the holes--fie, fie!-- -And they go up and down where conies lie; -And they lie still, they have so little wit: -I marvel the warrener will suffer it; -Nay, nay, they are so bad, that they themselves -Do give consent to catch these pretty elves. -How if the warrener should spy me here? -He would take me for a coney, I dare swear. -But when that Francis comes, what will he say? -"Look, boy, there lies a coney in my way!" -But, soft, a light! who's that? soul, my mother! -Nay, then, all-hid[352]: i'faith, she shall not see me; -I'll play bo-peep with her behind this tree. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES.] - -MRS BAR. I marvel where this wench doth[353] hide herself -So closely; I have search'd in many a bush. - -MAL. Belike my mother took me for a thrush. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. She's hid in this same warren, I'll lay money. - -MAL. Close as a rabbit-sucker[354] from an old coney. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. O God, I would to God that I could find her! -I would keep her from her love's toys yet. - -MAL. Ay, so you might, if your daughter had no wit. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. What a vild[355] girl 'tis, that would hav't so young! - -MAL. A murrain take that dissembling tongue! -Ere your calf's teeth were out, you thought it long. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. But, minion, yet I'll keep you from the man. - -MAL. To save a lie, mother, say, if you can. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Well, now to look for her. - -MAL. Ay, there's the spite: -What trick shall I now have to 'scape her light? [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Who's there? what, minion, is it you?-- -Beshrew her heart, what a fright she put me to! -But I am glad I found her, though I was afraid. [_Aside_.] -Come on your ways; you are[356] a handsome maid! -Why [steal] you forth a-doors so late at night? -Why, whither go ye? come, stand still, I say. - -MAL. No, indeed, mother; this is my best way. - -MRS BAR. 'Tis not the best way; stand by me, I tell ye. - -MAL. No; you would catch me, mother. O, I smell ye! - -MRS BAR. Will ye not stand still? - -MAL. No, by lady, no. - -MRS BAR. But I will make ye. - -MAL. Nay, then, trip-and-go. - -MRS BAR. Mistress, I'll make ye weary, ere I have done. - -MAL. Faith, mother, then, I'll try, how you can run. - -MRS BAR. Will ye? - -MAL. Yes, faith. [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ [FRANK _and_ BOY.] - -FRAN. Mall, sweet-heart, Mall! what, not a word? - -BOY. A little farther, master; call again. - -FRAN. Why, Mall! I prythee, speak; why, Mall, I say! -I know thou art not far, if thou wilt[357] speak; -Why, Mall!-- -But now I see she's in her merry vein, -To make me call, and put me to more pain. -Well, I must bear with her; she'll bear with me: -But I will call, lest that it be not so.-- -What, Mall! what, Mall, I say! Boy, are we right? -Have we not miss'd the way this same dark night? - -BOY. Mass, it may be so: as I am true[358] man, -I have not seen a coney since I came; -Yet at the coney-burrow we should meet. -But, hark! I hear the trampling of some feet. - -FRAN. It may be so, then; therefore, let's lie close. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.] - -MRS GOUR. Where art thou, Dick? - -COOMES. Where am I, quoth-a! marry, I may be where anybody will say I -am; either in France or at Rome, or at Jerusalem, they may say I am, -for I am not able to disprove them, because I cannot tell where I am. - -MRS GOUR. O, what a blindfold walk have we had, Dick, -To seek my son! and yet I cannot find him. - -COOMES. Why, then, mistress, let's go home. - -MRS GOUR. Why, 'tis so dark we shall not find the way. - -FRAN. I pray God, ye may not, mother, till it be day! [_Aside_. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, take heed, mistress, here's a tree. - -MRS GOUR. Lead thou the way, and let me hold by thee. - -BOY. Dick Coomes, what difference is there between a blind man and he -that cannot see? - -FRAN. Peace, a pox on thee! - -COOMES. Swounds, somebody spake. - -MRS GOUR. Dick, look about; -It may be here we may find them out. - -COOMES. I see the glimpse[359] of somebody here.-- -And ye be a sprite, I'll fray the bugbear.-- -There a-goes, mistress. - -MRS GOUR. O, sir, have I spied you? - -FRAN. A plague on the boy! 'was he that descried[360] me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - [_Enter_ PHILIP.] - -PHIL. How like a beautous lady mask'd in black -Looks that same large circumference of heaven! -The sky, that was so fair three hours ago, -Is in three hours become an Ethiop; -And being angry at her beauteous change, -She will not have one of those pearled stars -To blab her sable metamorphosis:[361] -'Tis very dark. I did appoint my sister -To meet me at the coney-borough below, -And Francis too; but neither can I see. -Belike my mother happ'ned on that place, -And fray'd them from it, and they both are now -Wand'ring about the[362] fields: how shall I find them? -It is so dark, I scarce can see my hand: -Why, then, I'll hollow for them--no, not so; -So will his voice betray him to our mothers, -And if he answer, and bring them where he is. -What shall I then do? it must not be so-- -'Sblood,[363] it must be so; how else, I pray? -Shall I stand gaping here all night till day, -And then be ne'er the near?[364] So ho, so ho! - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. So ho! I come: where are ye? where art thou? here! - -PHIL. How now, Frank, where hast thou[365] been? - -WILL. Frank! what Frank? 'sblood, is Sir Ralph mad? [_Aside_.] -Here's the bow. - -PHIL. I have not been much private with that voice: -Methinks Frank Goursey's talk and his doth tell me -I am mistaken; especially by his bow; -Frank had no bow. Well, I will leave this fellow, -And hollow somewhat farther in the fields. [_Aside_.] ---Dost thou hear, fellow? I perceive by thee -That we are both mistaken: I took thee -For one thou art not; likewise thou took'st me -For Sir Ralph Smith, but sure I am not he: -And so, farewell; I must go seek my friend. -So ho! - [_Exit_. - -WILL. So ho, so ho! nay, then, Sir Ralph, so whore! -For a whore she was sure, if you had her here -So late. Now, you are Sir Ralph Smith![366] -Well do ye counterfeit and change your voice, -But yet I know ye. But what should be that Francis? -Belike that Francis cosen'd him of his wench, -And he conceals himself to find her out; -'Tis so, upon my life. Well, I will go, -And help him ring his peal of so ho, so ho! [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ FRANK. - -FRAN. A plague on Coomes! a plague upon the boy! -A plague, too--not on my mother for an hundreth pound! -'Twas time to run; and yet I had not thought -My mother could have followed me so close, -Her legs with age I thought had foundered; -She made me quite run through a quickset hedge, -Or she had taken me. Well, I may say, -I have run through the briars for a wench; -And yet I have her not--the worse luck mine. -Methought I heard one hollow hereabout; -I judge it Philip; O, the slave will laugh, -When as he hears how that my mother scar'd me! -Well, here I'll stand until I hear him hollow, -And then I'll answer him; he is not far. - - [_Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH.] - -SIR RALPH. My man is hollowing for me up and down, -And yet I cannot meet with him. So ho! - -FRAN. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. Why, what a pox, wert thou so near me, man, -And wouldst not speak? - -FRAN. 'Sblood, ye're very hot. - -SIR RALPH. No, sir, I am cold enough with staying here -For such a knave as you. - -FRAN. Knave! how now, Philip? -Art mad, art mad? - -SIR RALPH. Why, art not thou my man, -That went to fetch my bow?[367] - -FRAN. Indeed, a bow -Might shoot me ten bows down the weather so: -I your man! - -SIR RALPH. What art thou, then? - -FRAN. A man: but what's thy name? - -SIR RALPH. Some call me Ralph. - -FRAN. Then, honest Ralph, farewell. - -SIR RALPH. Well-said, familiar Will! plain Ralph, i'faith. - - [_Hollow within_ PHILIP _and_ WILL.][368] - -FRAN. There calls my man. - -SIR RALPH. But there goes mine away; -And yet I'll hear what this next call will say, -And here I'll tarry, till he call again. - [_Retires_.][369] - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. So ho! - -FRAN. So ho! where art thou, Philip? - -WILL. 'Sblood,[370] Philip! -But now he call'd me Francis: this is fine. [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Why studiest thou? I prythee, tell me, Philip, -Where the wench[371] is. - -WILL. Even now he ask'd me (Francis) for the wench, -And now he asks[372] me (Philip) for the wench. [_Aside_.] -Well, Sir Ralph, I must needs tell ye now, -'Tis[373] not for your[374] credit to be forth -So late a-wenching in this order.[375] - -FRAN. What's this? so late a-wenching, doth he say? [_Aside_] ---Indeed, 'tis true I am thus late a-wenching, -But I am forc'd to wench without a wench. - -WILL. Why, then, you might have ta'n your bow at first, -And gone and kill'd a buck, and not have been -So long a-drabbing, and be ne'er the near.[376] - -FRAN. Swounds, what a puzzle am I in this night! -But yet I'll put this fellow farther [question. _Aside_] ---Dost thou hear, man? I am not Sir Ralph Smith, -As thou dost think I am; but I did meet him, -Even as thou sayest, in pursuit of a wench. -I met the wench too, and she ask'd for thee, -Saying 'twas thou that wert her love, her dear, -And that Sir Ralph was not an honest knight -To train her thither, and to use her so. - -WILL. 'Sblood, my wench! swounds, were he ten Sir Ralphs-- - -FRAN. Nay, 'tis true, look to it; and so, farewell. - [_Exit_. - -WILL. Indeed, I do love Nan our dairymaid: -And hath he traine[d] her forth to that intent, -Or for another? I carry his crossbow, -And he doth cross me, shooting in my bow. -What shall I do? - [_Exit_.][377] - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. So ho! - -PHIL. Francis, art thou there? - -SIR RALPH. No, here's no Francis. Art thou Will, my man? - -PHIL. Will Fool your man, Will goose[378] your man! -My back, sir, scorns to wear your livery. - -SIR RALPH. Nay, sir, I mov'd but such a question to you, -And it hath not disparag'd you, I hope; -'Twas but mistaking; such a night as this -May well deceive a man. God be w'ye,[379] sir. - [_Exit_.] - -PHIL. God's will, 'tis Sir Ralph Smith, a virtuous knight! -How gently entertains he my hard answer! -Rude anger made my tongue unmannerly: -I cry him mercy. Well, but all this while -I cannot find a Francis.--Francis, ho! - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. Francis, ho! O, you call Francis now! -How have ye us'd my Nan? come, tell me, how. - -PHIL. Thy Nan! what Nan? - -WILL. Ay, what Nan, now! say, do you not seek a wench? - -PHIL. Yes, I do. - -WILL. Then, sir, that is she. - -PHIL. Art not thou [he] I met withal before? - -WILL. Yes, sir; and you did counterfeit before, -And said to me you were not Sir Ralph Smith. - -PHIL. No more I am not. I met Sir Ralph Smith; -Even now he ask'd me, if I saw his man. - -WILL. O, fine! - -PHIL. Why, sirrah, thou art much deceived in me: -Good faith, I am not he thou think'st I am. - -WILL. What are ye, then? - -PHIL. Why, one that seeks one Francis and a wench. - -WILL. And Francis seeks one Philip and a wench. - -PHIL. How canst thou tell? - -WILL. I met him seeking Philip and a wench. -As I was seeking Sir Ralph and a wench. - -PHIL. Why, then, I know the matter: we met cross, -And so we miss'd; now here we find our loss. -Well, if thou wilt, we two will keep together, -And so we shall meet right with one or other. - -WILL. I am content: but, do you hear me, sir? -Did not Sir Ralph Smith ask ye for a wench? - -PHIL. No, I promise thee, nor did he look -For any but thyself, as I could guess. - -WILL. Why, this is strange: but come, sir, let's away: -I fear that we shall walk here, till't be day. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ BOY. - -[BOY.] O God, I have run so far into the wind, that I have run myself -out of wind! They say a man is near his end, when he lacks breath; and -I am at the end of my race, for I can run no farther; then here I be in -my breath-bed, not in my death-bed.[380] - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. They say men moil and toil for a poor living; so I moil and -toil, and am living, I thank God; in good time be it spoken. It had -been better for me my mistress's angel had been light, for then perhaps -it had not led me into this darkness. Well, the devil never blesses a -man better, when he purses up angels by owl-light. I ran through a hedge -to take the boy, but I stuck in the ditch, and lost the boy. [_Falls_.] -'Swounds, a plague on that clod, that molehill, that ditch, or what the -devil so e'er it were, for a man cannot see what it was! Well, I would -not, for the price of my sword and buckler, anybody should see me in -this taking, for it would make me but cut off their legs for laughing at -me. Well, down I am, and down I mean to be, because I am weary; but to -tumble down thus, it was no part of my meaning: then, since I am down, -here I'll rest me, and no man shall remove me. - - _Enter_ HODGE. - -HOD. O, I have sport in coney, i'faith! I have almost burst myself with -laughing at Mistress Barnes. She was following of her daughter; and I, -hearing her, put on my fellow Dick's sword-and-buckler voice and his -_swounds_ and _sblood_ words, and led her such a dance in the dark as it -passes.[381] "Here she is," quoth I. "Where?" quoth she. "Here," quoth I. -O, it hath been a brave here-and-there night! but, O, what a soft-natured -thing the dirt is! how it would endure my hard treading, and kiss my feet -for acquaintance! and how courteous and mannerly were the clods[382] to -make me stumble only of purpose to entreat me lie down and rest me! But -now, and I could find my fellow Dick, I would play the knave with him -honestly, i'faith. Well, I will grope in the dark for him, or I'll poke -with my staff, like a blind man, to prevent a ditch. - [_He stumbles[383] on_ DICK COOMES. - -COOMES. Who's that, with a pox? - -HOD. Who art thou, with a pestilence? - -COOMES. Why, I am Dick Coomes. - -HOD. What, have I found thee. Dick? nay, then, I am for ye, Dick, - [_Aside_.] ---Where are ye, Dick? - -COOMES. What can I tell, where I am? - -HOD. Can ye not tell? come, come, ye wait on your mistress well! come -on your ways; I have sought you, till I am weary, and call'd ye, till -I am hoarse: good Lord, what a jaunt I have had this night, heigho! - -COOMES. Is't you, mistress, that came over me? 'Sblood, 'twere a good -deed to come over you for this night's work. I cannot afford all this -pains for an angel: I tell ye true; a kiss were not cast away upon a -good fellow, that hath deserved more that way than a kiss, if your -kindness would afford it him: what, shall I have't, mistress? - -HOD. Fie, fie, I must not kiss my man. - -COOMES. Nay, nay, ne'er stand; shall I, shall I? nobody sees: say but -I shall, and I'll smack it[384] soundly, i'faith. - -HOD. Away, bawdy man! in truth, I'll tell your master. - -COOMES. My master! go to, ne'er tell me of my master: he may pray for -them that may, he is past it: and for mine own part, I can do somewhat -that way, I thank God; I am not now to learn, and 'tis your part to have -your whole desire. - -HOD. Fie, fie, I am ashamed of you: would you tempt your mistress to -lewdness? - -COOMES. To lewdness! no, by my troth, there's no such matter in't, it is -for kindness; and, by my troth, if you like my gentle offer, you shall -have what courteously I can afford ye. - -HOD. Shall I indeed, Dick? I'faith, if I thought nobody would see-- - -COOMES. Tush, fear not that; swoons, they must have cats' eyes, then. - -HOD. Then, kiss me, Dick. - -COOMES. A kind wench, i'faith! [_Aside_.]--Where are ye, mistress? - -HOD. Here, Dick. O, I am in the dark! Dick, go about.[385] - -COOMES. Nay, I'll throw[386] sure: where are ye? - -HOD. Here. - -COOMES. A plague on this post! I would the carpenter had been hang'd, -that set it up, for me.[387] Where are ye now? - -HOD. Here. - -COOMES. Here! O, I come. [_Exit_.] A plague on it, I am in a pond, -mistress! - -HOD. Ha, ha! I have led him into a pond.--Where art thou, Dick? - -COOMES. [_Within_.] Up to the middle in a pond! - -HOD. Make a boat of thy buckler, then, and swim out. Are ye so hot, with -a pox? would you kiss my mistress? cool ye there, then, good Dick Coomes. -O, when he comes forth, the skirts of his blue coat will drop like a -pent[388]-house! O, that I could see, and not be seen; how he would -spaniel it, and shake himself, when he comes out of the pond! But I'll -be gone; for now he'll fight with a fly, if he but buzz[389] in his ear. - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. Here's so-ho-ing with a plague! so hang, and ye will; for I have -been almost drown'd. A pox of your stones,[390] and ye call this kissing! -Ye talk of a drowned rat, but 'twas time to swim like a dog; I had been -serv'd like a drown'd cat else. I would he had digg'd his grave that -digg'd the pond! my feet were foul indeed, but a less pail than a pond -would have served my turn to wash them. A man shall be serv'd thus -always, when he follows any of these females: but 'tis my kind heart -that makes me thus forward in kindness unto them: well, God amend them, -and make them thankful to them that would do them pleasure. I am not -drunk, I would ye should well know it; and yet I have drunk more than -will do me good, for I might have had a pump set up with as[391] good -March beer as this was, and ne'er set up an ale-bush for the matter. -Well, I am somewhat in wrath, I must needs say; and yet I am not more -angry than wise, nor more wise than angry; but I'll fight with the next -man I meet, and it be but for luck's sake; and if he love to see himself -hurt, let him bring light with him; I'll do it by darkling else, by -God's dines. Well, here will I walk, whosoever says nay. - - _Enter_ NICHOLAS. - -NICH. He that worse may, must hold the candle; but my master is not so -wise, as God might have made him. He is gone to seek a hare in a hen's -nest, a needle in a bottle of hay, which is as seldom seen as a black -swan: he is gone to seek my young mistress; and I think she is better -lost than found, for whosoever hath her, hath but a wet eel by the tail. -But they may do, as they list; the law is in their own hands; but, and -they would be rul'd by me, they should set her on the lee-land, and bid -the devil split her; beshrew her fingers, she hath made me watch past -mine hour; but I'll watch her a good turn for it. - -COOMES. How, who's that? Nicholas!--So, first come, first serv'd; -I am for him [_Aside_]. ---How now, Proverb, Proverb? 'sblood, how now, Proverb? - -NICH. My name is Nicholas, Richard; and I know your meaning, and I hope -ye mean no harm. I thank ye: I am the better for your asking. - -COOMES. Where have ye been a-whoring thus late, ha? - -NICH. Master Richard, the good wife would not seek her daughter in -the oven, unless she had been there herself: but, good Lord, you -are knuckle-deep in dirt!--I warrant, when he was in, he swore -Walsingham[392], and chaf'd terrible for the time. [_Aside_.] ---Look, the water drops from you as fast as hops. - -COOMES. What need'st thou to care, whip-her-Jenny[393], -tripe-cheeks?[394], out, you fat ass! - -NICH. Good words cost nought: ill words corrupt good manners, Richard; -for a hasty man never wants woe. And I had thought you had been my -friend; but I see all is not gold that glitters; there's falsehood in -fellowship; _amicus certus in re certa cernitur_; time and truth tries -all; and 'tis an old proverb, and not so old as true, bought wit is the -best; I can see day at a little hole; I know your mind as well as though -I were within you; 'tis ill halting before a cripple: go to, you seek to -quarrel; but beware of had I wist[395]; so long goes the pot to the -water, at length it comes home broken; I know you are as good a man as -ever drew sword, or as was e'er girt in a girdle, or as e'er went on -neat's leather, or as one shall see upon a summer's day, or as e'er -look'd man in the face, or as e'er trod on God's earth, or as e'er broke -bread or drunk drink; but he is proper that hath proper conditions[396]; -but be not you like the cow, that gives a good sop of milk, and casts it -down with her[397] heels; I speak plainly, for plain-dealing is a jewel, -and he that useth it shall die a beggar; well, that happens in an hour, -that happens not in seven years; a man is not so soon whole as hurt; and -you should kill a man, you would kiss his--well, I say little, but I -think the more. Yet I'll give him good words; 'tis good to hold a candle -before the devil; yet, by God's dine[398], I'll take no wrong, if he had -a head as big as Brass[399], or look'd as high as Paul's steeple. - [_Aside_.] - -COOMES. Sirrah, thou grasshopper, that shalt skip from my sword as from a -scythe; I'll cut thee out in collops and eggs, in steaks, in slic'd beef, -and fry thee with the fire I shall strike from the pike of thy buckler. - -NICH. Ay, Brag's a good dog; threat'ned folks live long. - -COOMES. What say ye, sir? - -NICH. Why, I say not so much as, How do ye? - -COOMES. Do ye not so, sir? - -NICH. No, indeed, whatsoe'er I think; and thought is free. - -COOMES. You whoreson wafer-cake, by God's dines, I'll crush ye for this! - -NICH. Give an inch, and you'll take an ell; I will not put my finger in -a hole, I warrant ye: what, man! ne'er crow so fast, for a blind man may -kill a hare; I have known when a plain fellow hath hurt a fencer, so I -have: what! a man may be as slow as a snail, but as fierce as a lion, -and he be moved; indeed, I am patient, I must needs say, for patience in -adversity brings a man to the Three Cranes in the Vintry. - -COOMES. Do ye hear? set down your torch; draw, fight, I am for ye. - -NICH. And I am for ye too, though it be from this midnight to the next -morn. - -COOMES. Where be your tools? - -NlCH. Within a mile of an oak, sir; he's a proud horse will not carry -his own provender, I warrant ye. - -COOMES. Now am I in my quarrelling humour, and now can I say nothing but, -zounds, draw! but I'll untruss, and then have to it. [_Aside_.] - - _Enter [severally]_ HODGE _and_ BOY. - -HOD. Who's there? boy! honest boy, well-met: where hast thou been? - -BOY. O Hodge, Dick Coomes hath been as good as a cry of hounds, to make -a breath'd[400] hare of me! but didst thou see my master? - -HOD. I met him even now, and he ask'd me for thee, and he is gone up -and down, whooing like[401] an owl for thee. - -BOY. Owl, ye ass! - -HOD. Ass! no, nor glass, for then it had been Owlglass[402]: -but who's that, boy? - -BOY. By the mass, 'tis our Coomes and Nicholas; and it seems they are -providing to fight. - -HOD. Then we shall have fine sport, i'faith. Sirrah, let's stand close, -and when they have fought a bout or two, we'll run away with the torch, -and leave them to fight darkling, shall we? - -BOY. Content; I'll get the torch: stand close. - -COOMES. So now my back hath room to reach: I do not love to be lac'd in, -when I go to lace a rascal. I pray God, Nicholas prove not a fly:[403] -it would do me good to deal with a good man now, that we might have -half-a-dozen good smart strokes. Ha, I have seen the day I could have -danc'd in my fight, one, two, three, four, and five, on the head of him; -six, seven, eight, nine, and ten on the sides of him; and, if I went so -far as fifteen, I warrant I shewed[404] him a trick of one-and-twenty; -but I have not fought this four days, and I lack a little practice of -my ward; but I shall make a shift: ha, close [_Aside_]. ---Are ye disposed, sir? - -NICH. Yes, indeed, I fear no colours: change sides, Richard. - -COOMES. Change the gallows! I'll see thee hang'd first. - -NICH. Well, I see the fool will not leave his bable[405] for the Tower -of London. - -COOMES. Fool, ye rogue! nay, then, fall to it. - -NICH. Good goose, bite not. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, how pursy I am! Well, I see exercise is all: I must -practice my weapons oft'ner; I must have a goal or two at foot-ball, -before I come to my right kind [_Aside_]. -Give me thy hand, Nicholas: thou art a better man than I took thee for, -and yet thou art not so good a man as I. - -NICH. You dwell by ill-neighbours, Richard; that makes ye praise -yourself. - -COOMES. Why, I hope thou wilt say I am a man? - -NICH. Yes, I'll say so, if I should see ye hang'd. - -COOMES. Hang'd, ye rogue! nay, then, have at ye. - - [_While they fight, exeunt_ HODGE _and_ BOY _with the torch_.] - -Zounds, the light is gone! - -NICH. O Lord, it is as dark as pitch! - -COOMES. Well, here I'll lie, with my buckler thus, lest striking up and -down at randall[406] the rogue might hurt me, for I cannot see to save -it, and I'll hold my peace, lest my voice should bring him where I am. - [_Stand aside_.] - -NICH. 'Tis good to have a cloak for the rain; a bad shift is better than -none at all; I'll sit here, as if I were as dead as a door-nail. - [_Stand aside_.][407] - - _Enter_ MR BARNES _and_ MR GOURSEY. - -MR GOUR. Hark! there's one hallooes. - -MR BARNES. And there's another. - -MR GOUR. And everywhere we come, I hear some halloo, -And yet it is our haps to meet with none. - -MR BAR. I marvel where your Hodge is and my man. - -MR GOUR. Ay, and our wives? we cannot meet with them, -Nor with the boy, nor Mall, nor Frank, nor Philip, -Nor yet with Coomes, and yet we ne'er stood still. -Well, I am very angry with my wife, -And she shall find I am not pleas'd with her, -If we meet ne'er so soon: but 'tis my hope[408] -She hath had as blind a journey on't as we; -Pray God, she have, and worse, if worse may be! - -MR BAR. This is but short-liv'd envy[409], Master Goursey: -But, come, what say ye to my policy? - -MR GOUR. I'faith, 'tis good, and we will practise it; -But, sir, it must be handled cunningly, -Or all is marr'd; our wives have subtle heads, -And they will soon perceive a drift device. - - _Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH. - -SIR RALPH. So ho! - -MR GOUR. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. Who there? - -MR BAR. Here's one or two. - -SIR RALPH. Is Will there? - -MR BAR. No. Philip? - -MR GOUR. Frank? - -SIR RALPH. No, no.-- -Was ever man deluded thus like me? -I think some spirit leads me thus amiss, -As I have often heard that some have been -Thus in the nights. -But yet this mazes me; where e'er I come, -Some asks me still for Frank or Philip, -And none of them can tell me where Will is. [_Aside_. - -WILL. So ho! | - -PHIL. So ho! | [_They hallo within_. - -HOD. So ho! | - -BOY. So ho! | - -SIR RALPH. Zounds, now I hear four halloo at the least! -One had a little voice; then, that's the wench -My man hath lost: well, I will answer all. [_Aside.] ---So ho! - - [_Enter_ HODGE.] - -HOD. Whoop, whoop! - -SIR RALPH. Who's there? Will? - -HOD. No, sir; honest Hodge: but, I pray ye, sir, did ye not meet with a -boy with a torch? he is run away from me, a plague on him! - -SIR RALPH. Heyday, from Frank and Philip to a torch, -And to a boy! nay, zounds, then, hap as 'twill. [_Aside_. - - [_Exeunt_ SIR RALPH _and_ HODGE _severally_. - -MR GOUR. Who goes there? - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. Guess here. - -MR BAR. Philip? - -WILL. Philip! no, faith; my name's Will--ill-Will, for I was never worse: -I was even now with him, and might have been still, but that I fell into -a ditch and lost him, and now I am going up and down to seek him. - -MR GOUR. What would'st thou do with him? - -WILL. Why, I would have him go with me to my master's. - -MR GOUR. Who's thy master? - -WILL. Why, Sir Ralph Smith; and thither he promis'd me he would come; -if he keep his word, so 'tis. - -MR BAR. What was a[410] doing, when thou first found'st him? - -WILL. Why, he halloo'd for one Francis, and Francis halloo'd for him; -I halloo'd for my master, and my master for me; but we miss'd still, -meeting contrary, Philip and Francis with me and my master, and I and -my master with Philip and Frank. - -MR GOUR. Why, wherefore is Sir Ralph so late abroad? - -WILL. Why, he meant to kill a buck; I'll say so to save his honesty, -but my Nan was his mark [_Aside_]. And he sent me for his bow, and when -I came, I halloo'd for him; but I never saw such luck to miss him; it -hath almost made me mad. - -MR BAR. Well, stay with us; perhaps Sir Ralph and he will come anon: -hark! I do hear one halloo. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. Is this broad waking in a winter's night? -I am broad walking in a winter's night-- -Broad indeed, because I am abroad-- -But these broad fields, methinks, are not so broad -That they may keep me forth of narrow ditches. -Here's a hard world! -For I can hardly keep myself upright in it: -I am marvellous dutiful--but, so ho! - -WILL. So ho! - -PHIL. Who's there? - -WILL. Here's Will. - -PHIL. What, Will! how 'scap'st thou? - -WILL. What, sir? - -PHIL. Nay, not hanging, but drowning: wert thou in a pond or a ditch? - -WILL. A pestilence on it! is't you, Philip? no, faith, I was but dirty -a little: but here's one or two ask'd for ye. - -PHIL. Who be they, man? - -MR BAR. Philip, 'tis I and Master Goursey. - -PHIL. Father, O father, I have heard them say -The days of ignorance are pass'd and done; -But I am sure the nights of ignorance -Are not yet pass'd, for this is one of them. -But where's my sister? - -MR BAR. Why, we cannot tell. - -PHIL. Where's Francis? - -MR GOUR. Neither saw we him. - -PHIL. Why, this is fine. -What, neither he nor I, nor she nor you, -Nor I nor she, nor you and I, till[411] now, -Can meet, could meet, or e'er, I think, shall meet! -Call ye this wooing? no, 'tis Christmas sport -Of Hob-man-blind[412], all blind, all seek to catch, -All miss--but who comes here? - - _Enter_ FRANK _and his_ BOY. - -FRAN. O, have I catch'd ye, sir? It was your doing -That made me have this pretty dance to-night; -Had not you spoken, my mother had not scar'd me: -But I will swinge ye for it. - -PHIL. Keep the king's peace! - -FRAN. How! art thou become a constable? -Why, Philip, where hast thou been all this while? - -PHIL. Why, where you were not: but, I pray [you], where's my sister? - -FRAN. Why, man, I saw her not; but I have sought her, -As I should seek-- - -PHIL. A needle, have ye not? -Why you, man, are the needle that she seeks -To work withal! Well, Francis, do you hear? -You must not answer so, that you have sought her; -But have ye found her? faith, and if you have, -God give ye joy of that ye found with her! - -FRAN[413]. I saw her not: how could I find her? - -MR GOUR. Why, could ye miss from Master Barnes's house -Unto his coney-burrow? - -FRAN. Whether I could or no, father, I did. - -PHIL. Father, I did! Well, Frank, wilt thou believe me? -Thou dost not know how much this same doth grieve me: -Shall it be said thou miss'd so plain a way, -When as so fair a wench did for thee stay? - -FRAN. Zounds, man! - -PHIL. Zounds, man! and if thou hadst been blind, -The coney-burrow thou needest must find. -I tell, thee, Francis, had it been my case, -And I had been a wooer in thy place, -I would have laid my head unto the ground, -And scented out my wench's way, like a hound; -I would have crept upon my knees all night, -And have made the flintstones links to give me light; -Nay, man, I would. - -FRAN. Good Lord, what you would do! -Well, we shall see one day, how you can woo. - -MR GOUR. Come, come, we see that we have all been cross'd; -Therefore, let's go, and seek them we have lost. - [_Exeunt_ - - _Enter_ MALL. - -[MAL.] Am I alone? doth not my mother come? -Her torch I see not, which I well might see, -If any way she were coming toward me: -Why, then, belike she's gone some other way; -And may she go, till I bid her [to] turn! -Far shall her way be then, and little fair, -Foe she hath hindered me of my good turn; -God send her wet and weary, ere she turn! -I had been at Oxenford, and to-morrow -Have been releas'd from all my maiden's sorrow, -And tasted joy, had not my mother been; -God, I beseech thee, make it her worst sin! -How many maids this night lies in their beds, -And dream that they have lost their maidenheads! -Such dreams, such slumbers I had too enjoy'd, -If waking malice had not them destroy'd. -A starved man with double death doth die, -To have the meat might save him in his eye, -And may not have it: so am I tormented, -To starve for joy I see, yet am prevented. -Well, Frank, although thou wooedst and quickly won, -Yet shall my love to thee be never done; -I'll run through hedge and ditch, through brakes and briars, -To come to thee, sole lord of my desires: -Short wooing is the best, an hour, not years, -For long-debating love is full of fears. -But, hark! I hear one tread. O, were't my brother, -Or Frank, or any man, but not my mother! - - [_Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH.] - -SIR RALPH. O, when will this same year of night have end? -Long-look'd for day's sun, when wilt thou ascend? -Let not this thieve[414] friend, misty veil of night, -Encroach on day, and shadow thy fair light, -Whilst thou com'st tardy from thy Thetis' bed, -Blushing forth golden hair and glorious red; -O, stay not long, bright lanthorn of the day, -To light my miss'd-way feet to my right way! - -MAL. It is a man, his big voice tells me so, -Much am I not acquainted with it, tho'; -And yet mine ear, sound's true distinguisher, -Boys[415] that I have been more familiar -With it than now I am: well, I do judge, -It is no envious fellow, out[416] of grudge; -Therefore I'll plead acquaintance, hire his guiding, -And buy of him some place of close abiding, -Till that my mother's malice be expir'd, -And we may joy in that is long desired [_Aside_] ---Who's there? - -SIR RALPH. Are ye a maid? No question, this is she -My man doth miss: faith, since she lights on me, -I do not mean till day to let her go; -For whe'er[417] she is my man's love, I will know [_Aside_ -Hark ye, maid, if [a] maid, are ye so light, -That you can see to wander in the night? - -MAL. Hark ye, true man, if true, I tell ye, no; -I cannot see at all which way I go. - -SIR RALPH. Fair maid, is't so? say, had ye ne'er a fall? - -MAL. Fair man, not so; no, I had none at all. - -SIR RALPH. Could you not stumble on one man, I pray? - -MAL. No, no such block till now came in my way. - -SIR RALPH. Am I that block, sweet tripe; then, fall and try. - -MAL. The ground's too hard a feather-bed; not I. - -SIR RALPH. Why, how, and you had met with such a stump? - -MAL. Why, if he had been your height, I meant to jump. - -SIR RALPH. Are ye so nimble? - -MAL. Nimble as a doe. - -SIR RALPH. Bak'd in a pie. - -MAL. Of ye. - -SIR RALPH. Good meat, ye know. - -MAL. Ye hunt sometimes? - -SIR RALPH. I do. - -MAL. What take ye? - -SIR RALPH. Deer. - -MAL. You'll ne'er strike rascal[418]? - -SIR RALPH. Yes, when ye are there. - -MAL. Will ye strike me? - -SIR RALPH. Yes: will ye strike again? - -MAL. No, sir: it fits not maids to fight with men. - -SIR RALPH. I wonder, wench, how I thy name might know. - -MAL. Why, you may find it, sir, in th'Christcross row[419]. - -SIR RALPH. Be my schoolmistress, teach me how to spell it. - -MAL. No, faith, I care not greatly, if I tell it; -My name is Mary Barnes. - -SIR RALPH. How, wench? Mall Barnes! - -MAL. The very same. - -SIR RALPH. Why, this is strange. - -MAL. I pray, sir, what's your name? - -SIR RALPH. Why, Sir Ralph Smith doth wonder, wench, at this; -Why, what's the cause thou art abroad so late? - -MAL. What, Sir Ralph Smith! nay, then, I will disclose -All the whole cause to him, in him repose -My hopes, my love: God him, I hope, did send -Our loves and both our mothers' hates to end. [_Aside_.] ---Gentle Sir Ralph, if you my blush might see, -You then would say I am ashamed to be -Found, like a wand'ring stray, by such a knight, -So far from home at such a time of night: -But my excuse is good; love first by fate -Is cross'd, controll'd, and sundered by fell hate. -Frank Goursey is my love, and he loves me; -But both our mothers hate and disagree; -Our fathers like the match and wish it done; -And so it had, had not our mothers come; -To Oxford we concluded both to go; -Going to meet, they came; we parted so; -My mother followed me, but I ran fast, -Thinking who went from hate had need make haste; -Take me she cannot, though she still pursue: -But now, sweet knight, I do repose on you; -Be you my orator and plead my right, -And get me one good day for this bad night. - -SIR RALPH. Alas, good heart, I pity thy hard hap! -And I'll employ all that I may for thee. -Frank Goursey, wench! I do commend thy choice: -Now I remember I met one Francis, -As I did seek my man,--then, that was he,-- -And Philip too,--belike that was thy brother: -Why, now I find how I did lose myself, -And wander[420] up and down, mistaking so. -Give me thy hand, Mall: I will never leave, -Till I have made your mothers friends again, -And purchas'd to ye both your hearts' delight, -And for this same one bad many a good night. -'Twill not be long, ere that Aurora will, -Deck'd in the glory of a golden sun, -Open the crystal windows of the east, -To make the earth enamour'd of her face, -When we shall have clear light to see our way: -Come; night being done, expect a happy day. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES. - -MRS BAR. O, what a race this peevish girl hath led me! -How fast I ran, and now how weary I am! -I am so out of breath I scarce can speak,-- -What shall I do?--and cannot overtake her. -'Tis late and dark, and I am far from home: -May there not thieves lie watching hereabout, -Intending mischief unto them they meet? -There may; and I am much afraid of them, -Being alone without all company. -I do repent me of my coming forth; -And yet I do not,--they had else been married, -And that I would not for ten times more labour. -But what a winter of cold fear I thole[421], -Freezing my heart, lest danger should betide me! -What shall I do to purchase company? -I hear some halloo here about the fields: -Then here I'll set my torch upon this hill, -Whose light shall beacon-like conduct them to it; -They that have lost their way, seeing a light, -For it may be seen far off in the night, -Will come to it. Well, here I'll lie unseen, -And look who comes, and choose my company. -Perhaps my daughter may first come to it. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY.] - -MRS GOUR. Where am I now? nay, where was I even now? -Nor now, nor then, nor where I shall be, know I. -I think I am going home: I may as well -Be[422] going from home; 'tis[423] so very dark, -I cannot see how to direct a step. -I lost my man, pursuing of my son; -My son escap'd me too: now, all alone, -I am enforc'd[424] to wander up and down. -Barnes's wife's[425] abroad: pray God, that she -May have as good a dance, nay, ten times worse! -O, but I fear she hath not; she hath light -To see her way. O, that some[426] bridge would break, -That she might fall into some deep digg'd ditch, -And either break her bones or drown herself! -I would these mischiefs I could wish to her -Might light on her!--but, soft; I see a light: -I will go near; it is comfortable, -After this night's sad spirits-dulling darkness. -How now? what, is it set to keep itself? - -MRS BAR. A plague on't, is she there? [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. O, how it cheers and quickens up my thoughts! - -MRS BAR. O that it were the basilisk's fell eye, -To poison thee! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I care not, if I take it-- -Sure none is here to hinder me-- -And light me home. - -MRS BAR. I had rather she were hang'd -Than I should set it there to do her good. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I'faith, I will. - -MRS BAR. I'faith, you shall not, mistress; -I'll venture a burnt finger but I'll have it. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Yet Barnes's wife would chafe, if that she knew, -That I had this good luck to get a light. - -MRS BAR. And so she doth; but praise your[427] luck at parting. - [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. O, that it were[428] her light, good faith, that she -Might darkling walk about as well as I! - -MRS BAR. O, how this mads me, that she hath her wish! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. How I would laugh to see her trot about! - -MRS BAR. O, I could cry for anger and for rage! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. But who should set it here, I marv'l, a God's name. - -MRS BAR. One that will have't from you in the devil's name. _Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I'll lay my life that it was Barnes's son. - -MRS BAR. No, forsooth, it was Barnes's wife. - -MRS GOUR. A plague upon her, how she made me start! [_Aside_.] -Mistress, let go the torch. - -MRS BAR. No, but I will not. - -MRS GOUR. I'll thrust it in thy face, then. - -MRS BAR. But you shall not. - -MRS GOUR. Let go, I say. - -MRS BAR. Let you go, for 'tis mine. - -MRS GOUR. But my possession says, it is none of thine. - -MRS BAR. Nay, I have hold too. - -MRS GOUR. Well, let go thy hold, -Or I will spurn thee. - -MRS BAR. Do; I can spurn thee too. - -MRS GOUR. Canst thou? - -MRS BAR. Ay, that I can. - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY _and_ MASTER BARNES, - [PHILIP, FRANK, &c.] - -MR GOUR. Why, how now, women? how unlike to women -Are ye both now! come, part, come, part, I say. - -MR BAR. Why, what immodesty is this in you! -Come, part, I say; fie, fie. - -MRS BAR. Fie, fie? I say she shall not have my torch.-- -Give me thy torch, boy:--I will run a-tilt, -And burn out both her eyes in my encounter. - -MRS GOUR. Give room, and let us have this hot career[429]. - -MR GOUR. I say ye shall not: wife, go to, tame your thoughts, -That are so mad with fury. - -MR BAR. And, sweet wife, -Temper your rage with patience; do not be -Subject so much to such misgovernment. - -MRS BAR. Shall I not, sir, when such a strumpet wrongs me? - -MR GOUR. How, strumpet, Mistress Barnes! nay, I pray, hark ye: -I oft indeed have heard ye call her so, -And I have thought upon it, why ye should -Twit her with name of strumpet; do you know -Any hurt by her, that you term her so? - -MR BAR. No, on my life; rage only makes her say so. - -MR GOUR. But I would know whence this same rage should come; -Where's smoke, there's fire; and my heart misgives -My wife's intemperance hath got that name;-- -And, Mistress Barnes, I doubt and shrewdly[430] doubt, -And some great cause begets this doubt in me, -Your husband and my wife doth wrong us both. - -MR BAR. How, think ye so? nay, Master Goursey, then, -You run in debt to my opinion, -Because you pay not such advised wisdom, -As I think due unto my good conceit. - -MR GOUR. Then still I fear I shall your debtor prove. - -[MR BAR.] Then I arrest you in the name of love; -Not bail, but present answer to my plea; -And in the court of reason we will try, -If that good thoughts should believe jealousy. - -PHIL. Why, look ye, mother, this is 'long of you.-- -For God's sake, father, hark? why, these effects -Come still from women's malice: part, I pray.-- -Coomes, Will, and Hodge, come all, and help us part them!-- -Father, but hear me speak one word--no more. - -FRAN. Father, but hear him[431] speak, then use your will. - -PHIL. Cry peace between ye for a little while. - -MRS GOUR. Good husband, hear him speak - -MRS BAR. Good husband, hear him. - -COOMES. Master, hear him speak; he's a good wise young stripling for -his years, I tell ye, and perhaps may speak wiser than an elder body; -therefore hear him. - -HOD. Master, hear; and make an end; you may kill one another in jest, -and be hanged in earnest. - -MR GOUR. Come, let us hear him. Then speak quickly, Philip. - -MR BAR. Thou shouldst have done ere this; speak, Philip, speak. - -MRS BAR. O Lord, what haste you make to hurt yourselves!-- -Good Philip, use some good persuasions -To make them friends. - -PHIL. Yes, I'll do what I can.-- -Father and Master Goursey, both attend. -It is presumption in so young a man -To teach where he might learn, or to[432] direct, -Where he hath had direction; but in duty -He may persuade as long as his persuase -Is back'd with reason and a rightful suit. -Physic's first rule is this, as I have learned: -Kill the effect by cutting off the cause. -The same effects of ruffian outrages -Comes by the cause of malice in your wives; -Had not they two been foes, you had been friends, -And we had been at home, and this same war -In peaceful sleep had ne'er been dreamt upon. -Mother and Mistress Goursey, to make them friends, -Is to be friends yourselves: you are the cause, -And these effects proceed, you know, from you; -Your hates gives life unto these killing strifes, -But die, and if that envy[433] die in you.-- -Fathers, yet stay.--O, speak!--O, stay a while!-- -Francis, persuade thy mother.--Master Goursey, -If that my mother will resolve[434] your mind[435] -That 'tis but mere suspect, not common proof, -And if my father swear he's innocent, -As I durst pawn my soul with him he is, -And if your wife vow truth and constancy, -Will you be then persuaded? - -MR GOUR. Philip, if thy father will remit -The wounds I gave him, and if these conditions -May be performed, I banish all my wrath. - -MR BAR. And if thy mother will but clear me, Philip, -As I am ready to protest I am, -Then Master Goursey is my friend again. - -PHIL. Hark, mother; now you hear that your desires -May be accomplished; they will both be friends, -If you'll perform these easy articles. - -MRS BAR. Shall I be friends with such an enemy? - -PHIL. What say you[436] unto my persuase? - -MRS BAR. I say she's[437] my deadly enemy. - -PHIL. Ay, but she will be your friend, if you revolt. - -MRS BAR. The words I said! what, shall I eat a truth? - -PHIL. Why, hark ye, mother. - -FRAN. Mother, what say you? - -MRS GOUR. Why, this I say, she slandered my good name. - -FRAN. But if she now deny it, 'tis no defame. - -MRS GOUR. What, shall I think her hate will yield so much? - -FRAN. Why, doubt it not; her spirit may be such. - -MR GOUR. Why, will it be? - -PHIL. Yet stay, I have some hope. -Mother, why, mother, why, hear ye[438]: -Give me your hand; it is no more but thus; -'Tis easy labour to shake hands with her: -Little[439] breath is spent in speaking of fair words, -When wrath hath violent delivery. - -MR BAR. What, shall we be resolv'd? - -MRS BAR. O husband, stay!-- -Stay, Master Goursey: though your wife doth hate me, -And bears unto me malice infinite -And endless, yet I will respect your safeties; -I would not have you perish by our means: -I must confess that only suspect, -And no proof else, hath fed my hate to her. - -MRS GOUR. And, husband, I protest by heaven and earth -That her suspect is causeless and unjust, -And that I ne'er had such a vild[440] intent; -Harm she imagin'd, where as none was meant. - -PHIL. Lo, sir, what would ye more? - -MR BAR. Yes, Philip, this; -That I confirm him in my innocence -By this large universe. - -MR GOUR. By that I swear, -I'll credit none of you, until I hear -Friendship concluded straight between them two: -If I see that they willingly will do, -Then I'll imagine all suspicion ends; -I may be then assured, they being friends. - -PHIL. Mother, make full my wish, and be it so. - -MRS BAR. What, shall I sue for friendship to my foe? - -PHIL. No: if she yield, will you? - -MRS BAR. It may be, ay. - -PHIL. Why, this is well. The other I will try.-- -Come, Mistress Goursey, do you first agree. - -MRS GOUR. What, shall I yield unto mine enemy? - -PHIL. Why, if she will, will you? - -MRS GOUR. Perhaps I will - -PHIL. Nay, then, I find this goes well forward still. -Mother, give me your hand [_to_ MRS G.], give me yours too-- -Be not so loth; some good thing I must do; -But lay your torches by, I like not them; -Come, come, deliver them unto your men: -Give me your hands. So, now, sir, here I stand, -Holding two angry women in my hand: -And I must please them both; I could please tone[441], -But it is hard when there is two to one, -Especially of women; but 'tis so, -They shall be pleas'd, whether they will or no.-- -Which will come first? what, both give back! ha, neither! -Why, then, yond help that both may come together[442]. -So, stand still, stand [still] but a little while, -And see, how I your angers will beguile. -Well, yet there is no hurt; why, then, let me -Join these two hands, and see how they'll agree: -Peace, peace! they cry; look how they friendly kiss! -Well, all this while there is no harm in this: -Are not these two twins? twins should be both alike, -If tone speaks fair, the tother should not strike: -Jesus, the warriors will not offer blows! -Why, then, 'tis strange that you two should be foes. -O yes, you'll say, your weapons are your tongues; -Touch lip with lip, and they are bound from wrongs: -Go to, embrace, and say, if you be friends, -That here the angry women's quarrels ends. - -MRS GOUR. Then here it ends, if Mistress Barnes say so. - -MRS BAR. If you say ay, I list not to say no. - -MR GOUR. If they be friends, by promise we agree. - -MR BAR. And may this league of friendship ever be! - -PHIL. What say'st thou, Frank? doth not this fall out well? - -FRAN. Yes, if my Mall were here, then all were well. - - _Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH _with_ MALL. [MALL _stays behind_.] - -SIR RALPH. Yonder they be, Mall: stay, stand close, and stir not -Until I call. God save ye, gentlemen! - -MR BAR. What, Sir Ralph Smith! you are welcome, man: -We wond'red when we heard you were abroad. - -SIR RALPH. Why, sir, how heard ye that I was abroad? - -MR BAR. By your man. - -SIR RALPH. My man! where is he? - -WILL. Here. - -SIR RALPH. O, ye are a trusty squire! - -NICH. It had been better, and he had said, a sure card. - -PHIL. Why, sir? - -NICH. Because it is the proverb. - -PHIL. Away, ye ass! - -NICH. An ass goes a four legs; I go of two, Christ cross. - -PHIL. Hold your tongue. - -NICH. And make no more ado. - -MR GOUR. Go to, no more ado. Gentle Sir Ralph, -Your man is not in fault for missing you, -For he mistook by us, and we by him. - -SIR RALPH. And I by you, which now I well perceive. -But tell me, gentlemen, what made ye all -Be from your beds this night, and why thus late -Are your wives walking here about the fields[443]: -'Tis strange to see such women of accompt -Here; but I guess some great occasion [prompt.] - -MR GOUR. Faith, this occasion, sir: women will jar; -And jar they did to-day, and so they parted; -We, knowing women's malice let alone -Will, canker-like, eat farther in their hearts, -Did seek a sudden cure, and thus it was: -A match between his daughter and my son; -No sooner motioned but 'twas agreed, -And they no sooner saw but wooed and lik'd: -They have it sought to cross, and cross['d] it thus. - -SIR RALPH. Fie, Mistress Barnes and Mistress Goursey both; -The greatest sin wherein your souls may sin, -I think, is this, in crossing of true love: -Let me persuade ye. - -MRS BAR. Sir, we are persuaded, -And I and Mistress Goursey are both friends; -And, if my daughter were but found again, -Who now is missing, she had my consent -To be dispos'd of to her own content. - -SIR RALPH. I do rejoice that what I thought to do, -Ere I begin, I find already done: -Why, this will please your friends at Abington. -Frank, if thou seek'st that way, there thou shalt find -Her, whom I hold the comfort of thy mind. - -MAL. He shall not seek me; I will seek him out, -Since of my mother's grant I need not doubt. - -MR[S] BAR. Thy mother grants, my girl, and she doth pray -To send unto you both a joyful day! - -HOD. Nay, Mistress Barnes, I wish her better: that those joyful days -may be turn'd to joyful nights. - -COOMES. Faith, 'tis a pretty wench, and 'tis pity but she should -have him. - -NICH. And, Mistress Mary, when ye go to bed, God send you good rest, -and a peck of fleas in your nest, every one as big as Francis! - -PHIL. Well said, wisdom! God send thee wise children! - -NICH. And you more money. - -PHIL. Ay, so wish I. - -NICH. 'Twill be a good while, ere you wish your skin full of -eyelet-holes. - -PHIL. Frank, hark ye: brother, now your wooing's done, -The next thing now you do is for a son, -I prythee; for, i'faith, I should be glad -To have myself called nunkle[444], and thou dad. -Well, sister, if that Francis play the man, -My mother must be grandam and you mam. -To it, Francis--to it, sister!--God send ye joy! -'Tis fine to sing, dancey, my own sweet boy! - -FRAN. Well, sir, jest on. - -PHIL. Nay, sir[445], do you jest on. - -MR BAR. Well, may she prove a happy wife to him! - -MR GOUR. And may he prove as happy unto her! - -SIR RALPH. Well, gentlemen, good hap betide them both! -Since 'twas my hap thus happily to meet, -To be a witness of this sweet contract, -I do rejoice; wherefore, to have this joy -Longer present with me, I do request -That all of you will be my promis'd guests: -This long night's labour doth desire some rest, -Besides this wished end; therefore, I pray, -Let me detain ye but a dinner time: -Tell me, I pray, shall I obtain so much? - -MR BAR. Gentle Sir Ralph, your courtesy is such, -As may impose command unto us all; -We will be thankful bold at your request. - -PHIL. I pray, Sir Ralph, what cheer shall we have? - -SIR RALPH. I'faith, country fare, mutton and veal, -Perchance a duck or goose [upon the platter.] - -MAL. O, I am sick! - -ALL. How now, Mall? what's the matter? - -MAL. Father and mother, if you needs would know, -He nam'd a goose, which is my stomach's foe. - -PHIL. Come, come, she is with child of some odd jest, -And now she's sick, till that she bring[446] it forth. - -MAL. A jest, quoth you! well, brother, if it be, -I fear 'twill prove an earnest unto me. -Goose, said ye, sir? O, that same very name -Hath in it much variety of shame! -Of all the birds that ever yet was seen, -I would not have them graze upon this green; -I hope they will not, for this crop is poor, -And they may pasture upon greater store: -But yet 'tis pity that they let them pass, -And like a common bite the Muse's grass. -Yet this I fear: if Frank and I should kiss, -Some creaking goose would chide us with a hiss; -I mean not that goose that -Sings it knows not what; -'Tis not that hiss, when one says, "hist, come hither," -Nor that same hiss that setteth dogs together, -Nor that same hiss that by a fire doth stand, -And hisseth T. or F.[447] upon the hand; -But 'tis a hiss, and I'll unlace my coat, -For I should sound[448] sure, if I heard that note, -And then green ginger for the green goose cries, -Serves not the turn--I turn'd the white of eyes. -The _rosa-solis_ yet that makes me live -Is favour[449] that these gentlemen may give; -But if they be displeased, then pleas'd am I -To yield myself a hissing death to die. -Yet I hope here is[450] none consents to kill, -But kindly take the favour of good-will. -If any thing be in the pen to blame, -Then here stand I to blush the writer's shame: -If this be bad, he promises a better; -Trust him, and he will prove a right true debtor. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - - - -LOOK ABOUT YOU. - - - -_EDITION. - -A Pleasant Commodie called Looke About you. As it was lately played by -the right honourable the Lord High Admirall his seruaunts. London, -Printed for William Ferbrand, and are to be solde at his shop at the -signe of the Crowne neere Guildhall gate_. 1600. 4°. - -This drama is now first reprinted from the original edition, which has -no division into acts and scenes. Mr Halliwell ("Dict. of Old Plays," -1860, p. 149) observes: "This is a diverting play, and the plot of it -is founded on the English historians of the reign of Henry II."[451] - -"Look About You" is not only a _pleasant_ comedy, full of bustle and -amusing episodes, and abundantly stored with illustrations of manners, -but it is a piece which exhibits, on the part of the unknown writer, -a considerable share of power and originality. The crazed Earl of -Gloucester is not an ill-conceived character, and may have supplied a -hint to Shakespeare; and the cross-purposes, stratagems, and deceptions, -of which it is full, remind us of our great dramatist's own "Comedy of -Errors," with which, however, it has nothing in common. It is by no -means improbable, at the same time, that "Look About You," and not -Shakespeare's play, was the piece performed at Gray's Inn in December -1594.[452] - -Skink, who fills the part assigned to the vice in the earlier comedies, -is a well-sustained and entertaining character, and the series of -transformations which he and the rest undergo, even while they -occasionally perplex us a little, as the plot thickens, and the figures -on the stage multiply, can hardly fail to amuse. - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE[453] - - -HENRY II., _King of England_. -PRINCE HENRY, _the young usurped King_. -PRINCE JOHN. -PRINCE RICHARD. -EARLS OF GLOUCESTER, LANCASTER, CHESTER, LEICESTER, _and_ MORTON. -SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE. -ROBIN HOOD, _Earl of Huntington_. -SKINK, _disguised as a hermit_. -THE QUEEN. -LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. -BLOCK. -_Warden of the Fleet_. -REDCAP, _a messenger_. -_Constable and Watch_. -_A Pursuivant_. -_A Drawer_. -_Music_. - - - - -A PLEASANT COMEDY CALLED LOOK ABOUT YOU. - - - -SCENE THE FIRST. - - - _Enter_ ROBERT HOOD, _a young Nobleman, a Servant with him, with - riding wands in their hands, as if they had been new-lighted_. - -ROB. Go, walk the horses, wait me on the hill; -This is the hermit's cell; go out of sight. -My business with him must not be reveal'd -To any mortal creature but himself. - -SERV. I'll wait your honour in the cross highway. [_Exit_. - -ROB. Do so. Hermit devout and reverend, -If drowsy age keep not thy stiffened joints -On thy unrestful bed, or if the hours -Of holy orisons detain thee not, -Come forth. - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like an hermit_. - -SKINK. Good morrow, son, -Good morrow; and God bless thee, Huntington, -A brighter gleam of true nobility -Shines not in any youth more than in thee. -Thou shalt be rich in honour, full of speed; -Thou shalt win foes by fear, and friends by meed. - -ROB. Father, I come not now to know my fate; -Important business urgeth princely Richard [_Deliver letters_. -In these terms to salute thy reverent age. -Read and be brief; I know some cause of trust -Made him employ me for his messenger. - -SKINK. A cause of trust indeed, true-honoured youth. -Princes had need, in matters of import, -To make nice choice. Fair earl, if I not err, -Thou art the prince's ward? - -ROB. Father, I am -His ward, his chamberlain, and bed-fellow. - -SKINK. Fair fall thee, honourable Robert Hood! -Wend to Prince Richard: say, though I am loth -To use my skill in conjuration, -Yet Skink, that poisoned red-cheek'd Rosamond, -Shall make appearance at the parliament; -He shall be there by noon, assure his grace. - -ROB. Good-morrow, father, see you fail him not, -For though the villain did a horrible deed, -Yet hath the young king Richard, and Earl John, -Sworn to defend him from his greatest foes. - -SKINK. God's benison be with thee, noble Earl! - -ROB. Adieu, good father. Holla, there! my horse! - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. Up, spur the kicking jade, while I make speed -To conjure Skink out of his hermit's weed; -Lie there, religion: keep thy master grave, -And on the fair trust of these princes' word -To court again, Skink. But, before I go, -Let mischief take advice of villainy, -Why to the hermit letters should be sent, -To post Skink to the court incontinent. -Is there no trick in this? ha! let me see! -Or do they know already I am he? -If they do so, faith, westward[454] then with Skink -But what an ass am I to be thus fond! -Here lies the hermit, whom I dying found -Some two months since, when I was hourly charg'd -With Hugh the crier and with constables. -I saw him in the ready way to heaven; -I help'd him forward: 'twas a holy deed; -And there he lies some six foot in the ground. -Since where, and since, I kept me in his weeds, -O, what a world of fools have fill'd my cells! -For fortunes, run-aways, stol'n goods, lost cattle! -Among the number, all the faction -That take the young king's part against the old, -Come to myself to hearken for myself. -So did the adverse party make inquire, -But either fall full of contrary desire: -The old king's part would kill me being stain'd; -The young king's keep me from their violence. -So then thou need'st not fear; go boldly on, -Brave Hal, Prince Dick, and my spruce hot-spur John, -Here's their safe-conduct. O, but for Rosamond! -A fig for Rosamond! to this hope I'll lean, -At a queen's bidding I did kill a quean. - - - -SCENE THE SECOND. - - - _Sound trumpets; enter with a Herald, on the one side_, - HENRY THE SECOND, _crowned, after him_ LANCASTER, CHESTER, - SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE: _on the other part_, KING HENRY - _the son, crowned, Herald after him; after him_ PRINCE - RICHARD, JOHN, LEICESTER. _Being set, enters fantastical_ - ROBERT OF GLOSTER _in a gown girt; walks up and down_. - -OLD KING. Why doth not Gloster take his honoured seat? - -GLO. In faith, my liege, Gloster is in a land, -Where neither surety is to sit or stand. -I only do appear as I am summoned, -And will await without till I am call'd. - -YOUNG K. Why, hear you, Gloster? - -GLO. Henry, I do hear you. - -YOUNG K. And why not _King_? - -GLO. What's he that sits so near you? - -RICH. King too. - -GLO. Two kings? Ha, ha! - -OLD K. Gloster, sit, we charge thee. - -GLO. I will obey your charge; I will sit down, -But in this house on no seat but the ground. - -JOHN. The seat's too good. - -GLO. I know it, brother John. - -JOHN. Thy brother? - -OLD K. Silence there. - -YOUNG KING. Pass to the bills, Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -FAU. My lieges both, old Fauconbridge is proud -Of your right honour'd charge. He that worst may -Will strain his old eyes: God send peace this day! -A bill for the releasement of the queen preferr'd, -By Henry the young King, Richard the Prince, John, Earl -Of Morton, Bohmine, Earl of Leicester, and the Commons. - -OLD K. Did you prefer this bill? - -ALL. We did. - -CHES. and LAN. Ye did not well. - -GLO. Why, this is good; now shall we have the hell. - -THREE BRO. Chester and Lancaster, you wrong the king. - -CHES. and LAN. Our king we do not. - -YOUNG K. Do not you see me crown'd? - -LAN. But whilst he lives, we to none else are bound. - -LEI. Is it not wrong, think you, when all the world['s] -Troubled with rumour of a captive queen, -Imprisoned by her husband in a realm, -Where her own son doth wear a diadem? -Is like an head of people mutinous, -Still murmuring at the shame done her and us? -Is it not more wrong, when her mother zeal, -Sounded through Europe, Afric, Asia, -Tells in the hollow of news-thirsting ears, -Queen Elinor lives in a dungeon, -For pity and affection to her son? -But when the true cause, Clifford's daughter's death, -Shall be exposed to stranger nations, -What volumes will be writ, what libels spread, -And in each line our state dishonoured! - -FAU. My lord speaks to the purpose; marry, -It may be so; pray God it prove not so. - -LEI. Hear me conclude, and therewithal conclude; -It is an heinous and unheard-of sin: -Queen Elinor, daughter to kingly France, -King Henry's wife, and royal Henry's mother, -Is kept close prisoner for an act of justice, -Committed on an odious concubine. - -KING. Thou wrong'st her, Leicester. - -LEI. Lechers ever praise -The cause of their confusion; she was vile. - -FAU. She was ill-spoken of, it's true, [too] true. - -GLO. Yonder sits one would do as much for you, -Old fool; young Richard hath a gift, I know it, -And on your wife my sister would bestow it. -Here's a good world! men hate adulterous sin, -Count it a gulf, and yet they needs will in. [_Aside_. - -LEI. What answer for the queen? - -LAN. The king replies, -Your words are foul slanderous forgeries. - -JOHN. His highness says not so. - -LAN. His highness doth, -Tells you it is a shame for such wild youth -To smother any impiety, -With shew to chastise loose adultery, -Say Rosamond was Henry's concubine. -Had never king a concubine but he? -Did Rosamond begin the fires in France? -Made she the northern borders reek with flames? -Unpeopled she the towns of Picardy? -Left she the wives of England husbandless? -O, no. She sinn'd, I grant; so do we all; -She fell herself, desiring none should fall. -But Elinor, whom you so much commend, -Hath been the bellows of seditious fire, -Either through jealous rage or mad desire. -Is't not a shame to think that she hath arm'd -Four sons' right hands against their father's head, -And not the children of a low-priz'd wretch, -But one, whom God on earth hath deified? -See, where he sits with sorrow in his eyes! -Three of his sons and hers tutor'd by her: -Smiles, whilst he weeps, and with a proud disdain -Embrace blithe mirth, while his sad heart complain. - -FAU. Ha! laugh they? nay, by the rood, that is not well; -Now fie, young princes, fie! - -HEN. Peace, doting fool. - -JOHN. Be silent, ass. - -FAU. With all my heart, my lords; my humble leave, my lords. -God's mother, ass and fool for speaking truth! -'Tis terrible; but fare ye well, my lords. - -RlCH. Nay, stay, good Fauconbridge; impute it rage, -That thus abuses your right reverend age. -My brothers are too hot. - -FAU. Too hot indeed! -Fool, ass, for speaking truth! It's more than need. - -RICH. Nay, good Sir Richard, at my kind intreat, -For all the love I bear your noble house, -Let not your absence kindle further wrath. -Each side's at council now; sit down, I pray. -I'll quit it with the kindest love I may. - -GLOS. Ay, to his wife. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Prince Richard, I'll sit down; -But by the faith I owe fair England's crown, -Had you not been, I would have left the place; -My service merits not so much disgrace. - -RICH. Good Fauconbridge, I thank thee. - - [_Go to their places_. - -GLO. And you'll think of him, -If you can step into his bower at Stepney. - -FAU. Prince Richard's very kind; I know his kindness. -He loves me, but he loves my lady better. -No more. I'll watch him; I'll prevent his game; -Young lad, it's ill to halt before the lame. [_Aside. - - [They break asunder, papers this while being - offered and subscribed between either_. - -HEN. I'll not subscribe to this indignity; -I'll not be called a king, but be a king. -Allow me half the realm; give me the north, -The provinces that lie beyond the seas: -Wales and the Isles, that compass in the main. - -GLO. Nay, give him all, and he will scant be pleased. [_Aside_. - -RICH. Brother, you ask too much. - -JOHN. Too much? too little! -He shall have that and more; I swear he shall. -I will have Nottingham and Salisbury, -Stafford and Darby, and some other earldom, -Or, by St John (whose blessed name I bear), -I'll make these places like a wilderness. -Is't not a plague, an horrible abuse, -A king, a King of England, should be father -To four such proper youths as Hal and Dick, -My brother Geoffrey, and my proper self, -And yet not give his sons such maintenance, -As he consumes among his minions? - -RICH. Be more respective, John. - -JOHN. Respective, Richard? -Are you turn'd pure? a changing weathercock! [_Aside_. -I say its reason Henry should be king, -Thou prince, I duke, as Geoffrey is a duke. - -LAN. What shall your father do? - -JOHN. Live at his prayers, -Have a sufficient pension by the year, -Repent his sins, because his end is near. - -GLO. A gracious son, a very gracious son! [_Aside_. - -KING. Will this content you? I that have sat still, -Amaz'd to see my sons devoid of shame; -To hear my subjects with rebellious tongues -Wound the kind bosom of their sovereign; -Can no more bear, but from a bleeding heart -Deliver all my love for all your hate: -Will this content ye?[455] Cruel Elinor, -Your savage mother, my uncivil queen: -The tigress, that hath drunk the purple blood -Of three times twenty thousand valiant men; -Washing her red chaps in the weeping tears -Of widows, virgins, nurses, sucking babes; -And lastly, sorted with her damn'd consorts, -Ent'red a labyrinth to murther love. -Will this content you? She shall be releas'd, -That she may next seize me she most envies! - -HEN. Our mother's liberty is some content. - -KING. What else would Henry have? - -HEN. The kingdom. - -KING. Peruse this bill; draw near; let us confer. - -JOHN. Hal, be not answered but with sovereignty, -For glorious is the sway of majesty. - -KING. What would content you, John? - -JOHN. Five earldoms, sir. - -KING. What you, son Richard? - -RICH. Pardon, gracious father, -And th'furtherance for my vow of penance. -For I have sworn to God and all his saints, -These arms erected in rebellious brawls -Against my father and my sovereign, -Shall fight the battles of the Lord of Hosts, -In wrong'd Judaea and Palestina. -That shall be Richard's penance for his pride, -His blood a satisfaction for his sin, -His patrimony, men, munition, -And means to waft them into Syria. - -KING. Thou shalt have thy desire, heroic son, -As soon as other home-bred brawls are done. - -LAN. Why weeps old Fauconbridge? - -FAU. I am almost blind, -To hear sons cruel and the fathers kind. -Now, well-a-year,[456] that e'er I liv'd to see -Such patience and so much impiety! - -GLO. Brother, content thee; this is but the first: -Worse is a-brewing, and yet not the worst. - -LEI. You shall not stand to this. - -HEN. And why, my lord? - -LEI. The lands of Morton doth belong to John. - -HEN. What's that to me? by Act of Parliament -If they be mine confirm'd, he must be pleas'd. - -JOHN. Be pleased, King-puppet! have I stood for thee, -Even in the mouth of death? open'd my arms -To circle in sedition's ugly shape? -Shook hands with duty, bad adieu to virtue, -Profan'd all majesty in heaven and earth; -Writ in black characters on my white brow -The name of _rebel John_ against his father? -For thee, for thee, thou 'otomy[457] of honour, -Thou worm of majesty, thou froth, thou bubble![458] -And must I now be pleas'd in peace to stand, -While statutes make thee owner of my land? - -GLO. Good pastime, good, now will the thieves fall out! [_Aside_. - -JOHN. O, if I do, let me be never held -Royal King Henry's son; pardon me, father; -Pull down this rebel, that hath done thee wrong. -Dick, come and leave his side; assail him, lords; -Let's have no parley but with bills and swords. - -KING. Peace, John, lay down thy arms; hear Henry speak. -He minds thee no such wrong. - -JOHN. He were not best. - -HEN. Why, hair-brain'd brother, can ye brook no jest? -I do confirm you Earl of Nottingham. - -JOHN. And Morton too? - -HEN. Ay, and Morton too. - -JOHN. Why so? now once more I'll sit down by you. - -GLO. Blow, wind! the youngest of King Henry's stock -Would fitly serve to make a weathercock. - -JOHN. Gape, earth! challenge thine own, as Gloster lies; -Pity such muck is cover'd with the skies? - -FAU. Be quiet, good my lords; ['tis] the King's command -You should be quiet, and 'tis very meet; -It's most convenient--how say you, Prince Richard? - -RICH. It is indeed. - -FAU. Why, that is wisely said; -You are a very kind, indifferent man, -Marry a' God, and by my halidom, -Were not I had a feeling in my head -Of some suspicion 'twixt my wife and him -I should affect him more than all the world. [_Aside_. - -GLO. Take heed, old Richard, keep thee there, mad lad. -My sisters' fair, and beauty may turn bad. [_Aside_. - - - -SCENE THE THIRD. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, _a paper in his hand_. - -OFFICER. Room there, make room for young Huntington. - -FAU. A gallant youth, a proper gentleman. - -HEN. Richard, I have had wrong about his wardship. - -RlCH. You cannot right yourself. - -JOHN. He can and shall. - -RICH. Not with your help; but, honourable youth, -Have ye perform'd the business I enjoin'd? - -ROB. I have, and Skink is come; here is his bill. - -HEN. No matter for his bill; let him come in. - -KING. Let him not enter; his infectious breath -Will poison the assembly. - -GLO. Never doubt;[459] -There's more infectious breaths about your throne. -Leicester is there; your envious sons are there; -If them you can endure, no poison fear. - -KING. Content thee, Gloster. - -GLO. I must be content -When you, that should mend all, are patient. - - _Enter_ SKINK. - -HEN. Welcome, good Skink, thou justly dost complain, -Thou stand'st in dread of death for Rosamond, -Whom thou didst poison at our dread command -And the appointment of our gracious mother. -See here my father's hand unto thy pardon. - -SKINK. I receive it graciously, wishing his soul sweet peace in heaven -for so meritorious a work, for I fear me I have not his heart, though -his hand. - -KING. Be sure thou hast not, murderous bloodsucker, -To jealous envy executioner. - -HEN. Besides, thou suest to have some maintenance; -We have bethought us how we will reward thee, -Thou shalt have Rowden lordship. - -GLO. Shall he so? -Will you reward your murtherers with my lands? - -HEN. Your lands? it is our gift; and he shall have it. - -GLO. I'll give him seizure first with this and this. - [_Strike him_. - -JOHN. Lay hold on Gloster. - -KING. Hold that murderous Skink. - -GLO. Villains, hands off; I am a prince, a peer, -And I have borne disgrace, while I can bear. - -FAU. Knaves, leave your rudeness; how now, brother -Gloster? nay, be appeas'd, be patient, brother. - -RICH. Shift for thyself, good Skink; there's gold, away: -Here will be parts.[460] - -SKINK. Swounds! I'll make one, and stay. - -JOHN. I prythee, begone, since thus it falleth out, -Take water; hence, away; thy life I doubt. - -SKINK. Well, farewell [then]; get I once out of door, -Skink never will put trust in warrants more. - [_Exit_. - -KING. Will Gloster not be bridled? - -GLO. Yes, my liege; -And saddled too, and rid, and spurred, and rein'd, -Such misery (in your reign) 'falls your friends. -Let go my arms, you dunghills; let me speak. - -KING. Where's that knave, Skink? I charge you see him stay'd. - -FAU. The swift-heel'd knave is fled; -Body-a-me, here's rule; here's work indeed. - -KING. Follow that Skink; let privy search be made; -Let not one pass, except he be well-known; -Let posts be every way sent speedily -For ten miles' compass round about the city. - -HEN. Take Gloster to you, Lieutenant of the Tower. -Keep him aside, till we confer awhile. -Father, you must subscribe to his committing. - -LAN. Why must he, Henry? - -LEI. Marry, for this cause: -He hath broke peace, and violated laws. - -GLO. So have you all done, rebels as you be. - -FAU. Good words, good brother; hear me, gracious lords. - -HEN. I prythee, Fauconbridge, be patient. -Gloster must of force answer this contempt. - -KING. I will not yield; he shall unto the Tower, -Warden of th'Fleet, take you the charge of Gloster. - -HEN. Why, be it so; yet stay with him awhile, -Till we take order for the company, -That shall attend him, and resort to him. - -GLO. Warden of the Fleet, I see I am your charge, -Befriend me thus, lest by their command -I be prevented of what I intend. - -KEEP. Command me any service in my power. - -GLO. I pray you call some nimble-footed fellow -To do a message for me to my sister. - -KEEP. Call in Redcap; he waiteth with a tipstaff, - [_Exit one for him_. -He stammers; but he's swift and trusty, sir. - - - -SCENE THE FOURTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -GLO. No matter for the stammering; is this he? - -RED. Ay, I am Re-Redcap, s-s-sir. - -GLO. Run. Redcap, to Stepney. - -RED. I'll be at Stepney p-p-presently. - -GLO. Nay, stay; go to the Lady Fauconbridge, my sister. - -RED. The La-La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fauconbreech? -I r-r-run, sir! - -GLO. But take thy errand; tell her I am prisoner, -Committed to the Fleet. - -RED. I am g-g-glad of th-th-that, my fa-fa-father -the p-p-porter sha-shall ge-ge-get a f-f-fee by you. - [_Still runs_. - -GLO. Stand still a while--desire her to make means -Unto Prince Richard for my liberty; -At thy return (make speed) I will reward thee. - -RED. I am g-g-gone, si-sir. - -RICH. Commend me to her, gentle Huntington; -Tell her in these affairs I'll stand her friend, -Her brother shall not long be prisoner: -Say I will visit her immediately. -Begone, sweet boy, to Marion Fauconbridge, -Thou lookest like love: persuade her to be loving. - -ROB. So far as honour will, I will persuade; -I'll lay love's battery to her modest ears; -Second my mild assault, you may chance win, -Fair parley at the least may hap pass in. - [_Exit_. - -HEN. Here, take your charge; let no man speak with him, -Except ourself, our brethren, or Earl Leicester. - -FAU. Not I, my lord? may not I speak with him? - -HEN. Yes, Fauconbridge, thou shalt. - -JOHN. And why? he is his wife's brother. - -FAU. Earl John, although I be, -I am true unto the state, and so is he. - -GLO. What, shall I have no servant of my own? - -HEN. No, but the household servants of the Fleet. - -GLO. I thank you, kinsman King; your father knows, -Gloster may boldly give a base slave blows. - -FAU. O, but not here; it was not well done here. - -KING. Farewell, good Gloster, you shall hear from us. - -GLO. Even what your sons will suffer you to send. -Is't not a misery to see you stand, -That sometime was the monarch of this land, -Intreating traitors for a subject's freedom? - -LEI. Let him not speak; away with him to prison. - -GLO. Here's like to be a well-stay'd commonwealth, -Wherein proud Leicester and licentious John -Are pillars for the king to lean upon. - -JOHN. We'll hear your railing lecture in the Fleet. - -GLO.[461] On thy displeasure--well ye have me here. -O, that I were within my fort of Bungay, -Whose walls are wash'd with the clear streams of Waveney,[462] -Then would not Gloster pass a halfpenny, -For all these rebels and their poor king too.[463] -Laughtst thou, King Henry? Thou know'st my words are true, -God help thee, good old man! adieu, adieu! - -JOHN. That castle shall be mine, wherein stands[464] Fauconbridge. - -FAU. Far from your reach, sure, under Feckhill-ridge, -Five hundred men (England hath few such wight) -Keep it for Gloster's use both day and night: -But you may easily win it. Wantons' words -Quickly can master men, tongues out-brawl swords! - -JOHN. Ye are an idiot. - -RICH. I prythee, John, forbear. - -JOHN. What, shall old winter with his frosty jests -Cross flow'ry pleasures? - -FAU. Ay, and nip you too! -God Mary mother,[465] I would tickle you, -Were there no more in place but I and you. - -KING. Cease these contentions; forward to the Tower. -Release Queen Elinor, and leave me there. -Your prisoner I am, sure, if ye had power; -There's nothing let's you but the Commons' fear: -Keep your state, lords; we will by water go, -Making the fresh Thames salt with tears of woe. - -HEN. And we'll by land thorough the City ride, -Making the people tremble at our pride. - - [_Exeunt with trumpets two ways_. - - - -SCENE THE FIFTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _solus_. - -SKINK. Blackheath, quoth he! And I were king of all Kent, I would give -it for a commodity of apron-strings, to be in my cottage again. Princes' -warrants! marry, Skink finds them as sure as an obligation seal'd with -batter. At King's-Bridge I durst not enter a boat. Through London the -stones were fiery. I have had a good cool way through the fields, and -in the highway to Ratcliffe stands a heater. Mile-end's covered with -_who goes there_? 'Tis for me, sure. O Kent, O Kent, I would give my -part of all Christendom[466] to feel thee, as I see thee. If I go -forward, I am stayed; if I go backward, there's a rogue in a red cap, -he's run from St John's after me. I were best stay here, lest if he come -with hue and cry, he stop me yonder. I would slip the collar for fear of -the halter; but here comes my runner, and if he run for me, his race -dies, he is as sure as dead as if a Parliament of devils[467] had -decreed it. - [_Retires_. - - - -SCENE THE SIXTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -RED. Ste-Ste-Stepney ch-church yonder; but I have forgot -The La-La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau--plague on her, -I mu-must b-back to the Fle-Fle-Fleet to kn-kn-know it. -The La- the La-La-Lady Fau--plague on't; G-Gloster -Will go ne-near to st-stab me so for forgetting -My errand, he is such a ma-ma-mad lord, the -La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. Help me, device; upon my life, this fool is sent -From Gloster to his sister Marian. - -RED. I m-must ne-needs go back, the La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. God speed, good fellow. - -RED. Go-Go-God sp-sp-speed you, sir. - -SKINK. Why runn'st thou from me? - -RED. Ma-Marry, sir, I have lo-lost a la-lady's name, and I am running -ba-back to se-se-seek it. - -SKINK. What lady? I prythee, stay. - -RED. Why, the La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. Fauconbridge? - -RED. Ay, the s-s-same: farewell. I th-th-thank you h-heartily. - -SKINK. If thou would'st speak with her, she is in Kent. I serve her; -what's thy business with my lady? - -RED. I sh-sh-should do an errand to her f-f-from my Lord of Gloucester; -but, a-a-and she be in K-Kent, I'll send it by you. - -SKINK. Where is my lord? - -RED. Marry, p-p-prisoner in the Fl-Fleet, a-a-and w-would have her -speak to P-Prince R-Richard for his re-re-release. - -SKINK. I have much business; hold, there's thy fare by water, my Lady -lies this night-- - -RED. Wh-wh-where, I pray? - -SKINK. At Gravesend at the Angel. - -RED. 'Tis devilish co-co-cold going by water. - -SKINK. Why, there's my cloak and hat to keep thee warm; -Thy cap and jerkin will serve me to ride in -By the way; thou hast wind and tide; take oars; -My lady will reward thee royally. - -RED. G-God-a-mercy, f-fa-faith; and ever th-thou co-co-come to the -Fl-Fl-Fleet, I'll give the tu-tu-turning of the ke-key f-for -n-no-nothing. - -SKINK. Hie thee; to-morrow morning at Gravesend I'll wash thy stammering -throat with a mug of ale merrily. - -RED. God be w-with you till s-soo-soon. What call you the lady? O, now I -re-remember: the La-Lady Fa-Fauconbridge. At what s-sign? - -SKINK. At the Angel. - -RED. A-Angel, the La-La-Lady Fa-Fa-Fauconbridge, Fa-Fan-Fanconbridge. - -SKINK. Farewell and be hang'd, good stammering ninny, I think I have set -your Redcap's heels a-running, would your pianot-chattering humour could -as sa-safely se-set me fr-from the searchers' walks. Yonder comes some -one. 'Hem! Skink, to your tricks this titty titty. Ah, the tongue, I -believe, will fail me.[468] - - - -SCENE THE SEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ CONSTABLE _and_ WATCH. - -CON. Come, make up to this fellow, let th'other go, he seems a gentleman. - [_Exit_ REDCAP _dressed as_ SKINK.] -What are you, sir? - -SKINK. Would I had kept my own suit, if the countenance carry it away. - -CON. Stand, sirrah, what are you? - -SKINK. The po-po-porter's son of the F-Fl-Fleet, going to Stepney about -business to the La-La-Lady Fa-Fa-Fauconbridge. - -CON. Well, bring him thither, some two or three of ye, honest -neighbours, and so back to the Fleet; we'll show ourselves diligent -above other officers. - -SKINK. Wh-wh-why, le-le-let me run. I am Re-Redcap. - -CON. Well, sure you shall now run no faster than I lead you, hear ye, -neighbour Simmes, I leave my staff with ye; be vigilant, I pray you, -search the suspicious houses at the town's end; this Skink's a trouncer. -Come, will you be gone, sir? - -SKINK. Yes, sir, and the devil go with you and them, -Well, yet have hope, mad ha-heart; co-co-come your way. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE EIGHTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _and_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Sweet nobility in reversion, Block, by the commission of his head, -conjures you and withal binds you, by all the tricks that pages pass in -time of Parliament, as swearing to the pantable,[469] crowning with -custards, paper-whiffs to the sleepers' noses, cutting of tags, stealing -of torches, _cum multis aliis_--tell, Block, what block you have cast in -the way of my lady's content! - -ROB. Block, by the antiquity of your ancestry, I have given your lady not -so much as the least cause of dislike; if she be displeased at any news -I bring, it's more than I must blab. - -BLO. Zounds, these pages be so proud, they care not for an old -servingman; you are a ward and so an earl, and no more: you disquiet our -house--that's the most; and I may be even with thee--that's the least. - - _Enter the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. What, Block, what, Block, I say! what do you there? - -BLO. Making the young lord merry, madam. - -LADY F. Go, attend the gate; -See if you can let in more grief thereat. - -BLO. Zounds, and grief come in there; and I see -Him once, I'll conjure his gaberdine. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Will you be gone, sir? - -BLO. Hem! these women, these women! -And she be not in love either with Prince Richard or this lad, let -Block's head be made a chopping-block. - [_Exit BLOCK_. - -ROB. Fair madam, what reply you to my suit? -The prince expects[470] smiles, welcomes, loving looks. - -LADY F. The prince, if he give heed to Marian's suit, -Must hear heart-sighs, see sorrow in my eyes, -And find cold welcome to calamities. - -ROB. And why, for God's sake? - -LADY F. Even for Gloster's sake. - -ROB. Why, by mine honour, and Prince Richard saith, -Your brother Gloster shall have liberty, -Upon condition you release a prisoner, -That you have long held in captivity. - -LADY F. I have no prisoner. - -ROB. Yes, a world of eyes -Your beauty in a willing bondage ties. - -LADY F. Go to, you are dispos'd to jest, my lord. - -ROB. In earnest, I must be an earnest suitor -To you for love; yet you must be my tutor. - -LADY F. Are you in love? - -ROB. I dearly love Prince Richard. - -LADY F. Then do you love the loveliest man alive, -The princeliest person of King Henry's sons. - -ROB. I like this well. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. He is virtuous in his mind, his body fair; -His deeds are just, his speeches debonair. - -ROB. Better and better still. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Indeed he is, what nobody can deny, -All lovely, beauty all, all majesty. - -ROB. I'll tell his excellence what you report; -No doubt he will be very thankful for't. - -LADY F. Nay, hear you, young lord! [for] God's pity, stay. - -ROB. What, have you more in Richard's praise to say? - -LADY F. I have said too much, if you misconstrue me. -Duty bids praise him, not unchastity. - -ROB. Unchastity? holy heavens forfend it, -That he or I, or you should once intend it! - - - -SCENE THE NINTH. - - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and_ RICHARD. - -BLO. They are there, sir, close at it, I leave -you, sir; the more room the less company. - -RICH. Drink that; farewell. [_Gives him money_. - -BLO. If that Sir Richard comes; this ties, this binds; -O gold, thy power converteth servants' minds. - [_Exit_. - -RICH. How now, fair madam, who hath anger'd you? - -LADY F. Grief at my brother's durance angers me. - -RICH. I had thought my ward, young Huntington, had vex'd you. - -LADY F. Who? he? alas, good gentleman, he wrong'd me not; -No matter, for all this I'll tell your tale. - - _A noise within, enter_ SKINK, BLOCK, CONSTABLE. - -BLO. Sir, there comes no more of you in with him than the constable. -Zounds, here's a beadroll of bills at the gate indeed; back, ye base! - -LADY F. Now, sirrah, what's the matter? - -BLO. Marry, here's a stammerer taken clipping the king's English, and -the constable and his watch hath brought him to you to be examin'd. - -CON. No, madam, we are commanded by the king to watch; and meeting this -fellow at Mile-end, he tells us he is the porter's son of the Fleet, -[and] that the Earl of Gloster sent him to you. - -SKINK. Ay, f-forsooth he desire[d] you to speak to the p-prince for him. - -LADY F. O, I conceive thee; bid him blithely fare, -Bear him this ring in token of my care. - -SKINK. If I be rid of this evil angel that haunts me, many rings, much -Fleet, will Skink come unto. [_Aside_. - -CON. Madam, if you know this fellow, we'll discharge him. - -BLO. Madam, and you be wise, trust your honest neighbours here; -let them bring this ca-ca-ca-ca-to the Fleet, and s-see your ring -delivered. - -SKINK. A plague upon you for a damned rogue! -The porter of the Fleet will surely know me. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Good neighbours, bring this honest fellow thither; -There's for his pains a crown, if he say true, -And for your labour there's as much for you. - -SKINK. Why, ma-ma-madam, I am Re-Re-Redcap, the porter's son. - -LADY F. Thou hast no wrong in this; farewell, good fellow. - -SKINK. Best speaking to Prince Richard? no, I'll try -And face out Redcap, if the slave were by. - -LADY F. Make them drink, Block. - -BLO. Come to the buttery-bar, stitty-stitty stammerer; come, honest -Constable, hey! the watch of our town; we'll drink, try-lill, i'faith. - - - -SCENE THE TENTH. - - - _As they go out, enters_ SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE, - _stealing forward_, PRINCE _and_ LADY _talking_.[471] - -ROB. _Lupus in fabula_, my noble Lord; -See the old fox, Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -RICH. We'll fit him well enough; second us, Robin. - -LADY F. I'll fit you well enough for all your hope. - - [FAUC. _beckons to_ BLOCK. - -FAU. Leave quaffing, sirrah, listen to their talk. - -BLO. O, while you live, beware, two are sooner seen than one; besides, -bear a brain, master, if Block should be now spied, my madam would not -trust this sconce neither in time nor tide. - -FAU. Well, leave me, now it buds; see, see, they kiss. - -BLO. Adieu, good old sinner, you may recover it with a sallet of -parsley and the herb patience; if not, sir, you know the worst. -It's but even this. - -RICH. Madam, what you desire, I not deny, -But promise Gloster life and liberty. -I beg but love. - -FAU. When doth she give her alms? [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Fair, honourable prince. - -FAU. Nay, then, they speed. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. My soul hath your deserts in good esteem. - -FAU. Witness these goodly tines[472], that grace my head. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. But were you the sole monarch of the earth, -Your power were insufficient to invade -My never-yielding heart of chastity. - -FAU. Sayst thou so, Mall? I promise thee for this, -I'll owe thy cherry lips an old man's kiss; -Look, how my cockerell droops; 'tis no matter, -I like it best, when women will not flatter. [_Aside_. - -RICH. Nay, but sweet lady-- - -ROB. Nay, but gracious lord, -Do not so much forget your princely worth -As to tempt[473] virtue t' unchastity. - -FAU. O noble youth! [_Aside_. - -ROB. Let not the lady's dead grief for her brother -Give life to shameless and detested sin. - -FAU. Sweet child. [_Aside_. - -ROB. Consider that she is of high descent. - -FAU. Most virtuous earl. [_Aside_. - -ROB. Wife to the noblest knight that ever breath'd. - -FAU. Now, blessing on thee, blessed Huntington! [_Aside_. - -ROB. And would you then first stain your princely stock, -Wrong beauty, virtue, honour, chastity, -And blemish Fauconbridge's untainted arms? - -FAU. By adding horns unto our falcon's head? -Well thought on, noble youth: 'twas well put in. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Besides, my gracious lord,-- - -FAU. Tickle him, Mall, -Plague him on that side for his hot desire. - -LADY F.--however secretly great princes sin. - -FAU. O, now the spring! she'll do it secretly. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. The King of all hearts will have all sins known. - -FAU. Ah, then she yields not! [_Aside_. - -RICH. Lady, here's my hand. -I did but try your honourable faith. - -FAU. He did but try her! would she have been tried, -It had gone hard on this and on this side. [_Aside_. - -RICH. And since I see your virtue so confirm'd, -As vice can have no entrance in your heart, -I vow, in sight of heaven, never again, -To move like question but for love. - -FAU. My heart is eased; hold, Block, take up my cloak. - -BLO. And your cap, too, sir?[474] - - [_Sir_ RICH. FAUC. _comes forward_. - -RICH. Sir Richard! - -FAU. What, sweet Prince, welcome, i'faith, -I see youth quickly gets the start of age; -But welcome, welcome; and, young Huntington, -Sweet Robin Hood, honour's best flow'ring bloom, -Welcome to Fauconbridge with all my heart! -How cheers my love, how fares my Marian, ha? -Be merry, chuck, and, Prince Richard, welcome. -Let it go, Mall; I know thy grievances. -Away, away; tut, let it pass, sweet girl. -We needs must have his help about the earls. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Let it not be delay'd, dear Fauconbridge. - -RICH. Sir Richard, first make suit unto my father, -I'll follow you to Court, and second you. - -FAU. Follow to court, ha? then I smell a rat, -It's probable he'll have a bout again; -Long siege makes entrance to the strongest fort. -It must not be; I must not leave him here. [_Aside_. -Prince Richard, if you love my brother's good, -Let's ride back to the court: I'll wait on you. - -RICH. He's jealous; but I must observe the time. [_Aside_. -We'll ride unto the court; I'll leave my boy -Till we return; are you agreed to this? - -FAU. O, ay, he is an honourable youth, -Virtuous and modest, Huntington's right heir, -His father Gilbert was the smoothest-fac'd lord -That e'er bare arms in England or in France. - -RICH. Solicit,[475] Robin: Lady, give good ear, -And of your brother's freedom never fear. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Marian, farewell; where's Block? open the gate; -Come, Prince, God send us to prove fortunate. - - [_Exeunt_. - -LADY F. Why do you stay,[476] sir? - -ROB. Madam, as a lieger to solicit for your absent love. - -LADY F. Walk in the garden; I will follow you, -I'faith, i'faith, you are a noble wag. - -ROB. An honourable wag and waggish earl, -Even what you will, sweet lady, I must bear, -Hoping of patience profit will ensue, -That you will bear the Prince as I bear you. - -LADY F. Well said, well said, I'll have these toys amended, -Go, will you walk into the garden, sir? - -ROB. But will you promise me to bring no maids, -To set upon my little manship there? -You threat'ned whipping, and I am in fear. - -LADY F. Upon my word, I'll bring none but myself. - -ROB. You see I am weapon'd, do not, I beseech thee.[477] -I'll stab them, come there twenty, ere they breech me. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. This youth and Richard think me easily won; -But Marian rather will embrace -The bony carcase of dismaying death, -Than prove unchaste to noble Fauconbridge. -Richard,[478] King Henry's son, is light, -Wanton, and loves not humble modesty, -Which makes me (much contrary to my thoughts) -Flatter his humour for my brother's safety, -But I protest I'll dwell among the dead, -Ere I pollute my sacred nuptial bed. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE ELEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _in his gown, calling_. - - -GLO. Porter, what, porter, where's this drowsy ass? - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -POR. Who calls? my Lord of Gloucester all alone? - -GLO. Alone, and have your wisdom's company! -Pray, where's the stammering chatterer, your son? -He's ever running; but he makes small haste. -I'll bring his lither legs in better frame, -And if he serve me thus another time-- - [_Knock within_. -Hark, sir, your clients knock; and't be your pye, -Let him[479] vouchsafe to chatter us some news, -Tell him we dance attendance in our chamber. - [_Exit_ PORTER. -This John and Henry are so full of hate, -That they will have my head by some device, -Gloster hath plotted means for an escape, -And if it fadge,[480] why so; if not, then well. -The way to heaven is death, this life's a hell. - - - -SCENE THE TWELFTH. - - - _Enter_ PORTER _and_ SKINK. - -POR. Why should the watchman come along with thee? - -SKINK. There's such, a que-question for yon s-same r-rogue; Skink, -p-plague keep [me] far enough from him, that a-an-honest f-fellow -ca-can-not w-w-walk the streets. - -POR. Well, sir, dispatch your business with the earl; -He's angry at your stay, I tell ye that. - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. 'Sblood, what a frown this Gloster casts at me; -I hope he means to lend me no more cuffs, -Such as he paid me at the Parliament. [_Aside_. - -GLO. What mutter you? what tidings from my sister? - -SKINK. Co-commendations, and s-she hath s-sent ye this r-ring. - -GLO. Hold, there's two angels; shut the chamber-door, -You must about some business for me straight; -Come nearer, man. - -SKINK. I fear I am too near. [_Aside_. - -GLO. Hast thou no tidings for my liberty? - -SKINK. No, b-but ye sh-shall he-hear f-from her p-p-presently. - -GLO. And p-presently, sir, off with your coat. -Nay, quick, uncase, I am bold to borrow it, -I'll leave my gown; change is no robbery. -Stutterer, it's so, ne'er flinch, ye cannot pass: -Cry, and by heaven I'll cut thy coward's throat, -Quickly cashier yourself: you see me stay. - -SKINK. N-n-nay, b-b-but wh-wh-what m-mean ye? - -GLO. To 'scape, I hope, sir, with your privilege-- - [_He takes his coat off_. -How now, who's this? my fine familiar Skink, -Queen Beldam's minion? - -SKINK. Zounds, ye see 'tis I. - -GLO. Time sorts not now to know these mysteries. -How thou cam'st by this ring, or stol'st this coat, -They are mine now in possession, for which kindness, -If I escape, I'll get thee liberty, -Or fire the Fleet about the warden's ears. -Mumbudget, not a word, as thou lovest thy life. - -SKINK. Ay mum, mum fair, pray God may chance it, -My lord, but that my case is desperate, -I'd see your eyes out, ere I would be cheated. - -GLO. Walk like an earl, villain; some are coming. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTEENTH. - - - _Enter PRINCE JOHN and PORTER_. - -JOHN. Where is this Gloster? - -GLO. Y-y-yonder he walks. Fa-fa-father, l-let me out. - -POR. Why, whither must you now? - -GLO. To Je-Jericho, I th-think; 'tis such a h-h-humorous earl. - -POR. Well, sir, will't please you hasten home again. - -GLO. I-I-ll be h-here in a trice; b-but p-pray have a care of th-this -madcap; if he g-give us the s-s-slip, s-s-some of us a-are like to -m-make a sl-sl-slippery occupation on't. - - [_This while_ JOHN _walks and stalks by_ SKINK [_disguised as_ - GLO'STER], _never a word between them_. - -POR. Look to your business, sir; let me alone. - -GLO. Alone; never trust me, if I trouble thee. - -JOHN. Mad Gloster mute, all mirth turn'd to despair? -Why, now you see what 'tis to cross a king, -Deal against princes of the royal blood, -You'll snarl and rail, but now your tongue is bedrid, -Come, caperhay[481], set all at six and seven; -What, musest thou with thought of hell or heaven? - -SKINK. Of neither, John; I muse at my disgrace, -That I am thus kept prisoner in this place. - -JOHN. O, sir, a number are here prisoners: -My cousin Morton, whom I came to visit. -But he (good man) is at his morrow mass; -But I, that neither care to say nor sing, -Come to seek that preaching hate and prayer, -And while they mumble up their orisons, -We'll play a game at bowls. What say'st thou, Gloster? - -SKINK. I care not, if I do. - -JOHN. You do not care, -Let old men care for graves, we for our sports; -Off with your gown, there lies my hat and cloak, -The bowls there quickly, ho? - -SKINK. No, my gown stirs not; it keeps sorrow warm, -And she and I am not to be divorced. - - _Enter_ PORTER _with bowls_. - -JOHN. Yes, there's an axe must part your head and you, -And with your head sorrow will leave your heart. -But come, shall I begin? a pound a game? - -SKINK. More pounds, and we thus heavy? well, begin. - -JOHN. Rub, rub, rub, rub. - -SKINK. Amen, God send it short enough, and me -A safe running with these[482] clothes from thee. - -JOHN. Play, Robin; run, run, run. - -SKINK. Far enough and well: fly one foot more; -Would I were half so far without the door. - -JOHN. Now, Porter, what's the news? - -POR. Your cousin Morton humbly craves, -Leaving your game, you would come visit him. - -JOHN. Bowl, Gloster; I'll come presently. -So near, mad Robin? then have after you. - - [_Ex_. PORT. - -SKINK. Would I were gone, make after as you may. - -JOHN. Well, sir, 'tis yours, one all; throw but the jack, -While I go talk with Morton. I'll not stay, -Keep coat and hat in pawn, I'll hold out play. - [_Ex_. JOHN. - -SKINK. I would be sorry, John, but you should stay, -Until my bias run another way. -Now pass and hey-pass, Skink, unto your tricks: -'Tis but a chance at hazard. There lies Gloster, -And here stands Skink; now, John, play thou thy part, -And if I 'scape I'll love thee with my heart. - [_Puts on_ PRINCE JOHN'S _cloak, sword, and hat_. -So, porter! let me forth. - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -POR. God bless your grace, spoke ye[483] with the Lord Morton? - -SKINK. I have, and must about his business to the Court. -It grieves me to break my sport with Gloster: -The melancholy earl is comfortless. - -POR. I would your grace would comfort him from hence, -The Fleet is weary of his company. - - [REDCAP _knocks_. - -SKINK. Drink that, some knocks; I prythee, let me out, -His head shall off ere long, never make doubt. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ JOHN _at the other door_. - -JOHN. Now, madcap, thou winn'st all; where art thou, Robin? -Uncased? nay, then, he means to play in earnest. -But where's my cloak, my rapier, and my hat? -I hold my birthright to a beggar's scrip, -The bastard is escaped in my clothes. -'Tis well he left me his to walk the streets; -I'll fire the city, but I'll find him out. -Perchance he hides himself to try my spleen. -I'll to his chamber. Gloster! hallo! Gloster! - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -POR. I wonder how thou cam'st so strangely chang'd! -'Tis not an hour since thou went'st from hence. - -RED. By my Ch-Ch-Christendom, I ha-have not b-been h-here this three -nights; a p-p-plague of him, that made me such a ch-chanting, and -s-sent me such a ja-ja-jaunt! blood, I was st-stayed for Skink, that -ill-fa-fa-fac'd rogue. - -POR. I pray God there be no practice in this change. -Now I remember these are Skink's clothes, -That he wore last day at the Parl'ament. - - _Knock; Enter at another door_ JOHN _in_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -JOHN. Porter? you Porter? - -POR. Do you not hear them knock? you must stay, sir. - -JOHN. Blood, I could eat these rogues. - -RED. Wh-wh-what, raw? -'Tis a very harsh mo-morsel, -Ne-next your he-heart. - -JOHN. A plague upon your jaunts! what, porter, slave? - -RED. I have been at G-Gravesend, sir. - -JOHN. What's that to me? - -RED. And at Ca-Ca-Canterbury. - -JOHN. And at the gallows! zounds, this frets my soul. - -RED. But I c-could not f-find your s-s-sister the La-Lady -Fau-Fauconbridge. - -JOHN. You stammering slave, hence! chat among your daws. -Come ye to mad me? while the rogue your father-- - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -RED. My f-fa-father? - -JOHN. Porter, you damned slave. - -POR. Is't midsummer: do you begin to rave? - -JOHN. Hark, how the traitor flouts me to my teeth! -I would entreat your knaveship, let me forth, -For fear I dash your brains out with the keys. -What is become of Gloster and my garments? - -POR. Alas, in your apparel Gloster's gone, -I let him out even now; I am undone. - -JOHN. It was your practice, and to keep me back, -You sent Jack Daw your son with ka-ka-ka, -To tell a sleeveless tale! lay hold on him, -To Newgate with him and your tut-a-tut! -Run, Redcap, and trudge about, -Or bid your father's portership farewell. - - [_Exeunt with_ PORTER. - -RED. Eh! here's a go-good je-je-jest, by the L-Lord, to mo-mock an ape -withal! my fa-fa-father has brought his ho-ho-hogs to a fa-fa-fair -m-m-market. Po-po-porter, quoth you? p-po-porter that will for me; and -I po-po-porter it, let them po-po-post me to heaven in this qua-quarter. -But I must s-s-seek this Gl-Gl-Gloster and Sk-Sk-Skink that -co-coney-catching ra-ra-rascal, a pa-pa-plague co-co-confound him. -Re-Re-Redcap must ru-run, he cannot tell whi-whither. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE FOURTEENTH. - - - _Sound trumpets, enter_ HENRY _the younger, on one - hand of him_ QUEEN ELINOR, _on the other_ LEICESTER. - -HEN. Mother and Leicester, add not oil to fire; -Wrath's kindled with a word, and cannot hear -The numberless persuasions you insort. - -QUEEN. O, but, my son, thy father favours him. -Richard, that vile abortive changeling brat, -And Fauconbridge, are fallen at Henry's feet. -They woo for him, but entreat my son -Gloster may die for this, that he hath done. - -LEI. If Gloster live, thou wilt be overthrown. - -QUEEN. If Gloster live, thy mother dies in moan. - -LEI. If Gloster live, Leicester will fly the realm. - -QUEEN. If Gloster live, thy kingdom's but a dream. - -HEN. Have I not sworn by that eternal arm, -That puts just vengeance' sword in monarchs' hands, -Gloster shall die for his presumption! -What needs more conjuration, gracious mother? -And, honourable Leicester, mark my words. -I have a bead-roll of some threescore lords -Of Gloster's faction. - -QUEEN. Nay, of Henry's faction, -Of thy false father's faction; speak the truth, -He is the head of factions; were he down, -Peace, plenty, glory, will impale thy crown. - -LEI. Ay, there's the _But_, whose heart-white if we hit, -The game is ours. Well, we may rage and rave[484] -At Gloster, Lancaster, Chester, Fauconbridge; -But his the upshot. - -QUEEN. Yet begin with Gloster. - -HEN. The destinies run to the Book of Fates, -And read in never-changing characters -Robert of Gloster's end; he dies to-day: -So fate, so heaven, so doth King Henry say. - -QUEEN. Imperially resolv'd. [_Trumpets far off_. - -LEI. The old King comes. - -QUEEN. Then comes luxurious lust; -The King of concubines; the King that scorns -The undefiled, chaste, and nuptial bed; -The King that hath his queen imprisoned: -For my sake, scorn him; son, call him not father; -Give him the style of a competitor. - -HEN. Pride, seize upon my heart: wrath, fill mine eyes! -Sit, lawful majesty, upon my front, -Duty, fly from me; pity, be exil'd: -Senses, forget that I am Henry's child. - -QUEEN. I kiss thee, and I bless thee for this thought. - - - -SCENE THE FIFTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ KING, LANCASTER, RICHARD, FAUCONBRIDGE. - -KING. O Lancaster, bid Henry yield some reason, -Why he desires so much the death of Gloster. - -HEN. I hear thee, Henry, and I thus reply: -I do desire the death of bastard Gloster, -For that he spends the Treasure of the Crown; -I do desire the death of bastard Gloster, -For that he doth desire to pull me down. -Or were this false (I purpose to be plain), -He loves thee, and for that I him disdain. - -HEN. Therein thou shewest a hate-corrupted mind; -To him the more unjust, to me unkind. - -QUEEN. He loves you, as his father lov'd his mother. - -KING. Fie, fie upon thee, hateful Elinor; -I thought thou hadst been long since scarlet-dyed. - -HEN. She is, and therefore cannot change her colour. - -RICH. You are too strict; Earl Gloster's fault -Merits not death. - -FAU. By the rood, the Prince says true; -Here is a statute from the Confessor[485]. - -HEN. The Confessor was but a simple fool. -Away with books; my word shall be a law, -Gloster shall die. - -LEI. Let Gloster die the death. - -LAN. Leicester, he shall not; -He shall have law, despite of him and thee. - -HEN. What law? will you be traitors? what's the law? - -RICH. His right hand's loss; and that is such a loss, -As England may lament, all Christians weep. -That hand hath been advanc'd against the Moors, -Driven out the Saracens from Gad's[486] and Sicily, -Fought fifteen battles under Christ's red cross; -And is it not, think you, a grievous loss, -That for a slave (and for no other harm) -It should be sundred from his princely arm? - -FAU. More for example, noble Lancaster; -But 'tis great pity too--too great a pity. - -HEN. I'll have his hand and head. - -RICH. Thou shalt have mine, then. - -QUEEN. Well said, stubborn Dick, Jack would not -Serve me so, were the boy here. - -RICH. Both John and I have serv'd your will too long; -Mother, repent your cruelty and wrong: -Gloster, you know, is full of mirth and glee, -And never else did your grace injury. - -QUEEN. Gloster shall die. - -HEN. Fetch him here, I'll see him dead. - -RICH. He that stirs for him shall lay down his head. - -FAU. O quiet, good my lords; patience, I pray, -I think he comes unsent for, by my fay. - - _Enter_ JOHN _in_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -RICH. What mean'st thou, Gloster? - -HEN. Who brought Gloster hither? - -JOHN. Let Gloster hang and them that ... [487] -There lies his case[488], a mischief on his carcase! - [_Throws off_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -QUEEN. My dear son Jack! - -JOHN. Your dear son Jack-an-apes; -Your monkey, your baboon, your ass, your gull! - -LEI. What ails Earl John? - -JOHN. Hence, further from my sight! -My fiery thoughts and wrath have work in hand; -I'll curse ye blacker than th'Avernian[489] Lake, -If you stand wond'ring at my sorrow thus. -I am with child, big, hugely swoll'n with rage, -Who'll play the midwife, and my throbs assuage? - -KING. I will, my son. - -HEN. I will, high-hearted brother. - -JOHN. You will? and you? tut, tut, all you are nothing! -'Twill out, 'twill out, myself myself can ease: -You chafe, you swell: ye are commanding King. -My father is your footstool, when ye please. -Your word's a law; these lords dare never speak. -Gloster must die; your enemies must fall! - -HEN. What means our brother? - -JOHN. He means that thou art mad: -She frantic: Leicester foolish: I the babe-- -Thou grind us, bite us, vex us, charge and discharge. -Gloster, O Gloster! - -QUEEN. Where is Gloster, son? - -HEN. Where is Gloster, brother? - -KING. I hope he be escaped. - -JOHN. O, I could tear my hair, and, falling thus -Upon the solid earth, -Dig into Gloster's grave, -So he were dead, and gone into the depth -Of under-world-- -Or get sedition's hundreth thousand hand, -And, like Briareus, battle with the stars, -To pull him down from heaven, if he were there! - -FAU. Look to Earl John; the gentleman is mad. - -JOHN. O, who would not be mad at this disgrace? -Gloster the fox is fled; there lies his case. - [_Points to the gown_. -He cozen'd me of mine; the porter helped him. - -HEN. The porter shall be hang'd; let's part and seek him: -Gloster shall die; all Europe shall not save him. - -JOHN. He is wise, too wise for us; yet I'll go with you -To get more fools into my company. - -QUEEN. This is your father's plot; revenge it, son. - -HEN. Father, by heaven, if this were your advice, -Your head or heart shall pay the bitter price. -Come, mother, brother, Leicester; let's away. - -JOHN. Ay, I'll be one, in hope to meet the bastard, -And then no more: myself will be his headsman. - - [_Exeunt_. - -KING. Richard and Fauconbridge, follow the search; -You may prevent mischance by meeting Gloster. -If ye find Skink, see that you apprehend him. -I hear there is a wizard at Blackheath; -Let some inquire of him, where Skink remains. -Although I trust not to those fallacies, -Yet now and then such men prove soothsayers. -Will you be gone? - -FAU. With all my heart, with all my heart, my lord. -Come, princely Richard, we are ever yok'd. -Pray God, there be no mystery in this. - -RICH. Be not suspicious, where there is no cause. - -FAU. Nay, nothing, nothing; I am but in jest. - - [_Exeunt_. - -KING. Call in a pursuivant. - -LAN. Here's one, my liege. - - _Enter_ PURSUIVANT. - -KING. There is a porter likely to be hang'd -For letting Gloster 'scape; sirrah, attend. -You shall have a reprieve to bring him us. -These boys are too-too stubborn, Lancaster; -But 'tis their mother's fault. If thus she move me, -I'll have her head, though all the world reprove me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE SIXTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _and_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Do not deny me, gentle Huntington. - -ROB. My lord will miss me. - -LADY F. Tut, let me excuse thee. - -ROB. Turn, woman? O, it is intolerable! -Except you promise me to play the page. -Do that, try one night, and you'll laugh for ever -To hear the orisons that lovers use: -Their ceremonies, sighs, their idle oaths! -To hear how you are prais'd and pray'd unto. -For you are Richard's saint. They talk of Mary -The blessed Virgin; but upon his beads -He only prays to Marian Fauconbridge. - -LADY F. The more his error; but will you agree -To be the Lady Fauconbridge one day? - -ROB. When is't? - -LADY. F. On Monday. - -ROB. Wherefore is't? - -LADY F. Nay, then, you do me wrong with inquisition, -And yet I care not greatly if I tell thee. -Thou seest my husband full of jealousy: -Prince Richard in his suit importunate, -My brother Gloster threat'ned by young Henry, -To clear these doubts, I will in some disguise -Go to Blackheath, unto the holy hermit, -Whose wisdom, in foretelling things to come, -Will let me see the issue of my cares. -If destinies ordain me happiness, -I'll chase these mists of sorrow from my heart -With the bright sun of mirth; if fate agree -To't[490], and my friends must suffer misery, -Yet I'll be merry too, till mischief come. -Only I long to know the worst of ill. - -ROB. I'll once put on a scarlet countenance. - -LADY F. Be wary, lest ye be discovered, Robin. - -ROB. Best paint me, then be sure I shall not blush. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _bleeding_, GLOSTER _with him_. - -BLO. Beat an officer, Redcap? I'll have ye talk'd withal! -Beat Sir Richard's porter? help, madam, help! - -GLO. Peace, you damned rogue. - -LADY F. Brother, I pray you forbear. - -GLO. Zwounds! an hundred's at my heels almost, -And yet the villain stands on compliment. - -BLO. A bots on[491] you, is't you? - -GLO. Will you to the door, you fool, and bar the gate? -Hold, there's an angel for your broken pate: -If any knock, let them not in in haste. - -BLO. Well, I will do, as I see cause; -Blood, thou art dear to me. -But here's a sovereign plaister for the sore: -Gold healeth wounds, gold easeth hearts! -What can a man have more? [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Dear brother, tell us how you made escape? - -GLO. You see I am here, but if you would know how, -I cannot 'scape, and tell the manner too, -By this I know your house is compassed -With hell-hound search[492]. - -LADY F. Brother, I'll furnish you with beard and hair, -And garment like my husband's. -How like you that? - -GLO. Well, when I have them: -Quickly, then, dispatch. [_Exit_ LADY.] S'blood! turn -Grey beard and hair. -Robin, conceal; this dieteth my mind. -Mirth is the object of my humorous spleen. -Thou high, commanding fury, further device! -Jests are conceited. I long to see their birth. - - _Re-enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -What, come ye, sister? Robin, a thief's hand! -But, prythee, where hadst thou this beard and hair? - -LADY F. Prince Richard wore them hither in a masque. - -GLO. Say'st thou me so? faith, [I] love the princely youth; -Tut, you must taste stolen pleasure now and then. - -ROB. But if she steal, and jealous eyes espy, -She will be sure condemn'd of burglary. - -GLO. Ha! crake! can your low stumps venture so deep -Into affection's stream? go to, you wanton! -What want we now? my nightcap! O, 'tis here. -So now no Gloster, but old Fauconbridge. -Hark, the search knocks; I'll let them in myself: -Welcome, good fellows; ha! what is't you lack? - - _Enter REDCAP, with two others_[493]. - -RED. Ma-master Co-Constable, se-se-search you th-that way; a-and, you -ho-honest man, th-that way. I'll ru-run th-this way m-my own se-self. - - [_They disperse themselves_. - -GLO. What search you for? what is it you would have? - - _Enter_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Madam, what shall I do to these brown-bill fellows? some run into -the wine cellar; some here, some there. - -GLO. Let them alone; let them search their fills. - -BLO. I'll look to their fingers for all that. - -GLO. Do so, good Block; be careful, honest Block. - -BLO. Sir stammerer and your wa-watch, y'are pa-past, i'faith. - [_Exit_. - -GLO, Will you not speak, knaves? tell me who you seek. - -RED. Ma-marry, sir, we s-seek a va-va-vacabond, a fu-fugative, my -la-lady's own b-brother; but, and he were the po-po-pope's own b-brother, -I would s-search f-f-for him; for I have a p-poor father r-ready to be -ha-ha-hang'd f-f-for him. - -GLO. O, 'tis for Gloster? marry, search, a' God's name, -Seek, peace[494]; will he break prison too? -It's a pity he should live; nay, I defy him. -Come, look about, search every little corner, -Myself will lead the way; pray you, come. -Seek, seek, and spare not, though it be labour lost: -He comes not under my roof; hear ye, wife? -He comes not hither, take it for a warning. - -RED. You sp-sp-speak like an honest ge-ge-gentleman, re-re-rest you -me-me-merry! co-co-come, my f-f-friends, I be-believe h-h-he r-ran by -the g-g-garden w-wall toward the wa-water side. - - [_Exeunt running_. - -GLO. This fellow is of the humour I would choose my wife: -Few words and many paces; a word and away; and so -Must I. Sister, adieu; pray you for me; I'll do the like for you. -Robin, farewell; commend me to the Prince. - -LADY F. Can ye not stay here safe? - -GLO. No, I'll not trust the changing humours of old Fauconbridge. -Adieu, young earl; sister, let's kiss and part. -Tush, never mourn, I have a merry heart. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Farewell all comfort. - -ROB. What, weeping, lady? -Then I perceive you have forgot Blackheath! - -LADY F. No, there I'll learn both of his life and death. - -ROB. Till Monday, madam, I must take my leave. - -LADY F. You will not miss then? - -ROB. Nay, if Robin fail ye, -Let him have never favour of fair lady! - -LADY F. Meanwhile, I'll spend my time in prayers and tears, -That Gloster may escape these threat'ned fears. - [_Exit_ - - - -SCENE THE SEVENTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like_ PRINCE[495] JOHN. - -SKINK. Thus jets my noble Skink along the streets, -To whom each bonnet vails, and all knees bend; -And yet my noble humour is too light -By the six shillings. Here are two crack'd groats -To helter-skelter at some vaulting-house[496]. -But who comes yonder? ha! old Fauconbridge? -Hath a brave chain; were John and he good friends, -That chain were mine, and should unto Blackheath. -I'll venture; it's but trial: luck may fall. -Good morrow, good Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -FAU. Good morrow, my sweet Prince, hearty good morrow; -This greeting well becomes us, marry does it, -Better, i'wis, than strife and jangling. -Now can I love ye; will ye to the sheriffs? -Your brother Richard hath been there this hour. - -SKINK. Yes, I am plodding forward, as you do; -What cost your chain? it's passing strongly wrought, -I would my goldsmith had a pattern of it. - -FAU. 'Tis at your grace's service: show it him. - -SKINK. Then dare ye trust me? - -FAU. Who? the princely John! -My sovereign's son: why, what a question's that. -I'll leave you; ye may know I dare trust you. - -SKINK. I'll bring it ye to the sheriff's, excuse my absence. - -FAU. I will, my noble lord; adieu, sweet prince. - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. Why so; this breakfast was well fed upon. -When Skink's devices on Blackheath do fail, -This and such cheats would set me under sail, -I'll to the water-side, would it were later [on]; -For still I am afraid to meet Prince John. - - - -SCENE THE EIGHTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _like_ FAUCONBRIDGE. - -[SKINK.] But what a mischief meant Fauconbridge -To come again so soon? that way he went, -And now comes peaking. Upon my life, -The buzzard hath me in suspicion, -But whatsoever chance, I'll filch a share. - -GLO. Yonder's Prince John; I hope he cannot know me, -There's nought but Gloster, Gloster in their mouths; -I am half-strangled with the garlic-breath -Of rascals that exclaim, as I pass by, -Gloster is fled; once taken, he must die. -But I'll to John--how does my gracious lord? -What babbles rumour now? What news of Gloster? - -SKINK. What news could I hear, since you left me last? -Were you not here even now? lent me your chain? -I think you dote. - -GLO. Sweet prince, age aye[497] forgets. -My brother's chain? a pretty accident! -But I'll have't, and be in the spite of John. [_Aside_. - -SKINK. There's more and more; I'll geld it, ere it go. - [_He breaks the chain_. -This same shall keep me in some tavern merry, -Till night's black hand curtain this too clear sky. - -GLO.[498] My sweet prince, I have some cause to use my chain; -Another time (whene'er your lordship please) -'Tis at your service, O marry God, it is. - -SKINK. Here, palsy, take your chain; stoop and be hang'd, - [_Casts it down_. -Yet the fish nibbled, when she might not swallow: -Go'ut[499] I have curtail'd, what I could not borrow. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. He's gone away in frets; would he might meet -My brother Fauconbridge in this mad mood, -There would be rare ado. Why, this fits me; -My brain flows with fresh wit and policy. -But, Gloster, look about, who have we yonder? -Another John, Prince Richard, and the sheriff? -Upon my life, the slave, that had the chain, -Was Skink, escap'd the Fleet by some mad sleight. -Well, farewell he, better and better still, -These seek for me; yet I will have my will. - - - -SCENE THE NINETEENTH. - - _Enter_ PRINCE JOHN, PRINCE RICHARD, _and the_ SHERIFF. - -JOHN. Sheriff, in any case be diligent. -Who's yonder? Fauconbridge? - -GLO. How now, sweet chuck; how fares my lovely prince? - -JOHN. What carest thou? or well or ill, we crave -No help of thee. - -GLO. God's mother, do ye scorn me? - -JOHN. Go'ut! what then? - -RICH. Fie, leave these idle brawls, I prythee, John; -Let's follow that we are enjoin'd unto. - -GLO. Ay, marry, prince, if now you slip the time, -Gloster will slip away; but, though he hate me, -I have done service; I have found him out. - -RICH. A shame confound thee for thy treachery, -Inconstant dotard, timorous old ass, -That shakes with cowardice, not with years. - -GLO. Go, I have found him, I have winded him. - -JOHN. O, let me hug thee, gentle Fauconbridge; -Forgive my oft ill-using of thine age. -I'll call thee father; I'll be penitent; -Bring me where Gloster is; I'll be thy slave, -All that is mine thou in reward shalt have. - -GLO. Soft; not too hasty; I would not be seen in't; -Marry a' God, my wife would chide me dead, -If Gloster by my means should lose his head. -Princely Richard, at this corner make your stand: -And for I know you love my sister well, -Know I am Gloster, and not Fauconbridge. - -RICH. Heaven prosper thee, sweet prince, in thy escape! - -GLO. Sheriff, make this your quarter, make good guard; -John, stay you here; this way he means to turn, -By Thomas, I lack a sword, body a' me! - -JOHN. What wouldst thou with a sword, old Fauconbridge? - -GLO. O sir, to make show in his defence, -For I have left him yonder at a house, -A friend's of mine, an honest citizen. - -JOHN. We'll fetch him thence. - -GLO. Nay, then, you injure me. Stay, till he come; he's in a russet cloak, -And must attend me like a serving-man. - -JOHN. Hold, there's my sword, and with my sword my heart. -Bring him, for God's sake, and for thy desert -My brother king and mother queen shall love thee. - -GLO. Mark me, good prince; yonder away we come, -I go afore, and Gloster follows me; -Let not the sheriff nor Richard meddle with us. -Begin you first; seize Gloster, and arrest him. -I'll draw and lay about me here and here; -Be heedful that your watchmen hurt me not. - -JOHN. I'll hang him that doth hurt thee; prythee, away, -I love thee; but thou kill'st me with delay. - -GLO. Well, keep close watch; I'll bring him presently. - -JOHN, Away then quickly. - -GLO. Gloster, close, master sheriff, Prince Richard. - -RICH. Gloster, adieu. - -GLO. I trust you. - -RICH. By my knighthood, I'll prove true. - - [_Exit_ GLOSTER. - -JOHN. Revenge, I'll build a temple to your name; -And the first offering shall be Gloster's head, -Thy altars shall be sprinkled with the blood, -Whose wanton current his mad humour fed; -He was a rhymer and a riddler, -A scoffer at my mother, prais'd my father: -I'll fit him now for all--escape and all. - -RICH. Take heed spite burst not in his proper gall. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTIETH. - - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _and_ BLOCK. - -JOHN. How now, what way took Fauconbridge, I wonder? -That is not Gloster, sure, that attends on him? - -FAU. He came not at the sheriff's by the morrow-mass, -I sought the Goldsmiths' row, and found him not; -Sirrah, y'are sure he sent not home my chain? - -BLO. Who should send [home] your chain, sir? - -FAU. The prince, Prince John; I lent it him to-day. - -JOHN. What's this they talk? - -BLO. By my truth, sir, and ye lent it him, I think you may go look it: -for one of the drawers of the Salutation told me even now, that he had -took up a chamber there till evening, and then he will away to Kent. - -FAU. Body of me, he means to spend my chain. -Come, Block; I'll to him. - -JOHN. Hear you, Fauconbridge; - -FAU. Why, what a knave art thou? yonder's Prince John. - -BLO. Then the drawer's a knave; he told me Prince John was at the -Salutation. - -JOHN. Where's Gloster, Fauconbridge? - -FAU. Sweet prince, I know not. - -JOHN. Come, jest not with me: tell me where he is? - -FAU. I never saw him since the Parl'ament. - -JOHN. Impudent liar, didst thou not even now -Say thou wouldst fetch him? Hadst thou not my sword? - -FAU. Wert thou a king, I will not bear the lie. -Thy sword? no, boy; thou seest this sword is mine. - -BLO. My master a liar? Zounds, wert thou a potentate! - -FAU. I scorn to wear thy arms, untutor'd child, -I fetch thee, Gloster, shameless did I see thee, -Since as I went this morning to the Sheriffs, -Thou borrow'dst my gold chain! - -JOHN. Thy chain? - -FAU. I hope thou wilt not cheat me, princocks John! - -JOHN. I'll cheat thee of thy life, if thou charge me -With any chain. - -FAU. Come, let him come, I pray, -I'll whip ye, boy, I'll teach you to out-face. - -BLO. Come, come, come! but one at once; ye dastards, come. - -RICH. Keep the king's peace, I see you are both deceiv'd, -He that was last here was not Fauconbridge. - -FAU. They slander me; who says that I was here? - -RICH. We do believe ye, sir; nor do you think -My brother John deceiv'd you of a chain. - -FAU. He did; I did deliver it with this hand. - -JOHN. I'll die upon the slanderer. - -FAU. Let the boy come. - -BLO. Aye, let him come, let him come. - -RICH. Fellow, thou speak'st even now, as if Prince John -Had been at some old tavern in the town! - -BLO. Aye, sir, I came up now but from the Salutation, -And a drawer, that doth not use to lie, told me -Prince John hath been there all this afternoon. - -JOHN. The devil in my likeness then is there. - -FAU. The devil in thy likeness or thyself -Had my gold chain. - -JOHN. Thou art the devil; for thou -Hadst my good sword, all these can witness it. - -FAU. God's mother, thou beliest me. - -JOHN. Give me the lie? - -RICH. Nay, calm this fury; let's down to the tavern; -Or one or both: these counterfeits are there. - -FAU. I know him well enough, that had my chain, -And there be two Johns, if I find one there. -By'r Lady, I will lay him fast. - -RICH. It is this Skink that mocks us, I believe. - -JOHN. Alas, poor Skink; it is the devil Gloster, -Who if I be so happy once to find, -I'll give contentment to his troubled mind. - -RICH. I hope he's far enough, and free enough, -Yet these conceits, I know, delight his soul. [_Aside_. -Follow me, Blocker, follow me, honest Blocker. - -BLO. Much follow you! I have another piece of work in hand; I hear say -Redcap's father shall be hanged this afternoon, I'll see him slip a -string, though I give my service the slip; besides, my lady bad me hear -his examination at his death. I'll get a good place, and pen it word for -word, and as I like it, let out a mournful ditty to the tune of -"Labandalashot," or "Row Well, ye Mariners," or somewhat as my muse -shall me invoke. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FIRST. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _like_ FAUCONBRIDGE, _with a_ PURSUIVANT; - GLOSTER _having a paper in his hand, the_ PURSUIVANT _bare_. - -GLO. A charitable deed, God bless the king; -He shall be then reprieved. - -PUR. Ay, sir, some day or two, -Till the young king and Prince John change it-- -Especially if the good earl be not found, -Which God forbid! - -GLO. What house is this, -That we are stepp'd into, to read this warrant in? - -PUR. A tavern, sir, the Salutation. - -GLO. A tavern? -Then I will turn prodigal; call for a pint -Of sack, good fellow. - -PUR. Drawer! - -DRA. [_Within_.] Anon, sir. - - _Enter_ DRAWER. - -GLO. A pint of thy best sack, my pretty youth. - -DRA. God bless your worship, sir; -Ye shall have the best in London, sir. - -GLO. What, know'st thou me I know'st thou old Fauconbridge? -I am no tavern-h[a]unter, I can tell thee. - -DRA. But my master hath taken many a fair pound -Of your man Block; he was here to-day, sir, -And emptied[500] two bottles of nippitate[501] sack. - -GLO. Well, fill us of your nippitate, sir; -This is well chanced. But hear[502] ye, boy! -Bring sugar in white paper, not in brown; -For in white paper I have here a trick, -Shall make the pursuivant first swoon, then sick. [_Aside_. -Thou honest fellow, what's thy name? - -PUR. My name is Winterborne, sir. - -GLO. What countryman, I prythee? - -PUR. Barkshire, and please ye. - -GLO. How long hast thou been sworn a messenger? - -PUR. But yesterday, and please your worship, -This is the first employment I have had. - - _Enter_ DRAWER, _with wine and sugar_. - -GLO. A good beginning; here, have to thee, fellow; -Thou art my fellow, now thou servest the king, -Nay, take sugar too, God's Lady dear! -I put it in my pocket; but it's here: -Drink a good draught, I prythee, Winterborne. - - [_He drinks and falls over the stool_. - -DRA. O Lord, Sir Richard, the man, the man! - -GLO. What a forgetful beast am I! Peace, boy, -It is his fashion ever, when he drinks. -Fellow, he hath the falling sickness; -Run, fetch two cushions to raise up his head, -And bring a little key to ope his teeth. [_Exit_ DRAWER. -Pursuivant, your warrant and your box-- -These must with me; the shape of Fauconbridge -Will hold no longer water hereabout. -Gloster will be a Proteus every hour, -That Elinor and Leicester, Henry, John, -And all that rabble of hate-loving curs, -May minister me more mirth to play upon. - - _Re-enter_ DRAWER, _with an_ ASSISTANT. - -DRA. Here's a key, sir, and one of our folk to help. - -GLO. No matter for a key; help him but in, -And lay him by the fire a little while, -He'll wake immediately; but be [not] heart-sick. -There's money for a candle and thy wine, -I'll go but up unto your alderman's, -And come down presently to comfort him. - - [_Exeunt_. - -SKINK. [_Within_.] Drawer! what Drawer? with a vengeance, Drawer! - -DRA. [_Within_.] Speak in the Crown[503] there. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SECOND. - - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like_ PRINCE JOHN. - -SKINK. They be come; the devil crown ye one by one. -Skink, thou'rt betray'd, that Master Fauconbridge, -Missing some of his chain has got thee dogg'd. -Drawer! what Drawer? - -DRA. Anon, anon, sir. - -SKINK. Was not Sir Richard Fauconbridge below? - -DRA. Yes, and please ye. - -SKINK. It does not please me well. Knows he that I am here? - -DRA. No, I protest. - -SKINK. Come hither, sirrah. I have little money; -But there's some few links of a chain of gold. -Upon your honesty, knows not Sir Richard -That I am here? - -DRA. No, by my holy-dam. - -SKINK. Who's that was with him? - -DRA. Why, a pursuivant. - -SKINK. Where is Sir Richard? - -DRA. At the alderman's. - -SKINK. A pursuivant, and at the alderman's? -What pig, or goose, or capon, have you kill'd -Within your kitchen new? - -DRA. A pig new-stick'd. - -SKINK. Fetch me a saucer of the blood; quick, run; [_Exit_ DRAWER. -I'll fit the pursuivant, and alderman, -And Fauconbridge, if Skink have any wit. -Well, Gloster, I did never love thee yet; -But thou'st the maddest lord that e'er I met. -If I 'scape this, and meet thee once again, -Curse Skink, if he die penny in thy debt. - - _Re-enter_ DRAWER. - -DRA. O my lord, the house is full of halberts, and a great many -gentlemen ask for the room where Prince John is. - -SKINK. Lend me thy apron; run and fetch a pot from the next room. -Betray'd, swounds, betray'd by gout, by palsy, by dropsy-- - _Re-enter_ DRAWER _with a pot_. -O brave boy, excellent blood! up, take my cloak -And my hat to thy share; when I come from Kent, I'll pay -Thee like a king. - -DRA. I thank you, my lord. - [_Exit_ DRAWER. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-THIRD. - - - _Enter_ JOHN, RICHARD, FAUCONBRIDGE, SHERIFFS, _and_ OFFICERS. - -SKINK. Now, fortune, help or never. They come--_and ye were a prince, -as ye say ye are, ye would be ashamed to abuse a poor servant thus; -but and if ye were not of the blood royal, I'd break the neck of ye -down the stairs, so would I, I'd teach you to hurt 'prentices_. - -RICH. Who hurt thee, fellow? - -SKINK. Prince devil or his dam; Prince John they call him. - -JOHN. Gloster, I hope. - -RICH. I doubt not but 'tis Skink. - -JOHN. Where is he? - -SKINK. Up them stairs; take heed of him, -He's in the Crown. - -FAU. Alas, poor fellow, he hath crown'd thee shrewdly. - -JOHN. In recompence, if it be him I seek, -I'll give thee his whole head to tread upon. -Follow me, brother; come, old Fauconbridge; -Keep the stairs, sheriff. You see, it waxeth dark; -Take heed he slip not by you. - - [_Exeunt_. - -SKINK. Hang yourselves, this darkness shall convey me out of doors, -I'll swim the Thames, but I'll attain Blackheath. -London, farewell; curse, John, rave, Fauconbridge! -Skink 'scapes you all by twilight's privilege. - [_Exit_. - -WITHIN. Where is he? lights, bring lights; drag out that boy. - - _Enter all with the_ BOY. - -JOHN. This is my cloak, my hat, my rapier; -And either it was Skink or Gloster. - -DRA. I know not who 'twas, sir; he said he was Prince John; he took -away my apron and a pottle-pot with him, and all-to blooded his head -and face. - -FAU. We met him, by St Anthony, we met him! - -JOHN. The fire of St Anthony confound -This changing counterfeit, whatsoever he be. - -RICH. It makes me laugh at envious greediness, -Who feeds upon her own heart's bitterness. - -JOHN. Sirrah, you that were born to cry anon, -What other copes-mates have you in the house? - -DRA. Sir, my master's gues's[504] be none of my copesmates. - -JOHN. Well, your gues's! can you guess who they be? - -DRA. Marry, here's a pursuivant, that this gentleman, sir, Richard -Fauconbridge, left sick even now. - -FAU. Marry of God, did I, thou lying knave? - -DRA. I am a poor boy, sir; your worship may say your pleasure; our -maids have had a foul hand with him. You said he would be sick; so he -is, with a witness. - -JOHN. Look about, Fauconbridge, here's work for you! -You have some evil angel in your shape. -Go, sirrah, bring us forth that Pursuivant. - - _Enter two, leading the_ PURSUIVANT, _sick_. - -RICH. Gloster, thou wilt be too-too venturous; -Thou dost delight in those odd humours so, -That much I fear they'll be thy overthrow. [_Aside_. - -PUR. O, O, O, not too fast; O, I am sick, O, very sick. - -JOHN. What picture of the pestilence is this? - -PUR. A poor man, sir, a poor man, sir: down, I pray ye; I pray, let me -sit down. Ah, Sir Richard, Sir Richard! Ah, good Sir Richard! what, have -I deserv'd to be thus dealt withal at your worship's hands? Ah! ah! ah! - -FAU. At my hands, knave? at my hands, paltry knave? - -DRA. And I should be brought to my book-oath, sir. - -WITHIN. What, Jeffrey? - -DRA. Anon, anon. - -JOHN. A plague upon your Jeffring; is your name Jeffrey? - -DRA. Ay, and't please you, sir. - -RICH. Why, gentle Jeffrey, then stay you awhile, -What can you say, if you come to your book? - -DRA. If I be pos'd upon a book, sir, though I be a poor 'prentice, -I must speak the truth, and nothing but the truth, sir. - -JOHN. And what's your truth, sir? - -PUR. O, O my heart. - -DRA. Marry, sir, this knight, this man of worship-- - -FAU. Well, what of me? what did my worship do? - -DRA. Marry, ye came into the Bell--our room next the bar--with this -honest man, as I take it. - -FAU. As thou tak'st it? - -PUR. O, sir, 'tis too true, too true, too true. O Lord. - -DRA. And there he call'd for a pint of sack, as good sack (I'll be pos'd -upon all the books that ever opened and shut), as any in all Christendom. - -FAU. Body of me, I come and call for sack? - -PUR. O, ye did, ye did, ye did. O, O. - -JOHN. Well, forward, sirrah. - -RICH. Gloster hath done this jest. [_Aside_. - -DRA. And you call'd then for sugar, sir, as good sugar and as wholesome, -as ever came in any cup of sack: you drank to this man, and you do well, -God be thanked--but he no sooner drank-- - -PUR. But I, but I, but I--O my head! O my heart! - -RICH. I cannot choose but smile at these conceits. - -JOHN. I am mad; and yet I must laugh at Fauconbridge: -Brother, look how Sir Richard acts his rage! - -FAU. I came? I call? the man is like to die, -Practice, by the mass; practice, by the marry God! -I shall be charg'd here for a poison'd knave, -Practice, by th'Lord, practice!--I see it clear. - -PUR. And more, Sir Richard. O Lord, O Sir Richard! - -FAU. What more? what hast thou more? what practice more? - -PUR. O my box, my box, with the king's arms! O my box, -O my box! it cost me, O Lord, every penny; O my box! - -RICH. And what of your box, sir? - -DRA. Marry, sir, it's lost; and 'tis well known my master keeps no -thieves in his house; O, there was none but you and he. - -FAU. O, then belike thou thinkest I had his box. - -PUR. O Sir Richard, I will not; O Lord, I will not charge you for all -the world; but--but--but for the warrant the old King sign'd to -reprieve the porter of the Fleet! O God, O God! - -JOHN. The porter of the Fleet? the old King sign'd?-- - -PUR. Ay, my good lord, ay, ay. - -JOHN. Is he reprieved then? - -PUR. No, my lord; O, Sir Richard took it from me with his own hand, O! - -FAU. Here's a device to bring me in contempt -With the old King, that I ever lov'd. -Princes and Sheriff, you can witness with me, -That I have been with you this afternoon-- -Only with you, with nobody but you-- -And now a fellow, whom the King would save -By a reprieve, this fellow says, is hang'd. - -JOHN. If thou hadst done it, I'd have justified it; -But, Richard, I conceit this jest already: -This mad-mate Skink, this honest merry knave, -Meeting this Pursuivant, and hearing tell -He had a warrant to reprieve a slave -Whom we would hang, stole it away from him. -This is sure the jest; upon my life, it is! - -PUR. O, but my warrant, how shall I do? O! - -RICH. But look about you, hot-brain'd brother John, -And I believe you'll find it otherwise; -Gloster hath got the warrant in disguise, -And sav'd the fellow you so fain would hang. - -JOHN. No, no; how say you, master Sheriff, is he not hang'd? - -SHER. My lord, the gibbet was set up by noon -In the Old Bailey, and I charg'd my men, -If I return not, though it were by torchlight, -To see him executed, ere they come. - -JOHN. I am greedy to hear news. - -FAU. Robb'd of my chain, out-faced I had a sword, -Accused of poisoning, cozenage, seeking blood! -Not to be borne! it is intolerable! - -RICH. Sir Richard, I prythee, have some patience. - -FAU. I'll to Blackheath, talk not of patience; -It is intolerable, not to be borne. - -JOHN. It is intolerable, not to be borne; -A warrant, brother; Fauconbridge, a warrant! - -FAU. I saw no warrant; I defy you all. - -JOHN. A slave, a pursuivant, one Winterborn. - -FAU. I care not for thee that, Winterborn. - -PUR. O, it is I, sir; that's my warrant. - -JOHN. Is't you? you rogue, you drunkard; ye are cheated, -And we are cheated of the prisoner. -Out, dog, dog. - -PUR. O, O, O, O my lord. - - [_Exit with_ DRAWER. - -SHER. Have patience, and we will have a privy search. - -JOHN. Go hang, ye blockheads, get ye from my sight! -O, would I were a basilisk, to kill -These glear-ey'd villains. - -SHER. Come away; let's leave him. -We have a warrant; let him do his worst. - - [_Exeunt_ SHERIFF _and_ OFFICERS. - -FAU. I'll to Blackheath, I'll to the holy hermit; -There shall I know not only these deceivers, -But how my wife plays fast and loose with Richard. -Ha! I shall fit them, I shall tickle them; -I'll do it, I'll hence, I'll to the heath amain. - [_Exit_. - -JOHN. There shall I know where this damned Gloster is, -I'll have the devils rous'd to find that devil, -O[r] else I'll conjure the old conjuror. -I'll to Blackheath, and there with friends conspire, -But I'll have Gloster's head, my heart's desire. - -RICH. Would mad Earl Robin saw these humourists: -'Twould feed him fit with laughter! O, 'twould fit him. -Wherever he is, I know the bare conceit -Is better to him than his daintiest food. -Well, and it fits me well, now I have time, -To court my Lady Fauconbridge at leisure. -Love, I implore thy aid; fair Cipria, -Thou sea-born mother at affection's ring, -Shine brightly in thy sphere, that art[505] my star, -My planet, thou of all lights most beauteous, -Be thou to my desires auspicious. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FOURTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _in the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE'S - _gown, night attire on his head_. - -ROB. O, for this lady! Was never poor gentleman troubled with -gentlewoman as I am with myself! My Lady Fauconbridge hath fitted me -a turn. Here I am, visited with sleeveless errands and with asking for -_This thing, Madam_, and _That thing, Madam_, that they make me almost -mad in earnest. Whoop, here's another client. - - _Enter a_ SERVING-MAN. - -SER. Here's my Lady Rawford's page attends to speak with your ladyship. - -ROB. I pray ye bid her lordship's page come into my Ladyship. - [_Exit_. SERVINGMAN.] -Well, Robin Hood, part with these petticoats, -And cast these loose devices from thy back, -I'll ne'er go more untruss'd, never be kerchief'd, -Never have this ado with _what do you lack_? - - _Enter_ PAGE. - -PAGE. Madam, my lady greets your honour kindly, -And sends you the first grapes of her young vine. - -ROB. I am much indebted to her honour, there's an angel for you to -drink; set them up till after supper. Humphrey, pray look about for -Block. Humphrey! trust me, I think the fool be lost. - -PAGE. No, forsooth, madam, he's upon the green, jesting with a -stammerer, one Redcap. - -ROB. It is a lewd fellow; pray, bid him come in, youth; I'll give him -his welcome at the door. Commend me to your lady, I pray ye, heartily. - [_Exit_ PAGE. -Humphrey, I marvel where Sir Richard is so late! Truly, truly, he does -not as beseems a gentleman of his calling; pray, let some go forth to -meet him on the green, and send in that blockhead Block. - [_Exit_ HUMPHREY. - - _Enter_ REDCAP, _and_ BLOCK _after him_. - -BLO. Will ye tell tales, ye ass, will ye? - -RED. I'll te-te-tell your la-la-lady, or I would to G-God we were -ha-hang'd else, as my fa-father should have been. - -ROB. Now, what's the matter there, I pray you? What company have you -there, a-God's name? where spend you the day, I pray? - -BLO. Why, where you gave me leave; at the gallows I was--no farther. - -RED. A-a-and you be his la-lady, you are the La-Lady Fau-Fauconbridge, -the Earl of Glo-Gloster's sister. - -ROB. I am so, fellow. - -RED. Y-y-your man B-B-Blocke here does no--nothing but f-f-flout m-me, -a-and cr-cries _r-run Re-Redcap and s-s-see you f-f-father ha-ha-hang'd_. -I sh-shall g-go-near to m-make m-murder, and he u-use it. - -ROB. Well, sirrah, leave your mocking, you were best, I'll bob your -beetle head, and if you mock him. - -BLO. He's _run Redcap_. - -RED. La-la-law, ma-madam. - -ROB. Away, ye saucy fool; go, wait within. - -BLO. _Run, Redcap; run, Redcap_. [_Exit_. - -ROB. Art thou the porter's son, that was condemned about my brother -Gloster? - -RED. Ay, G-G-God be with you, I am the p-p-porter's son, I m-must r-run -to s-s-seek your b-br-brother. - -ROB. Well, drink that, fellow; if thou find my brother, be not too -violent, and I'll reward thee. - -RED. I th-th-thank ye h-heartily; and I had not been cozened with -Sk-Skink, I had no nee-need of these ja-jaunts, for Gl-Gloster was -s-safe enough. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and the_ PORTER _with his cloak muffled_. - -BLO. Ah, farewell, Redcap. - -RED. Fa-fare we-well, and be ha-hang'd. [_Exit_. - -ROB. You'll never leave your knavery. Who's there more. - -BLO. One, madam, that hath commendations to you from your brother. - -ROB. Comest thou from Gloster? thou art welcome, friend. - -BLO. O, it's one of the kindest ladies (though she will now and then -have a bout with Block) that ever breath'd, and she had been in her mood -now, Redcap would have made her such sp-sp-sport as 't a' pa-pa-pass'd. - -ROB. Will you make sport, and see who knocks again? - -BLO. Our gates are like an anvil; from four to ten, nothing but -knick-a-knock upon't. - -ROB. Will you be gone, sir? [_Exit_ BLOCK.] -Honest friend, I am glad -My brother Gloster got thy liberty, -Whose flight was cause of thy captivity: -Nor shall there be in us such negligence, -Though thou have lost thy office and thy house, -But we will see thee better far provided -Than when thou wert [the] Porter in the Fleet. - - _Re-enter_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Madam, your old friend, Prince Richard, -All alone, -Making moan, -Fetching many a grievous groan. - -ROB. Prince Richard come so late? lights to his chamber; -Sirrah, in any case, say I am sick. - -BLO. Very sick, sick, and like to die! I'll sing it, and you will. - -ROB. Away, ye knave; tell him, in the morning -I'll humbly wait upon his excellence. - -BLO. That's all his desire to have ye lowly and humble, and 'tis a -courteous thing in a lady. - [_Exit_. - -ROB. Hence, or else I'll set you hence. Go in, good friend. -Come, Lady Fauconbridge; it's time to come; -Robin can hold out no longer, I see: -Hot wooers will be tempters presently. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FIFTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _like a Hermit_. - -SKINK. Now, holy Skink, in thy religious weed, -Look out for purchase or thy wonted clients. -Warrants, quoth you? I was fairly warranted; -Young Robin Hood, the Earl of Huntington, -Shall never fetch me more unto his prince. - - _Enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _in Merchant's Wife's attire_. - -But, _pauca verba_, Skink! a prize, a prize; -By th'mass, a pretty girl; close, hermit, close. -Overhear, if thou canst, what she desires, -For so my cunning and my credit spreads. - -LADY F. See, how affection arms my feeble strength, -To this so desperate journeying all alone, -While Robin Hood, young Earl of Huntington, -Plays Lady Fauconbridge for me at home. - -SKINK. What mystery is this? The Lady Fauconbridge! -It's she? Sweet fortune, thou hast sent her well; -I will entice this morsel to my cell. -Her husband's jealous; I will give him cause. -As he believes, I hope it shall succeed. -Nay, swounds, it shall; she's mine in scorn of speed. - -LADY F. By this broad beaten path, it should appear, -The holy hermit's cave cannot be far, -And if I err not, this is he himself. - -SKINK. What honour'd tongue enquireth for the hermit? - -LADY F. What honour'd tongue? - -SKINK. Ay, Lady Fauconbridge, -I know ye, and I know for what ye come, -For Gloster and your husband's jealousy. - -LADY F. O thou, whose eye of contemplation -Looks through the windows of the highest heavens, -Resolve thy handmaid, where Earl Gloster lives: -And whether he shall live, and 'scape the hate -Of proud young Henry and his brother John? - -SKINK. I'll have you first in; I'll tell you more anon. -Madam, they say bushes have ears and eyes; -And these are matters of great secrecy; -And you'll vouchsafe enter my holy cell, -There what you long to know I'll quickly tell. - - _Enter_ JOHN _and_ FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Stay, here are strangers. - -SKINK. A plague upon them, come they in the nick, -To hinder Reynard[506] of his fox's trick? - - [LADY FAUCONBRIDGE _retires a little_. - -JOHN. Good day, old hermit. - -FAU. So to you, fair dame. - -JOHN. By Elinor's grey eye, she's fair indeed. -Sweet heart, come ye for holy benisons? -Hermit, hast thou good custom with such clients? -I cannot blame your feats, your juggling tricks, -Plague juggle you! - -LADY F. Why curse ye sacred worth? - -FAU. Ill done, in sooth, my Lord, very ill done, -Wrong holiness! a very pretty woman! [_aside_.] -Mock gravity! by the mass a cherry lip! [_aside_.] -Ah, it's not well done [to] deride a holy hermit! - -JOHN. I have it in my purse shall make amends. - -SKINK. His purse and yours shall make me some amends -For hind'ring me this morning from the lady; -For scaring me at tavern yesternight: -For having back your chain, I'll fit you both. [_Aside_. - -JOHN. Hermit, a word. - -FAU. A word with you, fair mistress. - -JOHN. Where lie your devils, that tell all your news? -Would you would trouble them for half an hour, -To know what is become of traitor Gloster, -That in my clothes broke prison in the Fleet? - -SKINK. No, it was Skink. - -JOHN. Come, old fool, ye dote. - -SKINK. But hear me. - -FAU. Hear him, Prince. - -JOHN. 'Swounds, who hears you? -I'll make your lady graft ye for this work.-- [_Aside_.] ---But to your tale, sir. - -SKINK. Know, thrice-honoured Prince, -That Skink did cosen Redcap of his clothes, -Gloster did cosen Skink, and so escap'd. - -JOHN. Well done, Fauconbridge! - -FAU. My lord, he tells you true. - -JOHN. You find it on her lips: but, forward, sir. - -SKINK. 'Twas Skink in Gloster's gown, whom you did visit, -That play'd at bowls, and after stole your clothes, -While you went into the Lord Morton's chamber. - -JOHN. This savours of some truth. - -FAU. 'Tis very like. - -JOHN. Well, Fauconbridge, by heaven, I'll tell your wife. - -FAU. She'll much believe you! you will? Come, -Tell me not of my wife[507]: this evening fail me not. -My wife, quoth you: I'll send my wife from home. -Do tell my wife, Prince John, by my dear mother, -I love her too-too well to like another. - -LADY F. It seems so, fox; O, what a world is this! -There most sin reigns, where least suspicion is. - -FAU. You'll come? - -LADY F. I will not fail, I warrant you. - -JOHN. Hermit, is all this true? - -SKINK. Himself, -[If he] deliver not so much, before ye sleep, -Root me from out the borders of this realm. - - [JOHN _and_ FAUC. _retire a little_. - -JOHN. Well, by your leave, Sir Richard Fauconbridge, -Hence, free from fear; you'll melt, you'll melt, old man. - -FAU. Nay, take her to you; she's a shrew, I warrant. -I'll to the holy hermit, and inquire -About my chain, your sword, the pursuivant, -And other matters, that I have to ask. - - [_He returns_; JOHN _addresses the_ LADY. - -SKINK. You're welcome, good Sir Richard. - -JOHN. Nay, do not stand on terms; I am fire, all life, -Nor never tell me, that I have a wife. -I do not mean to marry; ye think so! -But to be merry you the manner know. -And you will have me, have me--'ppoint a meeting; -I'll be your true love, you shall be my sweeting. -If you deny to promise, this is plain -I'll have my will, ere you get home again. - -LADY F. Most gracious lord. - -JOHN. Tut, tell not me of grace: -I like no goodness but a beauteous face. -Be therefore brief; give me your hand and swear, -Or I'll away with you into the heath: -Neither shall Fauconbridge nor hermit help, -And what I do I'll answer well enough. - -LADY F. Why, then, my lord. - -JOHN. Nay, do not stand on them:[508] -But tell me, when my lord shall have you, Lady; -It's presently I venture for a baby. - -LADY F. This night at Stepney, by my summer-house, -There is a tavern which I sometimes use, -When we from London come a-gossiping; -It is the Hind. - -JOHN. Give me thy pretty hand: -Thou'lt meet me at the Hind? I'll be thy roe. - -LADY F. One word's enough. - -JOHN. Suffice; then be it so. - -LADY F. I'll fit my old adulterer and your grace, -I'll send the Princess thither in my place. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Prince John, Prince John, the hermit tells me wonders; -He says it was Skink that 'scap'd us at the tavern: -Skink had my chain--nay, sure, that Skink did all. - -SKINK. I say, go but to yonder corner, -And ere the sun be half an hour higher, -There will the thief attempt a robbery. - -JOHN. Who? Skink? - -FAU. Will Skink? - -SKINK. Ay, Skink, upon my word. - -FAU. Shall we go seize upon him, good Prince John? - -JOHN. Nay, we will have him, that's no question. -And yet not hurt the honest rogue. -He'll help us well in quest of changing Gloster. -Hermit, farewell; Lady, keep your hour. - -FAU. Adieu, old hermit: soon in the evening, lass. - -LADY F. I'll meet you both, and meet with[509] both of you. -Father, what answer do you give to me? - -SKINK. Lady, start down; I must into my cell, -Where I am curing of a man late hurt; -He dress'd, I must unto my orisons; -In half an hour all will be despatch'd, -And then I will attend your ladyship. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. At your best leisure, father. O, the life, -That this thrice-reverend hermit leadeth here. -How far remote from mortal vanities, -Baits to the soul, enticements to the eye! -How far is he unlike my lustful lord? -Who being given himself to be unchaste, -Thinks all men like himself in their effects, -And injures me, that never had a thought -To wrong the sacred rights of spotless faith. - - _Enter_ SKINK _with a patch on his face, and a - falconer's lure in his hand_.[510] - -SKINK. Hermit, farewell, I'll pay ye or speak with ye next time I see -ye. Sweet mouse, the hermit bids you stay here; he'll visit you anon. -Now, John and Fauconbridge, I'll match ye, and I do not say Skink's a -wretch, a wren, a worm. When I have trick'd them, madam, I will trim -you. Commodity is to be preferr'd before pleasure. About profit, Skink; -for crowns, for crowns, that make the kingly thoughts! - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. (_to the hermit supposed within_.) -I am assur'd that man's some murderer. -Good Father Hermit, speak and comfort me; -Are ye at prayers, good old man? I pray ye, speak. - [_Enters_. -What's here? a beard? a counterfeited hair? -The hermit's portesse,[511] garments, and his beads? -Jesus defend me! I will fly this den; -It's some thief's cave, no haunt for holy men. -What, if the murderer (as I guess him one) -Set on my husband! Tush, Prince John and he -Are able to defend their[512] noble selves. -Howe'er, I will not tarry, I'll away, -Lest unto theft and rape I prove a prey. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SIXTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _solus_. - -SKINK. Yonder they are; I'll fit them; here's my ground. -Wa-ha-how, wa-ha-how, wa-ha-how! - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE [_and_ JOHN.] - -FAU. I warrant ye, my lord, some man's distress'd. - -JOHN. Why, man, 'tis a falconer. - -FAU, Marry of me, good fellow, I did think thou had'st been robb'd. - -SKINK. Robb'd, sir? No, he that comes to rob me shall have a hard match -on't, yet two good fellows had like to have been robb'd by one tall -thief, had not I stepped in. A bots on him! I lost a hawk by him, and -yet I car'd not to send another after him, so I could find the thief; -and hereabout he is; I know he is squatted. - -FAU. Say'st thou me so? we'll find him, by St Mary, -An honest fellow, a good commonwealth's man. - -JOHN. There are caves hereabout, good fellow, are there not? - -SKINK. Yes, sir; tread the ground, sir, and you shall hear their -hollowness; this way, sir, this way. - -JOHN. Help, Fauconbridge. - -FAU. O, help me, good Prince John. - -SKINK. I'll help you both; deliver, sir, deliver! Swounds, linger not. -Prince John, put up your purse, or I'll throw poniards down upon your -pate. Quickly! when? I am Skink, that 'scap'd ye yesternight, and fled -the Fleet in your cloak, carrying me clean out of wind and rain. I broke -the bonds and links that fettered your chain amity; this cheat is mine. -Farewell, I cannot stay, -Sweet Prince, old Knight, I thank ye for this prey. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. God's marry mother, here's a jest indeed. -We came to take: a thief takes us! -Where are ye, good my lord? - -JOHN. No matter where; -I think I was fore-spoken at the teat, -This damn'd rogue serv'd me thus! Gloster and he, -Upon my life, conclude in villany. -He was not wont to plot these stratagems. -Lend me your hand a little; come away, -Let's to the cell again; perchance the hermit -Is Skink and thief, and hermit, all in one. - -FAU. Marry a God, then ten to one it's so; -Well thought on, Princely John; -He had my chain, no doubt he had your sword. - -JOHN. If there be now no hermit at the cell, -I'll swear by all the saints it's none but he. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _in the Hermit's gown, putting on the beard_. - -GLO. This accident hath hit thy humour, Gloster; -From pursuivant I'll turn a hermit now. -Sure, he that keeps this cell's a counterfeit, -Else what does he here with false hair and beard? -Well, howsoe'er it be, I'll seem to be -The holy hermit; for such fame there is, -Of one accounted reverend on this heath. - - _Enter_ SKINK. - -[SKINK.] I'll fain unto my cell, to my fair lady; -But John and Fauconbridge are at my heels; [_Sees John_. -And some odd mate is got into my gown, -And walks devoutly like my counterfeit. -I cannot stay to question with you now, -I have another gown and all things fit, -These guests once rid, new mate, I'll bum,[513] I'll mark you. - [_Exit_. - -GLOS. What's he, a God's name? he is quickly gone. -I am for him, were he Robin Goodfellow. -Who's yonder, the Prince John and Fauconbridge? -I think they haunt me like my genii, -One good, the other ill; by the mass, they pry, -And look upon me but suspiciously. - -JOHN. This is not Skink; the hermit is not Skink. -He is a learned, reverend, holy man; - -FAU. He is, he is a very godly man; -I warrant ye, he's at his book at's prayers. -We should have took you, by my halidom, -Even for a very thief. - -GLO. Now God forfend -Such noblemen as you should guess me so! -I never gave such cause, for ought I know. - -JOHN. Yet thou did'st tell us Skink should do a robbery, -Appointed us the place, and there we found him. - -FAU. And he felt us, for he hath robb'd us both. - -GLO. He's a lewd fellow; but he shall be taken. - -JOHN. I had rather hear of Gloster than of him. - -GLO. Gloster did cheat him of the same gold chain, -That deceiv'd Sir Richard Fauconbridge. -He got your sword, Prince John: 'twas he that sav'd -The porter, and beguil'd the pursuivant. - -JOHN. A vengeance on him! - -GLO. Do not curse, good prince; -He's bad enough, 'twere better pray for him. - -JOHN. I'll kill thee, and thou bid us pray for him, -I'll fell [the] woods, and ring thee round with fire, -Make thee an offering unto fierce revenge, -If thou have but a thought to pray for him. - -GLO. I am bound to pray for[514] all men, chiefly Christians. - -JOHN. Ha, ha, for Christians? think'st thou he is one? -For men? hast thou opinion he is a man? -He that changes himself to sundry shapes, -Is he a Christian? can he be a man? -O irreligious thoughts! - -GLO. Why, worthy prince, -I saw him christened, dipp'd into the font. - -JOHN. Then nine times, like the northern Laplanders, -He backward circled the sacred font, -And nine times backward said his orisons: -As often curs'd the glorious host of heaven, -As many times invok'd the fiends of hell, -And so turn'd witch; for Gloster is a witch. - -GLO. Have patience, gentle prince; he shall appear -Before your kingly father speedily. - -JOHN. Shall he indeed? sweet comfort, kiss thy cheek; -Peace circle in thy aged honoured head. -When he is taken, hermit, I protest -I'll build thee up a chapel and a shrine: -I'll have thee worshipp'd as a man divine, -Assure [ye] he shall come, and Skink shall come. - -FAU.[515] Aye, that same Skink; I prythee, send that Skink. - -JOHN. Send both; and both, as prisoners criminate. -Shall forfeit their lost[516] lives to England's state, -Which way will Fauconbridge? - -FAU. Over the water, and -So with all speed I may to Stepney. - -JOHN. I must to Stepney too, and revel, and be blithe, -Old [Knight], wink at my mirth; 't may make amends, -So thou and I, and our friends, may be friends. - -FAU. With all my heart, with all my heart, Prince [John], -Old Fauconbridge will wait upon your grace. -Be good to Gloster, for my Marian's sake, -And me and mine you shall your servants make. - -GLO. Of that anon: my pleasure being serv'd, -Gloster shall have what Gloster hath deserv'd. - -FAU. Why, that's well said; adieu, good honest hermit. - [_Exit_. - -JOHN. Hermit, farewell, if I had my desire, -I'll make the world thy wondrous deeds admire. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. Still good, still passing good; Gloster is still -Henry's true hate, foe to John's froward will, -No more of that: for them in better time. -If this same hermit be an honest man, -He will protect me by his[517] simple life; -If not, I care not; I'll be ever Gloster, -Make him my footstool, if he be a slave, -For baseness over worth can have no power. -Robin, bethink thee, thou art come from kings, -Then scorn to be [a] slave to underlings, -Look well about thee, lad, and thou shalt see -Them burst in envy, that would injure thee. -Hermit, I'll meet you in your hermit's gown, -Honest, I'll love you: worse, I'll knock you down. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-EIGHTH. - - - _Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, _with music_. - -P. RICH. Kind friends, we have troubled Lady Fauconbridge, -And either she's not willing to be seen, -Or else not well, or with our boldness griev'd, -To ease these, I have brought you to this window, -Knowing you are in music excellent. -I have penn'd a ditty here, and I desire -You would sing it for her love and my content. - -MUS. With all my heart, my lord. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, _like the_ LADY [FAUCONBRIDGE]. - -ROB. Your excellence forgets your princely worth; -If I may humbly crave it at your hands, -Let me desire this music be dismiss'd. - -RICH. Forbear, I pray, and withdraw yourselves; -Be not offended, gracious Marian. [_Exeunt music_. -Under the upper heaven nine goodly spheres -Turn with a motion ever, musical; -In palaces of kings melodious sounds -Offer pleasures to their sovereigns ears. -In temples, milk-white-clothed quiristers -Sing sacred anthems, bowing to the shrine; -And in the fields whole quires of winged clerks -Salute the[518] morning bright and crystalline. -Then blame not me; you are my heaven, my queen: -My saint, my comfort, brighter than the morn. -To you all music and all praise is due; -For your delight, for you,[519] delight was born. -The world would have no mirth, no joy, no day, -If from the world your beauty were away. - -ROB. Fie on love's blasphemy and forgery, -To call that joy[520] that's only misery! -I, that am wedded to suspicious age, -Solicited by your lascivious youth; -I, that have [only] one poor comfort living-- -Gloster my brother, my high-hearted brother-- -He flies for fear, lest he should faint, and fall -Into the hands of hate tyrannical. - -RICH. What would you I should do? - -ROB. I would full fain -My brother Gloster had his peace again. - -RICH. Shall love be my reward, if I do bring -A certain token of his good estate, -And after pacify my brother's wrath? -Say you will love, he[521] will be fortunate! - -ROB. I will. - -RICH. No more; I vow to die unblest -If I perform not this imposed quest. -But one word, madam; pray, can you tell -Where Huntington my ward is? - -ROB. I was bold -To send young Robin Hood, your noble ward, -Upon some business of import for me. - -RICH. I am glad he is employed in your affairs; -Farewell, kind fair; let [not] one cloudy frown -Shadow the bright sun of thy beauty's light: -Be confident in this--I'll find thy brother, -Raise power but he'll[522] have peace: only perform -Your gracious promise at my back-return. - -ROB. Well, here's my hand, Prince Richard; that same night, -Which secondeth the day of your return, -I'll be your bed-fellow, and from that hour -Forswear the loathed bed of Fauconbridge: -Be speedy, therefore, as you hope to speed. - -RICH. O that I were as large-winged as the wind, -Then should you see my expeditious will. -My most desire, adieu! guess by my haste -Of your sweet promise the delicious taste. - [_Exit_. - -ROB. Why so: I am rid of him by this device, -He would else have tired me with his songs and sighs.[523] - - _Enter_ BLOCK. - -But now I shall have ease; here comes the saint, -To whom such suit was made. - -BLO. My lady gentlewoman is even here in her privity-walk. Madam, -here's the merchant's wife was here yesterday would speak with ye. -O, I was somewhat bold to bring her in. - - _Enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _disguised as a merchant's wife_. - -ROB. Well, leave us, sir; y'are welcome, gentlewoman. - -BLO. These women have no liberality in the world in them; I never let -in man to my lady, but I am rewarded. - -ROB. Please ye to walk, sir! wherefore mumble ye? - - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -LADY F. Robin, what news? how hast thou done this night? - -ROB. My ladyship hath done my part, my task, -Lain all alone for lack of company, -I might have had Prince Richard. - -LADY F. Was he here! - -ROB. He went away but now; -I have been lov'd and woo'd too simply, -God rid me of the woman once again; -I'll not be tempted so for all the world. -Come, will you to your chamber, and uncase? - -LADY F. Nay, keep my habit yet a little while, -Old Fauconbridge is almost at the gate, -I met him at Blackheath just at the hermit's, -And, taking me to be a merchant's wife, -Fell mightily in love, gave me his ring, -Made me protest that I would meet him here. -I told him of his lady--O, tut, quoth he, -I'll shake her up, I'll pack her out of sight. -He comes; kind Robin Hood, hold up the jest. - - _Enter_ SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE _and_ BLOCK, _talking together_. - -FAU. God's marry, knave, how long hath she been here? - -BLO. Sir, she came but even in afore you. - -FAU. A cunning quean, a very cunning quean, -Go to your business, Block; I'll meet with her. - -BLO. Ah, old muttonmonger, I believe here's work towards. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. [_seeing the merchant's wife_]. -Do not believe her. Moll, do not believe her, -I only spake a word or two in jest, -But would not for the world have been so mad; -Do not believe her, Moll, do not believe her. - -ROB. What should I not believe? what do you mean? - -LADY F. Why, good Sir Richard, let me speak with you. -Alas, will you undo me? will you shame me? -Is this your promise? came I here for this? -To be a laughing-stock unto your lady? - -ROB. How now, Sir Richard, what's the matter there? - -FAU. I'll talk with you anon; come hither, woman. -Did'st [thou] not tell my wife what match we made? - -LADY F. I tell your wife? think ye I am such a beast? -Now God forgive ye; I am quite undone. - -FAU. Peace, duck; peace, duck; I warrant all is well. [_Aside_. - -Rob. What's the matter? I pray ye, Sir Richard, tell me! - -FAU. Marry, Moll, thus--about some twelve month since, -Your brother Gloster, that mad prodigal, -Caus'd me to pass my word unto her husband -For some two thousand pounds, or more perchance-- -No matter what it is, you shall not know, -Nay, ye shall never ask to know. - -ROB. And what of this? - -FAU. Many, the man's decayed, -And I believe a little thing would please her; -A very little thing, a thing of nothing. -Go in, good Moll, and leave us two alone, -I'll deal with ye as simply as I can. - -LADY F. Fox, look about ye, ye are caught, i'faith. - -ROB. Deal with her simply! O, O, what kind of dealing? -Can ye not deal with her, and I be by? - -FAU. Marry a God, what, are ye jealous? -Ye teach me what to do? in, get you in. -O, I have heard Prince Richard was your guest, -How dwelt you then? In, get you in, I say. -Must I take care about your brother's debts, -And you stand crossing me? In, or I'll send you in. [_Exit_ ROBIN. -Ha, sirrah; you'll be master, you'll wear the yellow,[524] -You'll be an over-seer? marry, shall ye! - -LADY F. Ye are too curst (methinks, sir) to your lady. - -FAU. Ah, wench, content thee, I must bear her hard, -Else she'll be prying[525] into my dalliance. -I am an old man, sweet girl; I must be merry: -All steel, all spright: keep in health by change; -Men may be wanton, women must not range. - -LADY F. You have given good counsel, sir; I'll repent me. -Here is your ring; I'll only love my husband. - -FAU. I mean not so, I think to-day thou told'st me -Thy husband was an unthrift and a bankrupt. -And he be so, tut, thou hast favour store; -Let the knave beg, beauty cannot be poor. - -LADY F. Indeed my husband is a bankrupt-- -Of faith, of love, of shame, of chastity, -Dotes upon other women more than me. - -FAU. Ha! do he so? then give him tit for tat, -Have one so young and fair, and loves another? -He's worthy to be cuckolded, by the mass! -What is he, old or young? - -LADY F. About your age. - -FAU. An old knave, -And cannot be content with such a peat! -Come to my closet, girl, make much of me; -We'll appoint a meeting-place some twice a week, -And I'll maintain thee like a lady, ha! - -LADY F. O, but you will forget me presently, -When you look well upon your lady's beauty. - -FAU. Who? upon her? why, she is a very dowdy, -A dishclout, a foul gipsy unto thee. -Come to my closet, lass, there take thy earnest -Of love, of pleasure, and good maintenance. - -LADY F. I am very fearful. - -FAU. Come, fool, never fear. -I am lord here, who shall disturb us then? -Nay, come, or, by the rood, I'll make you come. - -LADY F. Help, Madam Fauconbridge, for God's sake. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _as_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _and_ BLOCK. - -FAU. How now, what mean'st? - -LADY F. Help, gentle madam, help! - -ROB. How now, what ail'st thou? - -BLOCK. Nay, and't be a woman: ne'er fear my master, madam. - -ROB[526]. Why speak'st thou not, what ail'st thou? - -FAU. Why, nothing, by the rood, nothing she ails. - -LADY F. O madam, this vile man would have abused me, -And forc'd me to his closet. - -ROB. Ah, old Cole,[527] now look about: you are catcht! - -LADY F. Call in your fellows, Block. - -FAU. Do not, thou knave. - -LADY F. Do, or I'll crack your crown. - -BLO. Nay, I'll do't: I know she means to shame you. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. Why, Moll, wilt thou believe this paltry woman? -Huswife, I'll have you whipp'd for sland'ring me. - -ROB. What, lecher? no, she is an honest woman: -Her husband's well known; all the household knows. - -BLO. Here's some now to tell all the town your mind. - -LADY F. Before ye all I must [now] sure complain. -You see this wicked man, and ye all know -How oft he hath been jealous of my life: -Suspecting falsehood, being false himself. - -BLO. O master, O master. - -FAU. She slanders me; she is a cozening quean. -Fetch me the constable: I'll have her punish'd. - -LADY F. The constable for me? fie, fie upon ye. -Madam, do you know this ring? - -ROB. It is Sir Richard's. - -BLO. O, aye, that's my master's, too [--too] sure. - -FAU. Ay, marry, I did lend it to the false drab -To fetch some money for that bankrupt knave, -Her husband, that lies prisoner in the Fleet. - -LADY F. My husband bankrupt? my husband in the Fleet prisoner? -No, no, he is as good a man as you. - -ROB. Ay, that he is, and can spend pound for pound -With thee, i'faith, wert richer than thou art. -I know the gentleman. - -LADY F. Nay, madam, he is -Hard by: there must be revels at the Hind tonight; -Your copesmate's there--Prince John. - -ROB. There's a hot youth! - -BLO. O, a fierce gentleman! - -LADY F. He was fierce as you; but I have match'd him: -The princess shall be there in my attire. - -FAU. A plaguy, crafty quean, marry a God, -I see Prince John courted as well as I; -And since he shall be mock'd as well as I, -It's some contentment. - -BLO. Mass, he droops. -Fellow Humphrey, he is almost taken, -Look about ye, old Richard. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Hence, knaves; get in a little. Prythee, Moll, -Let thou and I, and she, shut up this matter. - -ROB. Away, sirs; get in. - -BLO. Come, come, -Let's go; he will be baited now. Farewell. - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -FAU. Marry, sweet Moll, I say, I met this woman; -Lik'd her, lov'd her; -For she is worthy love, I promise thee. -I say, I courted her: tut, make no brawl, -'Twixt thou and I we'll have amends for all. - -ROB. Had I done such a trick, what then? what then? - -FAU. Ah prythee, Moll, tut, bear with men. - -ROB. Aye, we must bear with you; you'll be excus'd, -When women undeserved are abus'd. - -FAU. Nay, do not weep: pardon me, gentle lady; -I know thee virtuous, and I do protest -Never to have an evil thought of thee. - -ROB. Aye, aye, ye swear; who's that that will believe ye? - -FAU. Now, by my halidom and honest faith, -This gentlewoman shall witness what I swear. -Sweet duck, a little help me. - -LADY F. Trust him, madam. - -FAU. I will be kind, credulous, constant ever, -Do what thou wilt, I'll be suspicious never. - -ROB. For which I thank [the] noble Fauconbridge. - [_Discovers himself_. - -FAU. Body of me, who's this? young Huntington? - -LADY F. And I your lady, whom you courted last, - [_Discovers herself_. -Ye looked about you ill, fox; we have caught ye; -I met ye at Blackheath, and ye were hot. - -FAU. I knew thee, Moll; now, by my sword, I knew thee. -I wink'd at all; I laughed at every jest. - -ROB. Aye, he did wink; the blind man had an eye.[528] - -FAU. Peace, Robin, thou't once be a man as I. - -LADY F. Well, I must bear it all. - -FAU. Come, and ye bear, -It's but your office; come, forget, sweet Moll. - -LADY. F. I do forgive it, and forget it, sir. - -FAU. Why, that's well said; that's done like a good girl. -Ha, sirrah, ha, you match'd me, pretty earl. - -ROB. I have, ye see, sir; I must unto Blackheath -In quest of Richard, whom I sent to seek -Earl Gloster out. I know he's at the hermit's. -Lend me your coach; I'll shift me, as I ride; -Farewell, Sir Richard. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. Farewell, England's pride. -By the matins, Moll, it is a pretty child; -Shall we go meet John? shall we go mock the prince? - -LADY F. We will. - -FAU. O, then we shall have sport anon. -Never wear yellow, Moll; 'twas but a trick; -Old Fauconbridge will still be a mad Dick. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-NINTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP _and_ GLOSTER. - -RED. Do ye s-s-say, fa-fa-father hermit, th-that Gl-Gloster is about -this heath? - -GLO. He is upon this heath, son; look about it. -Run but the compass, thou shalt find him out. - -RED. R-r-run? I'll r-run the co-compass of all K-Kent but I'll f-find -him out; my f-f-father (where'er he lays his head) dare ne-never come -home, I know, t-t-till he be fo-fo-found. - -GLO. Well, thou shalt find him. Know'st thou who's a-hunting? - -RED. M-m-marry, 'tis the Earls of La-La-Lancaster and Le-Leicester, -Fa-fa-farewell, f-father; and I find Skink or Glo-Gloster, I'll -g-g-give thee the pr-price of a penny p-p-pudding for thy p-pains. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. Adieu, good friend: this is sure the fellow -I sent on message from the Parl'ament-- -The porter's son--he's still in quest of me, -And Skink, that cosen'd him of his red cap! - - _Enter_ RICHARD, _like a Serving-man_. - -But look about thee, Gloster; who comes yonder? -O, a plain serving-man, and yet perhaps -His bags are lin'd, -And my purse now grows thin: -If he have any, I must share with him. - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like a Hermit_. - -And who's on yond side? O, it is my hermit; -Hath got his other suit, since I went forth. - -SKINK. Sblood, yonder's company; I'll back again, -Else I would be with you counterfeit; -I'll leave the rogue till opportunity, -But never eat, till I have quit my wrong. [_Exit_. - -RICH. I saw two men attend like holy hermits; -One's slipp'd away, the other's at his beads. -Now, Richard, for the love of Marian, -Make thy inquire, where mad Gloster lives. -If England or the verge of Scotland hold him, -I'll seek him thus disguis'd. If he be pass'd -To any foreign part, I'll follow him. -Love, thou art Lord of hearts; thy laws are sweet; -In every troubled way thou guid'st our feet. -Lovers, enjoin'd to pass the dangerous sea -Of big-swoll'n sorrow in the bark Affection, -The winds and waves of woe need never fear, -While Love the helm doth, like a pilot, steer. - -GLO. Here's some lover come, a mischief on him! -I know not how to answer these mad fools; -But I'll be brief; I'll mar the hermit's tale. -Off, gown; hold, buckler; slice it, Bilbo' blade. - -RICH. What's this? what should this mean? old man, good friend. - -GLO. Young fool, deliver; else see your end. - -RICH. I thought thou hadst been holy and a hermit. - -GLO. Whate'er you thought, your purse! come, quickly, sir; -Cast that upon the ground, and then confer. - -RICH. There it is. - -GLO. Falls it so heavy? then my heart is light. - -RICH. Thou'lt have a heavy heart before thou touch it. -Theft shrin'd in holy weeds, stand to't, y'are best. - -GLO. And if I do not, seeing such a prey, -Let this be to me a disaster day. - -RICH. Art thou content to breathe? - - [_Fight and part once or twice_. - -GLO. With all my heart. -Take half thy money, and we'll friendly part. - -RICH. I will not cherish theft. - -GLO. Then I defy thee. - - [_Fight again and breathe_. - -RICH. Alas for pity, that so stout a man, -So reverend in aspect, should take this course. - -GLO. This is no common man with whom I fight, -And if he be, he is of wond'rous spright. [_Aside_. -Shall we part stakes? - -RICH. Fellow, take -The purse upon condition thou wilt follow me. - -GLO. What, wait on you? wear a turn'd livery, -Whose man's your master? If I be your man, -My man's man's office will be excellent! -There lies your purse again; win it and wear it. - [_Fight_. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD. _They breathe, offer again_. - -ROB. Clashing of weapons at my welcome hither? -Bick'ring upon Blackheath. Well-said, old man; -I'll take thy side, the younger hath the odds. -Stay, end your quarrel, or I promise ye -I'll take the old man's part. - -RICH. You were not wont. -Young Huntington; [be] still on Richard's side. - -ROB. Pardon, gracious prince; I knew ye not. - -GLO. Prince Richard? then lie, envy, at his foot. -Pardon thy cousin Gloster, valiant lord. -I knew no common force confronted mine. - -RICH[529]. O heaven, I had the like conceit of thine, -I tell thee, Robin, Gloster, thou art met, -Bringing such comfort unto Richard's heart: -As in the foil of war, when dust and sweat, -The thirst of wreak[530], and the sun's fiery heat, -Have seized upon the soul of valiance, -And he must faint, except he be refresh'd. -To me thou com'st, as if to him should come -A perry[531] from the north, whose frosty breath -Might fan him coolness in that doubt[532] of death. -With me then meet'st, as he a spring might meet, -Cooling the earth under his toil-parch'd feet, -Whose crystal moisture, in his helmet ta'en, -Comforts his spirits, makes him strong again. - -GLO. Prince, in short terms, if you have brought me comfort, -Know, if I had my pardon in this hand, -That smit base Skink in open Parl'ament, -I would not come to Court, till the high feast -Of your proud brother's birthday be expired, -For as the old king--as he made a vow -At his unlucky coronation, [that I] -Must wait upon the boy and fill his cup, -And all the peers must kneel, while Henry kneels, -Unto his cradle--he shall hang me up, -Ere I commit that vile idolatry. -But when the feast is pass'd, if you'll befriend me, -I'll come and brave my proud foes to their teeth. - -RICH. Come, Robin; and if my brother's grace deny, -I'll take thy part, them and their threats defy. - -GLO. Gramercy, princely Dick. - -ROB. I have some pow'r: -I can raise two thousand soldiers in an hour. - -GLO. Gramercy, Robin; gramercy, little wag, -Prince Richard, pray let Huntington -Carry my sister Fauconbridge this ring. - -RICH. I'll carry it myself; but I had rather -Had thy kind company; thou might'st have mov'd -Thy sister, whom I long have vainly lov'd. - -GLO. I like her that she shuns temptation, -Prince Richard; but I bear with doting lovers. -I should not take it well, that you urge me -To such an office: but I bear with you. -Love's blind and mad. Hie to her boldly: try her; -But if I know she yield, faith, I'll defy her. - -RICH. I like thy honourable resolution; -Gloster, I pray thee pardon my intreat. - -GLO. It is men's custom: part, part, gentle prince, -Farewell, good Robin, this gold I will borrow; -Meet you at Stepney, pay you all to-morrow. - -ROB. Adieu, Gloster. - [_Exit_ ROBIN. - -GLO. Farewell, be short. -You gone, I hope to have a little sport. - -RICH. Take heed, mad coz. - -GLO. Tut, tell not me of heed: [_Exit_ RICHARD. -He that's too wary[533] never hath good speed. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTIETH. - - - _Hollooing within; enter_ LANCASTER _with a broken - staff in his hand_. - -[GLO.] Who's this? old Lancaster, my honour'd friend? - -LAN. These knaves have serv'd me well, left me alone, -I have hunted fairly, lost my purse, my chain, -My jewels, and been bang'd by a bold knave, -Clad in a hermit's gown, like an old man-- -O what a world is this? - -GLO. It's ill, my lord. - -LAN. He's come again! O knave, 'tis the worse for thee: - [_Mistakes_ GLOSTER _for the_ HERMIT. -Keep from me: be content with that thou hast, -And see thou fly this heath, for, if I take thee, -I'll make thee to all thieves a spectacle. -Had my staff held, thou hadst not 'scap'd me so. -But come not near me, fellow, thou art not[534] best, -Holla, Earl Leicester! holla, huntsmen, ho! - -GLO. Upon my life, old Lancaster, a-hunting, -Hath met my fellow-hermit. Could I meet him, -I'd play [at] rob-thief, at least part stakes with him. - - _Enter_ SKINK _as a hermit_. - -SKINK. Zounds, he is yonder alone. - - _Enter_ REDCAP _with a cudgel_. - -SKINK. Now revenge thyself on yonder slave[535], -'Snails, still prevented? this same Redcap rogue -Runs like hob goblin up and down the heath. - -RED. Wh-wh-wh-whoop, he-hermit, ye ha-ha-ma-ma-made Re-Redcap run a -fine co-co-compass, ha-have you not? - -SKINK. I made thee run? - -GLO. Yonder's my evil angel. -Were Redcap gone, Gloster would conjure him. - -RED. Je-Je-Jesus bl-bless me, whoop! t-t-two hermits? I'll -ca-ca-caperclaw t-t-t'one of ye, for mo-mo-mocking me, and I d-d-do -not ha-ha-hang me. Wh-wh-which is the fa-fa-false k-k-k-knave? for I -am s-s-sure the old he-he-hermit wo-would never mo-mock an honest man. - -GLO. He is the counterfeit; he mock'd thee, fellow. -I did not see thee in my life before, -He wears my garments, and has cosened me. - -RED. Have you co-co-cosened the he-he-hermit and m-made Redcap run to -no pu-pu-purpose? - -SKINK. No, he's [a] counterfeit; I will tell no lies, -As sure as Skink deceiv'd thee of thy clothes, -Sent thee to Kent, gave thee thy fare by water, -So sure, he's false, and I the perfect hermit. - -GLO. This villain is a conjuror, I doubt, -Were he the devil, yet I would not budge. - -RED. Si-si-sirrah, you are the co-counterfeit. O, this is the tr-tr-true -he-hermit. Sta-sta-stand still, g-good man, at that, I'll bu-bumbast you -i'faith, I'll make you g-give the old m-m-man his gown. - - [_Offers to strike_; GLOSTER _trips up his heels; - shifts_ SKINK _into his place_. - -G-G-God's lid, are ye go-good at that? I'll cu-cudgel ye f-f-for the -tr-tr-trick. - -SKINK. It was not I; 'twas he, that cast thee down. - -RED. You li-li-li-lie, you ra-ra-rascal, you; I le-left ye st-standing -he-here. - -SKINK. Zounds, hold, you stammerer, or I'll cut your stumps. - -GLO. He is for me; he's weapon'd--I like that! - -RED. O, here's a ro-ro-rogue in-ca-ca-carnate, help, mu-murder, murder. - - _Enter_ LANCASTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at one door_, - LEICESTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at another_. - -LAN. Lay hold upon that thievish counterfeit. - -LEI. Why, here's another hermit, Lancaster: - -GLO. I am the hermit, sir; that wretched man -Doth many a robbery in my disguise: - -SKINK. It's he that robs; he slanders me; he lies. - -LAN. Which set on thee? - -RED. Th-this f-f-fellow has a s-s-sword and a buckler. - -LAN. Search him; this is the thief; O, here's my purse, -My chain, my jewels! O thou wicked wretch, -How dar'st thou, under show of holiness, -Commit such actions of impiety? -Bind him, I'll have him made a public scorn. - -SKINK. Lay hold upon that other hermit; -He is a counterfeit as well as I. -He stole those clothes from me; for I am Skink. -Search him, I know him not, he is some slave. - -GLO. Thou liest, base varlet. - -RED. O G-God, he has a sword too. Skink, are you ca-catcht? - -LAN. Villain, thou shalt with me unto the Court. - -LEI. And this with me; this is the traitor Gloster. - -GLO. Thou liest, proud Leicester; I am no traitor, - -RED. G-Gloster? O b-brave, now m-my father sh-shall be f-free. - -LAN. Earl Gloster, I am sorry thou art taken. - -GLO. I am not taken yet, nor will I yield -To any here but noble Lancaster. -Let Skink be Leicester's prisoner; I'll be thine. - -LEI. Thou shalt be mine. - -GLO. First, through a crimson sluice, -I'll send thy hated soul to those black fiends, -That long have hovered gaping for their part, -When tyrant life should leave thy traitor heart! -Come, Lancaster, keep Skink; I'll go with thee. -Let loose the mad knave, for I praise his shifts. -He shall not start away; I'll be his guide, -And with proud looks outface young Henry's pride. - -LEI. Look to them, Lancaster, upon thy life. - -RED. Well, I'll r-run and get a p-pardon of the k-k-k-king, Gl-Gloster -and Skink ta-ta-taken! O b-b-brave, r-r-r-run, Re-Re-Redca-cap, a-and -ca-ca-carry the first n-n-news to Co-Co-Court. - -LEI. Lancaster, I'll help to guard them to the Court. - -LAN. Do as you please. - -GLO. Leicester, do not come near me; -For, if thou do, thou shalt buy it dearly. - -LEI. I'll have thy hand for this. - -GLO. Not for thy heart. - -SKINK. Brave Earl, had Skink known thou hadst been the noble Gloster -(whose mad tricks have made me love thee), I would have dyed Blackheath -red with the blood of millions, ere we would have been taken; but what -remedy? we are fast, and must answer it like gentlemen, like soldiers, -like resolutes. - -GLO. Aye, ye are a gallant. Come, old Lancaster. -For thy sake will I go, or else, by heaven, -I'd send some dozen of these slaves to hell. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-FIRST. - - - _Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, ROBIN HOOD, _and_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Your travail and your comfortable news: -This ring, the certain sign you met with him: -Binds me in duteous love unto your grace; -But on my knees I fall, and humbly crave -Importune that no more you ne'er can have. - -RICH. Nay, then, ye wrong me, Lady Fauconbridge, -Did you not join your fair white hands, -Swore that ye would forswear your husband's bed, -[And] if I could but find out Gloster? - -LADY F. I swear so! - -RICH. [Yes,] by heaven. - -ROB. Take heed; it's an high oath, my lord. - -RICH. What meanest thou, Huntington? - -ROB. To save your soul; -I do not love to have my friends forsworn, -She never promis'd, that you urge her with. - -RICH. Go to; provoke me not. - -ROB. I tell you true; -'Twas I in her attire that promis'd you. -She was gone unto the wizard at Blackheath, -And there had suitors more than a good many. - -RICH. Was I deluded then? - -LADY F. No, not deluded; -But hind'red from desire unchaste and rude. -O, let me woo ye with the tongue of ruth, -Dewing your princely hand with pity's tears, -That you would leave this most unlawful suit, -If e'er we live, till Fauconbridge be dead, -(As God defend his death I should desire). -Then, if your highness deign so base a match, -And holy laws admit a marriage, -Considering our affinity in blood, -I will become your handmaid, not your harlot-- -That shame shall never dwell upon my brow. - -ROB. I'faith, my lord, she's honourably resolv'd, -For shame, no more; importune her no more. - -RICH. Marian, I see thy virtue, and commend it; -I know my error, seeking thy dishonour, -But the respectless, reasonless command -Of my inflamed love, bids me still try, -And trample under foot all piety; -Yet, for I will not seem too impious, -Too inconsiderate of thy seeming grief, -Vouchsafe to be my mistress: use me kindly. -And I protest I'll strive with all my power, -That lust himself may in his heat devour. - -LADY F. You are my servant, then. - -RICH. Thanks, sacred mistress. - -ROB. What am I? - -LADY F. You are my fellow Robert. - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _in his hose and doublet_. - -FAU. What, Prince Richard? noble Huntington? -Welcome, i'faith, welcome! by the morrow mass! -You are come as fitly as my heart can wish. -Prince John this night will be a reveller, -He hath invited me and Marian, -God's marry mother, go along with us, -It's but hard by, close by--at our town-tavern. - -RICH. Your tavern? - -FAU. O, aye, aye, aye; 'tis his own made match, -I'll make you laugh, I'll make you laugh, i'faith; -Come, come; he's ready. O, come, come away. - -LADY F. But where's the princess? - -FAU. She is[536] ready too; -Block, Block, my man, must be her waiting-man. -Nay, will ye go? for God's sake, let us go. - -RICH. Is the jest so? nay, then, let us away. - -ROB. O, 'twill allay his heat, make dead his fire. - -FAU. Ye bobb'd me first; ye first gave me my hire, -But come, a God's name, Prince John stays for us. - - [_Exeunt_. - -ROB. This is the word ever at spendthrifts' feasts, -They are gull'd themselves, and scoff'd at by their guests. - - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-SECOND. - - - _A tavern. Enter_ JOHN, FAUCONBRIDGE, ROBIN - HOOD, RICHARD, _and the others_[537]. - -JOHN. Baffled and scoff'd! Skink, Gloster, women, -Fools and boys abuse me. I'll be reveng'd. - -RICH. Reveng'd? and why, good child? -Old Fauconbridge hath had a worser basting. - -FAU. Aye, they have banded [me] from chase to chase; -I have been their tennis-ball, since I did court. - -RICH. Come, John, take hand with virtuous Isabel, -And let's unto the court, like loving friends. -Our kingly brother's birth-day's festival -Is forthwith to be kept; thither we'll hie, -And grace with pomp that great solemnity. - -JOHN. Whither ye will; I care not, where I go. -If grief will grace it, I'll adorn the show. - -FAU. Come, madam; we must thither; we are bound. - -LADY.[538] I'm loth to see the court, Gloster being from thence, -Or kneel to him that gave us this offence. - -FAU. Body of me, peace, woman, I prythee, peace. - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -RED. Go-Go-God [speed] ye, Go-God s-speed ye! - -JOHN. Whither run you, sir knave? - -RED. R-r-run ye, sir knave? why, I r-run to my La-Lady Fa-Fauconbridge, -to te-te-tell her Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster is taken, and are g-g-gone to -the c-c-court with L-Lord Leicester and L-Lord La-La-Lancaster. - -JOHN. Is Gloster taken? thither will I fly -Upon wrath's wings; not quiet till he die. - - [_Exit with_ PRINCESS. - -RICH. Is Gloster taken? - -RED. Aye, he is ta-taken, I wa-warrant ye, with a wi-witness. - -RICH. Then will I to court, -And either set him free, or die the death. -Follow me, Fauconbridge; fear not, fair madam: -You said you had the porter in your house? -Some of your servants bring him; on my life, -One hair shall not be taken from his head, -Nor he, nor you, nor Gloster, injured. - -FAU. Come, Moll, and Richard say the word, ne'er fear. - -ROB. Madam, we have twenty thousand at our call, -The most young Henry dares is but to brawl. - -LADY F. Pray God, it prove so. - -RICH. Follow, Huntington: -Sir Richard, do not fail to send the porter. - -FAU. Block, bring the porter of the Fleet to court. - -BLO. I will, sir. - -RED. The p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet to court? -What p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet? - -BLO. What, Redcap? Run, Redcap, wilt thou see thy father? - -RED. My fa-father? Aye, that I w-would s-see my f-father, and there be -A p-porter in your ho-house, it is my fa-father. - -BLO. Follow me, Redcap, then. - [_Exit_. - -RED. And you were tw-tw-twenty B-Blocks, I'd f-f-follow ye, s-so I would, -and r-run to the co-co-court too, and k-kneel before the k-k-king f-f-for -his pa-pardon. - -BLO. [Within.] Come away, Redcap; run, Redcap. - -RED. I-I-I r-r-run as f-f-fast as I-I ca-ca-can run, I wa-warrant ye. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-THIRD. - - - _Enter a Signet,[539] first two Heralds, after them_ - LEICESTER, _with a sceptre,_ LANCASTER, _with a - crown imperial on a cushion: after them_ HENRY THE ELDER, - _bare-headed, bearing a sword and a globe: after him_ - YOUNG HENRY, _crowned_: ELINOR, _the Mother-Queen, - crowned_: YOUNG QUEEN _crowned_: HENRY THE ELDER - _places his son, the two Queens on either hand, himself - at his feet_, LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER _below him_. - -HEN. Herald, fetch Lancaster and Leicester coronets, -Suffer no marquis, earl, nor countess enter, -Except their temples circled are in gold. - [_He delivers coronets to_ LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER. -Shew them our viceroys: by our will controll'd, -As at a coronation, every peer -Appears in all his pomp; so at this feast, -Held for our birthright, let them be adorn'd, -Let Gloster be brought in, crowned like an earl. [_Exit_ HERALD. -This day we'll have no parley of his death, -But talk of jouissance and gleeful mirth. -Let Skink come in; give him a baron's seat. -High is his spirit, his deserts are great. - -KING. You wrong the honour of nobility -To place a robber in a baron's stead. - -QUEEN. It's well ye term him not a murderer. - -KING. Had I misterm'd him? - -QUEEN. Ay, that had you, Henry. -He did a piece of justice at my bidding. - -KING. Who made you a justice? - -HEN. I, that had the power. - -KING. You had none then. - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _and_ SKINK. - -LEI. Yes, he was crown'd before. - -HEN. Why does not Gloster wear a coronet? - -GLO. Because his sovereign doth not wear a crown. - -HEN. By heaven, put on thy coronet, or that heaven, -Which now with a clear [arch] lends us this light, -Shall not be curtain'd with the veil of night, -Ere on thy head I clap a burning crown -Of red-hot iron, that shall sear thy brains. - -RICH. Good Gloster, crown thee with thy coronet. - -LAN. Do, gentle earl. - -SKINK. Swounds, do; would I had one. [_Aside_. - -QUEEN. Do not, I prythee, keep thy proud heart still. - -GLO. I'll wear it but to cross thy froward will. - -HEN. Sit down, and take thy place. - -GLO. It's the low earth; -To her I must, from her I had my birth.[540] - -HEN. We are pleas'd thou shalt sit there. -Skink, take thy place among my nobles. - - _Enter_ JOHN _and_ ISABEL, _with coronets_. - -SKINK. Thanks to King Henry's grace. - -JOHN. John, Earl of Morton and of Nottingham, -With Isabel his countess, bow themselves -Before their brother Henry's royal throne! - -HEN. Ascend your seats; live in our daily love. - - _Enter_ RICHARD _and_ ROBERT, _with coronets_. - -RICH. Richard, the Prince of England, with his ward, -The noble Robert Hood, Earl Huntington, -Present their service to your majesty. - -HEN. Y'are welcome, too, though little be your love. [_Aside_.] - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _with his_ LADY, _she a coronet_. - -FAU. Old Richard Fauconbridge, Knight of the Cross, -Lord of the Cinque Ports, with his noble wife, -Dame Marian, Countess of West-Hereford,[541] -Offer their duties at this royal meeting. - -HEN. Sit down, thou art a neuter, she a foe. -Thy love we doubt; her heart too well we know. [_Aside_. -What suitors are without? let them come in. - -GLO. And have no justice, where contempt is king. - -HEN. Madman, I give no ear to thy loose words. - -JOHN. O sir, y'are welcome; you have your old seat. - -GLO. Though thou sit higher, yet my heart's as great. - -QUEEN. Great heart, we'll make you lesser by the head. - -GLO. Ill comes not ever to the threatened[542]. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and_ REDCAP. - -HEN. What are you two? - -RED. M-ma-marry, and't please you, I am Re-Re-Redcap. - -HEN. And what's your mate? - -BLO. A poor porter, sir. - -JOHN. The porter of the Fleet, that was condemned? - -BLO. No, truly, sir; I was porter last, when I left the door open -at the tavern. - -JOHN. O, is't you, sir? - -LEI. And what would you two have? - -RED. I co-co-come to re-re-re-qui-quire the young k-k-king of his -go-goo-goodness, since Glo-Gloster is t-taken, that he wo-wo-would -let my fa-fa-father have his pa-pa-pardon. - -HEN. Sirrah, your father has his pardon sign'd. -Go to the office, it shall be delivered. - -RED. And shall he be p-p-porter a-ga-gain? - -HEN. Aye, that he shall; but let him be advis'd, -Hereafter how [he] lets out prisoners. - -RED. I wa-warrant ye, my lord. - -HEN. What hast thou more to say? - -RED. Marry, I wo-would have Skink pu-punish'd -For co-co-coney-catching me. - -LEI. Is that your business? - -RED, Aye, by my t-t-troth is it. - -HEN. Then get away. - -GLO. Against Skink (poor knave) thou gett'st no right this day. - -BLO. O, but run back, Redcap, for the pursuivant! -O L-Lord, s-sir, I have another s-suit for the p-p-pursuivant, -That has l-l-lost his b-b-box and his wa-wa-warrant. - -HEN. What means the fellow? - -RED. Why, the pu-pu-pursuivant, sir, and the po-po-porter. - -GLO. The box, that I had from him--there it is. - -FAU. Marry a me, and I was charg'd with it. -Had you it, brother Gloster? God's good mercy! - -HEN. And what have you to say? - -BLO. Nothing, sir, -But God bless you! you are a goodly company! -Except Sir Richard[543] or my lady will command me -Any more service. - -FAU. Away, you prating knave! hence, varlet, hence. - - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -LEI. Put forth them fellows there. - -RED. Af-fo-fore I g-go, -I b-b-be-s-s-seech you, let Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster be lo-lo-looked to; -For they have p-p-play'd the k-k-knaves too-too-too b-b-bad. - -HEN. Take hence that stuttering fellow; shut him[544] forth. - -RED. Nay, I'll ru-ru-run; faith, you shall not n-n-need to b-b-b-bid -him ta-t-take m-me away; for Re-Re-Redcap will r-ru-run rarely. - [_Exit_ REDCAP. - -HEN. The sundry misdemeanors late committed, -As thefts and shifts in other men's disguise, -We now must (knave Skink) freely tell thy faults. - -SKINK. Sweet king, by these two terrors[545] to mine enemies, that lend -light to my body's darkness: Cavilero Skink being beleaguer'd with an -host of leaden heels, arm'd in ring Irish[546]: cheated my hammerer of -his _red cap_ and coat; was surpris'd, brought to the Fleet as a person -suspected, pass'd current, till Gloster stripped me from my counterfeit, -clad my back in silk and my heart in sorrow, and so left me to the mercy -of my mother-wit. How Prince John released me, he knows; how I got -Fauconbridge's chain, I know. But how he will get it again, I know not. - -FAU. Where is it, sirrah? tell me where it is? - -GLO. I got it from him, and I got John's sword. - -JOHN. I would 'twere to the hilt up in thy heart. - -RICH. O, be more charitable, brother John. - -LEI. My liege, you need not by particulars -Examine, what the world knows too plain; -If you will pardon Skink, his life is sav'd; -If not, he is convicted by the law. -For Gloster, as you worthily resolv'd, -First take his hand, and afterward his head. - -HEN. Skink, thou hast life, our pardon and our love. - -SKINK [_to_ JOHN.] And your forgiveness for my robbery? - -JOHN. Tut, never trouble me with such a toy; -Thou hind'rest me from hearing of my joy. - -HEN. Bring forth a block, wine, water, and towel; -Knives, and a surgeon to bind up the veins -Of Gloster's arm, when his right hand is off-- -His hand that struck Skink at the Parl'ament. - -SKINK. I shall bear his blows to my grave, my lord. - -KING. Son Henry, see thy father's palsy hands, -Join'd like two suppliants, pressing to thy throne. -Look, how the furrows of his aged cheek, -Fill'd with the rivulets of wet-ey'd moan, -Begs mercy for Earl Gloster? weigh his guilt. -Why for a slave should royal blood be spilt? - -SKINK. You wrong mine honour: Skink must[547] be reveng'd. - -HEN. Father, I do commend your humble course; -But quite dislike the project of your suit. -Good words in an ill cause makes the fact worse: -Of blood or baseness justice will dispute. -The greater man, the greater his transgression: -Where strength wrongs weakness, it is mere oppression. - -LADY F. O, but, King Henry, hear a sister speak. -Gloster was wrong'd, his lands were given away, -They are not justly said just laws to break, -That keep their own right with what power they may. -Think, then, thy royal self began the wrong, -In giving Skink what did to him[548] belong. - -QUEEN. Hear me, son Henry, while thou art a king, -Give, take, prison: thy subjects are thy slaves. -Life, need, thrones[549], proud hearts in dungeons fling, -Grace men to day, to-morrow give them graves. -A king must be, like Fortune, ever turning, -The world his football, all her glory spurning. - -GLO. Still your own counsel, beldam policy! -You're a fit tutress in a monarchy. - -RICH. Mother, you are unjust, savage, too cruel, -Unlike a woman. Gentleness guides their sex; -But you to fury's fire add more fuel. -The vexed spirit will you delight to vex? -O God, when I conceit what you have done, -I am asham'd to be esteem'd your son. - -JOHN. Base Richard, I disdain to call thee brother, -Tak'st thou a traitor's part in our disgrace? -For Gloster wilt thou wrong our sacred mother? -I scorn thee, and defy thee to thy face. -O, that we were in field! then should'st thou try. - -ROB. How fast Earl John would from Prince Richard fly! -Thou meet a lion in field? poor mouse, -All thy careers are in a brothel house. - -JOHN. 'Zounds, boy! - -RICH. Now, man! - -LEI. Richard, you wrong Prince John. - -RICH. Leicester, 'twere good you prov'd his champion. - -JOHN. Hasten the execution, royal lord[s], -Let deeds make answer for their worthless words. - -GLO. I know, if I respected hand or head, -I am encompassed with a world of friends, -And could from fury be delivered. -But then my freedom hazards many lives. -Henry, perform the utmost of thy hate, -Let my[550] hard-hearted mother have her will. -Give frantic John no longer cause to prate: -I am prepared for the worst of ill. -You see my knees kiss the cold pavement's face, -They are not bent to Henry nor his friends, -But to all you whose blood, fled to your hearts, -Shows your true sorrow in your ashy cheeks: -To you I bend my knees: you I entreat -To smile on Gloster's resolution. -Whoever loves me, will not shed a tear, -Nor breathe a sigh, nor show a cloudy frown. -Look, Henry, here's my hand; I lay it down, -And swear, as I have knighthood, here't shall lie -Till thou have used all thy tyranny. - -LADY F. Has no man heart to speak? - -GLO. Let all that love me keep silence, or, by heaven, -I'll hate them dying. - -QUEEN. Harry, off with his hand, then with his head. - -FAU. By the red rood, I cannot choose but weep, -Come love or hate, my tears I cannot keep. - -QUEEN. When comes this ling'ring executioner? - -JOHN. An executioner, an executioner! - -HEN. Call none, till we have drunk: father, fill wine; -To-day your office is to bear our cup. - -RICH. I'll fill it, Henry. [RICH. _kneels down_. - -HEN. Dick, you are too mean -To bow unto your sovereign. - -GLO. Kneel to his child? -O hell! O torture! Gloster, learn: -Who would love life to see this huge dishonour? - -HEN. Saturn kneeled to his son; the god was fain -To call young Jove his age's sovereign. -Take now your seat again, and wear your crown; -Now shineth Henry like the mid-day's sun, -Through his horizon darting all his beams, -Blinding with his bright splendour every eye, -That stares against his face of majesty. -The comets, whose malicious gleams -Threatened the ruin of our royalty, -Stand at our mercy, yet our wrath denies -All favour, but extreme extremities: -Gloster, have to thy sorrow, chafe thy arm, -That I may see thy blood (I long'd for oft) -Gush from thy veins, and stain this palace-roof. - -JOHN. 'Twould exceed gilding. - -QUEEN. Aye, as gold doth ochre. - -GLO. It's well ye count my blood so precious. - -HEN. Leicester, reach Gloster wine. - -LEI. I reach it him? - -HEN. Proud earl, I'll spurn thee; quickly go and bear it. - -GLO. I'll count it poison, if his hand come near it. - -HEN. Give it him, Leicester, upon our displeasure. - -GLO. Thus Gloster takes it: thus again he flings it, -In scorn of him that sent it, and of him that brought it. - -SKINK. O brave spirit! - -LADY F. Bravely resolv'd, brother; I honour thee. - -QUEEN. Hark, how his sister joys in his abuse. -Wilt thou endure it, Hal? - -FAU. Peace, good Marian. - -HEN. Avoid there every under-officer: -Leave but [with] us our peers and ladies here. -Richard, you love Earl Gloster: look about, -If you can spy one in this company -That hath but[551] done as great a sin as Gloster; -Choose him, let him be the executioner. - -RICH. Thou hast done worse then, like, rebellious head, -Hast arm'd ten thousand arms against his life, -That lov'd thee so, as thou wert made a king, -Being his child; now he's thy underling! -I have done worse: thrice I drew my sword, -In three set battles for thy false defence! -John hath done worse; he still hath took thy part. -All of us three have smit our father's heart, -Which made proud Leicester bold to strike his face, -To his eternal shame and our disgrace! - -HEN. Silence, I see thou mean'st to find none fit. -I am sure, nor Lancaster, nor Huntington, -Nor Fauconbridge, will lay a hand on him. -Mother, wife, brother, let's descend the throne, -Where Henry, as[552] the monarch of the west. -Hath sat[553] amongst his princes dignified. -Father, take you the place: see justice [done]. - -KING. It's unjust justice, I must tell thee, son. - -HEN. Mother, hold you the basin, you the towel: -I know your French hearts thirst for English blood; -John, take the mallet; I will hold the knife, -And when I bid thee smite, strike for thy life: -Make a mark, surgeon. Gloster, now prepare thee. - -GLO. Tut. I am ready; to thy worst I dare thee. - -HEN. Then have I done my worst, thrice-honour'd earl, -I do embrace thee in affection's arms. - -QUEEN. What mean'st thou, Henry? O, what means my son? - -HEN. I mean no longer to be lullabi'd -In your seditious arms. - -HEN. WIFE. _Mordieu_[554] Henry. - -HEN. _Mordieu_ nor devil, little tit of France, -I know your heart leaps at our heart's mischance. - -JOHN. 'Swounds, Henry, thou art mad! - -HEN. I have been mad: -What, stamp'st thou, John? know'st thou not who I am? -Come, stamp the devil out, suck'd from thy dam? - -QUEEN. I'll curse thee, Henry. - -HEN. You're best be quiet; -Lest, where we find you, to the Tower we bear you; -For, being abroad, England hath cause to fear you.[555] - -KING. I am struck dumb with wonder. - -GLO. I amaz'd, imagine that I see a vision. - -HEN. Gloster, I gave thee first this Skink, this slave; -It's in thy power his life to spill or save. - -SKINK. He's a noble gentleman, I do not doubt his usage. - -HEN. Stand not thus wond'ring; princes, kneel all down, -And cast your coronets before his crown. -Down, stubborn Queen, kneel to your wronged king, -Down, mammet! Leicester, I'll cut off thy legs, -If thou delay thy duty! when, proud John? - -JOHN. Nay, if all kneel of force, I must be one. - -FAU. Now, by my halidom, a virtuous deed! - -HEN. Father, you see your most rebellious son, -Stricken with horror of his horrid guilt, -Requesting sentence fitting his desert: -O, tread upon his head, that trod [upon] -Your heart: I do deliver up all dignity, -Crown, sceptre, sword, unto your majesty. - -KING. My heart surfeits with joy in hearing this, -And, dear[est] son, I'll bless thee with a kiss. - -HEN. I will not rise; I will not leave this ground -Till all these voices, joined in one sound, -Cry: God save Henry, second of that name, -Let his friends live, his foes see death with shame! - -ALL. God save Henry, second of that name, -Let his friends live, his foes see death with shame! - -HEN. Amen, amen, amen! - -JOHN. Hark! mother, hark! -My brother is already turned clerk. - -QUEEN. He is a recreant; I am mad with rage. - -HEN. Be angry at your envy, gracious mother, -Learn patience and true humility -Of your worst-tutor'd son; for I am he. -Hence, hence that Frenchwoman; give her her dowry, -Let her not speak, to trouble my mild soul, -Which of this world hath taken her last leave: -And by her power will my proud flesh control. -Off with these silks; my garments shall be grey, -My shirt hard hair; my bed the ashy dust; -My pillow but a lump of hard'ned clay: -For clay I am, and with clay I must. -O, I beseech ye, let me go alone, -To live, where my loose life I may bemoan. - -KING. Son! - -QUEEN. Son! - -RICH. Brother! - -JOHN. Brother! - -HEN. Let none call me their son; I'm no man's brother, -My kindred is in heav'n, I know no other. -Farewell, farewell; the world is your's; pray take it, -I'll leave vexation, and with joy forsake it. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Wondrous conversion! - -FAU. Admirable good: -Now, by my halidom, Moll, passing good. - -RICH. H'hath fir'd my soul; I will to Palestine. -And pay my vows before the Sepulchre. -Among the multitude of misbelief, -I'll show myself the soldier of Christ: -Spend blood, sweat tears, for satisfaction -Of many--many sins, which I lament; -And never think to have them pardoned, -Till I have part of Syria conquered. - -GLO. He makes me wonder, and inflames my spirits, -With an exceeding zeal to Portingale, -Which kingdom the unchris'ned Saracens[556], -The black-fac'd Africans, and tawny Moors, -Have got unjustly in possession: -Whence I will fire them with the help of heaven. - -SKINK. Skink will scorch them, brave Gloster; -Make carbonadoes of their bacon-flitches; -Deserve to be counted valiant by his valour, -And Rivo[557] will he cry, and Castile too, -And wonders in the land of Seville do. - -ROB. O, that I were a man to see these fights: -To spend my blood amongst these worthy knights. - -FAU. Marry, aye me, were I a boy again, -I'd either to Jerusalem or Spain. - -JOHN. Faith, I'll keep England; mother, you and I -Will live from[558] all this fight and foolery. - -KING. Peace to us all, let's all for peace give praise, -Unlook'd-for peace, unlook'd-for happy days! -Love Henry's birth-day; he hath been new-born; -I am new-crowned, new-settled in my seat. -Let's all to th'chapel, there give thanks and praise, -Beseeching grace from Heaven's eternal throne, -That England never know more prince than one. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - - -[1] He is mentioned by Webbe, in his "Discourse of English Poetrie," -1586, Sign. C 4, with other poets of that time, as Whetstone, Munday, -Grange, Knight, _Wilmot_, Darrell, F.C. F.K., G.B., and others, whose -names he could not remember. - -[2] Robert Wilmot, A.M., was presented to the rectory of North Okenham, -in Essex, the 28th of November 1582, by Gabriel Poyntz: and to the -vicarage of Horndon on the Hill, in the same county, the 2d December -1585, by the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's.--Newcourt's "Repertorium." ---_Steevens_. - -[3] The same person, who was the author of "A Discourse of English -Poetrie: together with the Authors judgment, touching the reformation of -our English Verse." B.L. 4to, 1586. [This "Discourse" is reprinted in -Haslewood'a "Ancient Critical Essays," 1811-15.] - -[4] [An English translation was published in 1577.] - -[5] These three sonnets following occur both in Lansdowne MS. (786) and -Hargrave MS. (205), but the first was not included in the printed copy -of 1591. - -[6] _Pheer_ signifies a husband, a friend, or a companion, and in -all these senses it is used in our ancient writers. It here means -_a husband_. So in Lyly's "Euphues," 1581, p. 29: "If he be young, he -is the more fitter to be thy _pheere_. If he bee olde, the lyker to -thine aged father." It occurs again in act ii. sc. 3, and act iv. sc. 3. - -[7] _Prevent_, or _forbid_. So in "Euphues and his England," 1582, -p. 40: "For never shall it be said that Iffida was false to Thirsus, -though Thirsus be faithlesse (which the gods _forefend_) unto Iffida." - -[8] _Command_. So in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," p. 78: "For this -I sweare by her whose lightes canne never die, Vesta, and by her _whose -heasts_ are not to be broken, Diana," &c. - -Again, in Shakespeare's "Tempest," act iii. sc. 1-- - - "O my father, - I have broke _your hest_ to say so!" - -And in the prologue to [Peele's] "Araygnement of Paris," 1584-- - - "Done by the pleasure of the powers above, - Whose _hestes_ men must obey." - -The word occurs again in act iv. sc. 2, act iv. sc. 4, and act v. sc. 1. - -[9] The second and third sonnets are now given (_verbatim et literatim_) -in a note, as they stand in Lansdowne MS. 786. They will serve to show -how slight were Wilmot's improvements, and will leave it perhaps open to -doubt whether the changes made in 1591 were always changes for the -better. - - _An other to the same_. - - Flowers of prime, pearles couched in gold, - sonne of our day that gladdeneth the hart - of them that shall yo'r shining beames behold, - salue of eche sore, recure of euery smart, - in whome vertue and beautie striueth soe - that neither yeldes: loe here for you againe - Gismondes vnlucky loue, her fault, her woe, - and death at last, here fére and father slayen - through her missehap. And though ye could not see, - yet rede and rue their woefull destinie. - So Joue, as your hye vertues doen deserue, - geue you such féres as may yo'r vertues serue - w'th like vertues: and blissfull Venus send - Vnto your happy loue an happy end. - - _An other to the same_. - - Gismond, that whilom liued her fathers ioy, - and dyed his death, now dead doeth (as she may) - by vs pray you to pitie her anoye; - and, to reacquite the same, doeth humbly pray - Joue shield yo'r vertuous loues from like decay. - The faithfull earle, byside the like request, - doeth wish those wealfull wightes, whom ye embrace. - the constant truthe that liued within his brest; - his hearty loue, not his unhappy case - to fall to such as standen in your grace. - The king, prayes pardon of his cruel hest: - and for amendes desireth it may suffise, - that w'th his blood he teacheth now the rest - of fond fathers, that they in kinder wise - entreat the iewelles where their comfort lyes. - And we their messagers beseche ye all - on their behalfes, to pitie all their smartes: - and on our own, although the worth be small, - we pray ye to accept our simple hartes - auowed to serue, w'th prayer and w'th praise - your honors, as vnable otherwayes. - -[10] The play, as written in 1568, and as altered by Wilmot in 1591, -differs so much throughout, that it has been found impracticable, -without giving the earlier production entire, to notice all the changes. -Certain of the variations, however, and specialities in the Lansdowne -MS., as far as the first and second scenes of the first act, will be -printed (as a specimen) in the notes. - -[11] In the Lansdowne MS. another person of the drama is mentioned: -"Claudia, a woman of Gismunda's privie chamber;" and for _Choruses_ we -have: "Chorus, four gentlewomen of Salerne." - -[12] Not in the MSS. - -[13] The County Palurin, a few lines lower, is called Earl. Mr Tyrwhitt -says that _County_ signified _noblemen_ in general; and the examples -which might be quoted from this play would sufficiently prove the truth -of the observation. See "Shakespeare," vol. x., p. 39. [_County_ for -_Count_ is not very unusual; but it may be doubted if, as Tyrwhitt -thought, _County_ signified _noblemen in general_.] - -[14] This is in the two MSS., but varies in many verbal particulars. - -[15] Not in the copy of 1591. - -[16] Presented to Gismond. She filled up the cup wherein the heart was -brought with her tears and with certain poisonous water, by her -distilled for that purpose, and drank out this deadly drink. ---Copy of 1568. - -[17] The story of this tragedy is taken from Boccaccio's "Decameron," -day 4th, novel first. [It was turned into verse] by William Walter, a -retainer to Sir Henry Marney, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, [and -printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1532. A different version appeared in] -1597, under the title of "The Statly Tragedy of Guistard and Sismond, in -two Bookes," in a volume entitled, "Certaine Worthye Manuscript Poems of -great Antiquitie, reserved long in the Studie of a Northfolke Gent., and -now first published by J.S." Mr Dryden also versified it a second time. -See his works, vol. iii., 8vo edition, p. 245. Oldys, in his MSS. Notes -on Langbaine, says the same story is in Painter's Palace of Pleasure, -vol. i., and a French novel called "Guiscard et Sigismonde fille de -Tancredus Prince de Salerne mis en Latin. Par Leon Arretin, et traduit -in vers François, par Jean Fleury." [See Brunet, dern. edit. v. -_Aretinus_, Hazlitt's edit. of Warton, 1871, and "Popular Poetry," -ii. 66.] - -[18] [This line is not in the MSS.] - -[19] [Lo I in shape that seem unto your sight.--_Lansdowme MS_.] - -[20] [Do rule the world, and every living thing.--Ibid.] - -[21] This word seems anciently to have been pronounced as two syllables. -See "Cornelia," act iv., Chorus. - -[22] [And eat the living heart.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[23] An epithet adopted from Virgil's "Aeneid," lib. vi, line 729-- - - "Et quae _marmoreo_ fert monstra sub aequore pontus." - -Ibid. lib. vii. v. 28-- - - "Lento luctantur _marmore_ tonsae." - -Again, "Georg. I.," v. 254-- - - "Infidum remis impellere _marmor_." - ---_Steevens_. - -[24] [What secret hollow doth the huge seas hide, - When blasting fame mine acts hath not forth blown.] ---_Lansdowne MS_. - -[25] Io. - -[26] [Grazing in.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[27] Like to Amphitrio [when he presented himself] to Alcmena. - -[28] [Me.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[29] [The bloody Mars hath felt my.--_Do_.] - -[30] [Evened.--_Do_.] - -[31] Hercules. - -[32] Alexander. - -[33] [Won the famous golden fleece.--_M.S_.] - -[34] [What nature's bond or law's restraint avails, - To conquer and deface me every hour.--MS.] - -[35] Myrrha. - -[36] i.e., For pity. So, act ii. sc. 2-- - - "As easily befalls that age which asketh _ruth_." - -Act v. sc. 1-- - - "That hath the tyrant king - Withouten _ruth_ commanded us to do." - -Again, in Milton's "Lycidas," i. 163-- - - "Look homeward, angel, now and melt with _ruth_, - And, O ye Dolphins, waft the helpless youth." - -And in Churchyard's "Worthiness of Wales," 1587-- - - "Great _ruth_, to let so trim a seate goe downe, - The countries strength, and beautie of the towne." - -[37] [Mine almighty.--MS.] - -[38] [This, and the three following lines, are not in the MSS.] - -[39] [In creeping thorough all her veins within, - That she thereby shall raise much ruth and woe.--MS.] - -[40] [This, and the five preceding lines, are not in the MSS.] - -[41] [Lo, this before your eyes so will I show, - That ye shall justly say with one accord - We must relent and yield; for now we know - Love rules the world, love only is the lord.--MS.] - -[42] [Hath taught me plain to know our state's unrest.--MS.] - -[43] [O mighty Jove, O heavens and heavenly powers.--MS.] - -[44] [This, and the next line, do not occur in the MSS.] - -[45] [Thy sprite, I know, doth linger hereabout - And looks that I, poor wretch, should after come; - I would, God wot, my lord, if so I mought: - But yet abide, I may perhaps devise - Some way to be unburdened of my life, - And with my ghost approach thee in some wise - To do therein the duty of a wife.--MS.] - -[46] These omissions are frequent in our old plays. See note on "Love's -Labour Lost," edit. of Shakspeare, 1778, vol. ii. p. 410.--_Steevens_. - -[47] In this manner the word was formerly accented. See Dr Farmer's -"Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare." - -[48] Go. So in Epilogue-- - - "With violent hands he that his life doth end, - His damned soul to endless night doth _wend_." - -Again, in the "Return from Parnassus," 1600, act v. sc. 4-- - - "These my companions still with me must _wend_." - -In "George a Green Pinner of Wakefield," [Dyce's "Greene and Peele," -1861, p. 259, &c.]-- - - "Wilt thou leave Wakefield and _wend_ with me ... - So will I _wend_ with Robin all along ... - For you are wrong, and may not _wend_ this way." - -And in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," Prologue, line 19-- - - "Byfel, that, on that sesoun on a day, - In Southwerk at the Tabbard as I lay, - Redy to _wenden_ on my pilgrimage, - To Canturbury with ful devout corage." - -[49] Alexander. - -[50] Hector. - -[51] _Euripus Euboicus_, or _Chalcidicus_, is a narrow passage of sea -dividing _Attica_ and the Island of _Euboea_, now called the _Gulf of -Negropont_. It ebbs and flows seven times every day: the reason of -which, it is said, when Aristotle could not find, he threw himself into -the sea with these words: _Quia ego non capio te, tu capias me_. Sir -Thomas Brown, in his "Enquiries into Vulgar Errors," b. vii. c. 14, -appears to have been not satisfied with this account of Aristotle's -death, which he has taken some pains to render doubtful. - -[52] [Go]. So act ii. sc. 3-- - - "Therefore my counsel is you shall not stir, - Nor farther _wade_ in such a case as this," - -And in Turbervile's "Tragical Tales," 1587-- - - "Eare thou doe _wade_ so farre, revoke to minde the bedlam boy. - That in his forged wings of waxe reposed too great a joy." - -[53] _Sadly_, in most of our ancient writers, is used as here for -_seriously_. So in Nash's "Lenten Stuff," 1599: "Nay, I will lay no -wagers, for, now I perponder more _sadly_ upon it, I think I am out -indeed." - -Again, in Hall's "Chronicle," 1550, fo. 2: "His cosyn germaine was nowe -brought to that trade of livynge, that he litle or nothynge regarded the -counsaill of his uncles, nor of other grave and _sadde_ persones, but -did all thynge at his pleasure." - -In Ascham's "Toxophilus," 1571: "And when I sawe not you amonges them, -but at the last espyed you lookinge on your booke here so _sadlye_, I -thought to come and hold you with some communication." - -And in Warton's "Life of Sir Thomas Pope," p. 30: "Wherein is an abbes -namyd Dame Alice Fitzherbert, of the age LX yeares, a very _sadde_, -discreate, and relegyous woman." - -[54] Formerly this diversion was as much followed in the evening, as it -was at an earlier hour in the day. In "Laneham's Account of the -Entertainment at Kenelworth Castle," we find that Queen Elizabeth -always, while there, hunted in the afternoon. "Monday was hot, and -therefore her highness kept in till _five a clok in the eeveing; what -time it pleaz'd to ryde forth into the chase too hunt the hart of fors: -which found anon, and after sore chased," &c. Again, "Munday the 18 of -this July, the weather being hot, her highness kept the castle for -coolness, till about _five a clok_, her majesty in the chase, hunted the -hart (as before) of forz" &c. - -[55] That is, _proceed no further_. - -[56] i.e., Of nature. - -[57] Acquaint her with my resolution. _To resolve_, however, was -sometimes used for _convince_, or _satisfy_. It may therefore mean, -_convince her of the propriety of my command_. So in Middleton's "More -Dissemblers besides Women," act i. sc. 3-- - - "The blessing of perfection to your thoughts, lady, - For I'm _resolv'd_ they are good ones." - -Reed is right in his first explanation; it is so used in Chapman's -"May Day," act i. sc. 1. - - "Tell her such a man will _resolve_ her naming me." - ---"Anc. Dram.," vol. vi. p. 6.--_Gilchrist_. - -[A few lines further on in the text, however,] _resolve_ has the same -meaning as _dissolve_; and so in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," -p. 38: "I could be content to _resolve_ myselfe into teares to rid thee -of trouble." - -Marlowe, as quoted in "England's Parnassus," 1600, p. 480 [see Dyce's -"Marlowe," iii., 301], uses it in the same way-- - - "No molten Christall but a Richer mine, - Euen natures rarest alchumie ran there, - Diamonds _resolu'd_, and substance more diuine. - Through whose bright gliding current might appeare - A thousand naked Nymphes, whose yuorie shine, - Enameling the bankes, made them more deare - Then euer was that glorious Pallas gate. - Where the day-shining sunne in triumph sate." - -See also Shakespeare's "Hamlet," act i. sc. 2, and Mr Steevens's note -on it. - -[58] _To quail_, is to _languish, to sink into dejection_. So in -Churchyard's "Challenge," 24-- - - "Where malice sowes, the seedes of wicked waies, - Both honor _quailes_, and credit crackes with all: - Of noblest men, and such as fears no fall." - -See also Mr Steevens's notes on the "First Part of Henry IV.," act iv. -sc. 2, and "Cymbeline," act v. sc. 5. - -[Had the writer this passage in his mind when he wrote the well-known -lines on Shakespeare, "What need my Shakespeare," &c., which occur in -the folio of 1632?] - -[59] [The second Chorus to leave off abruptly with this word, the third -Chorus taking up the narrative.] - -[60] A compliment to Queen Elizabeth.--_S.P_. - -It was, as Mr Steevens observes, no uncommon thing to introduce a -compliment to Queen Elizabeth in the body of a play. See "Midsummer's -Night's Dream," act ii. sc. 2. See also "Locrine," act v. sc. last. - -[61] Probably Henry Noel, younger brother to Sir Andrew Noel, and one of -the gentlemen pensioners to Queen Elizabeth; a man, says Wood, of -excellent parts, and well skilled in music. See "Fasti," p. 145. A poem, -entitled, "Of disdainful Daphne," by M[aster] H. Nowell, is printed in -"England's Helicon," 1600, 4to. The name of Mr Henry Nowell also appears -in the list of those lords and gentlemen that ran at a tilting before -Queen Elizabeth. See Peele's "Polyhymnia," 1590. - -"I cannot here let pass unremembered a worthy gentleman, Master Henry -Noel, brother to the said Sir Andrew Noel, one of the gentlemen -pensioners [see Peck's "Life of Milton," p. 225, for the Gentlemen -Pensioners.] to Queen Elizabeth; a man for personage, parentage, grace, -gesture, valour, and many excellent parts, inferior to none of his rank -in the court; who, though his lands and livelihoods were but small, -having nothing known certain but his annuity and his pension, yet in -state, pomp, magnificence and expenses, did equalise barons of great -worth. If any shall demand whence this proceeded, I must make answer -with that Spanish proverb-- - - '_Aquello qual vienne de arriba ninguno lo pregunta_.' - 'That which cometh from above let no one question.' - -"This is the man of whom Queen Elizabeth made this enigmatical distich-- - - 'The word of denial, and letter of fifty, - Is that gentleman's name that will never be thrifty.' - -He, being challenged (as I have heard) by an Italian gentleman at the -_baloune_ (a kind of play with a great ball tossed with wooden braces -upon the arm), used therein such violent motion, and did so overheat his -blood, that he fell into a calenture, or burning fever, and thereof -died, Feb. 26, 1596, and was by her majesty's appointment buried in the -abbey church of Westminster, in the chapel of St Andrew."--_Benton in -Nichols's "Leicestershire_," vol. iii. p. 249. - -Henry Noel was the second son of Sir Edward Noel, of Dalby, by his -second wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William Hopton, of ----, -Shropshire, relict of Sir John Peryent, Knt.--Ibid. 254.--_Gilchrist_. - -[62] In the former edition, the word _denay'd_ was altered to the more -modern one of _deny'd_. _Denay'd_, however, was the ancient manner of -spelling it. So in the "Second Part of Henry VI.," act i. sc. 3-- - - "Then let him be _denay'd_ the regentship." - -Again, in the "First Part of Jeronimo," 1605-- - - "And let not wonted fealty be _denayed_." - -And in "Gammer Gurton's Needle"-- - - "Loke, as I have promised, I will not _denay_ it." - ---_Collier_. - -[63] _Prease_ signifies _a crowd or multitude, or any assemblage of a -number of persons_. So in "Damon and Pithias," vol. iv., pp. 49, 53-- - - "The King is at hand, stand close in _the prease_, beware," &c. - -And ibid.-- - - "Away from the prisoner, what a _prease_ have we here!" - -Again, in the "History of Euordanus Prince of Denmark," 1605, sig. H: -"The Prince passing forwards sorely shaken, having lost both his -stirrups: at length recovering himselfe, entred _the prease_, where on -all sides he beate downe knights, and unbarred helms." - -[It must be repeated, once for all, that such totally unnecessary notes -as this have been retained only from a reluctance to impart to these -volumes the character of an abridged or mutilated republication.] - -[64] [Draweth.] - -[65] _Raught_ is the ancient preterite of the word _reach_. It is -frequently used by Spenser, Shakespeare, and other ancient writers. - -[66] [Old copy, _where her_.] - -[67] [Reward.] - -[68] Alluding to the vulture that gnawed the liver of Titius. In "Ferrex -and Porrex," act ii. sc. 1, is this line-- - - "Or cruell gripe to gnaw my groaning hart." - ---_Reed_. The allusion is rather to the vulture of Prometheus. ---Steevens. - -[69] _Vipeream inspirans animam_. The image is from Virgil. Rowe -likewise adopts it in his "Ambitious Stepmother"-- - - "And send a _snake_ to every vulgar breast."--_Steevens_. - -[70] i.e., The wretch. The word _miser_ was anciently used without -comprehending any idea of avarice. See note on "King Henry VI, Part I.," -edit. of Shakespeare, 1778, vol. vi. p. 279.--_Steevens_. - -[71] "A _stoop_, or _stowp_; a post fastened in the earth, from the -Latin _stupa_."--Ray's "North Country Words," p. 58, edit. 1742. - -[72] Not that she is careful or anxious about, or regrets the loss of -this life. So in Milton's "Paradise Lost," Bk. ix. line 171-- - - "Revenge at first though sweet, - Bitter ere long back on itself recoils; - Let it; _I reck not_, so it light well aim'd." - -And again, in the "History of Sir John Oldcastle," 1600-- - - "I _reck_ of death the less in that I die, - Not by the sentence of that envious priest." - -[73] Petrarch and Laura. - -[74] These initials were almost unquestionably intended for Christopher -Hatton, afterwards knighted and created Lord Chancellor of England. In -the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth, 1562, about six years before this -play is supposed to have been written, we learn from Dugdale's "Origines -Juridiciales," p. 150, a magnificent Christmas was kept in the Inner -Temple, at which her majesty was present, and Mr Hatton was appointed -Master of the Game. Historians say he owed his rise, not so much to his -mental abilities, as to the graces of his person and his excellence in -dancing, which captivated the Queen to such a degree, that he arose -gradually from one of her Gentlemen Pensioners to the highest employment -in the law, which he, however, filled without censure, supplying his own -defects by the assistance of the ablest men in the profession. _The -grave Lord Keeper_, after his promotion, still retained his fondness for -that accomplishment to which he was indebted for his rise, _and led the -Brawls_ almost until his death. In 1589, on the marriage of his heir -with Judge Gawdy's daughter, "the Lord Chancellor danced the measures at -the solemnity, and left his gown on the chair, saying _Lie there, -Chancellor_." His death, which happened two years after, was hastened by -an unexpected demand of money from the Queen, urged in so severe a -manner, that all the kindness she afterwards showed to him was -insufficient to remove the impression it had made on him. See Birch's -"Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth." vol. i. pp. 8, 56, [and Nicolas's "Life of -Hatton," p. 478.] - -[75] Dryden's translation of Boccaccio's "Description of the Cave" is as -follows:-- - - "Next the proud palace of Salerno stood - A Mount of rough ascent, and thick with wood. - Through this a cave was dug with vast expence: - The work it seem'd of some suspicious prince, - Who, when abusing power with lawless might, - From public justice would secure his flight. - The passage made by many a winding way, - Reach'd even the room in which the tyrant lay. - Fit for his purpose on a lower floor, - He lodged, whose issue was an iron door; - From whence by stairs descending to the ground. - In the blind grot a safe retreat he found. - Its outlet ended in a brake o'ergrown - With brambles, choak'd by time, and now unknown. - A rift there was, which from the mountain's height - Convey'd a glimm'ring and malignant light, - A breathing place to draw the damps away, - A twilight of an intercepted day." - ---"Sigismonda and Guiscardo." Dryden's Works, vol. iii. p. 251. - -[76] See Milton's "Paradise Lost," Bk. i. l. 60. - -[77] _Fetters_ or _chains_. So in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Beggar's -Bush," act iii. sc. 4-- - - "_Gyves_ I must wear, and cold must be my comfort." - -Marston's "What You Will," act ii. sc. 1-- - - "Think'st thou a libertine, _an ungiv'd_ beast, - Scornes not the shackles of thy envious clogs?" - -Milton's "Samson Agonistes," l. 1092-- - - "Dost thou already single me? I thought - _Gyves_ and the mill had tam'd thee." - -See Dr Newton's note on the last passage; and Mr Steevens's note on -"First Part of Henry IV.," act iv. sc. 3. - -[78] _Amate_ is to daunt or confound. Skinner, in his "Etymologicon," -explains it thus: "Perterrefacere, Attonitum reddere, Obstupefacere, -mente consternare, Consilii inopem reddere." So in "Thule or Vertue's -Historic," by Francis Rous, 1598, sig. B-- - - "At last with violence and open force. - They brake the posternes of the Castle gate, - And entred spoyling all without remorce, - Nor could old Sobrin now resist his fate, - But stiffe with feare ev'n like a senceles corse - Whom grisly terror doth so much _amate_, - He lyes supine upon his fatall bed. - Expecting ev'ry minute to be dead." - -Again, Ibid., sig. D-- - - "He would forsake his choyse, and change his fate, - And leave her quite, and so procure her woe, - Faines that a sudden grief doth her _amate_, - Wounded with piercing sicknes' Ebon bow." - -[79] Astonished. So in "Euphues and his England," p. 102--"Philautus, -_astonied_ at this speech," &c. And again, in the "Fable of Jeronimi," -by G. Gascoigne, p. 209: "When Ferdinando (somewhat _astonied_ with hir -strange speech) thus answered." And in "Thieves Falling Out," &c., 1615, -by Rob. Greene: "The gentleman, _astonied_ at this strange metamorphosis -of his mistress." - -[80] _Sprent_ is sprinkled. So in Spenser's "Shepherd's Calendar," -December-- - - "My head _besprent_ with hoary frost I find." - -And Fairfax's "Tasso," cant. xii. st. 101-- - - "His silver locks with dust he foul _besprent_." - -Again in Milton's "Comus," l. 542-- - - "Of knot grass dew _besprent_." - -[81] Harbour. - -[82] Old copy, _hasteth_. - -[83] Habiliments, _S.P_. - -[84] Unrevenged. [The more correct form would be _unwroken_.] So in Ben -Jonson's "Every Man out of his Humour," act ii. sc. 4-- - - "Would to heaven, - In _wreak_ of my misfortunes, I were turn'd - To some fair water nymph." - -In "Sejanus his Fall," act iv.-- - - "Made to speak - What they will have to fit their tyrannous _wreak_." - -In Massinger's "Fatal Dowry," act iv. sc. 4-- - - "But there's a heaven above, from whose just _wreak_ - No mists of policy can hide offenders." - -In his "Very Woman," act i. - - "And our just _wreak_, by force or cunning practice - With scorn prevented." - -See also Mr Steevens's note on "Coriolanus," act iv. sc. 5. "Moriamur -_in ultae_?"--Virgil's "Aeneid," lib. iv.--_Steevens_. - -[85] Sorrow. Again, act v. sc. 3-- - - "His death, her woe, and her avenging _teen_." - -And in Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis"-- - - "More I could tell, but more I dare not say, - The text is old, the orator too green. - Therefore in sadness now I will away, - My face is full of shame, my heart of _teen_." - -[86] Old copy, _but hell_. - -[87] _Untrimmed locks_ are locks dishevelled or undressed. _Trim_, in -the language of the times, was frequently used for dress. So in -Massinger's "Emperor of the East," act ii. sc. 1-- - - "Our Eastern queens, at their full height bow to thee, - And are, in their best _trim_, thy foils and shadows." - -See also Mr Steevens's note on "King John," act iii. sc. 3. - -[88] Alluding to a custom of which mention is made in Genesis, chap. -xxiv. 9--"And the servant put his _hand_ under the _thigh_ of Abraham -his master, and _sware_ to him concerning that matter." The same form -was likewise observed by Jacob and Joseph when they were dying. Some -mystery is supposed to be couched under this practice. The most -probable, at least the most decent, supposition is, that it was a token -of subjection or homage from a servant to his lord, when the former -solemnly promised to perform whatever should be commanded by the -latter.--_Steevens_. - -[89] The following account of Lodge and his works is very imperfect. -See the Shakespeare Society volume, 1853, containing much fuller -particulars. - -[90] In the "Epistle of England to her Three Daughters," in Clarke's -"Polimanteia," 1595, Lodge is spoken of as belonging to Oxford. ---_Collier_. - -[91] Mr Malone ("Shakespeare," by Boswell, iii. 40, note 9) says that it -was printed about 1580; but Lodge himself, writing in 1584, speaks of -Gosson's "Plays Confuted," as written "about two years since." - -[92] "Scilla's Metamorphosis," 1589; "Diogenes in his Singularity," -1591; and "A Fig for Momus," 1595, are all stated to be by T.L., or -Thomas Lodge, of Lincoln's Inn, Gentleman. - -[93] A French sonnet by Thomas Lodge is prefixed to Robert Greene's -"Spanish Masquerado." He has also some French verses in "Rosalynde." - -[94] The lines upon Lodge in "The Return from Parnassus," 1606, would -show that it did occur:-- - - "He that turns over Galen every day, - To sit and simper 'Euphues' Legacy,'" &c. - ---_Collier_. - -[95] Afterwards purchased by Mr Collier. - -[96] [This does not appear quite to follow. In a poem, "Upon London -Physicians," written about 1620, and quoted in "Inedited Poetical -Miscellanies," edit. Hazlitt, 1870, sig. Ff 5, he is mentioned in the -same way, without any reference to his literary repute or performances.] -It is to be observed in the list of Lodge's productions, that there is -an interval between 1596, when "Wit's Misery and the World's Madness" -appeared, and 1603, when the "Treatise of the Plague" was published. - -[97] Others have been attributed to him in conjunction with Greene, but -on no sufficient evidence--viz., "Lady Alimony," not printed until 1659; -"The Laws of Nature," and "The Contention between Liberality and -Prodigality," 1602. - -[98] [Reprinted in Mr Dyce's editions of Greene's Works, 1831 and 1861.] -Henslowe probably alludes to this play in his MSS., and if so, it was -acted as early as 1591. The following is the entry: "R. (i.e., received) -at _the Looking Glasse_, the 8th of Marche, 1591, vij s." [See Mr -Collier's edit. 1845, pp. 23-8.] - -[99] [Here follows in the former edition a list of Lodge's works, which -will be found more fully and correctly given in Hazlitt's "Handbook," -in _v_.] - -[100] In the course of the incidents of this historical tragedy, Lodge -has very much followed the lives of Marius and Sylla, as given by -Plutarch: he was a scholar, and it was not necessary therefore for him -to resort to Sir Thomaa North's translation from the French, of which -Shakespeare availed himself, and of which there were many editions -subsequent to its first appearance in 1579. It is pretty evident, -however, from a comparison of a few passages quoted in the notes in the -progress of the play, that Lodge did employ this popular work, although -he has varied some of the events, and especially the death of Sylla. - -It is not, perhaps, possible now to settle the point when this tragedy -was first represented on the stage, but it was most likely some time -before its publication in 1594. We know that Lodge had written in -defence of the stage before 1582, and it is not unlikely that he did so, -because he had already written for it. Robert Greene, in his "Groat's -worth of Wit," speaks of Lodge as a dramatic poet in 1592; and the -comedy which they wrote together, it is ascertained, was acted in March -1591, if not earlier, although it was not printed until three years -afterwards. The versification of "The Wounds of Civil War" certainly -affords evidence that it was penned even before Marlowe had improved the -measure of dramatic blank verse, which Shakespeare perfected: it is -heavy, monotonous, and without the pauses subsequently introduced; if -therefore Lodge produced it after Marlowe's "Edward II." was brought -out, he did not at least profit by the example. All the unities are set -at defiance. - -[101] The "consul's pall" is the consul's robe. Thus Milton in -"Il Penseroso"-- - - "Let gorgeous Tragedy - In scepter'd _pall_ come sweeping by." - -Purple _pall_ is very commonly met with in our old writers. - -[102] "Sylla _nill_ brook" is "Sylla _ne will_, or will not brook." -Shakespeare uses the word. See Mr Steevens's note, "Taming of the -Shrew," act ii. sc. 1. - -[103] "But specially one day above the rest, having made him sup with -him at his table, some one after supper falling in talke of Captaines -that were in Rome at that time, one that stood by Scipio asked him -(either because he stood in doubt, or else for that he would curry -favour with Scipio), what other Captaine the Romanes should have after -his death, like unto him? Scipio having Marius by him, gently clapped -him upon the shoulders and said, Peradventure this shall be he." ---_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[104] [Old copy, _into_.] - -[105] [Old copy, _shall_, and so in the next line.] - -[106] It is doubtful whether we ought to read _impale_ or _impall_. -If the latter, it means to enfold with a _pall_; but Cleveland uses -_impale_ in the same sense-- - - "I now _impale_ her in my arms." - -This, however, is rather a forced construction. - -[107] [Old copy, _spence_.] This may mean "the _expense_ of years that -Marius hath o'erpast," or it may be an easy misprint for "space of -years." Either may be right. - -[108] [Old copy, _mate_.] - -[109] [Old copy, _conservatives_.] - -[110] "To _bandy_ a ball" Coles defines _clava pilam torquere_; "to -bandy at tennis," "Dict." 1679. See Mr Malone's note on "Lear," act i. -sc. 4. - -[111] _Prest_ for Asia, is ready for Asia. It is almost unnecessary to -multiply instances, but the following is very apposite:-- - - "Dispisde, disdainde, starvde, whipt and scornd, - _Prest_ through dispaire myself to quell." - ---R. Wilson's "Cobbler's Prophecy," 1594, sig. C4. - -[112] Lodge and other writers not unfrequently use the adjective for the -substantive: thus, in "The Discontented Satyre:"-- - - "Blush, daies eternal lampe, to see thy lot, - Since that thy _cleere_ with cloudy _darkes_ is scar'd." - -[113] The quarto has the passage thus-- - - "These peers of Rome have mark'd - A rash revenging _hammer_ in thy brain;" - -which seemed so decidedly wrong as to warrant the change that, without -much violence, has been made. - -[114] _Guerdon_ is synonymous with _reward_. It is scarcely yet -obsolete. - -[115] Old copy, _hammer_. - -[116] Vengeance. - -[117] Scarce. It is found in Spenser. Robert Greene also uses it-- - - "It was frosty winter season, - And fair Flora's wealth was _geason_." - ---"Philomela," 1592. Again, we find it in the tragical comedy of "Appius -and Virginia," 1575--"Let my counsel at no time lie with you _geason,_" -sig. D. [vol. iv. p. 138]. - -[118] Open them. - -[119] Old copy, _what_. - -[120] The meaning of "would _amate_ me so," is, would daunt or confound -me so. See note to "Tancred and Gismunda" [_suprâ_, p. 79], where -instances are given. - -[121] Mr Steevens, in a note on the "Comedy of Errors," act ii. sc. 1, -has collected a number of quotations to show the meaning of the word -_stale_, and to them the reader is referred. In this place it signifies -a false allurement, bait, or deception on the part of fortune. - -[122] The barbarous jargon put into the mouth of this Frenchman is given -in the orthography of the old copy, since it was vain to attempt -correction. - -[123] "Now when they were agreed upon it, they could not find a man in -the city that durst take upon him to kill him; but a man of armes of the -Gaules, or one of the Cimbres (for we find both the one and the other in -writing) that went thither with his sword drawn in his hand. Now that -place of the chamber where Marius lay was very dark, and, as it is -reported, the man of armes thought he saw two burning flames come out of -Marius's eyes, and heard a voice out of that dark corner, saying unto -him: O fellow, thou, darest thou come to kill Caius Marius? The -barbarous Gaule, hearing these words, ran out of the chamber presently." ---_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[124] "For when he was but very young, and dwelling in the country, he -gathered up in the lap of his gowne the ayrie of an eagle, in the which -were seven young eagles; whereat his father and mother much wondering, -asked the soothsayers what that meant? They answered that their sonne -should one day be one of the greatest men in the world, and that out of -doubt he should obtain seven times in his life the chiefest office of -dignity in his country."--_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[125] The old quarto divides the play very irregularly; for according to -it there are two Acts iii. and two Acts iv. One of the Acts iii. was -made to commence here. - -[126] Necessarily or unavoidably. - -[127] Old copy, _Picaeo_. - -[128] Old copy, metals. - -[129] An early instance of an echo of this kind upon the stage is to be -found in Peele's "Arraignment of Paris," 1584. Mr D'Israeli has an -entertaining essay upon them in his "Curiosities of Literature," second -series. They were carried to a most ridiculous excess afterwards. - -[130] The old spelling of _than_ was _then_, and this must be observed -here. The echo is supposed to encourage Marius again to take up arms-- - - "Nought better fits old Marius' mind than war." - -And the reply of the echo is, "Then war," or then go to war. - -[131] This passage is quoted by Mr Steevens in a note on "Hamlet," -act v. sc. 1, to show that "the winter's _flaw_" there spoken of means -"the winter's _blast_." - -[132] Old copy, Distia. - -[133] _Dreariment_ is not so frequently met in any of our old writers -as Spenser: I do not recollect it in any play before. It requires no -explanation. - -[134] Old copy, _coffer_. - -[135] Old copy, _Marius live_. - -[136] _Lozel_ is always used as a term of contempt, and means a -worthless fellow. - -[137] Old copy, _have_. - -[138] Old copy, _And_. - -[139] Old copy, _consist_. - -[140] We have before had Pedro the Frenchman, or rather the _Gaul_, -according to Plutarch (though why he is called by the Spanish name of -Pedro, we know not), employed to murder Marius, swearing _Par le sang de -Dieu, Notre Dame_, and _Jesu_: and towards the close of the play, where -a couple of ludicrous characters are introduced, "to mollify the -vulgar," the "_Paul's steeple_ of honour" is talked of. Such -anachronisms, however gross, are common to all the dramatists of that -day. Shakespeare is notoriously full of them; and all must remember the -discussion between Hamlet and his friend regarding the children of -Paul's and of the Queen's chapel. - -[141] Shakespeare and many other writers of the time use this form of -_fetch_: thus in "Henry V." act iii. sc. 1-- - - "On, on, you noble English, - Whose blood is _fet_ from fathers of war-proof." - -[142] _Glozing_ and _flattering_ are synonymous: perhaps to _gloze_, or, -as it is sometimes spelt, to _glose_, is the same word as to _gloss_. It -is common in Milton in the sense that it bears in the text. - -[143] [i.e., Pinky eyne or pink (small) eyes.] See Mr Steevens's note -on the song in "Anthony and Cleopatra," beginning-- - - "Come, thou monarch of the vine, - Plumpy Bacchus, with _pink_ eyne." - -[144] This incident is founded upon a passage in Plutarch's "Life of -Caius Marius," only in that author the man with the wine discloses where -Anthony is concealed to the drawer, of whom he gets the wine, and not to -the soldiers. - -[145] The meaning of to _assoil_ is to absolve (see note 4 to "The -Adventurers of Five Hours"), from the Latin _absolvere_; but here it -signifies to _resolve_ or _remove_ doubts. Thus in a passage quoted by -Mr Todd-- - -"For the _assoiling_ of this difficulty, I lay down these three -propositions."--Mede, _Rev. of God's House_. - -The word is frequently to be met with in Spenser in the sense of to -discharge, or set free. - -[146] In _doly_ season is in melancholy or wintry season: an adjective -formed from _dole_, and with the same meaning as _doleful_. - -[147] The death of Anthony is thus related in North's Plutarch, "Life of -Marius"-- - -"But he (Marius) sent Annius one of his captaines thither ... and when -they were come to the house which the drawer had brought them to, Annius -taried beneath at the doore, and the souldiers went up the staiers into -the chamber, and finding Anthonie there, they began to encourage one -another to kill him, not one of them having the heart to lay hands upon -him. For Anthonies tongue was as sweet as a Syrene, and had such an -excellent grace in speaking, that when he began to speake unto the -souldiers and to pray them to save his life, there was not one of them -so hard-hearted as once to touch him, no not onely to looke him in the -face, but looking downewards fell a weeping. Annius perceiving they -taried long and came not downe, went himself up into the chamber and -found Anthonie talking to his souldiers, and them weeping, his sweete -eloquent tongue had so melted their hearts: but he, rating them, ran -furiously upon him and strake off his head with his owne hands." - -[148] Shakespeare's commentators might have added this passage to the -long list of others they have brought forward (see note on "Othello," -act i. sc. 3), to show that _intention_ and _attention_, and _intentive_ -and _attentive_, were once, synonymous. - -[149] This expression is also introduced by Lodge into his "Rosalynde," -1590, though probably this play was written first-- - - "With sad and sorry cheer - About her wond'ring stood - The _citizens of the wood_." - -Shakespeare calls deer in "As You Like It" citizens, and elsewhere, -"native burghers of this desert city." - -The author of "Fuimus Troes" goes farther, and calls the blessed souls -in heaven _citizens_-- - - "Then shall I - Envy no more those _citizens_ above - The ambrosian juncates of the Olympian hall." - -[150] Old copy, _arm_. - -[151] The name of _Carbo_ is accidently omitted before this reply in -the quarto. - -[152] Old copy misplaces the words _break_ and _bend_; the alteration -here made was suggested by Mr Collier. - -[153] i.e., With a _withy_, or twig of willow. - -[154] Old copy, _the ravens_. - -[155] The quarto reads: "Enter Scipio and Norbanus, Publius Lentulus," -but the latter has nothing to do with the scene, while Carinna is -omitted. - -[156] Old copy, _heedless_. - -[157] It is very common for Shakespeare and his contemporaries to use -the word _pretend_ for intend. See notes to "The Two Gentlemen of -Verona," act ii. sc. 6. - -[158] In his "Life of Marius," Plutarch states that this event occurred -at Perusia, and that Young Marius was besieged there by Sylla; but in -his "Life of Sylla" he corrects the error, and informs us that Young -Marius was besieged by Lucretius, and that he slew himself at Praeneste. - -[159] _Jest_ was used by our ancestors in various senses, but here it -means a deed or action only; thus Sir T. Elyot, as Mr Todd notes, speaks -of "the _jests_ or acts of princes and captains." In fact, this is the -general signification of the term, though it has sometimes a more -particular application. _Gest_ and _jest_ are the same word, though now -and then distinguished. - -[160] Old copy, _floats_. - -[161] Old copy, _lo_. - -[162] Old copy, _yea_. By _She_ Sylla must be understood to refer to -Fate, whom he has just mentioned. - -[163] [Old copy, _while_.] - -[164] i.e., _Verse_. - -[165] See vol. iv. p. 80, respecting the _razors of Palermo.--Collier_. -[Mr Collier's suggested retention of _shave_, the reading of the old -copy, I cannot support.] - -[166] "_Phlegon's_ hot breath" is mentioned in "Fuimus Troes;" one of -the horses of the sun was so named. - -[167] [Old copy, _fairs_.] - -[168] From the edition of 1610. It is not in the first 4°. - -[169] In the edition of 1610 the number of performers is raised to ten. -The two additional characters are the _King of Valentia_ and _Anselmo_. - -[170] Perhaps the earliest instance of the use of this expression, as to -which see "Old English Jest-Books," 1864, iii.; "Pleasant Conceits of -Old Hobson," Introd. - -[171] [The 4° of 1610 makes Tremelio enter here; but he does not appear -to come on till afterwards.] - -[172] [Old copies, _Catalone, a_.] - -[173] [Old copies, _Oh_.] - -[174] Old copies, hardly I did oft. - -[175] Old copies, _on_. - -[176] Edit. 1598, _Therefore to_. Edit. 1610, _There for to_. - -[177] Edit. 1598 and 1610, _hath forget_. - -[178] Edits, transpose the two commencing words of this line, and the -first word of the preceding one. - -[179] Edits., _say_. - -[180] Anticipated. Old copies read _we_ for _me_. - -[181] Old copy, _are_ - -[182] Old copies, _her_. - -[183] Edit. 1610, _attend_. - -[184] Edit. 1610, _axe_. - -[185] Old copies, _his_. - -[186] Edit. 1598, _Wily_; edit. 1610, _wilde_. - -[187] Old copies, _his Bremo_. - -[188] Edits., _ah, hermit_! - -[189] Edits., _fair lady_. - -[190] Edits., _this is_. - -[191] In the old copies there is here a direction, _He disguiseth -himself_, which appears wrong, as Mucedorus is already disguised, and -what he next does is, in fact, to discover himself. - -[192] Edits., _none, none, no_. - -[193] Edit. 1620, _sacred_. - -[194] Old copies, _look_. - -[195] Edit. 1598, _paled_; 1106, _pallade_. - -[196] Edit. 1610, _strike_. - -[197] After this line, in the edition of 1610, occurs the following -substitution for the lines in edit. 1598, beginning "Ho, lords," and -concluding with "Exeunt omnes:"-- - - Were but thy father, the Valentia lord, - Present in view of this combining knot. - - _A shout within. Enter a_ MESSENGER. - - What shout was that? - - MESSENGER. My lord, the great Valentia king, - Newly arrived, entreats your presence. - - MUCEDORUS. My father? - - KING OF ARRAGON. Prepared welcomes; give him entertainment. - A happier planet never reigned than that, - Which governs at this hour. - - [_Sound_. - - _Enter the_ KING OF VALENTIA, ANSELMO, RODRIGO, BARCHEUS, - _with others_; _the_ KING _runs and embraces his son_. - - KING OF VALENTIA. Rise, honour of my age, food to my rest: - Condemn not (mighty King of Arragon) - My rude behaviour, so compell'd by Nature, - That manner stood unknowledged. - - KING OF ARRAGON. What we have to recite would tedious prove - By declaration; therefore in and feast. - To-morrow the performance shall explain, - What words conceal; till then, drums, speak, bells, ring: - Give plausive welcomes to our brother king. - - [_Sound drums and trumpets. Exeunt omnes_. - -[198] [In the edition of 1610, the conclusion, from this line, is so -different, that the best mode appeared to be to give it at the foot of -the page:-- - - COMEDY. Envy, spit thy gall; - Plot, work, contrive; create new fallacies; - Team from thy womb each minute a black traitor, - Whose blood and thoughts have twin conception: - Study to act deeds yet unchronicled; - Cast native monsters in the moulds of men; - Case vicious devils under sancted rochets; - Unhasp the wicket, where all perjureds roost, - And swarm this ball with treasons. Do thy worst; - Thou canst not (hell-hound) cross my star[A] to-night. - [A] [Old copy, _steare_.] - Nor blind that glory, where I wish delight. - - ENVY. I can. I will. - - COMEDY. Nefarious hag, begin; - And let us tug, till one the mast'ry win. - - ENVY. Comedy, thou art a shallow goose; - I'll overthrow thee in thine own intent, - And make thy fall my comic merriment. - - COMEDY. Thy policy wants gravity; thou art too weak. - Speak, fiend. As how? - - ENVY. Why thus; - From my foul study will I hoist a wretch, - A lean and hungry negro [Old copy, _neagre_.] cannibal: - Whose jaws swell to his eyes with chawing malice, - And him I'll make a poet. - - COMEDY. What's that to th'purpose? - - ENVY. This scrambling raven, with his needy beard, - Will I whet on to write a comedy, - Wherein shall be compos'd dark sentences, - Pleasing to factious brains: - And every other where place me a jest. - Whose high abuse shall more torment than blows. - Then I myself (quicker than lightning), - Will fly me to a puissant magistrate, - And waiting with a trencher at his back, - In midst of jollity rehearse those galls [Old copy, _gaules_.] - (With some additions) so lately vented in your theatre: - He upon this cannot but make complaint, - To your great danger, or at least restraint. - - COMEDY. Ha, ha, ha! I laugh to hear thy folly; - This is a trap for boys, not men, nor such, - Especially desertful in their doings, - Whose staid discretion rules their purposes. - I and my faction do eschew those vices. - But see, O see, the weary sun for rest - Hath lain his golden compass to the west, - Where he perpetual bide and ever shine, - As David's offspring in his happy clime. - Stoop, Envy, stoop, bow to the earth with me, - Let's beg our pardons on our bended knee. [_They kneel_. - - ENVY. My power has lost her might; Envy's date's expired, - Yon splendant majesty hath fell'd my sting, - And I amazed am. [_Fall down and quake_. - - COMEDY. Glorious and wise Arch-Caesar on this earth, - At whose appearance Envy's stroken dumb, - And all bad things cease operation, - Vouchsafe to pardon our unwilling error, - So late presented to your gracious view, - And we'll endeavour with excess of pain - To please your senses in a choicer strain, - Thus we commit you to the arms of night, - Whose spangled carcase would (for your delight) - Strive to excel the day. Be blessed then: - Who other wishes, let him never speak. - - ENVY. Amen! - To Fame and Honour we commend your rest; - Live still more happy, every hour more blest. - - FINIS.] - -[199] To the edition printed in the Percy Society's Series. - -[200] The old spelling has now been abandoned. - -[201] For these I am indebted to the kindness of Mr J.P. Collier, who is -now editing "Henslowe's Diary" for the Shakespeare Society. The portions -of it which were published by Malone are very incorrectly given. - -[202] _Book_ in these entries means play. - -[203] This entry is struck through, the money having been repaid. - -[204] This entry is in Porter's own handwriting. - -[205] "Spec. of Engl. Dram. Poets," ii. 185, edit. 1835. - -[206] See Hazlitt's "Popular Poetry," iv, 38-40. - -[207] Second edit., _Welcome then_. - -[208] From the second edit. Not in first edit. - -[209] Prospects, views, scenes in sight; a meaning of the word which is -found in much later writers. - -[210] So second edit. First edit. _he_. - -[211] Absolute, perfect, [or rather, perhaps, pure.] - -[212] Read, for the metre, _He will_. - -[213] So second edit. First edit., _to_. - -[214] The audience were to suppose that the stage now represented an -orchard; for be it remembered that there was no movable painted scenery -in the theatres at the time when this play was produced. - -[215] Second edit., _rubber_, but the other form is common in our old -writers. - -[216] [So second edit.] Equivalent to be hanged. - -[217] Second edit., _woman_, which is probably right; see two passages -farther on, in one of which both editions have _woman_. - -[218] Gold coins. The words give occasion to innumerable puns in our -early dramas. - -[219] Read, for the metre, _here is_ - -[220] Second edit., _woman_: see note [217]. - -[221] A term of the game. - -[222] Edits., _better_,--the eye of the original compositor having -caught the word above. - -[223] A term of the game. - -[224] i.e. _Hit_. - -[225] Here, probably, Mistress Goursey should make her exit. - -[226] i.e., We cannot help it. - -[227] So second edit. First edit., _Afford_. - -[228] The author probably wrote, "_I_ do _impart_:" compare the next -line. - -[229] [Old copies, _tick_.] - -[230] i.e., Taught her to tread the ring,--to perform various movements -in different directions within a ring marked out on a piece of ground: -see Markham's "Cheap and Good Husbandry," &c. p. 18, sqq. edit. 1631. - -[231] [_Campagne_.] A form of _campaign_ common in our early writers. - -[232] i.e., Wilt thou wear, &c.: _point_ means one of the tagged laces -which were used in dress to attach the hose or breeches to the doublet, -&c. - -[233] So second edit. First edit., _th'art_. - -[234] [Old copies read _when_.] - -[235] So second edit. First edit., _in the_. - -[236] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[237] [Meaning a tavern of that name.] - -[238] Sheathe your sword. - -[239] Edits., _me_. - -[240] [Old copy, _He's_.] Read, for the metre, _He is_. - -[241] i.e., Quality, disposition. - -[242] [Old copies, _he'll_.] Read, for the metre, _he will_. - -[243] [Fine worsted.] - -[244] [Old copies, _his hat, and all green hat_.] - -[245] [Old copies, _indirect_.] - -[246] Edits., _vassailes_. - -[247] So second edit. First edit., _women's_. - -[248] Qy. _for an_? - -[249] [Old copies, _She's_.] Read, for the metre, _She is_. - -[250] A corruption of God's. - -[251] [Old copies, _pale_.] - -[252] Edits., _apprehend_, but certainly Mall had spoken with sufficient -plainness. - -[253] i.e., Nature. - -[254] So second edit. First edit., _nay_. - -[255] The common dress of a serving-man. - -[256] Edits., _you_, which, perhaps, is the right reading, some word -having dropp'd out after it. Qy. thus-- - - 'MRS BAR. Mistresse flurt, you _mean_, - Foule strumpet, light a loue, short heeles! Mistresse Goursey - Call her,' &c. - ---_Dyce_. [But _yea_ seems to be the more likely word.] - -[257] So second edit. First edit., _tell_. - -[258] i.e., Vile. - -[259] Edits., _forlorn_. - -[260] Qy., _Mother, he loves_? - -[261] So second edit. First edit., _the_. - -[262] So second edit. First edit., _Thaust_. - -[263] i.e., Refuse. - -[264] So second edit. First edit., _Gads_. - -[265] Edits., _His_. - -[266] Qy., _Franke_ he is _young_? Compare the preceding line but one. - -[267] i.e., By our lady. - -[268] i.e., Miserly persons. - -[269] The author probably wrote _neuer was_. - -[270] i.e., Honest men. - -[271] So second edit. First edit., _ma_. - -[272] [See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 128.] - -[273] So second edit. First edit., _faith in_. - -[274] Edits., _some_. - -[275] Edits., _treason_. - -[276] i.e., Vomits: a common pun in old dramas. - -[277] i.e., Easily. - -[278] Edits., _But_. - -[279] So second edit., First edit., _cehape_. - -[280] Read, for the metre, _He is_. - -[281] Equivalent to--poor, contemptible fellow: but I must leave the -reader to determine the exact meaning of this term of reproach. As -_pingle_ signifies a small croft, Nares (citing a passage from Lyly's -"Euphues") says that _pingler_ is "probably a labouring horse, kept by a -farmer in his homestead." "Gloss." in v.--In Brockett's "Gloss, of North -Country Words" is "_Pingle_, to work assiduously but inefficiently,--to -labour until you are almost blind." In Forby's "Vocab. of East Anglia" -we find, "_Pingle_, to pick one's food, to eat squeamishly:" and in -Moor's "Suffolk Words" is a similar explanation. See also Jamieson's -"Et. Dict. of Scott. Lang." - -[282] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[283] So second edit. First edit., _drinke_. - -[284] So second edit. First edit., _Nich_. - -[285] [This is probably intended to run into verse-- - - "For when a man doth to Rome come, - He must do as there is done."] - -[286] [Old copies, _crush_.] - -[287] A form of _digest_, common in our early writers. - -[288] [This emendation was suggested by Dyce.] - -[289] [Old copies, _shape_.] - -[290] So second edit. First edit., _fathers_. - -[291] So second edit. First edit., _than_. - -[292] Edits., _Franke_. - -[293] [Old copies, _boye yee_.] - -[294] [Old copies, _love capable to_.] - -[295] So second edit. First edit., _Maister_. - -[296] Some word most probably has dropped out from the line. -[Perhaps _not_.] - -[297] So second edit. First edit., _craft_. - -[298] A familiar term for the old English broadsword. - -[299] The sharp point in the centre of the buckler. - -[300] So second edit. First edit., _and_. - -[301] [Dyce proposed to read _ont_.] - -[302] i.e., Brave. - -[303] [Old copies, _strukst_.] - -[304] i.e., Manlike, masculine. - -[305] See note [218]. - -[306] i.e., The parson: _Sir_ was a title applied to clergymen. - -[307] See note [255]. - -[308] [A line appears to be lost here, probably ending with _selves_, as -the whole dialogue is in rhyme.] - -[309] i.e., Forester. - -[310] Seems to be used here for herd; an unusual meaning of the word. -[See Halliwell's "Diet." _v. Berry_, No. 3.] - -[311] So second edit. First edit. _me_. - -[312] So second edit. First edit. _th'_. - -[313] Edits. _he_. - -[314] So second edit. First edit. _thee_. - -[315] So second edit. First edit. _thorowly_. - -[316] See note [218]. - -[317] Swoon. - -[318] Read, for the metre, _she is_. - -[319] Edits., _wone_. - -[320] i.e., An _I_ of the Christ-cross row or alphabet. - -[321] A term of endearment, formed, perhaps, from _pink_, to wink, to -contract the eyelids. - -[322] Edits., _sower_. - -[323] i.e., A good whip (_whipstock_ is properly the stock or handle -of a whip). - -[324] A term of endearment, which often occurs in our early dramatists. - -[325] Edits., _patient_. - -[326] [Old copies, _thy_.] - -[327] So second edit. First edit., _cheesse_. - -[328] So second edit. First edit., _to_. - -[329] Read, for the metre, _Shee is_. - -[330] A recollection perhaps of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," -act iii. sc. 5-- - - "If I would the fool were married to her grave!" - -[331] i.e., Honest. - -[332] i.e., Deny. - -[333] Read, for the metre, _is it_. - -[334] So second edit. First edit., _mistrurst_. - -[335] Qy., _now I swear_: - -[336] Edits., _confederates_. - -[337] Occurs somewhat earlier in edits. (to warn the actors to be in -readiness for coming on the stage). - -[338] A well-known part of Oxford. "The principal street is the High -Street, running from Magdalen Bridge to Carfax Church," &c ---New Oxford Guide, p. 3, 8th edit. - -[339] i.e., Fine. - -[340] A common proverbial expression: "Beggars'-bush being a tree -notoriously known, on the left-hand of the London road, from Huntingdon -to Caxton." [Hazlitt'a "Proverbs," 1869, p. 401. See also pp. 82, 199.] - -[341] i.e., Refuse. - -[342] Is a common term for a small dagger, but here it seems to be used -in contempt; see the next speech of Coomes. - -[343] The origin of this corrupted oath is, I believe, unknown. - -[344] i.e., Rabbit-burrow. - -[345] i.e., Call me horse. - -[346] A not uncommon proverbial expression. Nares ("Gloss." in _v_.) -mentions three places which still retain the name--one between Oxford -and Banbury, another close to Stafford, the third near Shrewsbury. - -[347] i.e., Counsel, advice. - -[348] i.e., Vile. - -[349] So second edit. First edit., _upon_. - -[350] i.e., Till. - -[351] i.e., A kind of net for catching rabbits,--usually stretched -before their holes. - -[352] [The name of a popular game.] - -[353] So second edit. First edit., _do_. - -[354] i.e., A sucking, or young rabbit. - -[355] Vile. - -[356] So second edit. First edit., _you'r_. - -[357] Second edit., _wilt not_. - -[358] i.e., Honest. - -[359] Edits. _glimpes_ (the two last letters transposed by mistake.) - -[360] i.e., Gave notice of, discovered. - -[361] So second edit. First edit. _metamorphesie_. - -[362] So second edit. First edit. _these_. - -[363] So second edit. First edit. _'Sbloud_. - -[364] i.e., Nearer. - -[365] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[366] Qy. "_Sir Ralph Smith_, I know." - -[367] So second edit. These words are wanting in first edit. - -[368] This stage direction occurs somewhat earlier in edits. - -[369] I am not sure that this stage direction, which I have added, is -the right one. It would seem, however, that Sir Ralph Smith remains on -the stage, and is supposed not to overhear the dialogue which ensues -between Francis and Will. - -[370] Edits., _Sbloud_. - -[371] So second edit. First edit., _whench_. - -[372] Edits., _ask't_ and _aske_. - -[373] Read, for the metre, _It is_. - -[374] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[375] Qy., _order here_? - -[376] i.e., Nearer. - -[377] Perhaps he ought only to retire. - -[378] So second edit. First edit., _asgoe_. - -[379] [Old copies, _boye_.] - -[380] It would seem that something is wanting after this speech, unless -we are to suppose that here the Boy lies down and falls asleep, and that -he wakens on the second entrance of Hodge,--where, however, the edits. -distinctly mark "Enter Hodge _and Boy_"; see later: _Enter [severally]_ -HODGE _and_ BOY. - -[381] i.e., Excels. - -[382] So second edit. First edit. _clowdes_. - -[383] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[384] Second edit. _ye_. - -[385] Qy. Is this a stage direction crept into the text? - -[386] Second edit. _grope_. - -[387] Second edit. _so_. - -[388] [Old copies, _paint_.] - -[389] So second edit. First edit. _buze_. - -[390] Second edit. _lips_. - -[391] So second edit. First edit. _I have had a Pumpe set up, as good_. - -[392] i.e., (Perhaps) swore by our Lady of Walsingham, in Norfolk. - -[393] [The name of a game, though here used as a bye-word. See "Popular -Antiquities of Gr. Britain," ii. 341.] - -[394] So second edit. First edit., _Tripe-cheeke_. - -[395] i.e., Had I known the consequences; a common proverbial expression -of repentance. - -[396] See note [16]. - -[397] So second edit. First edit., _his_. - -[398] [Edits., _me_.] - -[399] Qy. a proverbial allusion to the famous Brazen-head? - -[400] So second edit. First edit., _breath_. - -[401] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[402] The hero of a popular German jest-book ("Eulenspiegel,") which was -translated into English at a very early period: see Gifford's note on -Jonson's "Works," iv. 60, and Nares' Gloss. in v. - -[403] [First 4º, _silly_.] - -[404] So second edit. First edit., _shew_. - -[405] i.e., Bauble. - -[406] Random. - -[407] [i.e., Coomes and Nicholas both retire to the back of the stage.] - -[408] Edits., _hap_. - -[409] i.e., Ill-will. - -[410] Second edit., _he a_; but _a_ is a common contraction for _he_. - -[411] So second edit. First edit., _tell_, - -[412] i.e., Blind-man's-buff. - -[413] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[414] [Old copy, _thief_.] - -[415] i.e., (I suppose) Buoys. - -[416] [Old copy, _not envies fellon, not_.] - -[417] [Old copies, _what_.] - -[418] i.e., A dear lean and out of season. - -[419] i.e., The alphabet. - -[420] So second edit. First edit. _wandring_. - -[421] i.e., suffer, endure. Edits. _stole_. - -[422] So second edit. First edit. _Being_. - -[423] Read, for the metre, _it is_. - -[424] So second edit. First edit. _enforc'st_. - -[425] Read, for the metre, _wife is_. - -[426] So second edit. First edit. _same_. - -[427] Second edit. _you_. - -[428] So second edit. First edit. _weere_. - -[429] [Old edits., _carerie_.] - -[430] So second edit. First edit., _shrowdly_. - -[431] Second edit., _me_--wrongly, as appears from what follows. - -[432] Edits., _be_. - -[433] i.e., Ill-will. - -[434] i.e., Satisfy, convince. - -[435] Edits., _mindes_. - -[436] Qy., _you, mother_? - -[437] Read, for the metre, _she is_. - -[438] Something has dropt out here. - -[439] [Edits., _A little_.] - -[440] i.e., Vile. - -[441] i.e., The one. - -[442] [Old copies, _yond may help that come both together_.] - -[443] So second edit. First edit., _fileds_. - -[444] A common, familiar contraction of _mine uncle_. - -[445] Second edit., _fie_. - -[446] So second edit. First edit., _brings_. - -[447] i.e., _Traitor_ or _felon_. - -[448] i.e., Swoon. - -[449] Second edit., _fauours_. - -[450] So read for the metre. Old copies, _here's_. - -[451] See also Collier's "Hist. of Eng. Dramatic Poetry," i. 3. - -[452] See Dyce's "Shakespeare," 1868, ii. 2. - -[453] Not in the old copy. - -[454] [i.e., to Tyburn.] - -[455] [Old copy, _thee_.] - -[456] Old copy, _well a neere_. Well-a-year is an unusual phrase, _well_ -being corrupted from _wail_. "Well-a-day" in the same sense is common -enough. - -[457] Old copy, _otimie_, I conjecture _otomy_ for anatomy, a common -form of _anatomy_. - -[458] Halliwell mentions the words _pubble_ and _puble_ in different -senses, and the old copy reads puble; but here the context seems to -require _bubble_. He has immediately before used the term _froth_. - -[459] Fear. - -[460] Divisions, conflicts. - -[461] Old copy, _Henry_. - -[462] Old copy, _Aveney_. - -[463] But see Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 23. - -[464] Old copy, _where stands in_. - -[465] i.e., Mary, God's mother. - -[466] See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 289. - -[467] Possibly in reference to a tract, so called, printed by Wynkyn de -Worde, and (after him) by others. - -[468] He means the stammer of Redcap, which he intends to imitate. - -[469] Compare "Damon and Pithias," vol. iv., pp. 67-8. - -[470] Old copy, _excepts_. - -[471] He does not appear, however, to make himself visible, but stands -aside, listening. - -[472] Old copy, _times_. See Halliwell, v. _tine_, where the word is -said to mean "the prong of a fork (second explanation)," thence, as in -the text, a horn. - -[473] [Old copy, _attempt_.] - -[474] Block seems to refer jocularly to Sir Richard's long aside, under -a sort of invisible cap. - -[475] Old copy, _solicitie_. - -[476] Old copy, _say_. - -[477] Old copy, _you_. - -[478] Old copy, _Richard's_. - -[479] [Old copy, _us_.] - -[480] Succeed. - -[481] Perhaps the dance so called is meant. - -[482] [Old copy, _them_.] - -[483] [Old. copy, _ye spoke_.] - -[484] Old copy, _rove_. - -[485] i.e., From the time of the Confessor. - -[486] i.e., Spain; old copy, _Gads_. - -[487] A word or words left blank in the old copy. - -[488] His gown. - -[489] Old copy, _Levarnian_. - -[490] Old copy, _It_. - -[491] Old copy, _ane_. - -[492] The word _search_ is here, and again a little further on used in -the sense of _searchers_. - -[493] Old copy, _another_; but Redcap is evidently accompanied by two -assistants. - -[494] This appears to stand for officers of the peace, as the _watch_ -and the _search_. - -[495] Old copy, _King_. - -[496] A brothel. - -[497] [Old copy, _age_.] - -[498] [Old copy, _Fau_, for _Fauconbridge_.] - -[499] [This might appear to be a corruption of _go out_, or of _God's -gut (God's guts_ is an ejaculation found elsewhere); but from a -subsequent passage we can but conclude that the disease so called is -intended.] - -[500] Old copy, _fill'd_, the compositor's eye, perhaps, having strayed -to the next line. - -[501] Strong. See a long note in Nares, edit. 1859, p. 606. - -[502] Old copy; _here_. - -[503] A room in the Salutation so called. - -[504] Guests. - -[505] Old copy, _at_. - -[506] Old copy, _Raynald_. - -[507] [Old copy, _me of_.] - -[508] i.e., Terms, as mentioned before. Old copy, _then_. - -[509] To _meet with_ is a very common phrase for to _serve_ out, -_requite_. - -[510] Skink issues from the hermit's house in the disguise of the man -whom he is supposed to have cured, and as he leaves, addresses parting -words to the hermit within. - -[511] Breviary. - -[512] Old copy, _them_. - -[513] Brand. - -[514] Old copy, _of_. - -[515] Old copy, _Glo_. - -[516] [Old copy, _last_.] - -[517] [Old copy, _this_.] - -[518] Old copy, _salutes he_. - -[519] Old copy, _you for_. - -[520] Old copy, _in_. - -[521] [Old copy, _we_.] - -[522] [Old copy, _we'll_.] - -[523] [Old copy, _sighs and songs_.] - -[524] In this passage the phrase, _to wear the yellow_, seems hardly to -bear the ordinary construction of, _to be jealous_. - -[525] Old copy, _pining_. - -[526] Old copy gives this line to the lady, i.e., the merchant's wife. - -[527] This seems to be some popular and well-understood allusion--well -understood then, but now obscure enough; nor does Steevens's explanation -help us much. See "Pop. Antiq. of Gr. Britain," 1870, iii. 322. - -[528] An allusion to an old proverb. - -[529] Old copy gives this line to Gloster. - -[530] Old copy, _weak_. - -[531] Halliwell says, "a squall." - -[532] Fear. - -[533] Old copy, _wray_. - -[534] Old copy, _not thou art_. - -[535] i.e., Gloster, disguised also as a hermit. - -[536] Old copy, _he's_. - -[537] Old copy gives as the stage-direction here merely, _Enter John_. - -[538] Old copy, _Lan_. - -[539] Compare "First Part of Jeronimo," vol. iv., p. 349, and the note. - -[540] [Old copy, _breath_.] - -[541] [Compare Courthope's "Historic Peerage," 1857, _v_. Hereford.] - -[542] [In allusion to the proverb, _Threatened men live long_.] - -[543] [Old copy, _William_.] - -[544] Old copy, _them_. - -[545] Something seems to have dropped out of the text. - -[546] I do not find this phrase anywhere. - -[547] Old copy, _may_. - -[548] i.e., Gloster. - -[549] There is an evident corruption here. Query, _Life kneels to -thrones_. - -[550] Old copy, _thy_. - -[551] Old copy, _not_. - -[552] Old copy, _is_. - -[553] Old copy, _set_. - -[554] i.e., _Mort de Dieu_. - -[555] Old copy, _ye_. - -[556] Old copy, _Sarasons_. - -[557] An exclamation of doubtful meaning and origin. See a long note in -Nares, edit. 1859, _v. Rivo_. - -[558] Old copy, _for_. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH -PLAYS, VOL. 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For -example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: - -https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 - -or filename 24689 would be found at: -https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 - -An alternative method of locating eBooks: -https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL - -*** END: FULL LICENSE *** diff --git a/old/10336-8.zip b/old/10336-8.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 34db6a7..0000000 --- a/old/10336-8.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/10336.txt b/old/10336.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 0ba30e9..0000000 --- a/old/10336.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,20474 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, A Select Collection of Old English Plays, -Vol. VII (4th edition), by Various, Edited by Robert Dodsley - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - - - - -Title: A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Vol. VII (4th edition) - -Author: Various - -Release Date: November 29, 2003 [eBook #10336] - -Language: English - -Chatacter set encoding: US-ASCII - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH -PLAYS, VOL. VII (4TH EDITION)*** - - -E-text prepared by Jonathan Ingram, Tapio Riikonen, and Project Gutenberg -Distributed Proofreaders - - - -A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS, VOL. VII - -Fourth Edition - -Originally published by Robert Dodsley in the Year 1744. - -Now first chronologically arranged, revised and enlarged -with the Notes of all the Commentators, and new Notes. - -1876. - - - -CONTENTS: - -Tancred And Gismunda -The Wounds Of Civil War -Mucedorus -The Two Angry Women Of Abington -Look About You - - - - - - -EDITION - -The Tragedie of Tancred and Gismund. Compiled by the Gentlemen of the -Inner Temple, and by them presented before her Maiestie. Newly reuiued -and polished according to the decorum of these daies. By R.W. London, -Printed by Thomas Scarlet, and are to be solde by R. Robinson, 1591, -4to. - -[Some copies are dated 1592; but there was only a single edition. Of the -original text, as written in 1568, there is no printed copy; but MSS. of -it are in MS. Lansdowne 786, and Hargrave MS. 205, neither of which -appears to present any evidence of identity with the copy mentioned by -Isaac Reed below as then in private hands. Both these MSS. have now been -collated with the text of 1591, and the conclusion must be, that Wilmot, -though he unquestionably revived, did not do so much, as he might wish -to have it inferred, in _polishing_ the play. The production was formed -on a classical model, and bears marks of resemblance in tone and style -to the "Jocasta" of Euripides, as paraphrased by Gascoigne in 1566. The -Lansdowne MS. of "Tancred and Gismunda" was written, about 1568-70, -while the Hargrave is much more modern.] - - - -INTRODUCTION. - -It appears from William Webbe's Epistle prefixed to this piece, that -after its first exhibition it was laid aside, and at some distance of -time was new-written by R. Wilmot. The reader, therefore, may not be -displeased with a specimen of it in its original dress. It is here given -from the fragment of an ancient MS. taken out of a chest of papers -formerly belonging to Mr Powell, father-in-law to the author of -"Paradise Lost," at Forest Hill, about four miles from Oxford, where in -all probability some curiosities of the same kind may remain, the -contents of these chests (for I think there are more than one) having -never yet been properly examined. The following extract is from the -conclusion of the piece.--_Reed_. [Reed's extract has been collated with -the two MSS. before-mentioned; where the Powell MS. may now be, the -editor cannot say. The differences, on the whole, are not material; -but the Lansdowne MS. 786 has supplied a few superior readings and -corrections.] - - But in thy brest if eny spark remaine - Of thy dere love. If ever yet I coulde - So moche of thee deserve, or at the least - If with my last desire I may obtaine - This at thy handes, geve me this one request - And let me not spend my last breath in vaine. - My life desire I not, which neither is - In thee to geve nor in my self to save, - Althoughe I wolde. Nor yet I aske not this - As mercye for myne Erle in ought to crave, - Whom I to well do knowe howe thou hast slayen. - No, no, father, thy hard and cruell wronge - With pacience as I may I will sustaine - In woefull life which now shall not be longe. - But this one suite, father, if unto me - Thou graunt, though I cannot the same reacquite - Th'immortall goddes shall render unto thee - Thy due reward and largely guerdon it, - That sins it pleased thee not thus secretly - I might enjoy my love, his corps and myne - May nathelesse together graved be - And in one tombe our bodies both to shrine - With which this small request eke do I praie - That on the same graven in brasse thou place - This woefull epitaphe which I shall saye, - That all lovers may rue this mornefull case; - Loe here within one tombe where harbor twaine - Gismonda Quene and Countie Pallurine! - She loved him, he for her love was slayen, - For whoes revenge eke lyes she here in shrine. - [GISMONDA _dieth_ - - TANCRED. O me alas, nowe do the cruell paines - Of cursed death my dere daughter bereave. - Alas whie bide I here? the sight constraines - Me woefull man this woefull place to leaue. - - - - SCENE III. - - - TANCRED _cometh out of_ GISMOND'S _Chamber_. - - TANCRED. O dolorous happe, ruthefull and all of woe - Alas I carefull wretche what resteth me? - Shall I now live that with these eyes did soe - Beholde my daughter die? what, shall I see - Her death before my face that was my lyfe - And I to lyve that was her lyves decay? - Shall not this hand reache to this hart the knife - That maye bereve bothe sight and life away, - And in the shadowes darke to seke her ghoste - And wander there with her? shall not, alas, - This spedy death be wrought, sithe I have lost - My dearest ioy of all? what, shall I passe - My later dayes in paine, and spende myne age - In teres and plaint! shall I now leade my life - All solitarie as doeth bird in cage, - And fede my woefull yeres with waillfull grefe? - No, no, so will not I my dayes prolonge - To seke to live one houre sith she is gone: - This brest so can not bende to suche a wronge, - That she shold dye and I to live alone. - No, this will I: she shall have her request - And in most royall sorte her funerall - Will I performe. Within one tombe shall rest - Her earle and she, her epitaph withall - Graved thereon shal be. This will I doe - And when these eyes some aged teres have shed - The tomb my self then will I crepe into - And with my blood all bayne their bodies dead. - This heart there will I perce, and reve this brest - The irksome life, and wreke my wrathful ire - Upon my self. She shall have her request, - And I by death will purchace my desyre. - - FINIS. - - - - EPILOGUS. - - If now perhappes ye either loke to see - Th'unhappie lovers, or the cruell sire - Here to be buried as fittes their degree - Or as the dyeng ladie did require - Or as the ruthefull kinge in deepe despaire - Behight of late (who nowe himself hath slayen) - Or if perchaunse you stand in doutfull fere - Sithe mad Megera is not returnde againe - Least wandring in the world she so bestowe - The snakes that crall about her furious face - As they may raise new ruthes, new kindes of woe - Bothe so and there, and such as you percase - Wold be full lothe so great so nere to see - I am come forth to do you all to wete - Through grefe wherin the lordes of Salerne be - The buriall pompe is not prepared yet: - And for the furie, you shall onderstand - That neither doeth the litle greatest god - Finde such rebelling here in Britain land - Against his royall power as asketh rod - Of ruth from hell to wreke his names decaie - Nor Pluto heareth English ghostes complaine - Our dames disteyned lyves. Therfore ye maye - Be free from feare, sufficeth to maintaine - The vertues which we honor in you all, - So as our Britain ghostes when life is past - Maie praise in heven, not plaine in Plutoes hall - Our dames, but hold them vertuous and chast, - Worthie to live where furie never came, - Where love can see, and beares no deadly bowe, - Whoes lyves eternall tromp of glorious fame - With joyfull sounde to honest eares shall blowe. - - FINIS. - - The Tragedie of Gismonde of Salerne. - -Such is a specimen of the play as it was originally acted before Queen -Elizabeth, at the Inner Temple, in the year 1568. It was the production -of five gentlemen, who were probably students of that society; and by -one of them, Robert Wilmot, afterwards much altered and published in the -year 1591.[1] [Wilmot had meanwhile become rector of North Okenham, in -Essex];[2] and in his Dedication to the Societies of the Inner and -Middle Temples, he speaks of the censure which might be cast upon him -from the indecorum of publishing a dramatic work arising from his -calling. When he died, or whether he left any other works, are points -equally uncertain. - -"Nearly a century after the date of that play," observes Lamb, in his -'Extracts from the Garrick Plays,' "Dryden produced his admirable -version of the same story from Boccaccio. The speech here extracted -(the scene between the messengers and Gismunda) may be compared with -the corresponding passage in the 'Sigismunda and Guiscardo' with no -disadvantage to the older performance. It is quite as weighty, as -pointed, and as passionate." - - - - To the Right Worshipful and Virtuous Ladies, the Lady MARY PETER - and the Lady ANNE GRAY, long health of body, with quiet of mind, - in the favour of God and men for ever. - -It is most certain (right virtuous and worshipful) that of all human -learning, poetry (how contemptible soever it is in these days) is the -most ancient; and, in poetry, there is no argument of more antiquity and -elegancy than is the matter of love; for it seems to be as old as the -world, and to bear date from the first time that man and woman was: -therefore in this, as in the finest metal, the freshest wits have in all -ages shown their best workmanship. So amongst others these gentlemen, -which with what sweetness of voice and liveliness of action they then -expressed it, they which were of her Majesty's right Honourable maidens -can testify. - -Which being a discourse of two lovers, perhaps it may seem a thing -neither fit to be offered unto your ladyships, nor worthy me to busy -myself withal: yet can I tell you, madames, it differeth so far from the -ordinary amorous discourses of our days, as the manners of our time do -from the modesty and innocency of that age. - -And now for that weary winter is come upon us, which bringeth with him -drooping days and tedious nights, if it be true, that the motions of our -minds follow the temperature of the air wherein we live, then I think -the perusing of some mournful matter, tending to the view of a notable -example, will refresh your wits in a gloomy day, and ease your weariness -of the louring night. Which if it please you, may serve ye also for a -solemn revel against this festival time, for _Gismund's_ bloody shadow, -with a little cost, may be entreated in her self-like person to speak -to ye. - -Having therefore a desire to be known to your W., I devised this way -with myself to procure the same, persuading myself, there is nothing -more welcome to your wisdoms than the knowledge of wise, grave, and -worthy matters, tending to the good instructions of youths, of whom you -are mothers. - -In this respect, therefore, I shall humbly desire ye to bestow a -favourable countenance upon this little labour, which when ye have -graced it withal, I must and will acknowledge myself greatly indebted -unto your ladyships in this behalf: neither shall I amongst the rest, -that admire your rare virtues (which are not a few in Essex), cease to -commend this undeserved gentleness. - -Thus desiring the king of heaven to increase his graces in ye both, -granting that your ends may be as honourable as your lives are -virtuous, I leave with a vain babble of many needless words to trouble -you longer. - - Your Worships' most dutiful - and humble Orator, - ROBERT WILMOT. - - - -TO HIS FRIEND R.W. - -Master R.W., look not now for the terms of an intreater: I will beg no -longer; and for your promises, I will refuse them as bad payment: -neither can I be satisfied with anything but a peremptory performance of -an old intention of yours, the publishing I mean of those waste papers -(as it pleaseth you to call them, but, as I esteem them, a most -exquisite invention) of Gismund's tragedy. Think not to shift me off -with longer delays, nor allege more excuses to get further respite, lest -I arrest you with my _actum est_, and commence such a suit of unkindness -against you, as when the case shall be scann'd before the judges of -courtesy, the court will cry out of your immoderate modesty. And thus -much I tell you before: you shall not be able to wage against me in the -charges growing upon this action, especially if the worshipful company -of the Inner-Temple gentlemen patronise my cause, as undoubtedly they -will, yea, and rather plead partially for me, than let my cause -miscarry, because themselves are parties. The tragedy was by them most -pithily framed, and no less curiously acted in view of her Majesty, by -whom it was then as princely accepted, as of the whole honourable -audience notably applauded: yea, and of all men generally desired, as a -work, either in stateliness of show, depth of conceit, or true ornaments -of poetical art, inferior to none of the best in that kind: no, were the -Roman Seneca the censurer. The brave youths that then (to their high -praises) so feelingly performed the same in action, did shortly after -lay up the book unregarded, or perhaps let it run abroad (as many -parents do their children once past dandling) not respecting so much -what hard fortune might befall it being out of their fingers, as how -their heroical wits might again be quickly conceived have been ever -since wonderful fertile. But this orphan of theirs (for he wand'reth as -it were fatherless) hath notwithstanding, by the rare and beautiful -perfections appearing in him, hitherto never wanted great favourers and -loving preservers. Among whom I cannot sufficiently commend your -charitable zeal and scholarly compassion towards him, that have not only -rescued and defended him from the devouring jaws of oblivion, but -vouchsafed also to apparel him in a new suit at your own charges, -wherein he may again more boldly come abroad, and by your permission -return to his old parents, clothed perhaps not in richer or more costly -furniture than it went from them, but in handsomeness and fashion more -answerable to these times, wherein fashions are so often altered. Let -one word suffice for your encouragement herein; namely, that your -commendable pains in disrobing him of his antique curiosity, and -adorning him with the approved guise of our stateliest English terms -(not diminishing, but more augmenting his artificial colours of absolute -poesy, derived from his first parents) cannot but be grateful to most -men's appetites, who upon our experience we know highly to esteem such -lofty measures of sententiously composed tragedies. - -How much you shall make me and the rest of your private friends beholden -to you, I list not to discourse: and therefore grounding upon these -alleged reasons; that the suppressing of this tragedy, so worthy for the -press, were no other thing than wilfully to defraud yourself of an -universal thank, your friends of their expectations, and sweet Gismund -of a famous eternity, I will cease to doubt of any other pretence to -cloak your bashfulness, hoping to read it in print (which lately lay -neglected amongst your papers) at our next appointed meeting. - -I bid you heartily farewell. From Pyrgo in Essex, August the eighth, -1591. - - _Tuus fide & facultate_ - - GUIL. WEBBE.[3] - - - - To the Worshipful and Learned Society, the GENTLEMEN STUDENTS of - the Inner Temple, with the rest of his singular good Friends, the - GENTLEMEN of the Middle Temple, and to all other courteous Readers, - R.W. wisheth increase of all health, worship, and learning, with - the immortal glory of the graces adorning the same. - -Ye may perceive (right Worshipful) in perusing the former epistle sent -to me, how sore I am beset with the importunities of my friends to -publish this pamphlet: truly I am and have been (if there be in me any -soundness of judgment) of this opinion, that whatsoever is committed to -the press is commended to eternity, and it shall stand a lively witness -with our conscience, to our comfort or confusion, in the reckoning of -that great day. - -Advisedly, therefore, was that proverb used of our elder philosophers, -_Manum a tabula_: withhold thy hand from the paper, and thy papers from -the print or light of the world: for a lewd word escaped is irrevocable, -but a bad or base discourse published in print is intolerable. - -Hereupon I have endured some conflicts between reason and judgment, -whether it were convenient for the commonwealth, with the _indecorum_ of -my calling (as some think it) that the memory of Tancred's tragedy -should be again by my means revived, which the oftener I read over, and -the more I considered thereon, the sooner I was won to consent -thereunto: calling to mind that neither the thrice reverend and learned -father, M. Beza, was ashamed in his younger years to send abroad, in his -own name, his tragedy of "Abraham,"[4] nor that rare Scot (the scholar -of our age) Buchanan, his most pathetical Jephtha. - -Indeed I must willingly confess this work simple, and not worth -comparison to any of theirs: for the writers of them were grave men; of -this, young heads: in them is shown the perfection of their studies; in -this, the imperfection of their wits. Nevertheless herein they all -agree, commending virtue, detesting vice, and lively deciphering their -overthrow that suppress not their unruly affections. These things noted -herein, how simple soever the verse be, I hope the matter will be -acceptable to the wise. - -Wherefore I am now bold to present Gismund to your sights, and unto -yours only, for therefore have I conjured her, by the love that hath -been these twenty-four years betwixt us, that she wax not so proud of -her fresh painting, to straggle in her plumes abroad, but to contain -herself within the walls of your house; so am I sure she shall be safe -from the _tragedian tyrants_ of our time, who are not ashamed to affirm -that there can no amorous poem savour of any sharpness of wit, unless it -be seasoned with scurrilous words. - -But leaving them to their lewdness, I hope you, and all discreet -readers, will thankfully receive my pains, the fruits of my first -harvest: the rather, perceiving that my purpose in this tragedy tendeth -only to the exaltation of virtue and suppression of vice, with pleasure -to profit and help all men, but to offend or hurt no man. As for such as -have neither the grace, nor the good gift, to do well themselves, nor -the common honesty to speak well of others, I must (as I may) hear and -bear their baitings with patience. - - Yours devoted in his ability, - - R. WILMOT. - - - -A PREFACE TO THE QUEEN'S MAIDENS OF HONOUR.[5] - - -1. A SONNET OF THE QUEEN'S MAIDS. - -They which tofore thought that the heaven's throne -Is placed above the skies, and there do feign -The gods and all the heavenly powers to reign, -They err, and but deceive themselves alone. -Heaven (unless you think mo be than one) -Is here in earth, and by the pleasant side -Of famous Thames at Greenwich court doth 'bide. -And as for other heaven is there none. -There are the goddesses we honour so: -There Pallas sits: there shineth Venus' face: -Bright beauty there possesseth all the place: -Virtue and honour there do live and grow: -There reigneth she such heaven that doth deserve, -Worthy whom so fair goddesses should serve. - - -2. ANOTHER TO THE SAME. - -Flowers of prime, pearls couched all in gold, -Light of our days, that glads the fainting hearts -Of them that shall your shining gleams behold, -Salve of each sore, recure of inward smarts, -In whom virtue and beauty striveth so -As neither yields: behold here, for your gain, -Gismund's unlucky love, her fault, her woe, -And death; at last her cruel father slain -Through his mishap; and though you do not see, -Yet read and rue their woful tragedy. -So Jove, as your high virtues done deserve, -Grant you such pheers[6] as may your virtues serve -With like virtues; and blissful Venus send -Unto your happy loves an happy end. - - -3. ANOTHER TO THE SAME. - -Gismund, that whilome liv'd her father's joy -And died his death, now dead, doth (as she may) -By us pray you to pity her annoy. -And, to requite the same, doth humbly pray, -Heavens to forefend[7] your loves from like decay. -The faithful earl doth also make request, -Wishing those worthy knights whom ye embrace, -The constant truth that lodged in his breast. -His hearty love, not his unhappy case, -Befall to such as triumph in your grace. -The king prays pardon of his cruel hest,[8] -And for amends desires it may suffice. -That by his blood he warneth all the rest -Of fond fathers, that they in kinder wise -Intreat the jewels where their comfort lies. -We, as their messengers, beseech ye all -On their behalfs to pity all their smarts. -And for ourselves (although the worth be small) -We pray ye to accept our humble hearts, -Avow'd to serve with prayer and with praise -Your honours, all unworthy other ways.[9] - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE.[10] - - -CUPID. -TANCRED, _the King_. -GISMUNDA, _the King's Daughter_. -LUCRECE, _her Aunt_. -GUISCARD, _Count Palurin_. -RENUCHIO, _Captain of the Guard_. -JULIO, _Lord Chamberlain_. -MEGAERA. -CHORUSES.[11] - - - -ARGUMENT OF THE TRAGEDY.[12] - -Tancred, the Prince of Salerne, overloves -His only daughter (wonder of that age) -Gismund, who loves the County[13] Palurin -Guiscard, who quites her likings with his love: -A letter in a cane describes the means -Of their two meetings in a secret cave. -Unconstant fortune leadeth forth the king -To this unhappy sight, wherewith in rage -The gentle earl he doometh to his death, -And greets his daughter with her lover's heart. -Gismunda fills the goblet with her tears, -And drinks a poison which she had distill'd, -Whereof she dies, whose deadly countenance -So grieves her father, that he slew himself. - - -ANOTHER OF THE SAME, MORE AT LARGE, IN PROSE.[14] - -Tancred, King of Naples and Prince of Salerne, gave his only daughter -Gismund (whom he most dearly loved) in marriage to a foreign prince, -after whose death she returned home to her father, who having felt great -grief of her absence whilst her husband lived, immeasurably esteeming -her, determined never to suffer any second marriage to bereave him of -her. She, on the other side, waxing weary of that her father's purpose, -bent her mind to the secret love of the County Palurin: to whom (he -being likewise inflamed with love of her) by a letter subtly enclosed in -a cloven cane, she gave to understand a convenient way for their desired -meetings, through an old ruinous vault, whose mouth opened directly -under her chamber floor. Into this vault when she was one day descended -(for the conveyance of her lover), her father in the mean season (whose -only joy was in his daughter) came to her chamber, and not finding her -there, supposing her to have been walked abroad for her[15] disport, he -threw him down on her bed, and covered his head with a curtain, minding -to abide and rest there till her return. She, nothing suspecting this -her father's unseasonable coming, brought up her lover out of the cave -into her chamber, where her father espied their secret love: and he (not -espied of them) was upon this sight stricken with marvellous grief; but -either for that the sudden despite had amazed him, and taken from him -all use of speech, or for that he resolved himself to a more convenient -revenge, he then spake nothing, but noted their return into the vault, -and secretly departed. Afterward, bewailing his mishap, he commanded the -earl to be attached, imprisoned, strangled, unbowelled, and his heart in -a cup of gold to be presented to his daughter:[16] she thankfully -receiveth the present, filling the cup (wherein the heart was) with her -tears, with a venomous potion (by her distilled for that purpose) she -drank to her earl. Which her father hearing of, came too late to comfort -his dying daughter, who for her last request besought him that her lover -and herself might in one tomb be together buried for a perpetual memory -of their faithful loves; which request he granted, adding to the burial -himself, slain with his own hands, to his own reproach, and the terror -of all other hard-hearted fathers. - - -Introductio in Actum Secundum. - -Before the second act there was heard a sweet noise of still pipes, -which sounding, Lucrece entered, attended by a maiden of honour with a -covered goddard of gold, and, drawing the curtains, she offereth unto -Gismunda to taste thereof; which when she had done, the maid returned, -and Lucrece raiseth up Gismunda from her bed, and then it followeth _ut_ -in act ii. sc. 1. - - -Introductio in Actum Tertium. - -Before this act the hautboys sounded a lofty almain, and Cupid ushereth -after him Guiscard and Gismunda, hand in hand; Julio and Lucrece, -Renuchio and another maiden of honour. The measures trod, Gismunda gives -a cane into Guiscard's hand, and they are all led forth again by Cupid, -_ut sequitur_. - - -Introductio in Actum Quartum. - -Before this act there was heard a consort of sweet music, which playing, -Tancred cometh forth, and draweth Gismunda's curtains, and lies down -upon her bed; then from under the stage ascendeth Guiscard, and he -helpeth up Gismunda: they amorously embrace and depart. The king ariseth -enraged. Then was heard and seen a storm of thunder and lightning, in -which the furies rise up, _ut sequitur_. - - -Introductio in Actum Quintum. - -Before this act was a dead march played, during which entered on the -stage Renuchio, Captain of the Guard, attended upon by the guard. They -took up Guiscard from under the stage; then after Guiscard had kindly -taken leave of them all, a strangling-cord was fastened about his neck, -and he haled forth by them. Renuchio bewaileth it; and then, entering -in, bringeth forth a standing cup of gold, with a bloody heart reeking -hot in it, and then saith, _ut sequitur_. - - - - -TANCRED AND GISMUNDA.[17] - - - -ACT I., SCENE 1. - - - CUPID _cometh out of the heavens in a cradle of flowers, - drawing forth upon the stage, in a blue twist of silk, - from his left hand, Vain Hope, Brittle Joy: and with a - carnation twist of silk from his right hand, Fair - Resemblance, Late Repentance_. - -CUPID. There rest my chariot on the mountaintops.[18] -I, that in shape appear unto your sight[19] -A naked boy, not cloth'd but with my wings, -And that great God of Love, who with his might -Ruleth the vast wide world and living things.[20] -This left hand bears Vain Hope, short joyful state, -With Fair Resemblance, lovers to allure: -This right hand holds Repentance all too late, -War, fire,[21] blood, and pains without recure. -On sweet ambrosia is not my food, -Nectar is not my drink: as to the rest -Of all the gods: I drink the lover's blood. -And feed upon the heart[22] within his breast. -Well hath my power in heaven and earth been try'd, -And deepest hell my piercing force hath known. -The marble seas[23] my wonders hath descry'd, -Which elder age throughout the world hath blown.[24] -To me the king of gods and men doth yield, -As witness can the Greekish maid,[25] whom I -Made like a cow go glowing through[26] the field, -Lest jealous Juno should the 'scape espy. -The doubled night, the sun's restrained course, -His secret stealths, the slander to eschew, -In shape transform'd,[27] we[28] list not to discourse. -All that and more we forced him to do. -The warlike Mars hath not subdu'd our[29] might, -We fear'd him not, his fury nor disdain, -That can the gods record, before whose sight -He lay fast wrapp'd in Vulcan's subtle chain. -He that on earth yet hath not felt our power, -Let him behold the fall and cruel spoil -Of thee, fair Troy, of Asia the flower, -So foul defac'd, and levell'd[30] with the soil -Who forc'd Leander with his naked breast -So many nights to cut the frothy waves, -But Hero's love, that lay inclos'd in Sest? -The stoutest hearts to me shall yield them slaves. -Who could have match'd the huge Alcides'[31] strength? -Great Macedon[32] what force might have subdu'd? -Wise Scipio who overcame at length, -But we, that are with greater force endu'd? -Who could have conquered the golden fleece[33] -But Jason, aided by Medea's art? -Who durst have stol'n fair Helen out of Greece -But I, with love that bold'ned Paris' heart? -What bond of nature, what restraint avails[34] -Against our power? I vouch to witness truth. -The myrrh tree,[35] that with shamefast tears bewails -Her father's love, still weepeth yet for ruth,[36] -But now, this world not seeing in these days -Such present proofs of our all-daring[37] power, -Disdains our name, and seeketh sundry ways -To scorn and scoff, and shame us every hour. -A brat, a bastard, and an idle boy: -A[38] rod, a staff, a whip to beat him out! -And to be sick of love, a childish toy: -These are mine honours now the world about, -My name disgrac'd to raise again therefore, -And in this age mine ancient renown -By mighty acts intending to restore, -Down to the earth in wrath now am I come; -And in this place such wonders shall ye hear, -As these your stubborn and disdainful hearts -In melting tears and humble yielding fear -Shall soon relent by sight of others' smarts. -This princely palace will I enter in, -And there inflame the fair Gismunda so, -Enraging all her secret veins within, -Through fiery love that she shall feel much woe.[39] -Too-late-Repentance, thou shalt bend my bow; -Vain Hope, take out my pale, dead, heavy shaft, -Thou, Fair Resemblance, foremost forth shalt go, -With Brittle Joy: myself will not be least, -But after me comes Death and deadly Pain. -Thus shall ye march, till we return again.[40] -Meanwhile, sit still, and here I shall you show -Such wonders, that at last with one accord -Ye shall relent, and say that now you know -Love rules the world, Love it a mighty lord.[41] - - [CUPID _with his train entereth into_ KING TANCRED'S _palace_. - - - -ACT I., SCENE 2. - - - GISMUNDA _in purple cometh out of her chamber, - attended by four maids that are the Chorus_. - -GISMUNDA. "O vain, unsteadfast state of mortal things! -Who trust this world, leans to a brittle stay: -Such fickle fruit his flattering bloom forth brings, -Ere it be ripe, it falleth to decay." -The joy and bliss that late I did possess, -In weal at will, with one I loved best, -Is turned now into so deep distress, -As teacheth me to know the world's unrest.[42] -For neither wit nor princely stomachs serve -Against his force, that slays without respect -The noble and the wretch: ne doth reserve -So much as one for worthiness elect. -Ah me, dear lord! what well of tears may serve -To feed the streams of my foredulled eyes, -To weep thy death, as thy death doth deserve, -And wail thy want in full sufficing wise? -Ye lamps of heaven, and all ye heavenly powers,[43] -Wherein did he procure your high disdain? -He never sought with vast huge mountain towers -To reach aloft, and over-view your reign: -Or what offence of mine was it unwares, -That thus your fury should on me be thrown, -To plague a woman with such endless cares? -I fear that envy hath the heavens this shown: -The sun his glorious virtues did disdain; -Mars at his manhood mightily repin'd; -Yea, all the gods no longer could sustain, -Each one to be excelled in his kind. -For he my lord surpass'd them every one;[44] -Such was his honour all the world throughout. -But now, my love, oh! whither art thou gone? -I know thy ghost doth hover hereabout, -Expecting me, thy heart, to follow thee: -And I, dear love, would fain dissolve this strife. -But stay awhile, I may perhaps foresee -Some means to be disburden'd of this life, -"And to discharge the duty of a wife,[45] -Which is, not only in this life to love, -But after death her fancy not remove." -Meanwhile accept of these our daily rites, -Which with my maidens I shall do to thee, -Which is in songs to cheer our dying sprites -With hymns of praises of thy memory. - - _Cantant. - - Quae mihi cantio nondum occurrit_.[46] - - - -ACT I, SCENE 3. - - - _The song ended_, TANCRED _the King cometh - out of his palace with his guard_. - -TANCRED. Fair daughter, I have sought thee out with grief, -To ease the sorrows of thy vexed heart. -How long wilt thou torment thy father thus, -Who daily dies to see thy needless tears? -Such bootless plaints, that know nor mean nor end, -Do but increase the floods of thy lament; -And since the world knows well there was no want -In thee of ought, that did to him belong, -Yet all, thou seest, could not his life prolong. -Why then dost thou provoke the heavens to wrath? -His doom of death was dated by his stars, -"And who is he that may withstand his fate?" -By these complaints small good to him thou dost, -Much grief to me, more hurt unto thyself, -And unto nature greatest wrong of all. - -GISMUNDA. Tell me not of the date of nature's days, -Then in the April of her springing age: -No, no, it was my cruel destiny, -That spited at the pleasance of my life. - -TANCRED. My daughter knows the proof of nature's course. -"For as the heavens do guide the lamp of life, -So can they reach no farther forth the flame, -Than whilst with oil they do maintain the same." - -GISMUNDA. Curst be the stars, and vanish may they curst, -Or fall from heaven, that in their dire aspect[47] -Abridg'd the health and welfare of my love. - -TANCRED. Gismund, my joy, set all these griefs apart; -"The more thou art with hard mishap beset, -The more thy patience should procure thine ease." - -GISMUNDA. What hope of hap may cheer my hapless chance? -What sighs, what tears may countervail my cares? -What should I do, but still his death bewail, -That was the solace of my life and soul? -Now, now, I want the wonted guide and stay -Of my desires and of my wreakless thoughts. -My lord, my love, my life, my liking gone, -In whom was all the fulness of my joy, -To whom I gave the first-fruits of my love, -Who with the comfort of his only sight -All care and sorrows could from me remove. -But, father, now my joys forepast to tell, -Do but revive the horrors of my hell. -As she that seems in darkness to behold -The gladsome pleasures of the cheerful light. - -TANCRED. What then avails thee fruitless thus to rue -His absence, whom the heavens cannot return? -Impartial death thy husband did subdue, -Yet hath he spar'd thy kingly father's life: -Who during life to thee a double stay, -As father and as husband, will remain, -With double love to ease thy widow's want, -Of him whose want is cause of thy complaint. -Forbear thou therefore all these needless tears, -That nip the blossoms of thy beauty's pride. - -GISMUNDA. Father, these tears love challengeth of due. - -TANCRED. But reason saith thou shouldst the same subdue. - -GISMUNDA. His funerals are yet before my sight. - -TANCRED. In endless moans princes should not delight. - -GISMUNDA. The turtle pines in loss of her true mate. - -TANCRED. And so continues poor and desolate. - -GISMUNDA. Who can forget a jewel of such price? - -TANCRED. She that hath learn'd to master her desires. -"Let reason work, what time doth easily frame -In meanest wits, to bear the greatest ills." - -GISMUNDA. So plenteous are the springs -Of sorrows that increase my passions, -As neither reason can recure my smart, -Nor can your care nor fatherly comfort -Appease the stormy combats of my thoughts; -Such is the sweet remembrance of his life. -Then give me leave: of pity, pity me, -And as I can, I shall allay these griefs. - -TANCRED. These solitary walks thou dost frequent, -Yield fresh occasions to thy secret moans: -We will therefore thou keep us company, -Leaving thy maidens with their harmony. -Wend[48] thou with us. Virgins, withdraw yourselves. - - [TANCRED _and_ GISMUNDA, _with the guard, depart into the palace; - the four maidens stay behind, as Chorus to the Tragedy_. - -CHORUS 1. The diverse haps which always work our care, -Our joys so far, our woes so near at hand, -Have long ere this, and daily do declare -The fickle foot on which our state doth stand. -"Who plants his pleasures here to gather root, -And hopes his happy life will still endure, -Let him behold how death with stealing foot -Steps in when he shall think his joys most sure." -No ransom serveth to redeem our days -If prowess could preserve, or worthy deeds, -He had yet liv'd, whose twelve labours displays -His endless fame, and yet his honour spreads. -And that great king,[49] that with so small a power -Bereft the mighty Persian of his crown, -Doth witness well our life is but a flower, -Though it be deck'd with honour and renown. - -CHORUS 2. "What grows to-day in favour of the heaven, -Nurs'd with the sun and with the showers sweet, -Pluck'd with the hand, it withereth ere even. -So pass our days, even as the rivers fleet." -The valiant Greeks, that unto Troia gave -The ten years' siege, left but their names behind. -And he that did so long and only save -His father's walls,[50] found there at last his end. -Proud Rome herself, that whilome laid her yoke -On the wide world, and vanquish'd all with war, -Yet could she not remove the fatal stroke -Of death from them that stretch'd her pow'r so far. - -CHORUS 3. Look, what the cruel sisters once decree'd, -The Thunderer himself cannot remove: -They are the ladies of our destiny, -To work beneath what is conspir'd above. -But happy he that ends this mortal life -By speedy death: who is not forc'd to see -The many cares, nor feel the sundry griefs, -Which we sustain in woe and misery. -Here fortune rules who, when she list to play, -Whirleth her wheel, and brings the high full low: -To-morrow takes, what she hath given to-day, -To show she can advance and overthrow. -Not Euripus'[51] (unquiet flood) so oft -Ebbs in a day, and floweth to and fro, -As fortune's change plucks down that was aloft, -And mingleth joy with interchange of woe. - -CHORUS 4. "Who lives below, and feeleth not the strokes, -Which often-times on highest towers do fall, -Nor blustering winds, wherewith the strongest oaks -Are rent and torn, his life is sur'st of all:" -For he may fortune scorn, that hath no power -On him, that is well pleas'd with his estate: -He seeketh not her sweets, nor fears her sour, -But lives contented in his quiet rate, -And marking how these worldly things do vade,[52] -Rejoiceth to himself, and laughs to see -The folly of men, that in their wits have made -Fortune a goddess, placed in the sky. - - _Exegit_ ROD. STAF. - -FINIS ACTUS I. - - - - -ACT II, SCENE 1. - - - GISMUNDA AND LUCRECE. - -GISMUNDA. Dear aunt, my sole companion in distress, -And true copartner of my thoughtful cares: -When with myself I weigh my present state, -Comparing it with my forepassed days, -New heaps of cares afresh begin t'assay -My pensive heart, as when the glittering rays -Of bright Phoebus are suddenly o'erspread -With dusky clouds, that dim his golden light: -Namely, when I, laid in my widow's bed, -Amid the silence of the quiet night, -With curious thought the fleeting course observe -Of gladsome youth, how soon his flower decays, -"How time once past may never have recourse, -No more than may the running streams revert -To climb the hills, when they been rolled down -The hollow vales. There is no curious art, -Nor worldly power: no, not the gods can hold -The sway of flying time, nor him return, -When he is past: all things unto his might -Must bend, and yield unto the iron teeth -Of eating time." This in the shady night -When I record: how soon my youth withdraws -Itself away, how swift my pleasant spring -Runs out his race,--this, this, aunt, is the cause, -When I advise me sadly[53] on this thing, -That makes my heart in pensive dumps dismay'd. -For if I should my springing years neglect, -And suffer youth fruitless to fade away; -Whereto live I? or whereto was I born? -Wherefore hath nature deck'd me with her grace? -Why have I tasted these delights of love, -And felt the sweets of Hymeneus' bed? -But to say sooth, dear aunt, it is not I, -Sole and alone, can thus content to spend -My cheerful years: my father will not still -Prolong my mournings, which have griev'd him, -And pleased me too long. Then this I crave, -To be resolved of his princely mind. -For, stood it with the pleasure of his will -To marry me, my fortune is not such, -So hard, that I so long should still persist -Makeless alone in woful widowhood. -And shall I tell mine aunt? Come hither then, -Give me that hand: By thine own right hand, -I charge thy heart my counsels to conceal. -Late have I seen, and seeing took delight, -And with delight, I will not say, I love -A prince, an earl, a county in the court. -But love and duty force me to refrain, -And drive away these fond affections, -Submitting them unto my father's hest. -But this, good aunt, this is my chiefest pain, -Because I stand at such uncertain stay. -For, if my kingly father would decree -His final doom, that I must lead my life -Such as I do, I would content me then -To frame my fancies to his princely hest, -And as I might, endure the grief thereof. -But now his silence doubleth all my doubts, -Whilst my suspicious thoughts 'twixt hope and fear -Distract me into sundry passions: -Therefore, good aunt, this labour must be yours, -To understand my father's will herein, -For well I know your wisdom knows the means, -So shall you both allay my stormy thoughts, -And bring to quiet my unquiet mind. - -LUCRECE. Sufficeth this, good niece, that you have said; -For I perceive what sundry passions -Strive in your breast, which oftentimes ere this -Your countenance confused did bewray. -The ground whereof since I perceive to grow -On just respect of this your sole estate, -And skilful care of fleeting youth's decay, -Your wise foresight such sorrowing to eschew -I much commend, and promise as I may -To break this matter, and impart your mind -Unto your father, and to work it so, -As both your honour shall not be impeach'd, -Nor he unsatisfied of your desire. -Be you no farther grieved, but return -Into your chamber. I shall take this charge, -And you shall shortly truly understand -What I have wrought, and what the king affirms. - -GISMUNDA. I leave you to the fortune of my stars. - - [GISMUNDA _departeth into her chamber_, LUCRECE - _abiding on the stage_. - -LUCRECE. The heavens, I hope, will favour your request. -My niece shall not impute the cause to be -In my default, her will should want effect: -But in the king is all my doubt, lest he -My suit for her new marriage should reject. -Yet shall I prove him: and I heard it said, -He means this evening in the park to hunt.[54] -Here will I wait attending his approach. - - - -ACT II., SCENE 2. - - - TANCRED _cometh out of his palace with_ GUISCARD, - _the_ COUNTY PALURIN, JULIO, _the Lord Chamberlain_, - RENUCHIO, _captain of his guard, all ready to hunt_. - -TANCRED. Uncouple all our hounds; lords, to the chase-- -Fair sister Lucre[ce], what's the news with you? - -LUCRECE. Sir, as I always have employ'd my power -And faithful service, such as lay in me, -In my best wise to honour you and yours: -So now my bounden duty moveth me -Your majesty most humbly to entreat -With patient ears to understand the state -Of my poor niece, your daughter. - -TANCRED. What of her? -Is she not well? Enjoys she not her health? -Say, sister: ease me of this jealous fear? - -LUCRECE. She lives, my lord, and hath her outward health; -But all the danger of her sickness lies -In the disquiet of her princely mind. - -TANCRED. Resolve me; what afflicts my daughter so? - -LUCRECE. Since when the princess hath entomb'd her lord, -Her late deceased husband of renown; -Brother, I see, and very well perceive, -She hath not clos'd together in his grave -All sparks of nature, kindness, nor of love: -But as she lives, so living may she feel -Such passions as our tender hearts oppress, -Subject unto th'impressions of desire: -For well I wot my niece was never wrought -Of steel, nor carved from the stony rock: -Such stern hardness we ought not to expect -In her, whose princely heart and springing years -Yet flow'ring in the chiefest heat of youth, -Is led of force to feed on such conceits, -As easily befalls that age, which asketh ruth -Of them, whom nature bindeth by foresight -Of their grave years and careful love to reach -The things that are above their feeble force: -And for that cause, dread lord, although-- - -TANCRED. Sister, I say, -If you esteem or ought respect my life, -Her honour and the welfare of our house, -Forbear, and wade[55] no farther in this speech. -Your words are wounds. I very well perceive -The purpose of this smooth oration: -This I suspected, when you first began -This fair discourse with us. Is this the end -Of all our hopes, that we have promised -Unto ourself by this her widowhood? -Would our dear daughter, would our only joy, -Would she forsake us? would she leave us now, -Before she hath clos'd up our dying eyes, -And with her tears bewail'd our funeral? -No other solace doth her father crave; -But, whilst the fates maintain his dying life, -Her healthful presence gladsome to his soul, -Which rather than he willing would forego, -His heart desires the bitter taste of death. -Her late marriage hath taught us to our grief, -That in the fruits of her perpetual sight -Consists the only comfort and relief -Of our unwieldy age: for what delight, -What joy, what comfort, have we in this world; -Now grown in years, and overworn with cares, -Subject unto the sudden stroke of death, -Already falling, like the mellowed fruit, -And dropping by degrees into our grave? -But what revives us, what maintains our soul -Within the prison of our wither'd breast, -But our Gismunda and her cheerful sight? -O daughter, daughter! what desert of mine, -Wherein have I been so unkind to thee, -Thou shouldst desire to make my naked house -Yet once again stand desolate by thee? -O, let such fancies vanish with their thoughts: -Tell her I am her father, whose estate, -Wealth, honour, life, and all that we possess, -Wholly relies upon her presence here. -Tell her, I must account her all my joy, -Work as she will: but yet she were unjust -To haste his death, that liveth by her sight. - -LUCRECE. Her gentle heart abhors such ruthless thoughts. - -TANCRED. Then let her not give place to these desires. - -LUCRECE. She craves the right that nature challengeth. - -TANCRED. Tell her, the king commandeth otherwise. - -LUCRECE. The king's commandment always should be just. - -TANCRED. Whate'er it be, the king's command is just. - -LUCRECE. Just to command: but justly must he charge. - -TANCRED. He chargeth justly that commands as king. - -LUCRECE. The king's command concerns the body best. - -TANCRED. The king commands obedience of the mind. - -LUCRECE. That is exempted by the law of kind. - -TANCRED. That law of kind[56] to children doth belong. - -LUCRECE. In due obedience to their open wrong? - -TANCRED. I then, as king and father, will command. - -LUCRECE. No more than may with right of reason stand. - -TANCRED. Thou knowest our mind, resolve[57] her, depart-- -Return the chase, we have been chas'd enough. - - [TANCRED _returneth into his palace, and leaveth the hunt_. - -LUCRECE. He cannot hear, anger hath stopp'd his ears, -And over-love his judgment hath decay'd -Ah, my poor niece! I shrewdly fear thy cause, -Thy just complaint, shall never be reliev'd. - - - -ACT II., SCENE 3. - - - GISMUNDA _cometh alone out of her chamber_. - -GISMUNDA. By this I hope my aunt hath mov'd the king, -And knows his mind, and makes return to me -To end at once all this perplexity. -Lo, where she stands. O, how my trembling heart -In doubtful thoughts panteth within my breast. -For in her message doth rely my smart, -Or the sweet quiet of my troubled mind. - -LUCRECE. Niece, on the point you lately willed me -To treat of with the king on your behalf, -I brake even now with him so far, till he -In sudden rage of grief, ere I scarce had -My tale out-told, pray'd me to stint my suit, -As that from which his mind abhorred most. -And well I see his fancy to refute, -Is but displeasure gain'd and labour lost. -So firmly fixed stands his kingly will -That, till his body shall be laid in grave, -He will not part from the desired sight -Of your presence, which silder he should have, -If he had once allied you again -In marriage to any prince or peer-- -This is his final resolution. - -GISMUNDA. A resolution that resolves my blood -Into the icy drops of Lethe's flood. - -LUCRECE. Therefore my counsel is, you shall not stir, -Nor farther wade in such a case as this: -But since his will is grounded on your love, -And that it lies in you to save or spill -His old forewasted age, you ought t'eschew -The thing that grieves so much his crazed heart, -And in the state you stand content yourself: -And let this thought appease your troubled mind, -That in your hands relies your father's death -Or blissful life; and since without your sight -He cannot live, nor can his thoughts endure -Your hope of marriage, you must then relent, -And overrule these fond affections; -Lest it be said you wrought your father's end. - -GISMUNDA. Dear aunt, I have with patient ears endur'd -The hearing of my father's hard behest; -And since I see that neither I myself, -Nor your request, can so prevail with him, -Nor any sage advice persuade his mind -To grant me my desire, in willing wise -I must submit me unto his command, -And frame my heart to serve his majesty. -And (as I may) to drive away the thoughts -That diversely distract my passions, -Which as I can, I'll labour to subdue, -But sore I fear I shall but toil in vain, -Wherein, good aunt, I must desire your pain. - -LUCRECE. What lies in me by comfort or advice, -I shall discharge with all humility. - - [GISMUNDA _and_ LUCRECE _depart into_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber_. - -CHORUS 1. Who marks our former times and present years, -What we are now, and looks what we have been, -He cannot but lament with bitter tears -The great decay and change of all women. -For as the world wore on, and waxed old, -So virtue quail'd,[58] and vice began to grow. -So that that age, that whilome was of gold, -Is worse than brass, more vile than iron now. -The times were such (that if we aught believe -Of elder days), women examples were -Of rare virtues: Lucrece disdain'd to live -Longer than chaste; and boldly without fear -Took sharp revenge on her enforced heart -With her own hands: for that it not withstood -The wanton will, but yielded to the force -Of proud Tarquin, who bought her fame with blood. - -CHORUS 2. Queen Artemisia thought an heap of stones -(Although they were the wonder of that age) -A worthless grave, wherein to rest the bones -Of her dear lord, but with bold courage -She drank his heart, and made her lovely breast -His tomb, and failed not of wifely faith, -Of promis'd love and of her bound behest, -Until she ended had her days by death. -Ulysses' wife (such was her steadfastness) -Abode his slow return whole twenty years: -And spent her youthful days in pensiveness, -Bathing her widow's bed with brinish tears.[59] - -CHORUS 3. The stout daughter of Cato, Brutus' wife, Portia, -When she had heard his death, did not desire -Longer to live: and lacking use of knife -(A most strange thing) ended her life by fire, -And ate whot-burning coals. O worthy dame! -O virtues worthy of eternal praise! -The flood of Lethe cannot wash out thy fame, -To others' great reproach, shame, and dispraise. - -CHORUS 4. Rare are those virtues now in women's mind! -Where shall we seek such jewels passing strange? -Scarce can you now among a thousand find -One woman stedfast: all delight in change. -Mark but this princess, that lamented here -Of late so sore her noble husband's death, -And thought to live alone without a pheer; -Behold how soon she changed hath that breath! -I think those ladies that have lived 'tofore, -A mirror and a glass to womenkind; -By those their virtues they did set such store, -That unto us they none bequeath'd behind; -Else in so many years we might have seen -As virtuous as ever they have been. - -CHORUS 1. Yet let not us maidens condemn our kind, -Because our virtues are not all so rare: -For we may freshly yet record in mind, -There lives a virgin,[60] one without compare, -Who of all graces hath her heavenly share; -In whose renown, and for whose happy days, -Let us record this paean of her praise. - - _Cantant_. - -FINIS ACTUS II. _Per_ HEN. NO.[61] - - - - -ACT III., SCENE 1. - - -CUPID. So now they feel what lordly Love can do, - That proudly practise to deface his name; -In vain they wrastle with so fierce a foe; - Of little sparks arise a blazing flame. -"By small occasions love can kindle heat, - And waste the oaken breast to cinder dust." -Gismund I have enticed to forget - Her widow's weeds, and burn in raging lust: -'Twas I enforc'd her father to deny -Her second marriage to any peer; -'Twas I allur'd her once again to try -The sour sweets that lovers buy too dear. -The County Palurin, a man right wise, -A man of exquisite perfections, -I have like wounded with her piercing eyes, -And burnt her heart with his reflections. -These two shall joy in tasting of my sweet, -To make them prove more feelingly the grief -That bitter brings: for when their joys shall fleet, -Their dole shall be increas'd without relief. -Thus Love shall make worldlings to know his might; -Thus Love shall force great princes to obey; -Thus Love shall daunt each proud, rebelling spirit; -Thus Love shall wreak his wrath on their decay. -Their ghosts shall give black hell to understand, -How great and wonderful a god is Love: -And this shall learn the ladies of this land -With patient minds his mighty power to prove. -From whence I did descend, now will I mount -To Jove and all the gods in their delights: -In throne of triumph there will I recount, -How I by sharp revenge on mortal wights -Have taught the earth, and learned hellish sprites -To yield with fear their stubborn hearts to Love, -Lest their disdain his plagues and vengeance -prove. - [CUPID _remounteth into the heavens_. - - - -ACT III., SCENE 2. - - - LUCRECE _cometh out of_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber solitary_. - -LUCRECE. Pity, that moveth every gentle heart -To rue their griefs, that be distress'd in pain, -Enforceth me to wail my niece's smart, -Whose tender breast no long time may sustain -The restless toil, that her unquiet mind -Hath caus'd her feeble body to endure; -But why it is (alack!) I must not find, -Nor know the man, by whom I might procure -Her remedy, as I of duty ought, -As to the law of kinship doth belong. -With careful heart the secret means I sought, -Though small effect is of my travail sprung: -Full often as I durst I have assay'd -With humble words the princess to require -To name the man which she hath so denay'd,[62] -That it abash'd me further to desire, -Or ask from whence those cloudy thoughts proceed, -Whose stony force, that smoky sighs forth send, -Is lively witness how that careful dread -And hot desire within her do contend: -Yet she denies what she confess'd of yore, -And then conjoin'd me to conceal the same; -She loved once, she saith, but never more, -Nor ever will her fancy thereto frame. -Though daily I observed in my breast -What sharp conflicts disquiet her so sore, -That heavy sleep cannot procure her rest, -But fearful dreams present her evermore -Most hideous sights her quiet to molest; -That starting oft therewith, she doth awake, -To muse upon those fancies which torment -Her thoughtful heart with horror, that doth make -Her cold chill sweat break forth incontinent -From her weak limbs. And while the quiet night -Gives others rest, she, turning to and fro, -Doth wish for day: but when the day brings light, -She keeps her bed, there to record her woe. -As soon as when she riseth, flowing tears -Stream down her cheeks, immixed with deadly groans, -Whereby her inward sorrow so appears, -That as salt tears the cruel cause bemoans. -In case she be constrained to abide -In prease[63] of company, she scarcely may -Her trembling voice restrain it be not spy'd, -From careful plaints her sorrows to bewray. -By which restraint the force doth so increase, -When time and place give liberty to plain, -That as small streams from running never cease, -Till they return into the seas again; -So her laments, we fear, will not amend, -Before they bring her princely life to end. -To others' talk when as she should attend, -Her heaped cares her senses so oppress, -That what they speak, or whereto their words tend, -She knows not, as her answers do express. -Her chief delight is still to be alone, -Her pensive thoughts within themselves debate: -But whereupon this restless life is grown, -Since I know not, nor how the same t'abate; -I can no more but wish it as I may, -That he which knows it, would the same allay, -For which the Muses with my song shall pray. - - - -ACT III., SCENE 3. - - - _After the song, which was by report very sweetly repeated - by the Chorus_, LUCRECE _departeth into_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber, - and_ GUISCARD _cometh out of the palace with_ JULIO _and_ - RENUCHIO, _gentlemen, to whom he turneth, and saith_: - -GUISCARD. Leave me, my friends; this solitary walk -Enticeth me to break your company. -Leave me, my friends, I can endure no talk. -Let me entreat this common courtesy. [_The gentlemen depart_. -What grievous pain they 'dure, which neither may -Forget their loves, ne yet enjoy their love, -I know by proof, and daily make assay. -Though Love hath brought my lady's heart to love, -My faithful love with like love to requite; -This doth not quench, but rather cause to flame -The creeping fire which, spreading in my breast -With raging heat, grants me no time of rest. -If they bewail their cruel destiny, -Which spend their love, where they no love can find, -Well may I plain, since fortune haleth[64] me -To this torment of far more grievous kind; -Wherein I feel as much extremity, -As may be felt in body or in mind. -For by that sight, which should recure my pain, -My sorrows are redoubled all in vain. -Now I perceive that only I alone -Am her belov'd, her looks assure me so: -The thought thereof provokes me to bemoan -Her heavy plight that grieveth at my woe. -This intercourse of our affections-- -I her to serve, she thus to honour me-- -Bewrays the truth of our elections, -Delighting in this mutual sympathy. -Thus love for love entreat's the queen of love, -That with her help Love's solace we may prove. -I see my mistress seeks as well as I -To stay the strife of her perplexed mind: -Full fain she would our secret company, -If she the wished way thereof might find. -Heavens, have ye seen, or hath the age of man -Recorded such a miracle as this-- -In equal love two noble hearts to frame, -That never spake one with another's bliss? -I am assured that she doth assent -To my relief, that I should reap the same, -If she could frame the means of my content, -Keeping herself from danger of defame. -In happy hour right now I did receive -This cane from her; which gift though it be small, -Receiving it, what joys I did conceive -Within my fainting spirits therewithal! -Who knoweth love aright, may well conceive -By like adventures that to them befall. -"For needs the lover must esteem that well, -Which comes from her, with whom his heart doth dwell." -Assuredly it is not without cause -She gave me this; something she meant thereby: -For therewithal I might perceive her pause -Awhile, as though some weighty thing did lie -Upon her heart, which she concealed, because -The standers-by should not our loves descry: -This clift bewrays that it hath been disclos'd; -Perhaps herein she hath something inclos'd: [_He breaks it_. -O thou great thunderer! who would not serve, -Where wit with beauty chosen have their place? -Who could devise more wisely to conserve -Things from suspect? O Venus, for this grace -That deigns me, all unworthy, to deserve -So rare a love, in heaven I should thee place. -This sweet letter some joyful news contains, -1 hope it brings recure to both our pains. - [_He reads it_. - -_Mine own, as I am yours, whose heart, I know, -No less than mine, for lingering help of woe -Doth long too long: love, tendering your case -And mine, hath taught recure of both our pain. -My chamber-floor doth hide a cave, where was -An old vault's mouth: the other in the plain -Doth rise southward, a furlong from the wall. -Descend you there. This shall suffice. And so -I yield myself, mine honour, life, and all, -To you. Use you the same, as there may grow -Your bliss and mine, mine earl, and that the same -Free may abide from danger of defame. -Farewell; and fare so well, as that your joy, -Which only can, may comfort mine annoy. - Yours more than her own,_ - GISMUND. - -O blissful chance my sorrows to assuage! -Wonder of nature, marvel of our age! -Comes this from Gismund? did she thus enfold -This letter in the cane? may it be so? -It were too sweet a joy; I am deceiv'd. -Why shall I doubt, did she not give it me? -Therewith she smil'd, she joy'd, she raught[65] the cane, -And with her own sweet hand she gave it me: -And as we danc'd, she dallied with the cane, -And sweetly whisper'd I should be her king, -And with this cane, the sceptre of our rule, -Command the sweets of her surprised heart. -Therewith she raught from her alluring locks -This golden tress, the favour of her grace, -And with her own sweet hand she gave it me: -O peerless queen, my joy, my heart's decree! -And, thou fair letter, how shall I welcome thee? -Both hand and pen, wherewith thou written wert, -Blest may ye be, such solace that impart! -And blessed be this cane, and he that taught -Thee to descry the hidden entry thus: -Not only through a dark and dreadful vault, -But fire and sword, and through whatever be, -Mistress of my desires, I come to thee. - - [GISCARD _departeth in haste unto the palace_. - -CHORUS 1. Right mighty is thy power, O cruel Love, -High Jove himself cannot resist thy bow; -Thou sent'st him down, e'en from the heavens above, -In sundry shapes here to the earth below: -Then how shall mortal men escape thy dart, -The fervent flame and burning of thy fire; -Since that thy might is such, and since thou art -Both of the seas and land the lord and sire? - -CHORUS 2. But why doth she that sprang from Jove's high head, -And Phoebus's sister sheen, despise thy power, -Ne fear thy bow? Why have they always led -A maiden life, and kept untouch'd the flower? -Why doth Aegistus love, and to obtain -His wicked will, conspire his uncle's death? -Or why doth Phaedra burn, from whom is slain -Theseus' chaste son, or Helen, false of faith? -"For love assaults not but the idle heart, -And such as live in pleasure and delight; -He turneth oft their gladsome joys to smart, -Their play to plaint, their sport into despite." - -CHORUS 3. 'Tis true, that Dian chaseth with her bow -The flying hart, the goat, and foamy boar: -By hill, by dale: in heat, in frost, in snow: -She recketh not, but laboureth evermore; -Love seeks not her, ne knoweth where[66] to find. -Whilst Paris kept his herd on Ida down, -Cupid ne'er sought him out, for he is blind; -But when he left the field to live in town, -He fell into his snare, and brought that brand -From Greece to Troy, which after set on fire -Strong Ilium, and all the Phryges land: -"Such are the fruits of love, such is his hire."[67] - -CHORUS 4. Who yieldeth unto him his captive heart, -Ere he resist, and holds his open breast -Withouten war to take his bloody dart, -Let him not think to shake off, when him list, -His heavy yoke. "Resist his first assault; -Weak is his bow, his quenched brand is cold; -Cupid is but a child, and cannot daunt -The mind that bears him, or his virtues bold." -But he gives poison so to drink in gold, -And hideth under pleasant baits his hook; -But ye beware, it will be hard to hold -Your greedy minds, but if ye wisely look -What sly snake lurks under those flowers gay. -But ye mistrust some cloudy smokes, and fear -A stormy shower after so fair a day: -Ye may repent, and buy your pleasure dear; -For seldom-times is Cupid wont to send -"Unto an idle love a joyful end." - -FINIS ACTUS. _G. Al_. - - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 1. - - - _Before this act_ MEGAERA _riseth out of hell, with the - other furies_, ALECTO _and_ TYSIPHONE _dancing an hellish - round; which done, she saith_: - -MEGAERA. Sisters, begone, bequeath the rest to me, -That yet belongs unto this tragedy. - [_The two furies depart down_. -Vengeance and death from forth the deepest hell -I bring the cursed house, where Gismund dwells. -Sent from the grisly god, that holds his reign -In Tartar's ugly realm, where Pelops' sire -(Who with his own son's flesh, whom he had slain, -Did feast the gods) with famine hath his hire; -To gape and catch at flying fruits in vain, -And yielding waters to his gasping throat; -Where stormy Aeol's son with endless pain -Rolls up the rock; where Tytius hath his lot -To feed the gripe that gnaws his growing heart;[68] -Where proud Ixion, whirled on the wheel, -Pursues himself; where due deserved smart -The damned ghosts in burning flame do feel-- -From thence I mount: thither the winged god, -Nephew to Atlas that upholds the sky, -Of late down from the earth with golden rod -To Stygian ferry Salerne souls did guide, -And made report how Love, that lordly boy, -Highly disdaining his renown's decay, -Slipp'd down from heaven, and filled with fickle joy -Gismunda's heart, and made her throw away -Chasteness of life to her immortal shame: -Minding to show, by proof of her foul end, -Some terror unto those that scorn his name. -Black Pluto (that once found Cupid his friend -In winning Ceres' daughter, queen of hells;) -And Parthie, moved by the grieved ghost -Of her late husband, that in Tartar dwells, -Who pray'd due pains for her, that thus hath lost -All care of him and of her chastity. -The senate then of hell, by grave advice -Of Minos, Aeac, and of Radamant, -Commands me draw this hateful air, and rise -Above the earth, with dole and death to daunt -The pride and present joys, wherewith these two -Feed their disdained hearts; which now to do, -Behold I come with instruments of death. -This stinging snake, which is of hate and wrath, -I'll fix upon her father's heart full fast, -And into hers this other will I cast, -Whose rankling venom shall infect them so -With envious wrath and with recureless woe, -Each shall be other's plague and overthrow. -"Furies must aid, when men surcease to know -Their gods: and hell sends forth revenging pain -On those whom shame from sin cannot restrain." - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 2. - - - MEGAERA _entereth into the palace, and meeteth with_ - TANCRED _coming out of_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber with_ - RENUCHIO _and_ JULIO, _upon whom she throweth her - snake_.[69] - -TANCRED. Gods! are ye guides of justice and revenge? -O thou great Thunderer! dost thou behold -With watchful eyes the subtle 'scapes of men -Harden'd in shame, sear'd up in the desire -Of their own lusts? why then dost thou withhold -The blast of thy revenge? why dost thou grant -Such liberty, such lewd occasion -To execute their shameless villainy? -Thou, thou art cause of all this open wrong, -Thou, that forbear'st thy vengeance all too long. -If thou spare them, rain then upon my head -The fulness of thy plagues with deadly ire, -To reave this ruthful soul, who all too sore -Burns in the wrathful torments of revenge. -O earth, the mother of each living wight, -Open thy womb, devour this wither'd corpse. -And thou, O hell (if other hell there be -Than that I feel), receive my soul to thee. -O daughter, daughter (wherefore do I grace -Her with so kind a name?) O thou fond girl, -The shameful ruin of thy father's house, -Is this my hoped joy? Is this the stay -Must glad my grief-ful years that waste away? -For life, which first thou didst receive from me, -Ten thousand deaths shall I receive by thee. -For all the joys I did repose in thee. -Which I, fond man, did settle in thy sight, -Is this thy recompense--that I must see -The thing so shameful and so villanous: -That would to God this earth had swallowed -This worthless burthen into lowest deeps, -Rather than I, accursed, had beheld -The sight that hourly massacres my life? -O whither, whither fly'st thou forth, my soul? -O whither wand'reth my tormented mind? -Those pains, that make the miser[70] glad of death, -Have seiz'd on me, and yet I cannot have -What villains may command--a speedy death. -Whom shall I first accuse for this outrage? -That God that guideth all, and guideth so -This damned deed? Shall I blaspheme their names-- -The gods, the authors of this spectacle? -Or shall I justly curse that cruel star, -Whose influence assign'd this destiny? -But may that traitor, shall that vile wretch live, -By whom I have receiv'd this injury? -Or shall I longer make account of her, -That fondly prostitutes her widow's shame?-- -I have bethought me what I shall request. [_He kneels_. -On bended knees, with hands heav'd up to heaven, -This, sacred senate of the gods, I crave: -First on the traitor your consuming ire; -Next on the cursed strumpet dire revenge; -Last on myself, the wretched father, shame. [_He riseth_. -O! could I stamp, and therewithal command -Armies of furies to assist my heart, -To prosecute due vengeance on their souls! -Hear me, my friends; but as ye love your lives, -Reply not to me; hearken and stand amaz'd. -When I, as is my wont, O fond delight! -Went forth to seek my daughter, now my death-- -Within her chamber, as I thought, she was; -But there I found her not--I deemed then -For her disport she and her maidens were -Down to the garden walk'd to comfort them; -And thinking thus, it came into my mind -There all alone to tarry her return: -And thereupon I, weary, threw myself -Upon her widow's bed, for so I thought, -And in the curtain wrapp'd my cursed head. -Thus as I lay, anon I might behold -Out of the vault, up through her chamber floor, -My daughter Gismund bringing hand in hand -The County Palurin. Alas! it is too true; -At her bed's feet this traitor made me see -Her shame, his treason, and my deadly grief-- -Her princely body yielded to this thief; -The high despite whereof so wounded me -That, trance-like, as a senseless stone I lay; -For neither wit nor tongue could use the mean -T'express the passions of my pained heart. -Forceless, perforce, I sank down to this pain, -As greedy famine doth constrain the hawk -Piecemeal to rend and tear the yielding prey: -So far'd it with me in that heavy stound. -But now what shall I do? how may I seek -To ease my mind, that burneth with desire -Of dire revenge? For never shall my thoughts -Grant ease unto my heart, till I have found -A mean of vengeance to requite his pains, -That first convey'd this sight unto my soul.-- -Renuchio! - -RENUCHIO. What is your highness' will? - -TANCRED. Call my daughter: my heart boils, till I see -Her in my sight, to whom I may discharge -All the unrest that thus distempereth me. [_Exit_ RENUCHIO. -Should I destroy them both? O gods, ye know -How near and dear our daughter is to us. -And yet my rage persuades me to imbrue -My thirsty hands in both their trembling bloods, -Therewith to cool my wrathful fury's heat. -But, Nature, why repin'st thou at this thought? -Why should I think upon a father's debt -To her that thought not on a daughter's due? -But still, methinks, if I should see her die, -And therewithal reflex her dying eyes -Upon mine eyes, that sight would slit my heart: -Not much unlike the cockatrice, that slays -The object of his foul infections, -O, what a conflict doth my mind endure! -Now fight my thoughts against my passions: -Now strive my passions against my thoughts: -Now sweats my heart, now chill cold falls it dead. -Help, heavens, and succour, ye celestial powers! -Infuse your secret virtue on my soul. -Shall nature win? shall justice not prevail? -Shall I, a king, be proved partial? -"How shall our subjects then insult on us, -When our examples, that are light to them, -Shall be eclipsed with our proper deeds?" -And may the arms be rented from the tree, -The members from the body be dissever'd? -And can the heart endure no violence? -My daughter is to me mine only heart, -My life, my comfort, my continuance; -Shall I be then not only so unkind -To pass all nature's strength, and cut her off? -But therewithal so cruel to myself, -Against all law of kind to shred in twain -The golden thread that doth us both maintain? -But were it that my rage should so command, -And I consent to her untimely death, -Were this an end to all our miseries? -No, no, her ghost will still pursue our life, -And from the deep her bloodless, ghastful spirit -Will, as my shadow in the shining day, -Follow my footsteps, till she take revenge. -I will do thus: therefore the traitor dies, -Because he scorned the favour of his king, -And our displeasure wilfully incurr'd: -His slaughter, with her sorrow for his blood, -Shall to our rage supply delightful food. -Julio-- - -JULIO. What is't your majesty commands? - -TANCRED. Julio, if we have not our hope in vain, -Nor all the trust we do repose in thee, -Now must we try, if thou approve the same. -Herein thy force and wisdom we must see, -For our command requires them both of thee. - -JULIO. How by your grace's bounty I am bound -Beyond the common bond, wherein each man -Stands bound unto his king: how I have found -Honour and wealth by favour in your sight, -I do acknowledge with most thankful mind. -My truth (with other means to serve your grace, -Whatever you in honour shall assign) -Hath sworn her power true vassal to your hest: -For proof let but your majesty command, -I shall unlock the prison of my soul; -Although unkindly horror would gainsay, -Yet in obedience to your highness' will, -By whom I hold the tenor of this life, -This hand and blade will be the instruments -To make pale death to grapple with my heart. - -TANCRED. Well, to be short, for I am griev'd too long -By wrath without revenge, I think you know -Whilom there was a palace builded strong -For war within our court, where dreadless peace -Hath planted now a weaker entrance. -But of that palace yet one vault remains -Within our court, the secret way whereof -Is to our daughter Gismund's chamber laid: -There is also another mouth hereof -Without our wall, which now is overgrown; -But you may find it out, for yet it lies -Directly south a furlong from our palace! -It may be known--hard-by an ancient stoop,[71] -Where grew an oak in elder days decay'd; -There will we that you watch; there shall you see -A villain traitor mount out of a vault. -Bring him to us; it is th'Earl Palurin. -What is his fault, neither shall you inquire, -Nor list we to disclose. These cursed eyes -Have seen the flame, this heart hath felt the fire -That cannot else be quench'd but with his blood. -This must be done: this will we have you do. - -JULIO. Both this, and else whatever you think good. - - [JULIO _departeth into the palace_. - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 3. - - - RENUCHIO _bringeth_ GISMUND _out of her chamber, to - whom_ TANCRED _saith_. - -TANCRED. Renuchio, depart: leave us alone. [_Exit_ RENUCHIO. -Gismund, if either I could cast aside -All care of thee! or if thou wouldst have had -Some care of me, it would not now betide, -That either thorough thy fault my joy should fade, -Or by thy folly I should bear the pain -Thou hast procur'd: but now 'tis neither I -Can shun the grief, whom thou hast more than slain: -Nor may'st thou heal or ease the grievous wound -Which thou hast given me. That unstained life, -Wherein I joy'd, and thought it thy delight, -Why hast thou lost it? Can it be restor'd? -Where is thy widowhood, there is thy shame. -Gismund, it is no man's nor men's report, -That have by likely proofs inform'd me thus. -Thou know'st how hardly I could be induc'd -To vex myself, and be displeas'd with thee, -With flying tales of flattering sycophants. -No, no, there was in us such settled trust -Of thy chaste life and uncorrupted mind -That if these eyes had not beheld thy shame. -In vain ten thousand censures could have told -That thou didst once unprincelike make agree -With that vile traitor County Palurin: -Without regard had to thyself or me, -Unshamefastly to stain thy state and mine. -But I, unhappiest, have beheld the same, -And, seeing it, yet feel th'exceeding grief -That slays my heart with horror of that thought: -Which grief commands me to obey my rage, -And justice urgeth some extreme revenge, -To wreak the wrongs that have been offer'd us. -But nature, that hath lock'd within thy breast -Two lives, the same inclineth me to spare -Thy blood, and so to keep mine own unspilt. -This is that overweening love I bear -To thee undutiful, and undeserved. -But for that traitor, he shall surely die; -For neither right nor nature doth entreat -For him, that wilfully, without all awe -Of gods or men, or of our deadly hate, -Incurr'd the just displeasure of his king; -And to be brief, I am content to know -What for thyself thou canst object to us, -Why thou should'st not together with him die. -So to assuage the griefs that overthrow -Thy father's heart. - -GISMUND. O king and father, humbly give her leave -To plead for grace, that stands in your disgrace. -Not that she recks this life,[72] for I confess -I have deserv'd, when so it pleaseth you, -To die the death, mine honour and my name, -As you suppose, distained with reproach: -And well contented shall I meet the stroke -That must dissever this detested head -From these lewd limbs. But this I wish were known, -That now I live not for myself alone. -For when I saw that neither my request, -Nor the entreaty of my careful aunt, -Could win your highness' pleasure to our will; -"Then love, heat of the heart, life of the soul, -Fed by desire, increasing by restraint," -Would not endure controlment any more, -But violently enforc'd my feeble heart -(For who am I, alas! still to resist -Such endless conflicts?) to relent and yield: -Therewith I chose him for my lord and pheer, -Guiscard mine Earl, that holds my love full dear. -Then if it be so settled in your mind, -He shall not live, because he dar'd to love -Your daughter: thus I give your grace to know. -Within his heart there is inclos'd my life. -Therefore, O father, if that name may be -Sweet to your ears, and that we may prevail -By name of father, that you favour us: -But otherwise, if now we cannot find -That which our falsed hope did promise us; -Why then proceed, and rid our trembling hearts -Of these suspicions; since neither in this case -His good deserts in service to your grace, -Which always have been just, nor my desires, -May mitigate the cruel rage of grief -That strains your heart, but that mine Earl must die; -Then all in vain you ask, what I can say, -Why I should live. Sufficeth for my part -To say I will not live, and so resolve. - -TANCRED. Dar'st thou so desperate decree thy death? - -GISMUND. A dreadless heart delights in such decrees. - -TANCRED. Thy kind abhorreth such unkindly thoughts. - -GISMUND. Unkindly thoughts they are to them that live -In kindly love. - -TANCRED. As I do unto thee. - -GISMUND. To take his life who is my love from me? - -TANCRED. Have I then lost thy love? - -GISMUND. If he shall lose -His life, that is my love. - -TANCRED. - Thy love? Begone. -Return into thy chamber. - -GISMUND. - I will go. - - [GISMUND _departeth to her chamber_. - - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 4. - - - JULIO _with his guard bringeth in the_ COUNTY PALURIN _prisoner_. - -JULIO. If it please your highness, hither have we brought -This captive Earl, as you commanded us. -Whom, as we were foretold, even there we found. -Where by your majesty we were enjoin'd -To watch for him. What more your highness wills. -This heart and hand shall execute your best. - -TANCRED. Julio, we thank your pains. Ah, Palurin! -Have we deserved in such traitorous sort -Thou shouldst abuse our kingly courtesies, -Which we too long in favour have bestow'd -Upon thy false, dissembling heart with us? -What grief thou therewithal hast thrown on us, -What shame upon our house, what dire distress -Our soul endures, cannot be uttered. -And durst thou, villain, dare to undermine -Our daughter's chamber? durst thy shameless face -Be bold to kiss her? th'rest we will conceal. -Sufficeth that thou know'st I too well know -All thy proceedings in thy private shames. -Herein what hast thou won? thine own content, -With the displeasure of thy lord and king; -The thought whereof if thou hadst had in mind -The least remorse of love and loyalty -Might have restrain'd thee from so foul an act. -But, Palurin, what may I deem of thee, -Whom neither fear of gods, nor love of him, -Whose princely favour hath been thine uprear, -Could quench the fuel of thy lewd desires? -Wherefore content thee, that we are resolv'd -(And therefore laid to snare thee with this bait) -That thy just death, with thine effused blood, -Shall cool the heat and choler of our mood. - -GUISCARD. My lord the king, neither do I mislike -Your sentence, nor do your smoking sighs, -Reach'd from the entrails of your boiling heart, -Disturb the quiet of my calmed thoughts: -For this I feel, and by experience prove, -Such is the force and endless might of love, -As never shall the dread of carrion death, -That hath envy'd our joys, invade my breast. -For if it may be found a fault in me, -That evermore hath lov'd your majesty, -Likewise to honour and to love your child; -If love unto you both may be a fault-- -But unto her my love exceeds compare-- -Then this hath been my fault, for which I joy, -That in the greatest lust of all my life, -I shall submit for her sake to endure -The pangs of death. O mighty lord of Love, -Strengthen thy vassal boldly to receive -Large wounds into this body for her sake! -Then use my life or death, my lord and king, -For your relief to ease your grieved soul: -For whether I live, or else that I must die -To end your pains, I am content to bear; -Knowing by death I shall bewray the truth -Of that sound heart, which living was her own, -And died alive for her, that lived mine. - -TANCRED. Thine, Palurin? What! lives my daughter thine? -Traitor, thou wrong'st me, for she liveth mine. -Rather I wish ten thousand sundry deaths, -Than I to live, and see my daughter thine. -Thine that is dearer than my life to me? -Thine whom I hope to see an emp[e]ress? -Thine whom I cannot pardon from my sight? -Thine unto whom we have bequeath'd our crown?-- -Julio, we will that thou inform from us -Renuchio the captain of our guard, -That we command this traitor be convey'd -Into the dungeon underneath our tower; -There let him rest, until he be resolv'd -What farther we intend; which to understand -We will Renuchio repair to us. - -JULIO. O, that I might your majesty entreat -With clemency to beautify your seat -Toward this prince, distress'd by his desires, -Too many, all too strong to captivate. - -TANCRED. "This is the soundest safety for a king, -To cut them off, that vex or hinder him." - -JULIO. "This have I found the safety of a king, -To spare the subjects that do honour him." - -TANCRED. Have we been honour'd by this lecher's lust? - -JULIO. No, but by his devout submission. - -TANCRED. Our fortune says we must do what we may. - -JULIO. "This is praise-worth, not to do what you may." - -TANCRED. And may the subject countermand the king? - -JULIO. No, but entreat him. - -TANCRED. What he shall decree? - -JULIO. What wisdom shall discern. - -TANCRED. Nay, what our word -Shall best determine. We will not reply. -Thou know'st our mind: our heart cannot be eas'd, -But with the slaughter of this Palurin. - [The KING hasteth into his palace. - -GUISCARD. O thou great god, who from thy highest throne -Hast stooped down, and felt the force of love, -Bend gentle ears unto the woful moan -Of me poor wretch, to grant that I require! -Help to persuade the same great god, that he -So far remit his might, and slack his fire -From my dear lady's kindled heart, that she -May hear my death without her hurt. Let not -Her face, wherein there is as clear a light -As in the rising moon: let not her cheeks, -As red as is the party-colour'd rose, -Be paled with the news hereof: and so -I yield myself, my seely soul and all, -To him, for her, for whom my death shall show -I liv'd; and as I liv'd, I died her thrall. -Grant this, thou Thunderer: this shall suffice, -My breath to vanish in the liquid skies. - - [GUISCARD _is led to prison_. - -CHORUS 1. Who doth not know the fruits of Paris' love, -Nor understand the end of Helen's joy? -He may behold the fatal overthrow -Of Priam's house and of the town of Troy-- -His death at last and her eternal shame; -For whom so many noble knights were slain. -So many a duke, so many a prince of fame -Bereft his life, and left there in the plain. -Medea's armed hand, Eliza's sword, -Wretched Leander drenched in the flood. -Phillis, so long that waited for her lord: -All these too dearly bought their loves with blood. - -CHORUS 2. But he in virtue that his lady serves. -Ne wills but what unto her honour 'longs, -He never from the rule of reason swerves; -He feeleth not the pangs ne raging throngs -Of blind Cupid: he lives not in despair, -As done his servants; neither spends his days -In joy and care, vain hope and throbbing fear: -But seeks alway what may his sovereign please -In honour: he that thus serves, reaps the fruit -Of his sweet service; and no jealous dread, -Nor base suspect of aught to let his suit, -Which causeth oft the lover's heart to bleed, -Doth fret his mind, or burneth in his breast: -He waileth not by day, nor wakes by night, -When every other living thing doth rest; -Nor finds his life or death within her sight. - -CHORUS 3. Remember thou in virtue serve therefore -Thy chaste lady: beware thou do not love, -As whilom Venus did the fair Adone, -But as Diana lov'd th'Amazon's son; -Through whose request the gods to him alone -Restor'd new life. The twine that was undone, -Was by the sisters twisted up again. -The love of virtue in thy lady's looks, -The love of virtue in her learned talk; -This love yields matter for eternal books. -This love enticeth him abroad to walk, -There to invent and write new roundelays -Of learn'd conceit, her fancies to allure -To vain delights: such humours he allays, -And sings of virtue and her garments pure. - -CHORUS 4. Desire not of thy sovereign the thing -Whereof shame may ensue by any mean; -Nor wish thou aught that may dishonour bring. -So whilom did the learned Tuscan[73] serve -His fair lady; and glory was their end. -Such are the praises lovers done deserve, -Whose service doth to virtue and honour tend. - -FINIS ACTUS IV. COMPOSUIT CH. HAT.[74] - - - - -ACT V., SCENE 1. - - - RENUCHIO _cometh out of the palace_. - -RENUCHIO. O cruel fate! O miserable chance! -O dire aspect of hateful destinies! -O woe may not be told! Suffic'd it not -That I should see, and with these eyes behold -So foul, so bloody, and so base a deed: -But more to aggravate the heavy cares -Of my perplexed mind, must only I, -Must I alone be made the messenger, -That must deliver to her princely ears -Such dismal news, as when I shall disclose, -I know it cannot but abridge her days? -As when the thunder and three-forked fire, -Rent through the clouds by Jove's almighty power, -Breaks up the bosom of our mother earth, -And burns her heart, before the heat be felt. -In this distress, whom should I most bewail, -My woe, that must be made the messenger -Of these unworthy and unwelcome news? -Or shall I moan thy death, O noble Earl? -Or shall I still lament the heavy hap, -That yet, O Queen, attends thy funeral? - -CHORUS 1. What moans be these? -Renuchio, is this Salerne I see? -Doth here King Tancred hold the awful crown? -Is this the place where civil people be? -Or do the savage Scythians here abound? - -CHORUS 2. What mean these questions? whither tend these words? -Resolve us maidens, and release our fears. -Whatever news thou bring'st, discover them. -Detain us not in this suspicious dread! -"The thought whereof is greater than the woe." - -RENUCHIO. O, whither may I cast my looks? to heaven? -Black pitchy clouds from thence rain down revenge. -The earth shall I behold, stain'd with the gore -Of his heart-blood, that died most innocent? -Which way soe'er I turn mine eyes, methinks -His butcher'd corpse stands staring in my face. - -CHORUS 3. We humbly pray thee to forbear these words, -So full of terror to our maiden hearts: -"The dread of things unknown breeds the suspect -Of greater dread, until the worst be known." -Tell therefore what hath chanc'd, and whereunto -This bloody cup thou holdest in thy hand. - -RENUCHIO. Since so is your request, that I shall do, -Although my mind so sorrowful a thing -Repines to tell, and though my voice eschews -To say what I have seen; yet since your will -So fixed stands to hear for what I rue, -Your great desires I shall herein fulfil. -Fast by Salerne city, amids the plain, -There stands a hill whose bottom, huge and round. -Thrown out in breadth, a large space doth contain: -And gathering up in height, small from the ground, -Still less and less it mounts: there sometime was -A goodly tower uprear'd, that flower'd in fame -While fate and fortune serv'd; but time doth pass, -And with his sway suppresseth all the same: -For now the walls be even'd with the plain, -And all the rest so foully lies defac'd, -As but the only shade doth there remain -Of that, which there was built in time forepass'd: -And yet that shows what worthy work tofore -Hath there been rear'd. One parcel of that tower[75] -Yet stands, which eating time could not devour: -A strong turret, compact of stone and rock, -Hugy without, but horrible within: -To pass to which, by force of handy stroke, -A crooked strait is made, that enters in, -And leads into this ugly loathsome place. -Within the which, carved into the ground, -A deep dungeon[76] there runs of narrow space. -Dreadful and dark, where never light is found: -Into this hollow cave, by cruel hest -Of King Tancred, were divers servants sent -To work the horror of his furious breast, -Erst nourish'd in his rage, and now stern bent -To have the same perform'd. I woful man, -Amongst the rest, was one to do the thing. -That to our charge so straitly did belong, -In sort as was commanded by the king. -Within which dreadful prison when we came, -The noble County Palurin, that there -Lay chain'd in gyves,[77] fast fetter'd in his bolts, -Out of the dark dungeon we did uprear, -And hal'd him thence into a brighter place, -That gave us light to work our tyranny. -But when I once beheld his manly face, -And saw his cheer, no more appall'd with fear -Of present death, than he whom never dread -Did once amate:[78] my heart abhorred then -To give consent unto so foul a deed: -That wretched death should reave so worthy a man. -On false fortune I cried with loud complaint, -That in such sort o'erwhelms nobility. -But he, whom never grief ne fear could taint, -With smiling cheer himself oft willeth me -To leave to plain his case, or sorrow make -For him; for he was far more glad apaid -Death to embrace thus for his lady's sake, -Than life or all the joys of life, he said. -For loss of life, quoth he, grieves me no more -Than loss of that which I esteemed least: -My lady's grief, lest she should rue therefore, -Is all the cause of grief within my breast. -He pray'd therefore, that we would make report -To her of those his last words he would say: -That, though he never could in any sort -Her gentleness requite, nor never lay -Within his power to serve her as he would; -Yet she possess'd his heart with hand and might, -To do her all the honour that he could. -This was to him, of all the joys that might -Revive his heart, the chiefest joy of all, -That to declare the faithful heart which he -Did bear to her, fortune so well did fall, -That in her love he should both live and die. -After these words he stay'd, and spake no more, -But joyfully beholding us each one, -His words and cheer amazed us so sore, -That still we stood; when forthwith thereupon: -But, why slack you, quoth he, to do the thing -For which you come? make speed, and stay no more: -Perform your master's will. Now tell the king -He hath his life, for which he long'd so sore: -And with those words himself with his own hand -Fast'ned the bands about his neck. The rest -Wond'ring at his stout heart, astonied[79] stand -To see him offer thus himself to death. -What stony breast, or what hard heart of flint -Would not relent to see this dreary sight? -So goodly a man, whom death nor fortune's dint -Could once disarm, murder'd with such despite; -And in such sort bereft, amidst the flowers -Of his fresh years, that ruthful was to seen: -"For violent is death, when he devours -Young men or virgins, while their years be green." -Lo! now our servants seeing him take the bands, -And on his neck himself to make them fast; -Without delay set to their cruel hands, -And sought to work their fierce intent with haste. -They stretch the bloody bands; and when the breath -Began to fail his breast, they slack'd again: -Thrice did they pull, and thrice they loosed him, -So did their hands repine against their hearts: -And ofttimes loosed to his greater pain. -"But date of death, that fixed is so fast, -Beyond his course there may no wight extend;" -For strangled is this noble Earl at last, -Bereft of life, unworthy such an end. - -CHORUS. O damned deed! - -RENUCHIO. What, deem you this to be -All the sad news that I have to unfold? -Is here, think you, end of the cruelty -That I have seen? - -CHORUS. Could any heavier woe -Be wrought to him, than to destroy him so? - -RENUCHIO. What, think you this outrage did end so well? -The horror of the fact, the greatest grief, -The massacre, the terror is to tell. - -CHORUS. Alack! what could be more? they threw percase -The dead body to be devour'd and torn -Of the wild beasts. - -RENUCHIO. Would God it had been cast a savage prey -To beasts and birds: but lo, that dreadful thing -Which e'en the tiger would not work, but to -Suffice his hunger, that hath the tyrant king -Withouten ruth commanded us to do, -Only to please his wrathful heart withal. -Happy had been his chance, too happy, alas! -If birds or beasts had eaten up his corpse, -Yea, heart and all within this cup I bring, -And am constrained now unto the face -Of his dear lady to present the same. - -CHORUS. What kind of cruelty is this you name? -Declare forthwith, and whereunto doth tend -This farther plaint. - -RENUCHIO. After his breath was gone, -Forced perforce thus from his panting breast, -Straight they despoiled him; and not alone -Contented with his death, on the dead corpse, -Which ravenous beasts forbear to lacerate, -Even upon this our villains fresh begun -To show new cruelty; forthwith they pierce -His naked belly, and unripp'd it so, -That out the bowels gush'd. Who can rehearse -Their tyranny, wherewith my heart yet bleeds? -The warm entrails were torn out of his breast, -Within their hands trembling, not fully dead; -His veins smok'd, his bowels all-to reeked, -Ruthless were rent, and thrown about the place: -All clottered lay the blood in lumps of gore, -Sprent[80] on his corpse, and on his paled face; -His trembling heart, yet leaping, out they tore, -And cruelly upon a rapier -They fix'd the same, and in this hateful wise -Unto the king this heart they do present: -A sight long'd for to feed his ireful eyes. -The king perceiving each thing to be wrought -As he had will'd, rejoicing to behold -Upon the bloody sword the pierced heart, -He calls then for this massy cup of gold, -Into the which the woful heart he cast; -And reaching me the same: now go, quoth he, -Unto my daughter, and with speedy haste -Present her this, and say to her from me, -Thy father hath here in this cup thee sent -That thing to joy and comfort thee withal, -Which thou lovedst best, even as thou wert content -To comfort him with his chief joy of all. - -CHORUS. O hateful fact! O passing cruelty! -O murder wrought with too much hard despite! -O heinous deed, which no posterity -Will once believe! - -RENUCHIO. Thus was Earl Palurin -Strangled unto the death, yea, after death -His heart and blood disbowell'd from his breast. -But what availeth plaint? It is but breath -Forewasted all in vain. Why do I rest -Here in this place? Why go I not, and do -The hateful message to my charge committed? -O, were it not that I am forced thereto -By a king's will, here would I stay my feet, -Ne one whit farther wade in this intent! -But I must yield me to my prince's hest; -Yet doth this somewhat comfort mine unrest, -I am resolv'd her grief not to behold, -But get me gone, my message being told. -Where is the princess' chamber? - -CHORUS. Lo, where she comes. - - - -ACT V., SCENE 2. - - - GISMUND _cometh out of her chamber, to whom_ - RENUCHIO _delivereth his cup, saying_: - -RENUCHIO. Thy father, O queen, here in this cup hath sent -The thing to joy and comfort thee withal -Which thou lovedst best, even as thou wast content -To comfort him with his chief joy of all. - -GISMUNDA. I thank my father, and thee, gentle squire, -For this thy travail; take thou, for thy pains, -This bracelet, and commend me to the king. [RENUCHIO _departeth_. -So, now is come the long-expected hour, -The fatal hour I have so looked for; -Now hath my father satisfied his thirst -With guiltless blood, which he so coveted. -What brings this cup? Ah me! I thought no less, -It is mine Earl's, my County's pierced heart. -Dear heart, too dearly hast thou bought my love; -Extremely rated at too high a price! -Ah, my sweet heart, sweet wast thou in thy life, -But in thy death thou provest passing sweet. -A fitter hearse than this of beaten gold -Could not be 'lotted to so good an heart: -My father therefore well provided thus -To close and wrap thee up in massy gold, -And therewithal to send thee unto me, -To whom of duty thou dost best belong. -My father hath in all his life bewray'd -A princely care and tender love to me; -But this surpasseth--in his later days -To send me this, mine own dear heart, to me. -Wert thou not mine, dear heart, whilst that my love -Danced and play'd upon thy golden strings? -Art thou not mine, dear heart, now that my love -Is fled to heaven, and got him golden wings? -Thou art mine own, and still mine own shalt be, -Therefore my father sendeth thee to me. -Ah, pleasant harborough[81] of my heart's thought! -Ah, sweet delight, the quickener of my soul! -Seven times accursed be the hand that wrought -Thee this despite, to mangle thee so foul: -Yet in this wound I see mine own true love, -And in this wound thy magnanimity, -And in this wound I see thy constancy. -Go, gentle heart, go rest thee in thy tomb, -Receive this token at thy last farewell. [_She kisseth it_. -Thine own true heart anon will follow thee, -Which panting lusteth[82] for thy company. -Thus hast thou run, poor heart! thy mortal race, -And rid thy life from fickle fortune's snares; -Thus hast thou lost this world and worldly cares, -And of thy foe, to honour thee withal, -Receiv'd a golden grave to thy desert. -Nothing doth want to thy just funeral, -But my salt tears to wash thy bloody wound: -Which to the end thou might'st receive, behold -My father sends thee in this cup of gold; -And thou shalt have them, though I was resolv'd -To shed no tears, but with a cheerful face -Once did I think to wet thy funeral -Only with blood and with no weeping eye. -This done, forthwith my soul shall fly to thee; -For therefore did my father send thee me. -Ah, my pure heart! with sweeter company -Or more content, how safer may I prove -To pass to places all unknown with thee! -Why die I not therefore? why do I stay? -Why do I not this woful life forego, -And with these hands enforce this breath away? -What means this gorgeous glittering head-attire? -How ill beseem these billaments[83] of gold -Thy mournful widowhood? away with them-- - [_She undresseth her hair_. -So let thy tresses, flaring in the wind, -Untrimmed hang about thy bared neck. -Now, hellish furies, set my heart on fire, -Bolden my courage, strengthen ye my hands, -Against their kind, to do a kindly deed. -But shall I then unwreaken[84] down descend? -Shall I not work some just revenge on him -That thus hath slain my love? shall not these hands -Fire his gates, and make the flame to climb -Up to the pinnacles with burning brands, -And on his cinders wreak my cruel teen[85]? -Be still, fond girl; content thee first to die, -This venom'd water shall abridge thy life: - [_She taketh a vial of poison out of her pocket_. -This for the same intent provided I, -Which can both ease and end this raging strife. -Thy father by thy death shall have more woe, -Than fire or flames within his gates can bring: -Content thee then in patience hence to go, -Thy death his blood shall wreak upon the king. -Now not alone (a grief to die alone) -"The only mirror of extreme annoy;" -But not alone thou diest, my love, for I -Will be copartner of thy destiny. -Be merry then, my soul; can'st thou refuse -To die with him, that death for thee did choose? - -CHORUS 1. What damned fury hath possessed our Queen? -Why sit we still beholding her distress? -Madam, forbear, suppress this headstrong rage. - -GISMUNDA. Maidens, forbear your comfortable words. - -CHORUS 2. O worthy Queen, rashness doth overthrow -The author of his resolution. - -GISMUNDA. Where hope of help is lost, what booteth fear? - -CHORUS 3. Fear will avoid the sting of infamy. - -GISMUNDA. May good or bad reports delight the dead? - -CHORUS 4. If of the living yet the dead have care. - -GISMUNDA. An easy grief by counsel may be cur'd. - -CHORUS 1. But headstrong mischiefs princes should avoid. - -GISMUNDA. In headlong griefs and cases desperate? - -CHORUS 2. Call to your mind, Gismund, you are the Queen. - -GISMUNDA. Unhappy widow, wife, and paramour. - -CHORUS 3. Think on the king. - -GISMUNDA. The king, the tyrant king? - -CHORUS 4. Your father. - -GISMUNDA. Yes, the murtherer of my love. - -CHORUS 4. His force. - -GISMUNDA. The dead fear not the force of men. - -CHORUS 1. His care and grief. - -GISMUNDA. That neither car'd for me, -Nor grieved at the murther of my love. -My mind is settled; you with these vain words -Withhold me but too long from my desire. -Depart ye to my chamber. - -CHORUS. We will haste -To tell the king hereof. - [CHORUS _depart into the palace_. - -GISMUNDA. I will prevent -Both you and him. Lo, here this hearty draught, -The last that in this world I mean to taste, -Dreadless of death, mine Earl, I drink to thee. -So now work on; now doth my soul begin -To hate this light, wherein there is no love; -No love of parents to their children; -No love of princes to their subjects true; -No love of ladies to their dearest loves: -Now pass I to the pleasant land of love, -Where heavenly love immortal flourisheth. -The gods abhor the company of men; -Hell is on earth; yea, hell itself is heaven -Compar'd with earth. I call to witness heaven; -Heaven, said I? No; hell[86] record I call, -And thou, stern goddess of revenging wrongs, -Witness with me, I die for his pure love. -That lived mine. - - [_She lieth down, and covereth her face - with her hair_. - - - -ACT V., SCENE 3. - - - TANCRED _in haste cometh out of his palace with_ JULIO. - -TANCRED. Where is my daughter? - -JULIO. Behold, here, woful king! - -TANCRED. Ah me! break, heart; and thou, fly forth, my soul. -What, doth my daughter Gismund take it so? -What hast thou done? O, let me see thine eyes! -O, let me dress up those untrimmed locks![87] -Look up, sweet child, look up, mine only joy, -'Tis I, thy father, that beseecheth thee: -Rear up thy body, strain thy dying voice -To speak to him; sweet Gismund, speak to me. - -GISMUNDA. Who stays my soul? who thus disquiets me? - -TANCRED. 'Tis I, thy father; ah! behold my tears, -Like pearled dew, that trickle down my cheeks, -To wash my silver hairs. - -GISMUNDA. O father king, -Forbear your tears, your plaint will not avail. - -TANCRED. O my sweet heart, hast thou receiv'd thy life -From me, and wilt thou, to requite the same, -Yield me my death? yea, death, and greater grief-- -To see thee die for him, that did defame -Thine honour thus, my kingdom, and thy name? - -GISMUNDA. Yea, therefore, father, gave you life to me, -That I should die, and now my date is done. -As for your kingdom and mine own renown, -Which you affirm dishonoured to be, -That fault impute it where it is; for he, -That slew mine Earl, and sent his heart to me, -His hands have brought this shame and grief on us. -But, father, yet if any spark remain -Of your dear love; if ever yet I could -So much deserve, or at your hands desire, -Grant that I may obtain this last request. - -TANCRED. Say, lovely child, say on, whate'er it be, -Thy father grants it willingly to thee. - -GISMUNDA. My life I crave not, for it is not now -In you to give, nor in myself to save; -Nor crave I mercy for mine Earl and me, -Who hath been slain with too much cruelty. -With patience I must a while abide -Within this life, which now will not be long. -But this is my request--father, I pray -That, since it pleased so your majesty, -I should enjoy my love alive no more, -Yet ne'ertheless let us not parted be, -Whom cruel death could never separate: -But as we liv'd and died together here, -So let our bodies be together tomb'd: -Let him with me, and I with him, be laid -Within one shrine, wherever you appoint. -This if you grant me, as I trust you will, -Although I live not to requite this grace, -Th'immortal gods due recompense shall give -To you for this: and so, vain world, farewell-- -My speech is painful, and mine eyesight fails. - -TANCRED. My daughter dies--see how the bitter pangs -Of tyrannous death torments her princely heart! -She looks on me, at me she shakes her head; -For me she groans; by me my daughter dies; -I, I the author of this tragedy.-- -On me, on me, ye heavens, throw down your ire! -Now dies my daughter! [_she dies_] hence with -princely robes! [_He throws aside his robes_. -O fair in life! thrice fairer in thy death! -Dear to thy father in thy life thou wert, -But in thy death dearest unto his heart; -I kiss thy paled cheeks, and close thine eyes. -This duty once I promis'd to myself -Thou shouldst perform to me; but ah! false hope, -Now ruthful, wretched king, what resteth thee? -Wilt thou now live wasted with misery? -Wilt thou now live, that with these eyes didst see -Thy daughter dead? wilt thou now live to see -Her funerals, that of thy life was stay? -Wilt thou now live that wast her life's decay? -Shall not this hand reach to this heart the stroke? -Mine arms are not so weak, nor are my limbs -So feebled with mine age, nor is my heart -So daunted with the dread of cowardice, -But I can wreak due vengeance on that head, -That wrought the means these lovers now be dead. -Julio, come near, and lay thine own right hand -Upon my thigh[88]--now take thine oath of me. - -JULIO. I swear to thee, my liege lord, to discharge -Whatever thou enjoinest Julio. - -TANCRED. First, then, I charge thee that my daughter have -Her last request: thou shalt within one tomb -Inter her Earl and her, and thereupon -Engrave some royal epitaph of love. -That done, I swear thee thou shalt take my corpse -Which thou shalt find by that time done to death, -And lay my body by my daughter's side-- -Swear this, swear this, I say. - -JULIO. I swear. -But will the king do so unkingly now? - -TANCRED. A kingly deed the king resolves to do. - -JULIO. To kill himself? - -TANCRED. To send his soul to ease. - -JULIO. Doth Jove command it? - -TANCRED. Our stars compel it. - -JULIO. The wise man overrules his stars. - -TANCRED. So we. - -JULIO. Undaunted should the minds of kings endure. - -TANCRED. So shall it in this resolution. -Julio, forbear: and as thou lov'st the king, -When thou shalt see him welt'ring in his gore. -Stretching his limbs, and gasping in his groans, -Then, Julio, set to thy helping hand, -Redouble stroke on stroke, and drive the stab -Down deeper to his heart, to rid his soul. -Now stand aside, stir not a foot, lest thou -Make up the fourth to fill this tragedy. -These eyes that first beheld my daughter's shame; -These eyes that longed for the ruthful sight -Of her Earl's heart; these eyes that now have seen -His death, her woe, and her avenging teen; -Upon these eyes we must be first aveng'd. -Unworthy lamps of this accursed lump, -Out of your dwellings! [_Puts out his eyes_] So; it fits us thus -In blood and blindness to go seek the path -That leadeth down to everlasting night. -Why fright'st thou, dastard? be thou desperate; -One mischief brings another on his neck, -As mighty billows tumble in the seas, -Now, daughter, seest thou not how I amerce -My wrath, that thus bereft thee of thy love, -Upon my head? Now, fathers, learn by me, -Be wise, be warn'd to use more tenderly -The jewels of your joys. Daughter, I come. - - [_Kills himself_. - - -FINIS. - - - -EPILOGUE. - -SPOKEN BY JULIO. - -Lo here the sweets of grisly pale despair! -These are the blossoms of this cursed tree, -Such are the fruits of too much love and care, -O'erwhelmed in the sense of misery. -With violent hands he that his life doth end, -His damned soul to endless night doth wend. -Now resteth it that I discharge mine oath, -To see th'unhappy lovers and the king -Laid in one tomb. I would be very loth -You should wait here to see this mournful thing: -For I am sure, and do ye all to wit, -Through grief wherein the lords of Salerne be, -These funerals are not prepared yet: -Nor do they think on that solemnity. -As for the fury, ye must understand, -Now she hath seen th'effect of her desire, -She is departed, and hath left our land. -Granting this end unto her hellish ire. -Now humbly pray we, that our English dames -May never lead their loves into mistrust; -But that their honours may avoid the shames, -That follow such as live in wanton lust. -We know they bear them on their virtues bold, -With blissful chastity so well content -That, when their lives and loves abroad are told, -All men admire their virtuous government; -Worthy to live where fury never came, -Worthy to live where love doth always see, -Worthy to live in golden trump of fame, -Worthy to live and honoured still to be. -Thus end our sorrows with the setting sun: -Now draw the curtains, for our scene is done. - - R.W. - - - - - - -THE WOUNDS OF CIVIL WAR. - - - -_EDITION. - -The Wounds of Civill War. Lively set forth in the true Tragedies of -Marius and Scilla. As it hath beene publiquely plaide in London, by the -Right Honourable the Lord high Admirall his Servants. Written by Thomas -Lodge, Gent_. O vita! misero longa, faelici brevis. _London, Printed by -John Danter, and are to be sold at the signe of the Sunne in Paules -Church-yarde_. 1594. 4to. - - - - -MR. COLLIER'S PREFACE.[89] - - -Thomas Lodge, in his "Alarum against Usurers," 1584, speaks of his -"birth," and of "the offspring from whence he came," as if he were at -least respectably descended; and on the authority of Anthony Wood, it -has been asserted by all subsequent biographers that he was of a -Lincolnshire family. [The fact is, that Lodge was the second son of Sir -Thomas Lodge, Lord Mayor of London, who died in 1584, by his wife, the -daughter of Sir William Laxton.] Thomas Salter, about the year 1580, -dedicated his "Mirror of Modesty" to [the poet's mother, Lady Anne -Lodge]. - -Langbaine seems to be under a mistake when he states that Lodge was of -Cambridge. Wood claims him for the University of Oxford,[90] where he -traces him as early as 1573, when he must have been about seventeen -years old, if he were born, as is generally supposed, in 1556. We are -told by himself that he was a Servitor of Trinity College, and that he -was educated under Sir Edward Hoby. At what time and for what cause -Lodge left Oxford is not known; but Stephen Gosson, in the dedication of -his "Plays Confuted in Five Actions," printed about 1582,[91] accuses -him of having become "a vagrant person, visited by the heavy hand of -God," as if he had taken to the stage, and thereby had incurred the -vengeance of heaven. In 1584, when Lodge answered Gosson, he was a -student of Lincoln's Inn;[92] and to "his courteous friends, the -Gentlemen of the Inns of Court," he dedicated his "Alarum against -Usurers." He afterwards, as he informs Lord Hunsdon, in the epistle -before his "Rosalynde," 1590, "fell from books to arms;" and he calls it -"the work of a soldier and a scholar," adding that he had sailed with -Captain Clarke to the islands of Terceras and the Canaries. In 1596, he -published his "Margarite of America," and he mentions that it was -written in the Straits of Magellan, on a voyage with Cavendish. To this -species of vagrancy, however, Gosson did not refer. - -That Lodge was vagrant in his pursuits we have sufficient evidence; for, -after having perhaps been upon the stage, having entered himself at -Lincoln's Inn, having become a soldier, and having sailed with Clarke -and Cavendish, he went, according to Wood, to study medicine at -Avignon.[93] This change, if it took place at all, which may admit of -doubt,[94] did not occur until after 1596. In 1595 his "Fig for Momus" -appeared. Besides Satires, it contains Epistles and Eclogues; and in one -of the latter Lodge speaks in his own person, under the character of -"Golde" (the same letters that compose his name), and there states his -determination no longer to pursue ill-rewarded poetry-- - - "Which sound rewards, since this neglected time, - Repines to yield to men of high desert, - I'll cease to ravel out my wits in rhyme, - For such who make so base account of art; - And since by wit there is no means to climb, - I'll hold the plough awhile, and ply the cart; - And if my muse to wonted course return, - I'll write and judge, peruse, commend and burn." - -The dedication of his "Wit's Misery, and the World's Madness," is dated -"from my house, at Low Layton, 5th November 1596." - -The principal reasons for supposing that Lodge studied medicine are the -existence of a "Treatise of the Plague," published by "Thomas Lodge, -Doctor in Physic," in 1603, and of a collection of medical recipes in -MS., called "The Poor Man's Legacy," addressed to the Countess of -Arundel, and sold among the books of the Duke of Norfolk.[95] [There can -be little or no question that the physician and poet were one and the -same. In "England's Parnassus," 1600, he is called indifferently Thomas -Lodge and Doctor Lodge.] The author of the "Treatise of the Plague" -expressly tells the Lord Mayor of London, in the dedication, that he was -"bred and brought up" in the city. Thomas Heywood, in his "Troja -Britannica," 1609, enumerates the celebrated physicians then living-- - - "As famous Butler, Pedy, Turner, Poe, - Atkinson, Lyster, _Lodge_, who still survive."--C. 3. - -It hardly deserves remark that Lodge is placed last in this list; but -had he been the same individual who had written for the stage, was the -friend of so many dramatists, and was so well known as a lyric poet, it -seems likely that Heywood would have said more about him.[96] It is a -singular coincidence, that having written how to prevent and cure the -plague, he should die of that disease during the great mortality of -1625. Wood's expressions on this point, however, are not decisive: "He -made his last _exit_ (of the plague, I think) in September 1625, leaving -then behind him a widow called Joan." It has been conjectured [rather -foolishly] that he was a Roman Catholic, from a statement made by one of -his biographers that, while he practised medicine in London, he was much -patronised by persons of that persuasion. - -There are but two existing dramatic productions on the title-pages of -which the name of Lodge is found:[97] the one he wrote alone, and the -other in partnership with Robert Greene:-- - -(1.) The Wounds of Civill War. Lively set forth in the true Tragedies of -Marius and Scilla, &c. Written by Thomas Lodge, Gent. 1594, 4to. - -(2.) A Looking Glasse for London and Englande. Made by Thomas Lodge, -Gentleman, and Robert Greene, _in Artibus Magister_. 1594, 1598, 1602, -1617, all in 4to.[98] - -The most remarkable [of his works], and that which has been most often -reprinted, is his "Rosalynde" which, as is well known, Shakespeare -closely followed in "As You Like It."[99] - -Anterior to the date of any of his other pieces must have been Lodge's -defence of stage-plays, because Stephen Gosson replied to it about 1582. -It was long thought, on the authority of Prynne, that Lodge's tract was -called "The Play of Plays," but Mr Malone ascertained that to be a -different production. The only copy of Lodge's pamphlet seen by Mr -Malone was without a title, and it was probably the same that was sold -among the books of Topham Beauclerc in 1781. It is spoken of in "The -French Academy" [1589] as having "lately passed the press;" but Lodge -himself, in his "Alarum against Usurers," very clearly accounts for its -extreme rarity: he says, "by reason of the slenderness of the subject -(because it was in defence of plaies and play-makers) the godly and -reverent that had to deal in the cause, misliking it, forbad the -publishing;" and he charges Gosson with "comming by a private unperfect -coppye," on which he framed his answer, entitled, "Plays confuted in -Five Actions." - -Mr Malone ("Shakespeare," by Boswell, ii. 250) contends that Spenser -alludes to Lodge, in his "Tears of the Muses," under the name of Alcon, -in the following lines:-- - - "And there is pleasing Alcon, could he raise - His tunes from lays to matters of more skill;" - -and he adds that Spenser calls Lodge Alcon, from one of the characters -in "A Looking Glasse for London and Englande;" but this argument would -apply just as much to Lodge's coadjutor Greene. Mr Malone further argues -that Lodge, roused by this applause (which he repaid in his "Phillis"), -produced not long afterwards a "matter of more skill," in "The Wounds of -Civil War." - - - - -THE MOST LAMENTABLE AND TRUE - - TRAGEDIES OF - -MARIUS AND SYLLA.[100] - - - - _Enter on the Capitol_ SULPITIUS, _Tribune_, CAIUS MARIUS, - Q. POMPEY, _Consul_, JUNIUS BRUTUS, LUCRETIUS, CAIUS GRANIUS, - LECTORIUS, LUCIUS MERULA, _Jupiter's Priest, and_ CINNA; - _whom placed, and their Lictors before them with their rods - and axes_, SULPITIUS _beginneth_. - -SULPITIUS. Grave senators, and fathers of this state, -Our strange protractions and unkind delays -Where weighty wars doth call us out to fight, -Our factious wits, to please aspiring lords, -(You see) have added power unto our foes, -And hazarded rich Phrygia and Bithinia, -With all our Asian holds and cities too. -Thus Sylla seeking to be general, -Who is invested in our consul's pall,[101] -Hath forced murders in a quiet state; -The cause whereof even Pompey may complain, -Who, seeking to advance a climbing friend, -Hath lost by death a sweet and courteous son. -Who now in Asia but Mithridates -Laughs at these fond dissensions I complain? -While we, in wrangling for a general, -Forsake our friends, forestal our forward war, -And leave our legions full of dalliance: -Waiting our idle wills at Capua. -Fie, Romans! shall the glories of your names, -The wondrous beauty of this capitol, -Perish through Sylla's insolence and pride; -As if that Rome were robb'd of true renown, -And destitute of warlike champions now? -Lo, here the man, the rumour of whose fame, -Hath made Iberia tremble and submit: -See Marius, that in managing estate, -Though many cares and troubles he hath pass'd, -And spent his youth, upon whose reverend head -The milk-white pledge of wisdom sweetly spreads. -He, six times consul, fit for peace or war, -Sits drooping here, content to brook disgrace, -Who glad to fight through follies of his foes -Sighs for your shame, whilst you abide secure. -And I that see and should recure these wrongs, -Through Pompey's late vacation and delay, -Have left to publish him for general, -That merits better titles far than these. -But, nobles, now the final day is come, -When I, your tribune, studying for renown, -Pronounce and publish Marius general, -To lead our legions against Mithridates, -And crave, grave fathers, signs of your content. - -Q. POMPEY. Believe me, noble Romans and grave senators, -This strange election, and this new-made law -Will witness our unstable government, -And dispossess Rome of her empery: -For although Marius be renown'd in arms, -Famous for prowess, and grave in warlike drifts, -Yet may the sunshine of his former deeds -Nothing eclipse our Sylla's dignity. -By lot and by election he was made -Chief general against Mithridates, -And shall we then abridge him of that rule? -'Twere injury to Sylla and to Rome: -Nor would the height of his all-daring mind -Brook to the death so vile and foul disgrace. - -J. BRUTUS. Why, Pompey, as if the senate had not power -To appoint, dispose, and change their generals! -Rome shall belike be bound to Sylla's rule, -Whose haughty pride and swelling thoughts puff'd-up -Foreshows the reaching to proud Tarquin's state. -Is not his ling'ring to our Roman loss -At Capua, where he braves it out with feasts, -Made known, think you, unto the senate here? -Yes, Pompey, yes; and hereof are we sure, -If Romans' state on Sylla's pride should lie, -Rome's conquests would to Pontus' regions fly; -Therefore, grave and renowned senators, -(Pillars that bear and hold our rule aloft, -You stately, true, and rich pyramids) -Descend into the depth of your estates; -Then shall you find that Sylla is more fit -To rule in Rome domestical affairs, -Than have the conquest of Bithinia, -Which, if once got, he'll but by death forego: -Therefore I say [let] Marius [be] our general. - -LUCRETIUS. So thus we strive abroad to win renown, -And nought regard at home our waning states. -Brutus, I say, the many brave exploits, -The warlike acts that Sylla has achiev'd -Show him a soldier and a Roman too, -Whose care is more for country than himself. -Sylla nill brook[102], that in so many wars, -So hard adventures and so strange extremes, -Hath borne the palm and prize of victory, -Thus with dishonour to give up his charge. -Sylla hath friends and soldiers at command, -That first will make the towers of Rome to shake, -And force the stately capitol to dance, -Ere any rob him of his just renown. -Then we that through the Caspian shores have run, -And spread with ships the Oriental sea, -At home shall make a murder of our friends, -And massacre our dearest countrymen. - -LECTORIUS. The power of Sylla nought will 'vail 'gainst Rome; -And let me die, Lucretius, ere I see -Our senate dread for any private man. Therefore, -Renown'd Sulpitius, send for Sylla back: -Let Marius lead our men in Asia. - -L. MERULA. The law the senate wholly doth affirm: -Let Marius lead our men in Asia. - -ClNNA. Cinna affirms the senate's censure just, -And saith let Marius lead the legions forth. - -C. GRANIUS. Honour and victory follow Marius' steps! -For him doth Granius wish to fight for Rome. - -SULPITIUS. Why then, you sage and ancient sires of Rome, -Sulpitius here again doth publish forth, -That Marius by the senate here is made -Chief general to lead the legions out -Against Mithridates and his competitors. -Now victory, for honour of Rome, follow Marius! - - [_Here let_ MARIUS _rouse himself_. - -MARIUS. Sage and imperial senators of Rome, -Not without good advisement have you seen -Old Marius silent during your discourse: -Yet not for that he fear'd to plead his cause, -Or raise his honour trodden down by age, -But that his words should not allure his friends -To stand on stricter terms for his behoof. -Six times the senate by election hath -Made Marius consul over warlike Rome, -And in that space nor Rome nor all the world -Could ever say that Marius was untrue. -These silver hairs, that hang upon my face, -Are witnesses of my unfeigned zeal. -The Cymbrians, that erewhile invaded France, -And held the Roman empire in disdain, -Lay all confounded under Marius' sword: -Fierce Scipio, the mirror once of Rome, -Whose loss as yet my inward soul bewails, -Being ask'd who should succeed and bear his rule, -Even this, quoth he, shall Scipio's armour bear; -And therewithal clapp'd me upon the back.[103] -If then, grave lords, my former-passed youth -Was spent in bringing honours unto[104] Rome, -Let then my age and latter date of years, -Be sealed up for honour unto Rome. - - _Here enter_ SYLLA, _with Captains and Soldiers_. - -SULPITIUS. Sylla, what mean these arms and warlike troops? -These glorious ensigns and these fierce alarm[s] -'Tis proudly done to brave the capitol! - -SYLLA. These arms, Sulpitius, are not borne for hate, -But maintenance of my confirmed state: -I come to Rome with no seditious thoughts, -Except I find too froward injuries. - -SULPITIUS. But wisdom would you did forbear -To yield these slight suspicions of contempt, -Where as the senate studieth high affairs. - -SYLLA. What serious matters have these lords in hand? - -SULPITIUS. The senators with full decree appoint -Old Marius for their captain-general, -To lead thy legions into Asia, -And fight against the fierce Mithridates. - -SYLLA. To Marius? Jolly stuff! Why then I see -Your lordships mean to make a babe of me. - -J. BRUTUS. 'Tis true, Sylla, the senate hath agreed -That Marius shall those bands and legions bear, -Which you now hold, against Mithridates. - -SYLLA. Marius should[105] lead them then, if Sylla said not no; -And I should be a consul's shadow then. -Trustless senators and ungrateful Romans, -For all the honours I have done to Rome, -For all the spoils I brought within her walls, -Thereby for to enrich and raise her pride, -Repay you me with this ingratitude? -You know, unkind, that Sylla's wounded helm -Was ne'er hung up once, or distain'd with rust: -The Marcians that before me fell amain, -And like to winter-hail on every side, -Unto the city Nuba I pursued, -And for your sakes were thirty thousand slain. -The Hippinians and the Samnites Sylla brought -As tributaries unto famous Rome: -Ay, where did Sylla ever draw his sword, -Or lift his warlike hand above his head -For Romans' cause, but he was conqueror? -And now, unthankful, seek you to disgrade -And tear the plumes that Sylla's sword hath won? -Marius, I tell thee Sylla is the man -Disdains to stoop or vail his pride to thee. -Marius, I say thou may'st nor shalt not have -The charge that unto Sylla doth belong, -Unless thy sword could tear it from my heart, -Which in a thousand folds impales[106] the same. - -MARIUS. And, Sylla, hereof be thou full assur'd: -The honour, whereto mine undaunted mind -And this grave senate hath enhanced me, -Thou nor thy followers shall derogate. -The space[107] of years that Marius hath o'erpass'd -In foreign broils and civil mutinies, -Hath taught him this: that one unbridled foe -My former fortunes never shall o'ergo. - -SYLLA. Marius, I smile at these thy foolish words; -And credit me, should laugh outright, I fear, -If that I knew not how thy froward age -Doth make thy sense as feeble as thy joints. - -MARIUS. Sylla, Sylla, Marius' years have taught -Him how to pluck so proud a younker's plumes; -And know, these hairs, that dangle down my face, -In brightness like the silver Rhodope, -Shall add so haughty courage to my mind, -And rest such piercing objects 'gainst thine eyes, -That mask'd in folly age shall force thee stoop. - -SYLLA. And by my hand I swear, ere thou shalt 'maze me so, -My soul shall perish but I'll have thy beard. -Say, grave senators, shall Sylla be your general? - -SULPITIUS. No: the senate, I, and Rome herself agrees -There's none but Marius shall be general. -Therefore, Sylla, these daring terms unfit -Beseem not thee before the capitol. - -SYLLA. Beseem not me? Senators, advise you. -Sylla hath vowed, whose vows the heavens record, -Whose oaths have pierc'd and search'd the deepest vast, -Ay, and whose protestations reign on earth: -This capitol, wherein your glories shine, -Was ne'er so press'd and throng'd with scarlet gowns -As Rome shall be with heaps of slaughtered souls, -Before that Sylla yield his titles up. -I'll make[108] her streets, that peer into the clouds, -Burnish'd with gold and ivory pillars fair, -Shining with jasper, jet, and ebony, -All like the palace of the morning sun, -To swim within a sea of purple blood, -Before I lose the name of general. - -MARIUS. These threats against thy country and these lords, -Sylla, proceed from forth a traitor's heart; -Whose head I trust to see advanced up -On highest top of all this capitol, -As erst was many of thy progeny, -Before thou vaunt thy victories in Rome. - -SYLLA. Greybeard, if so thy heart and tongue agree, -Draw forth thy legions and thy men at arms; -Rear up thy standard and thy steeled crest, -And meet with Sylla in the fields of Mars, -And try whose fortune makes him general. - -MARIUS. I take thy word: Marius will meet thee there, -And prove thee, Sylla, traitor unto Rome, -And all that march under thy trait'rous wings. -Therefore they that love the Senate and Marius, -Now follow him. - -SYLLA. And all that love Sylla come down to him: -For the rest, let them follow Marius, -And the devil himself be their captain. - - [_Here let the Senate rise and cast away their gowns, - having their swords by their sides. Exit_ MARIUS, _and - with him_ SULPITIUS, JUNIUS, BRUTUS, LECTORIUS. - -Q. POMPEY. Sylla, I come to thee. - -LUCRETIUS. Sylla, Lucretius will die with thee. - -SYLLA. Thanks, my noble lords of Rome. - - [_Here let them go down, and_ SYLLA _offers to go - forth, and_ ANTHONY _calls him back_: - -ANTHONY. Stay, Sylla; hear Anthony breathe forth -The pleading plaints of sad declining Rome. - -SYLLA. Anthony, thou know'st thy honey words do pierce -And move the mind of Sylla to remorse: -Yet neither words nor pleadings now must serve: -When as mine honour calls me forth to fight: -Therefore, sweet Anthony, be short for Sylla's haste. - -ANTHONY. For Sylla's haste! O, whither wilt thou fly? -Tell me, my Sylla, what dost thou take in hand? -What wars are these thou stirrest up in Rome? -What fire is this is kindled by thy wrath? -A fire that must be quench'd by Romans' blood. -A war that will confound our empery; -And last, an act of foul impiety. -Brute beasts nill break the mutual law of love, -And birds affection will not violate: -The senseless trees have concord 'mongst themselves, -And stones agree in links of amity. -If they, my Sylla, brook not to have jar, -What then are men, that 'gainst themselves do war? -Thou'lt say, my Sylla, honour stirs thee up; -Is't honour to infringe the laws of Rome? -Thou'lt say, perhaps, the titles thou hast won -It were dishonour for thee to forego; -O, is there any height above the highest, -Or any better than the best of all? -Art thou not consul? art thou not lord of Rome? -What greater titles should our Sylla have? -But thou wilt hence, thou'lt fight with Marius, -The man the senate, ay, and Rome hath chose. -Think this, before thou never lift'st aloft, -And lettest fall thy warlike hand adown, -But thou dost raze and wound thy city Rome: -And look, how many slaughter'd souls lie slain -Under thy ensigns and thy conquering lance, -So many murders mak'st thou of thyself. - -SYLLA. Enough, my Anthony, for thy honey'd tongue -Washed in a syrup of sweet conserves[109], -Driveth confused thoughts through Sylla's mind: -Therefore suffice thee, I may nor will not hear. -So farewell, Anthony; honour calls me hence: -Sylla will fight for glory and for Rome. - - [_Exit_ SYLLA _and his followers_. - -L. MERULA. See, noble Anthony, the trustless state of rule, -The stayless hold of matchless sovereignty: -Now fortune beareth Rome into the clouds, -To throw her down into the lowest hells; -For they that spread her glory through the world, -Are they that tear her proud, triumphant plumes: -The heart-burning pride of proud Tarquinius -Rooted from Rome the sway of kingly mace, -And now this discord, newly set abroach, -Shall raze our consuls and our senates down. - -ANTHONY. Unhappy Rome, and Romans thrice accurs'd! -That oft with triumphs fill'd your city walls -With kings and conquering rulers of the world, -Now to eclipse, in top of all thy pride, -Through civil discords and domestic broils. -O Romans, weep the tears of sad lament, -And rend your sacred robes at this exchange, -For fortune makes our Rome a banding ball[110], -Toss'd from her hand to take the greater fall. - -GRANIUS. O, whence proceed these foul, ambitious thoughts, -That fire men's hearts and make them thirst for rule? -Hath sovereignty so much bewitch'd the minds -Of Romans, that their former busied cares, -Which erst did tire in seeking city's good, -Must now be chang'd to ruin of her walls? -Must they, that rear'd her stately temples up, -Deface the sacred places of their gods? -Then may we wail, and wring our wretched hands, -Sith both our gods, our temples, and our walls, -Ambition makes fell fortune's spiteful thralls. - - [_Exeunt all_. - - [_A great alarum. Let young_ MARIUS _chase_ POMPEY - over the stage, and old_ MARIUS _chase_ LUCRETIUS. - _Then let enter three or four Soldiers, and his - ancient with his colours, and_ SYLLA _after them - with his hat in his hand: they offer to fly away_. - -SYLLA. Why, whither fly you, Romans, -What mischief makes this flight? -Stay, good my friends: stay, dearest countrymen! - -1ST SOLDIER. Stay, let us hear what our Lord Sylla say'th. - -SYLLA. What, will you leave your chieftains, Romans, then, -And lose your honours in the gates of Rome? -What, shall our country see, and Sylla rue, -These coward thoughts so fix'd and firm'd in you? -What, are you come from Capua to proclaim -Your heartless treasons in this happy town? -What, will you stand and gaze with shameless looks, -Whilst Marius' butchering knife assails our throats? -Are you the men, the hopes, the stays of state? -Are you the soldiers prest[111] for Asia? -Are you the wondered legions of the world, -And will you fly these shadows of resist? -Well, Romans, I will perish through your pride, -That thought by you to have return'd in pomp; -And, at the least, your general shall prove, -Even in his death, your treasons and his love. -Lo, this the wreath that shall my body bind, -Whilst Sylla sleeps with honour in the field: -And I alone, within these colours shut, -Will blush your dastard follies in my death. -So, farewell, heartless soldiers and untrue, -That leave your Sylla, who hath loved you. [_Exit_. - -1ST SOLDIER. Why, fellow-soldiers, shall we fly the field, -And carelessly forsake our general? -What, shall our vows conclude with no avail? -First die, sweet friends, and shed your purple blood, -Before you lose the man that wills you good. -Then to it, brave Italians, out of hand! -Sylla, we come with fierce and deadly blows -To venge thy wrongs and vanquish all thy foes. - - [_Exeunt to the alarum_. - - - - -ACTUS SECUNDUS, SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ SYLLA _triumphant_; LUCRETIUS, POMPEY, - _with Soldiers_. - -SYLLA. You, Roman soldiers, fellow-mates in arms, -The blindfold mistress of uncertain chance -Hath turn'd these traitorous climbers from the top, -And seated Sylla in the chiefest place-- -The place beseeming Sylla and his mind. -For, were the throne, where matchless glory sits -Empal'd with furies, threatening blood and death, -Begirt with famine and those fatal fears, -That dwell below amidst the dreadful vast, -Tut, Sylla's sparkling eyes should dim with clear[112] -The burning brands of their consuming light, -And master fancy with a forward mind, -And mask repining fear with awful power: -For men of baser metal and conceit -Cannot conceive the beauty of my thought. -I, crowned with a wreath of warlike state, -Imagine thoughts more greater than a crown, -And yet befitting well a Roman mind. -Then, gentle ministers of all my hopes, -That with your swords made way unto my wish, -Hearken the fruits of your courageous fight. -In spite of all these Roman basilisks, -That seek to quell us with their currish looks, -We will to Pontus: we'll have gold, my hearts; -Those oriental pearls shall deck our brows. -And you, my gentle friends, you Roman peers: -Kind Pompey, worthy of a consul's name, -You shall abide the father of the state, -Whilst these brave lads, Lucretius, and I, -In spite of all these brawling senators, -Will, shall, and dare attempt on Asia, -And drive Mithridates from out his doors. - -POMPEY. Ay, Sylla, these are words of mickle worth, -Fit for the master of so great a mind. -Now Rome must stoop, for Marius and his friends -Have left their arms, and trust unto their heels. - -SYLLA. But, Pompey, if our Spanish jennets' feet -Have learnt to post it of their mother-wind, -I hope to trip upon the greybeard's heels, -Till I have cropp'd his shoulders from his head. -And for his son, the proud, aspiring boy, -His beardless face and wanton, smiling brows, -Shall, if I catch him, deck yond' capitol. -The father, son, the friends and soldiers all, -That fawn on Marius, shall with fury fall. - -LUCRETIUS. And what event shall all these troubles bring? - -SYLLA. This--Sylla in fortune will exceed a king. -But, friends and soldiers, with dispersed bands -Go seek out Marius' fond confederates: -Some post along those unfrequented paths, -That track by nooks unto the neighbouring sea: -Murder me Marius, and maintain my life. -And that his favourites in Rome may learn -The difference betwixt my fawn and frown, -Go cut them short, and shed their hateful blood, -To quench these furies of my froward mood. - - [_Exit Soldiers_. - -LUCRETIUS. Lo, Sylla, where our senators approach; -Perhaps to 'gratulate thy good success. - - _Enter_ ANTHONY, GRANIUS, LEPIDUS. - -SYLLA. Ay, that _perhaps_ was fitly placed there: -But, my Lucretius, these are cunning lords, -Whose tongues are tipp'd with honey to deceive. -As for their hearts, if outward eyes may see them, -The devil scarce with mischief might agree them. - -LEPIDUS. Good fortune to our consul, worthy Sylla. - -SYLLA. And why not general 'gainst the King of Pontus? - -GRANIUS. And general against the King of -Pontus. - -SYLLA. Sirrah, your words are good, your thoughts are ill. -Each milkwhite hair amid this mincing beard, -Compar'd with millions of thy treacherous thoughts, -Would change their hue through vigour of thy hate. -But, did not pity make my fury thrall, -This sword should finish hate, thy life, and all. -I prythee, Granius, how doth Marius? - -GRANIUS. As he that bides a thrall to thee and fate: -Living in hope, as I and others do, -To catch good fortune, and to cross thee too. - -SYLLA. Both blunt and bold, but too much mother-wit. -To play with fire, where fury streams about: -Curtail your tale, fond man, cut off the rest; -But here I will dissemble for the best. - -GRANIUS. Sylla, my years have taught me to discern -Betwixt ambitious pride and princely zeal; -And from thy youth these peers of Home have mark'd -A rash revenging humour[113] in thy brain. -Thy tongue adorn'd with flowing eloquence, -And yet I see imprinted in thy brows -A fortunate but froward governance. -And though thy rival Marius, mated late -By backward working of his wretched fate, -Is fall'n; yet, Sylla, mark what I have seen -Even here in Rome. The fencer Spectacus -Hath been as fortunate as thou thyself; -But when that Crassus' sword assayed his crest, -The fear of death did make him droop for woe. - -SYLLA. You saw in Rome this brawling fencer die, -When Spectacus by Crassus was subdued. -Why so? but, sir, I hope you will apply, -And say like Spectacus that I shall die. -Thus peevish eld, discoursing by a fire, -Amidst their cups will prate how men aspire. -Is this the greeting, Romans, that you give -Unto the patron of your monarchy? -Lucretius, shall I play a pretty jest? - -LUCRETIUS. What Sylla will, what Roman dare withstand? - -SYLLA. A brief and pleasing answer, by my head. -Why, tell me, Granius, dost thou talk in sport? - -GRANIUS. No, Sylla, my discourse is resolute. -Not coin'd to please thy fond and cursed thoughts: -For were my tongue betray'd with pleasing words -To feed the humours of thy haughty mind, -I rather wish the rot should root it out. - -SYLLA. The bravest brawler that I ever heard. -But, soldiers, since I see he is oppress'd -With crooked choler, and our artists teach -That fretting blood will press through open'd veins, -Let him that has the keenest sword arrest -The greybeard, and cut off his head in jest. -Soldiers, lay hands on Granius. - -GRANIUS. Is this the guerdon[114] then of good advice? - -SYLLA. No, but the means to make fond men more wise. -Tut, I have wit, and carry warlike tools, -To charm the scolding prate of wanton fools. -Tell me of fencers and a tale of fate! -No, Sylla thinks of nothing but a state. - -GRANIUS. Why, Sylla, I am arm'd the worst to try. - -SYLLA, I pray thee then, Lucretius, let him die. - - [_Exeunt with_ GRANIUS. - -Beshrew me, lords, but in this jolly vein -'Twere pity but the prating fool were slain. -I fear me Pluto will be wrath with me, -For to detain so grave a man as he. - -ANTHONY. But seek not, Sylla, in this quiet state -To work revenge upon an aged man, -A senator, a sovereign of this town. - -SYLLA. The more the cedar climbs, the sooner down: -And, did I think the proudest man in Rome -Would wince at that which I have wrought or done, -I would and can control his insolence. -Why, senators, is this the true reward, -Wherewith you answer princes for their pain, -As when this sword hath made our city free, -A braving mate should thus distemper me? -But, Lepidus and fellow-senators, -I am resolved, and will not brook your taunts: -Who wrongeth Sylla, let him look for stripes. - -ANTHONY. Ay, but the milder passions show the man; -For as the leaf doth beautify the tree, -The pleasant flow'rs bedeck the painted spring, -Even so in men of greatest reach and power -A mild and piteous thought augments renown. -Old Anthony did never see, my lord, -A swelling show'r, that did continue long: -A climbing tower that did not taste the wind: -A wrathful man not wasted with repent. -I speak of love, my Sylla, and of joy, -To see how fortune lends a pleasant gale -Unto the spreading sails of thy desires; -And, loving thee, must counsel thee withal: -For, as by cutting fruitful vines increase, -So faithful counsels work a prince's peace. - -SYLLA. Thou honey-talking father, speak thy mind. - -ANTHONY. My Sylla, scarce those tears are dried up, -That Roman matrons wept to see this war: -Along the holy streets the hideous groans -Of murdered men infect the weeping air: -Thy foes are fled, not overtaken yet, -And doubtful is the hazard of this war: -Yea, doubtful is the hazard of this war, -For now our legions draw their wasteful swords -To murder whom? Even Roman citizens! -To conquer whom? Even Roman citizens! -Then, if that Sylla love these citizens, -If care of Rome, if threat of foreign foes, -If fruitful counsels of thy forward friends, -May take effect, go fortunate, and drive -The King of Pontus out of Asia; -Lest, while we dream on civil mutinies, -Our wary foes assail our city walls. - -POMPEY. My long-concealed thoughts, Mark Anthony, -Must seek discovery through thy pliant words. -Believe me, Sylla, civil mutinies -Must not obscure thy glories and our names. -Then, sith that factious Marius is suppress'd, -Go spread thy colours 'midst the Asian fields; -Meanwhile myself will watch this city's weal. - -SYLLA. Pompey, I know thy love, I mark thy words, -And, Anthony, thou hast a pleasing vein; -But, senators, I harbour[115] in my head -With every thought of honour some revenge. - - _Enter LUCRETIUS with the head_. - -Speak, what, shall Sylla be your general? - -LEPIDUS. We do decree that Sylla shall be general? - -SYLLA. And wish you Sylla's weal and honour too? - -ANTHONY. We wish both Sylla's weal and honour too. - -SYLLA. Then take away the scandal of this state, -Banish the name of tribune out of town; -Proclaim false Marius and his other friends -Foemen and traitors to the state of Rome, -And I will wend and work so much by force, -As I will master false Mithridates. - -LEPIDUS. The name of tribune hath continued long. - -SYLLA. So shall not Lepidus, if he withstand me. -Sirrah, you see the head of Granius: -Watch you his hap, unless you change your words. -Pompey, now please me: Pompey, grant my suit. - -POMPEY. Lictors, proclaim this our undaunted doom. -We will that Marius and his wretched sons: -His friends Sulpitius, Claudius, and the rest -Be held for traitors, and acquit the men, -That shall endanger their unlucky lives; -And henceforth tribune's name and state shall cease. -Grave senators, how like you this decree? - -LEPIDUS. Even as our consuls wish, so let it be. - -SYLLA. Then, Lepidus, all friends in faith for me, -So leave I Rome to Pompey and my friends, -Resolv'd to manage those our Asian wars. -Frolic, brave soldiers, we must foot it now: -Lucretius, you shall bide the brunt with me. -Pompey, farewell, and farewell, Lepidus. -Mark Anthony, I leave thee to thy books; -Study for Rome and Sylla's royalty. -But, by my sword, I wrong this greybeard's head; -Go, sirrah, place it on the capitol: -A just promotion fit for Sylla's foe. -Lordings, farewell: come, soldiers, let us go. - - [_Exit_. - -POMPEY. Sylla, farewell, and happy be thy chance, -Whose war both Rome and Romans must advance. - - [_Exeunt Senators_. - - _Enter the Magistrates of Minturnum with_ MARIUS - _very melancholy_: LUCIUS FAVORINUS, PAUSANIUS, - _with some attendants_. - -PAUSANIUS. My lord, the course of your unstayed fate, -Made weak through that your late unhappy fight, -Withdraws our wills that fain would work your weal: -For long experience and the change of times, -The innocent suppressions of the just, -In leaning to forsaken men's relief, -Doth make us fear, lest our unhappy town -Should perish through the angry Roman's sword. - -MARIUS. Lords of Minturnum, when I shap'd my course, -To fly the danger of pursuing death, -I left my friends, and all alone attain'd, -In hope of succours, to this little town, -Relying on your courtesies and truth. -What foolish fear doth then amaze you thus? - -FAVORINUS. O Marius, thou thyself, thy son, thy friends, -Are banished, and exiles out of Rome, -Proclaim'd for traitors, reft of your estates, -Adjudg'd to death with certain warrantise: -Should then so small a town, my lord, as this -Hazard their fortunes to supply your wants? - -MARIUS. Why, citizens, and what is Marius? -I tell you, not so base as to despair, -Yea, able to withstand ingratitudes. -Tell me of foolish laws, decreed at Rome -To please the angry humours of my foe! -Believe me, lords, I know and am assur'd, -That magnanimity can never fear, -And fortitude so conquer silly fate, -As Sylla, when he hopes to have my head, -May hap ere long on sudden lose his own. - -PAUSANIUS. A hope beseeming Marius; but, I fear, -Too strange to have a short and good event. - -MARIUS. Why, Sir Pausanius, have you not beheld -Campania plains fulfill'd with greater foes, -Than is that wanton milk-sop, nature's scorn. -Base-minded men to live in perfect hope, -Whose thoughts are shut within your cottage eaves, -Refuse not Marius, that must favour you: -For these are parts of unadvised men, -With present fear to lose a perfect friend, -That can, will, may control, command, subdue, -That braving boy, that thus bewitcheth you. - -FAVORINUS. How gladly would we succour you, my lord, -But that we fear-- - -MARIUS. What? the moonshine in the water! -Thou wretched stepdame of my fickle state, -Are these the guerdons of the greatest minds? -To make them hope and yet betray their hap, -To make them climb to overthrow them straight? -Accurs'd thy wreak[116], thy wrath, thy bale, thy weal, -That mak'st me sigh the sorrows that I feel! -Untrodden paths my feet shall rather trace, -Than wrest my succours from inconstant hands: -Rebounding rocks shall rather ring my ruth, -Than these Campanian piles, where terrors bide: -And nature, that hath lift my throne so high, -Shall witness Marius' triumphs, if he die. -But she, that gave the lictor's rod and axe -To wait my six times consulship in Rome, -Will not pursue where erst she flattered so. -Minturnum then, farewell, for I must go; -But think for to repent you of your no. - -PAUSANIUS. Nay stay, my lord, and deign in private here -To wait a message of more better worth: -Your age and travels must have some relief; -And be not wrath, for greater men than we -Have feared Rome and Roman tyranny. - -MARIUS. You talk it now like men confirmed in faith. -Well, let me try the fruits of your discourse, -For care my mind and pain my body wrongs. - -PAUSANIUS. Then, Favorinus, shut his lordship up -Within some secret chamber in the state. -Meanwhile, we will consult to keep him safe, -And work some secret means for his supply. - -MARIUS. Be trusty, lords; if not, I can but die. - [_Exit_ MARIUS. - -PAUSANIUS. Poor, hapless Roman, little wottest thou -The weary end of thine oppressed life. - -LUCIUS. Why, my Pausanius, what imports these words? - -PAUSANIUS. O Lucius, age hath printed in my thoughts -A memory of many troubles pass'd. -The greatest towns and lords of Asia -Have stood on tickle terms through simple truth: -The Rhodian records well can witness this. -Then, to prevent our means of overthrow, -Find out some stranger, that may suddenly -Enter the chamber, where as Marius lies, -And cut him short; the present of whose head -Shall make the Romans praise us for our truth, -And Sylla prest to grant us privilege. - -LUCIUS. A barbarous act to wrong the men that trust. - -PAUSANIUS. In country's cause injustice proveth just. -Come, Lucius, let not silly thought of right -Subject our city to the Roman's might: -For why you know in Marius only end -Rome will reward, and Sylla will befriend. - -LUCIUS. Yet all successions will us discommend. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MARIUS _the younger_; CETHEGUS, LECTORIUS, - _with Roman Lords and Soldiers_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. The wayward lady of this wicked world, -That leads in luckless triumph wretched men, -My Roman friends, hath forced our desires, -And fram'd our minds to brook too base relief. -What land or Lybian desert is unsought -To find my father Marius and your friend? -Yea, they whom true relent could never touch-- -These fierce Numidians, hearing our mishaps, -Weep floods of moan to wail our wretched fates. -Thus we, that erst with terrors did attaint -The Bactrian bounds, and in our Roman wars -Enforc'd the barbarous borderers of the Alps -To tremble with the terrors of our looks, -Now fly, poor men, affrighted without harms: -Seeking amidst the desert rocks and dens -For him, that whilom in our capitol -Even with a beck commanded Asia. -Thou woful son of such a famous man, -Unsheathe thy sword, conduct these warlike men -To Rome, unhappy mistress of our harms: -And there, since tyrants' power hath thee oppress'd, -And robb'd thee of thy father, friends, and all, -So die undaunted, killing of thy foes, -That were the offspring of these wretched woes. - -LECTORIUS. Why, how now, Marius, will you mate us thus, -That with content adventure for your love? -Why, noble youth, resolve yourself on this, -That son and father both have friends in Rome, -That seek old Marius' rest and your relief. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lectorius, friends are geason[117] now-a-days, -And grow to fume, before they taste the fire. -Adversities bereaving man's avails, -They fly like feathers dallying in the wind: -They rise like bubbles in a stormy rain, -Swelling in words, and flying faith and deeds. - -CETHEGUS. How fortunate art thou, my lovely lord, -That in thy youth may'st reap the fruits of age; -And having lost occasion's holdfast now, -May'st learn hereafter how to entertain her well. -But sudden hopes do swarm about my heart: -Be merry, Romans; see, where from the coast -A weary messenger doth post him fast. - - _Enter_ CINNA'S SLAVE, _with a letter enclosed, - posting in haste_. - -LECTORIUS. It should be Cinna's slave, or else I err, -For in his forehead I behold the scar, -Wherewith he marketh still his barbarous swains. - -YOUNG MARIUS. O, stay him, good Lectorius, for me-seems -His great post-haste some pleasure should present. - -LECTORIUS. Sirrah, art thou of Rome? - -SLAVE. Perhaps, sir, no. - -LECTORIUS. Without perhaps, say, sirrah, is it so? - -SLAVE. This is Lectorius, Marius' friend, I trow; -Yet were I best to learn the certainty, -Lest some dissembling foes should me descry. [_Aside_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Sirrah, leave off this foolish dalliance, -Lest with my sword I wake you from your trance. - -SLAVE. O happy man, O labours well-achiev'd! -How hath this chance my weary limbs revived: -O noble Marius! O princely Marius! - -YOUNG MARIUS. What means this peasant by his great rejoice? - -SLAVE. O worthy Roman, many months have past -Since Cinna, now the consul and my lord, -Hath sent me forth to seek thy friends and thee. -All Lybia, with our Roman presidents, -Numidia, full of unfrequented ways, -These weary limbs have trod to seek you out, -And now, occasion pitying of my pains, -I late arriv'd upon this wished shore, -Found out a sailor born in Capua, -That told me how your lordship pass'd this way. - -YOUNG MARIUS. A happy labour, worthy some reward. -How fares thy master? What's the news at Rome? - -SLAVE. Pull out the pike from off this javelin-top, -And there are tidings for these lords and thee. - -YOUNG MARIUS. A policy beseeming Cinna well: -Lectorius, read, and break these letters up.[118] - - LETTER. - -To his Honourable friend Marius the younger, greeting. - -_Being consul (for the welfare both of father and son, with other thy -accomplices), I have, under an honest policy, since my instalment in the -consulship, caused all Sylla's friends that were indifferent, with the -other neighbouring cities, to revolt. Octavius, my fellow-consul, with -the rest of the senate, mistrusting me, and hearing how I sought to -unite the old citizens with the new, hath wrought much trouble, but to -no effect. I hope the soldiers of Capua shall follow our faction, for -Sylla, hearing of these hurly-burlies, is hasting homeward, very -fortunate in his wars against Mithridates. And it is to be feared that -some of his friends here have certified him of my proceedings, and -purpose to restore you. Cethegus and Lectorius I hear say are with you. -Censorinus and Albinovanus will shortly visit you. Therefore haste and -seek out your father, who is now, as I hear, about Minturnum. Levy what -power you can with all expedition, and stay not_. - -Rome, the 5 Kalends of December. - _Your unfeigned friend,_ - CINNA, _Consul_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Yea, fortune, shall young Marius climb aloft? -Then woe to my repining foes in Rome! -And if I live, sweet queen of change, thy shrines -Shall shine with beauty 'midst the capitol. -Lectorius, tell me what were best be done? - -LECTORIUS. To sea, my lord; seek your warlike sire: -Send back this peasant with your full pretence, -And think already that our pains have end, -Since Cinna, with his followers, is your friend. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Yea, Romans, we will furrow through the foam -Of swelling floods, and to the sacred twins -Make sacrifice, to shield our ships from storms. -Follow me, lords; come, gentle messenger, -Thou shalt have gold and glory for thy pains. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS TERTIUS. SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ CINNA, OCTAVIUS, ANTHONY, _Lictors, Citizens_. - -CINNA. Upbraiding senators, bewitch'd with wit, -That term true justice innovation; -You ministers of Sylla's mad conceits, -Will consuls, think you, stoop to your controls? -These younger citizens, my fellow-lords, -Bound to maintain both Marius and his son, -Crave but their due, and will be held as good -For privilege as those of elder age; -For they are men conform'd to feats of arms, -That have both wit and courage to command. -These favourites of Octavius, that[119] with age -And palsies shake their javelins in their hands, -Like heartless men attainted all with fear: -And should they then overtop the youth? -No, nor this consul, nor Mark Anthony, -Shall make my followers faint or lose their right; -But I will have them equal with the best. - -ANTHONY. Why then the senate's name, whose reverend rule -Hath blazed our virtues 'midst the western isle, -Must be obscur'd by Cinna's forced power. -O citizens! are laws of country left? -Is justice banish'd from this capitol? -Must we, poor fathers, see your drooping bands -Enter the sacred synod of this state? -O brutish fond presumptions of this age! -Rome! would the mischiefs might obscure my life, -So I might counsel consuls to be wise. -Why, countrymen, wherein consists this strife? -Forsooth the younger citizens will rule; -The old men's heads are dull and addle now; -And in elections youth will bear the sway. -O Cinna, see I not the woful fruits -Of these ambitious stratagems begun? -Each flattering tongue that dallieth pretty words -Shall change our fortunes and our states at once. -Had I ten thousand tongues to talk the care, -So many eyes to weep their woful miss, -So many pens to write these many wrongs, -My tongue your thoughts, my eyes your tears, should move, -My pen your pains by reason should approve. - -CINNA. Why, Anthony, seal up those sugar'd lips, -For I will bring my purpose to effect. - -ANTHONY. Doth Cinna like to interrupt me, then? - -CINNA. Ay, Cinna, sir, will interrupt you now. -I tell thee, Mark, old Marius is at hand, -The very patron of this happy law, -Who will revenge thy cunning eloquence. - -ANTHONY. I talk not, I, to please or him or thee, -But what I speak, I think and practise too: -'Twere better Sylla learnt to mend in Rome, -Than Marius come to tyrannise in Rome. - -OCTAVIUS. Nay, Marius shall not tyrannise in Rome, -Old citizens; as Sylla late ordain'd, -King Tullius' laws shall take their full effect: -The best and aged men shall in their choice, -Both bear the day, and firm [th'] election. - -CINNA. O brave! Octavius, you will beard me then, -The elder consul and old Marius' friend; -And these Italian freemen must be wrong'd. -First shall the fruit of all thine honours fail, -And this my poniard shall despatch thy life. - -LEPIDUS. Such insolence was never seen in Rome: -Nought wanteth here but name to make a king. - -OCTAVIUS. Strike, villain, if thou list, for I am prest -To make as deep a furrow in thy breast! - -YOUNG CITIZEN. The young men's voices shall prevail, my lords. - -OLD CITIZEN. And we will firm our honours by our bloods. - - [_Thunder_. - -ANTHONY. O false ambitious pride in young and old! -Hark, how the heavens our follies hath controll'd. - -OLD CITIZEN. What, shall we yield for this religious fear? - -ANTHONY. If not religious fear, what may repress -These wicked passions, wretched citizens? -O Rome, poor Rome, unmeet for these misdeeds, -I see contempt of heaven will breed a cross. -Sweet Cinna, govern rage with reverence. [_Thunder_. -O fellow-citizens, be more advis'd! - -LEPIDUS. We charge you, consuls, now dissolve the court; -The gods condemn this brawl and civil jars. - -OCTAVIUS. We will submit our honours to their wills: -You, ancient citizens, come follow me. - - [_Exit_ OCTAVIUS; _with him_ ANTHONY _and_ LEPIDUS. - -CINNA. High Jove himself hath done too much for thee, -Else should this blade abate thy royalty. -Well, young Italian citizens, take heart, -He is at hand that will maintain your right; -That, entering in these fatal gates of Rome, -Shall make them tremble that disturb you now. -You of Preneste and of Formiae, -With other neighbouring cities in Campania, -Prepare to entertain and succour Marius. - -YOUNG CITIZEN. For him we live, for him we mean to die. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ OLD MARIUS _with his_ KEEPER _and two_ SOLDIERS. - -MARIUS. Have these Minturnians, then, so cruelly -Presum'd so great injustice 'gainst their friends? - -JAILER. Ay, Marius, all our nobles have decreed -To send thy head a present unto Rome. - -MARIUS. A Tantal's present it will prove, my friend, -Which with a little smarting stress will end -Old Marius' life, when Rome itself at last -Shall rue my loss, and then revenge my death. -But tell me, jailer, could'st thou be content, -In being Marius, for to brook this wrong. - -JAILER. The high estate your lordship once did wield, -The many friends that fawn'd, when fortune smil'd, -Your great promotions and your mighty wealth, -These, were I Marius, would amate me so,[120] -As loss of them would vex me more than death. - -MARIUS. Is lordship then so great a bliss, my friend? - -JAILER. No title may compare with princely rule. - -MARIUS. Are friends so faithful pledges of delight? - -JAILER. What better comforts than are faithful friends? - -MARIUS. Is wealth a mean to lengthen life's content? - -JAILER. Where great possessions bide, what care can touch? - -MARIUS. These stales[121] of fortune are the common plagues, -That still mislead the thoughts of simple men. -The shepherd-swain that, 'midst his country-cot, -Deludes his broken slumbers by his toil, -Thinks lordship sweet, where care with lordship dwells. -The trustful man that builds on trothless vows, -Whose simple thoughts are cross'd with scornful nays, -Together weeps the loss of wealth and friend: -So lordship, friends, wealth spring and perish fast, -Where death alone yields happy life at last. -O gentle governor of my contents, -Thou sacred chieftain of our capitol, -Who in thy crystal orbs with glorious gleams -Lend'st looks of pity mix'd with majesty, -See woful Marius careful for his son, -Careless of lordship, wealth, or worldly means, -Content to live, yet living still to die: -Whose nerves and veins, whose sinews, by the sword -Must lose their workings through distempering stroke, -But yet whose mind, in spite of fate and all, -Shall live by fame, although the body fall. - -JAILER. Why mourneth Marius this recureless chance? - -MARIUS. I pray thee, jailer, would'st thou gladly die? - -JAILER. If needs, I would. - -MARIUS. Yet were you loth to try? - -JAILER. Why, noble lord, when goods, friends, fortune fail, -What more than death might woful man avail? - -MARIUS. Who calls for death, my friend, for all his scorns? -With Aesop's slave will leave his bush of thorns. -But since these trait'rous lords will have my head, -Their lordships here upon this homely bed -Shall find me sleeping, breathing forth my breath, -Till they their shame, and I my fame, attain by death. -Live, gentle Marius, to revenge my wrong! -And, sirrah, see they stay not over-long; -For he that erst hath conquer'd kingdoms many, -Disdains in death to be subdu'd by any. - [_He lies down_. - - _Enter_ LUCIUS FAVORINUS, PAUSANIUS, _with_ - PEDRO, _a Frenchman_. - -JAILER. The most undaunted words that ever were. -The mighty thoughts of his imperious mind, -Do wound my heart with terror and remorse. - -PAUSANIUS. 'Tis desperate, not perfect nobleness: -For to a man that is prepar'd to die, -The heart should rend, the sleep should leave the eye. -But say, Pedro, will you do the deed? - -PEDRO.[122] Mon monsieurs, per la sang Dieu, me will make a trou so -large in ce belly, dat he sal cry hough, come un porceau. Featre de -lay, il a tue me fadre, he kill my modre. Faith a my trote mon espee -fera le fay dun soldat, sau sau. Ieievera come il founta pary: me will -make a spitch-cock of his persona. - -L. FAVORINUS. If he have slain thy father and thy friends, -The greater honour shall betide the deed; -For to revenge on righteous estimate -Beseems the honour of a Frenchman's name. - -PEDRO. Mes messiers, de fault avoir argent; me no point de argent, no -point kill Marius. - -PAUSANIUS. Thou shalt have forty crowns; will that content thee? - -PEDRO. Quarante escus, per le pied de madam, me give more dan foure to -se prittie damosele, dat have le dulces tittinos, le levres Cymbrines. -O, they be fines! - -L. FAVORINUS. Great is the hire, and little is the pain; -Make therefore quick despatch, and look for gain. -See where he lies in drawing on his death, -Whose eyes, in gentle slumber sealed up, -Present no dreadful visions to his heart. - -PEDRO. Bien, monsieur, je demourera content: Marius, tu es mort. Speak -dy preres in dy sleepe, for me sal cut off your head from your epaules, -before you wake. Qui es stia? what kinde a man be dis? - -L. FAVORINUS. Why, what delays are these? why gaze ye thus? - -PEDRO. Nostre dame! Jesu! estiene! O my siniors, der be a great diable -in ce eyes, qui dart de flame, and with de voice d'un bear cries out, -Villain! dare you kill Marius? Je tremble: aida me, siniors, autrement -I shall be murdered. - -PAUSANIUS. What sudden madness daunts this stranger thus? - -PEDRO. O me, no can kill Marius; me no dare kill Marius! adieu, -messieurs, me be dead, si je touche Marius. Marius est un diable. -Jesu Maria, sava moy![123] - [_Exit fugiens_. - -PAUSANIUS. What fury haunts this wretch on sudden thus? - -L. FAVORINUS. Ah, my Pausanius, I have often heard, -That yonder Marius in his infancy -Was born to greater fortunes than we deem: -For, being scarce from out his cradle crept, -And sporting prettily with his compeers, -On sudden seven young eagles soar'd amain, -And kindly perch'd upon his tender lap. -His parents, wondering at this strange event, -Took counsel of the soothsayers in this; -Who told them that these sevenfold eagles' flight -Forefigured his seven times consulship:[124] -And we ourselves (except bewitch'd with pride) -Have seen him six times in the capitol, -Accompanied with rods and axes too. -And some divine instinct so presseth me, -That sore I tremble, till I set him free. - -PAUSANIUS. The like assaults attain my wand'ring mind, -Seeing our bootless war with matchless fate. -Let us entreat him to forsake our town; -So shall we gain a friend of Rome and him. - [MARIUS _awaketh_. -But mark how happily he doth awake. - -MARIUS. What, breathe I yet, poor man, with mounting sighs, -Choking the rivers of my restless eyes? -Or is their rage restrain'd with matchless ruth? -See how amaz'd these angry lords behold -The poor, confused looks of wretched Marius. -Minturnians, why delays your headsman thus -To finish up this ruthful tragedy? - -L. FAVORINUS. Far be it, Marius, from our thoughts or hands -To wrong the man protected by the gods: -Live happy, Marius, so thou leave our town. - -MARIUS. And must I wrestle once again with fate, -Or will these princes dally with mine age? - -PAUSANIUS. No, matchless Roman; thine approved mind, -That erst hath alter'd our ambitious wrong, -Must flourish still, and we thy servants live -To see thy glories, like the swelling tides, -Exceed the bounds of fate and Roman rule. -Yet leave us, lord, and seek some safer shed, -Where, more secure, thou may'st prevent mishaps; -For great pursuits and troubles thee await. - -MARIUS. Ye piteous powers, that with successful hopes -And gentle counsels thwart my deep despairs, -Old Marius to your mercies recommends -His hap, his life, his hazard, and his son. -Minturnians, I will hence, and you shall fly -Occasions of those troubles you expect. -Dream not on dangers, that have sav'd my life. -Lordings, adieu: from walls to woods I wend; -To hills, dales, rocks, my wrong for to commend. - [_Exit_. - -L. FAVORINUS. Fortune, vouchsafe his many woes to end. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ SYLLA[125] _in triumph in his chair triumphant of gold, - drawn by four Moors; before the chariot, his colours, his crest, - his captains, his prisoners_: ARCATHIUS, _Mithridates' son_; - ARISTION, ARCHELAUS, _bearing crowns of gold, and manacled. After - the chariot, his soldier's bands_; BASILLUS, LUCRETIUS, LUCULLUS, - _besides prisoners of divers nations and sundry disguises_. - -SYLLA. You men of Rome, my fellow-mates in arms, -Whose three years' prowess, policy, and war, -One hundred threescore thousand men at arms -Hath overthrown and murder'd in the field; -Whose valours to the empire have restor'd -All Grecia, Asia, and Ionia, -With Macedonia, subject to our foe, -You see the froward customs of our state -Who, measuring not our many toils abroad, -Sit in their cells, imagining our harms: -Replenishing our Roman friends with fear. -Yea, Sylla, worthy friends, whose fortunes, toils, -And stratagems these strangers may report, -Is by false Cinna and his factious friends -Revil'd, condemn'd, and cross'd without a cause: -Yea, Romans, Marius must return to Rome, -Of purpose to upbraid your general. -But this undaunted mind that never droop'd; -This forward body, form'd to suffer toil, -Shall haste to Rome, where every foe shall rue -The rash disgrace both of myself and you. - -LUCRETIUS. And may it be that those seditious brains -Imagine these presumptuous purposes? - -SYLLA. And may it be? Why, man, and wilt thou doubt, -Where Sylla deigns these dangers to aver? -Sirrah, except not so, misdoubt not so: -See here Aneparius' letters, read the lines, -And say, Lucretius, that I favour thee, -That darest but suspect thy general. - [_Read the letters and deliver them_. - -LUCRETIUS. The case conceal'd hath mov'd the more misdoubt; -Yet pardon my presumptions, worthy Sylla, -That to my grief have read these hideous harms. - -SYLLA. Tut, my Lucretius, fortune's ball is toss'd -To form the story of my fatal power: -Rome shall repent; babe, mother, shall repent: -Air, weeping cloudy sorrows, shall repent: -Wind, breathing many sorrows, shall repent-- -To see those storms, concealed in my breast, -Reflect the hideous flames of their unrest. -But words are vain, and cannot quell our wrongs: -Brief periods serve for them that needs must post it. -Lucullus, since occasion calls me hence, -And all our Roman senate think it meet, -That thou pursue the wars I have begun, -As by their letters I am certified, -I leave thee Cymbria's legions to conduct, -With this proviso that, in ruling still, -You think on Sylla and his courtesies. - -LUCULLUS. The weighty charge of this continued war, -Though strange it seem, and over-great to wield, -I will accept, if so the army please. - -SOLDIERS. Happy and fortunate be Lucullus our general. - -SYLLA. If he be Sylla's friend, else not at all: -For otherwise the man were ill-bested, -That gaining glories straight should lose his head. -But, soldiers, since I needly[126] must to Rome, -Basillus' virtues shall have recompense. -Lo, here the wreath, Valerius, for thy pains, -Who first didst enter Archilaus' trench: -This pledge of virtue, sirrah, shall approve -Thy virtues, and confirm me in thy love. - -BASILLUS. Happy be Sylla, if no foe to Rome. - -SYLLA. I like no ifs from such a simple groom. -I will be happy in despite of state. -And why? because I never feared fate. -But come, Arcathius, for your father's sake: -Enjoin your fellow-princes to their tasks, -And help to succour these my weary bones. -Tut, blush not, man, a greater state than thou -Shall pleasure Sylla in more baser sort. -Aristion is a jolly-timber'd man, -Fit to conduct the chariot of a king: -Why, be not squeamish, for it shall go hard, -But I will give you all a great reward. - -ARCATHIUS. Humbled by fate, like wretched men we yield. - -SYLLA. Arcathius, these are fortunes of the field. -Believe me, these brave captives draw by art, -And I will think upon their good desert. -But stay you, strangers, and respect my words. -Fond heartless men, what folly have I seen! -For fear of death can princes entertain -Such bastard thoughts, that now from glorious arms -Vouchsafe to draw like oxen in a plough? -Arcathius, I am sure Mithridates -Will hardly brook the scandal of his name: -'Twere better in Pisae[127] to have died, -Aristion, than amidst our legions thus to draw. - -ARISTION. I tell thee, Sylla, captives have no choice, -And death is dreadful to a captive man. - -SYLLA. In such imperfect mettles[128] as is yours: -But Romans, that are still allur'd by fame, -Choose rather death than blemish of their name. -But I have haste, and therefore will reward you. -Go, soldiers, with as quick despatch as may be, -Hasten their death, and bring them to their end, -And say in this that Sylla is your friend. - -ARCATHIUS. O, ransom thou our lives, sweet conqueror! - -SYLLA. Fie, foolish men, why fly you happiness? -Desire you still to lead a servile life? -Dare you not buy delights with little pains? -Well, for thy father's sake, Arcathius, -I will prefer thy triumphs with the rest. -Go, take them hence, and when we meet in hell, -Then tell me, princes, if I did not well. - [_Exeunt milites_. -Lucullus, thus these mighty foes are down, -Now strive thou for the King of Pontus' crown. -I will to Rome; go thou, and with thy train -Pursue Mithridates, till he be slain. - -LUCULLUS. With fortune's help: go calm thy country's woes, -Whilst I with these seek out our mighty foes. - - _Enter MARIUS solus, from the Numidian mountains, - feeding on roots_. - -MARIUS. Thou, that hast walk'd with troops of flocking friends, -Now wand'rest 'midst the labyrinth of woes; -Thy best repast with many sighing ends, -And none but fortune all these mischiefs knows. -Like to these stretching mountains, clad with snow, -No sunshine of content my thoughts approacheth: -High spire their tops, my hopes no height do know, -But mount so high as time their tract reproacheth. -They find their spring, where winter wrongs my mind, -They weep their brooks, I waste my cheeks with tears. -O foolish fate, too froward and unkind, -Mountains have peace, where mournful be my years. -Yet high as they my thoughts some hopes would borrow; -But when I count the evening end with sorrow. -Death in Minturnum threaten'd Marius' head, -Hunger in these Numidian mountains dwells: -Thus with prevention having mischief fled, -Old Marius finds a world of many hells, -Such as poor simple wits have oft repin'd; -But I will quell, by virtues of the mind, -Long years misspent in many luckless chances, -Thoughts full of wrath, yet little worth succeeding, -These are the means for those whom fate advances: -But I, whose wounds are fresh, my heart still bleeding, -Live to entreat this blessed boon from fate, -That I might die with grief to live in state. -Six hundred suns with solitary walks -I still have sought for to delude my pain, -And friendly echo, answering to my talks, -Rebounds the accent of my ruth again: -She, courteous nymph, the woful Roman pleaseth, -Else no consorts but beasts my pains appeaseth. -Each day she answers in yon neighbouring mountain, -I do expect, reporting of my sorrow, -Whilst lifting up her locks from out the fountain, -She answereth to my questions even and morrow: -Whose sweet rebounds, my sorrow to remove, -To please my thoughts I mean for to approve. -Sweet nymph, draw near, thou kind and gentle echo, - [_Echo_[129]. _I_. -What help to ease my weary pains have I? -What comfort in distress to calm my griefs? - _Griefs_. -Sweet nymph, these griefs are grown, before I thought so. - _I thought so_. -Thus Marius lives disdain'd of all the gods. - _Gods_. -With deep despair late overtaken wholly. - _O lie_. -And will the heavens be never well appeased? - _Appeased_. -What mean have they left me to cure my smart? - _Art_. -Nought better fits old Marius' mind than war. - _Then war_[130]. -Then full of hope, say, Echo, shall I go? - _Go_. -Is any better fortune then at hand? - _At hand_. -Then farewell, Echo, gentle nymph, farewell. - _Farewell_. -O pleasing folly to a pensive man! -Well, I will rest fast by this shady tree, -Waiting the end that fate allotteth me. - [_Sits down_. - - _Enter_ MARIUS _the son_, ALBINOVANUS, CETHEGUS, - LECTORIUS, _with Soldiers_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My countrymen, and favourites of Rome, -This melancholy desert where we meet, -Resembleth well young Marius' restless thoughts. -Here dreadful silence, solitary caves, -No chirping birds with solace singing sweetly, -Are harbour'd for delight; but from the oak, -Leafless and sapless through decaying age, -The screech-owl chants her fatal-boding lays. -Within my breast care, danger, sorrow dwell; -Hope and revenge sit hammering in my heart: -The baleful babes of angry Nemesis -Disperse their furious fires upon my soul. - -LECTORIUS. Fie, Marius, are you discontented still, -When as occasion favoureth your desire! -Are not these noble Romans come from Rome? -Hath not the state recall'd your father home? - -YOUNG MARIUS. And what of this? What profit may I reap, -That want my father to conduct us home? - -LECTORIUS. My lord, take heart; no doubt this stormy flaw[131], -That Neptune sent to cast us on this shore, -Shall end these discontentments at the last. - -MARIUS. Whom see mine eyes? What, is not yon my son? - -YOUNG MARIUS. What solitary father walketh there? - -MARIUS. It is my son! these are my friends I see. -What, have sore-pining cares so changed me? -Or are my looks distemper'd through the pains -And agonies that issue from my heart? -Fie, Marius! frolic, man! thou must to Rome, -There to revenge thy wrongs, and wait thy tomb. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Now, fortune, frown and palter if thou please. -Romans, behold my father and your friend. -O father! - -MARIUS. Marius, thou art fitly met. -Albinovanus, and my other friends, -What news at Rome? What fortune brought you hither? - -ALBINOVANUS. My lord, the Consul Cinna hath restor'd -The doubtful course of your betrayed state, -And waits your present swift approach to Rome, -Your foeman Sylla posteth very fast -With good success from Pontus, to prevent -Your speedy entrance into Italy. -The neighbouring cities are your very friends; -Nought rests, my lord, but you depart from hence. - -YOUNG MARIUS. How many desert ways hath Marius sought, -How many cities have I visited! -To find my father, and relieve his wants! - -MARIUS. My son, I 'quite thy travails with my love. -And, lords and citizens, we will to Rome, -And join with Cinna. Have you shipping here? -What, are these soldiers bent to die with me? - -SOLDIERS. Content to pledge our lives for Marius. - -LECTORIUS. My lord, here, in the next adjoining port, -Our ships are rigg'd, and ready for to sail. - -MARIUS. Then let us sail unto Etruria, -And cause our friends, the Germans, to revolt, -And get some Tuscans to increase our power. -Deserts, farewell! Come, Romans, let us go-- -A scourge for Rome, that hath depress'd us so. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS QUARTUS, SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ MARK ANTHONY, LEPIDUS, OCTAVIUS, FLACCUS, _Senators_. - -OCTAVIUS. What helps, my lords, to overhale these cares? -What means or motions may these mischiefs end? -You see how Cinna, that should succour Rome -Hath levied arms to bring a traitor in. -O worthless traitor, woe to thine and thee, -That thus disquieteth both Rome and us? - -ANTHONY. Octavius, these are scourges for our sins; -These are but ministers to heap our plague. -These mutinies are gentle means and ways, -Whereby the heavens our heavy errors charm. -Then with content and humbled eyes behold -The crystal shining globe of glorious Jove; -And, since we perish through our own misdeeds, -Go let us flourish in our fruitful prayers. - -LEPIDUS. 'Midst these confusions, mighty men of Rome, -Why waste we out these troubles all in words? -Weep not your harms, but wend we straight to arms, -Lo, Ostia[132] spoil'd, see Marius at our gate! -And shall we die like milksops, dreaming thus? - -OCTAVIUS. A bootless war to see our country spoil'd. - -LEPIDUS. Fruitless is dalliance, whereas dangers be. - -ANTHONY. My lord, may courage wait on conquer'd men? - -LEPIDUS. Ay, even in death most courage doth appear. - -OCTAVIUS. Then, waiting death, I mean to seat me here; -Hoping that consuls' name and fear of laws -Shall justify my conscience and my cause. - - _Enter a_ MESSENGER. - -Now, sirrah, what confused looks are these? -What tidings bringest thou of dreariment?[133] - -MESSENGER. My lords, the Consul Cinna, with his friends, -Have let in Marius by _Via Appia_, -Whose soldiers waste and murder all they meet; -Who, with the consul and his other friends, -With expedition hasteth to this place. - -ANTHONY. Then to the downfal of my happiness, -Then to the ruin of this city Rome. -But if mine inward ruth were laid in sight, -My streams of tears should drown my foes' despite. - -OCTAVIUS. Courage, Lord Anthony: if fortune please, -She will and can these troubles soon appease; -But if her backward frowns approach us nigh, -Resolve with us with honour for to die. - -LEPIDUS. No storm of fate shall bring my sorrows down; -But if that fortune list, why, let her frown. - -ANTHONY. Where states oppress'd by cruel tyrants be, -Old Anthony, there is no place for thee. - [_Drum strikes within_. -Hark, by this thundering noise of threatening drums, -Marius with all his faction hither comes. - -OCTAVIUS. Then like a traitor he shall know, ere long, -In levying arms he doth his country wrong. - - _Enter_ MARIUS, _his Son_, CINNA, CETHEGUS, LECTORIUS, _with - Soldiers: upon sight of whom_ MARK ANTHONY _presently flies_. - -MARIUS. And have we got the goal of honour now, -And in despite of consuls enter'd Rome? -Then rouse thee, Marius. leave thy ruthful thoughts; -And for thy many cares and toils sustain'd, -Afflict thy foes with quite as many pains. -Go, soldiers, seek out Bebius and his friends, -Attilius, Munitorius, with the rest; -Cut off their heads, for they did cross me once; -And if your care can compass my decree, -Remember that same fugitive Mark Anthony, -Whose fatal end shall be my fruitful peace. -I tell thee, Cinna, nature armeth beasts -With just revenge, and lendeth in their kinds -Sufficient warlike weapons of defence; -If then by nature beasts revenge their wrong, -Both heavens and nature grant me vengeance now. -Yet whilst I live and suck this subtle air, -That lendeth breathing coolness to my lights, -The register of all thy righteous acts, -Thy pains, thy toils, thy travails for my sake, -Shall dwell by kind impressions in my heart, -And I with links of true, unfeigned love -Will lock these Roman favourites in my breast, -And live to hazard life for their relief. - -CINNA. My lord, your safe and swift return to Rome -Makes Cinna fortunate and well a-paid; -Who, through the false suggestions of my foes, -Was made a cypher[134] of a consul here: -Lo, where he sits commanding in his throne, -That wronged Marius, me, and all these lords. - -YOUNG MARIUS. To 'quite his love, Cinna, let me alone. -How fare these lords that, lumping, pouting, proud, -Imagine now to quell me with their looks? -Now welcome, sirs, is Marius thought so base? -Why stand you looking babies in my face? -Who welcomes me, him Marius makes his friend; -Who lowers on me, him Marius means to end. - -FLACCUS. Happy and fortunate thy return to Rome. - -LEPIDUS. And long live Marius[135] with fame in Rome. - -MARIUS. I thank you, courteous lords, that are so kind. - -YOUNG MARIUS. But why endures your grace that braving mate, -To sit and face us in his robes of state? - -MARIUS. My son, he is a consul at the least, -And gravity becomes Octavius best, -But, Cinna, would in yonder empty seat -You would for Marius' freedom once entreat. - - _CINNA presseth up, and OCTAVIUS stayeth him_. - -OCTAVIUS. Avaunt, thou traitor, proud and insolent! -How dar'st thou press near civil government. - -MARIUS. Why, Master Consul, are you grown so hot? -I'll have a present cooling card for you. -Be therefore well advis'd, and move me not: -For though by you I was exil'd from Rome, -And in the desert from a prince's seat -Left to bewail ingratitudes of Rome; -Though I have known your thirsty throats have long'd -To bathe themselves in my distilling blood, -Yet Marius, sirs, hath pity join'd with power. -Lo, here the imperial ensign which I wield, -That waveth mercy to my wishers-well: -And more: see here the dangerous trote of war, -That at the point is steel'd with ghastly death. - -OCTAVIUS. Thou exile, threaten'st thou a consul then? -Lictors, go draw him hence! such braving mates -Are not to boast their arms in quiet states. - -MARIUS. Go draw me hence! What! no relent, Octavius? - -YOUNG MARIUS. My lord, what heart indurate with revenge -Could leave this lozel[136], threat'ning murder thus? -Vouchsafe me leave to taint that traitor seat -With flowing streams of his contagious blood. - -OCTAVIUS. The father's son, I know him by his talk, -That scolds in words, when fingers cannot walk. -But Jove, I hope, will one day send to Rome -The blessed patron of this monarchy, -Who will revenge injustice by his sword. - -CINNA. Such braving hopes, such cursed arguments: -So strict command, such arrogant controls! -Suffer me, Marius, that am consul now, -To do thee justice, and confound the wretch. - -MARIUS. Cinna, you know I am a private man, -That still submit my censures to your will. - -CINNA. Then, soldiers, draw this traitor from the throne, -And let him die, for Cinna wills it so. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Ay, now, my Cinna, noble consul, speaks. -Octavius, your checks shall cost you dear. - -OCTAVIUS. And let me die, for Cinna wills it so! -Is then the reverence of this robe contemn'd? -Are these associates of so small regard? -Why then, Octavius willingly consents -To entertain the sentence of his death. -But let the proudest traitor work his will; -I fear no strokes, but here will sit me still. -Since justice sleeps, since tyrants reign in Rome, -Octavius longs for death to die in Rome. - -CINNA. Then strike him where he sits; then hale him hence. - -OCTAVIUS. Heavens punish Cinna's pride and thy offence. - - [_A Soldier stabs him; he is carried away_. - -CINNA. Now is he fallen that threaten'd Marius; -Now will I sit and plead for Marius. - -MARIUS. Thou dost me justice, Cinna, for you see -These peers of Rome of[137] late exiled me. - -LEPIDUS. Your lordship doth injustice to accuse -Those, who in your behalf did not offend. - -FLACCUS. We grieve to see the aged Marius -Stand like a private man in view of Rome. - -CINNA. Then bid him sit; and lo, an empty place: -Revoke his exile from his government, -And so prevent your farther detriment. - -LEPIDUS. We will account both Marius and his friends, -His son and all his followers, free in Rome: -And since we see the dangerous times at hand, -And hear of Sylla's confidence and haste, -And know his hate and rancour to these lords, -We[138] him create for consul, to prevent -The policies of Sylla and his friends. - -CINNA. Then, both confirm'd by state and full consent, -The rods and axe to Marius I present, -And here invest thee with the consul's pall. - -FLACCUS. Long, fortunate, and happy life betide -Old Marius in his sevenfold consulship. - -YOUNG MARIUS. And so let Marius live and govern Rome, -As cursed Sylla never look on Rome. - -MARIUS. Then plac'd in consul's throne, you Roman states, - [_He takes his seat_. -Recall'd from banishment by your decrees, -Install'd in this imperial seat to rule, -Old Marius thanks his friends and favourites, -From whom this final favour he requires: -That, seeing Sylla by his murderous blade -Brought fierce seditions first to head in Rome, -And forced laws to banish innocents, -I crave by course of reason and desert, -That he may be proclaimed, as erst was I, -A traitor and an enemy of Rome. -Let all his friends be banish'd out of town; -Then, cutting off the branch where troubles spring, -Rome shall have peace and plenty in her walls. - -CINNA. In equity it needs must be, my friends, -That one be guilty of our common harms: -And since that Marius is accounted free, -Sylla with all his friends must traitors be. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My father's reasons, Romans, are of force; -For if you see, and live not to secure, -You know that, in so great a state as this, -Two mighty foes can never well agree. - -LEPIDUS. Then let us seek to please our consul first, -And then prepare to keep the exile out. -Cinna, as Marius and these lords agree, -Firm this edict, and let it pass for me. - -CINNA. Then, Romans, in the name of all this state, -I here proclaim and publish this decree; -That Sylla with his friends, allies, and all, -Are banish'd exiles, traitors unto Rome: -And to extinguish both his name and state, -We will his house be razed to the ground, -His goods confiscate: this our censure is. -Lictor, proclaim this in the market-place, -And see it executed out of hand. - [_Exit Lictor_. - -MARIUS. Now see I, senators, the thought, the care, -The virtuous zeal that leads your toward minds -To love your friends, and watch your common good: -And now, establish'd consul in this place, -Old Marius will foresee advenient harms. -Sylla, the scourge of Asia, as we hear, -Is press'd to enter Italy with sword. -He comes in pomp to triumph here in Rome: -But, senators, you know the wavering wills -Of foolish men--I mean the common sort-- -Who, through report of innovations, -Of flattering humours of well-temper'd tongues, -Will change, and draw a second mischief on. -I like your care, and will myself apply -To aim and level at my country's weal. -To intercept these errors by advice, -My son young Marius, Cethegus, and my friends, -Shall to Praeneste, to prevent and stop -The speedy purpose of our forward foe. -Meanwhile, ourselves will fortify this town, -This beauty of the world, this maiden-town; -Where streaming Tybris, with a pleasant tide, -Leads out the stately buildings of the world. -Marius, my hope, my son, you know your charge: -Take those Iberian legions in your train, -And we will spare some Cymbrians to your use. -Remember thou art Marius' son, and dream -On nought but honour and a happy death! - -YOUNG MARIUS. I go, my lord, in hope to make the world -Report my service and my duty too; -And that proud challenger of Asia -Shall find that Marius' son hath force and wit. - [_Exit cum_ CETHEGO. - -MARIUS. Go, thou, as fortunate as Greeks to Troy; -As glorious as Alcides in thy toils; -As happy as Sertorius in thy fight; -As valiant as Achilles in thy might: -Go, glorious, valiant, happy, fortunate, -As all those Greeks and him of Roman state! - - _Enter, led in with Soldiers_, CORNELIA and FULVIA. - -CORNELIA. Traitors! why drag you thus a prince's wife, -As if that beauty were a thrall to fate? -Are Romans grown more barbarous than Greeks, -That hate more greater than Cassandra now? -The Macedonian monarch was more kind, -That honour'd and reliev'd in warlike camp -Darius' mother, daughters, and his wife. -But you unkind to Roman ladies now, -Perhaps as constant as the ancient queens; -For they, subdu'd, had friendship in disgrace, -Where we, unconquer'd, live in woful case. - -MARIUS. What plaintive pleas presents that lady there? -Why, soldiers, make you prisoners here in Rome? - -1ST SOLDIER. Dread consul, we have found Cornelia here -And Sylla's daughter posting out of town. - -MARIUS. Ladies of worth, both beautiful and wise, -But near allied unto my greatest foe: -Yet Marius' mind, that never meant disgrace, -More likes their courage than their comely face. -Are you Cornelia, madam, Sylla's wife? - -CORNELIA. I am Cornelia, Sylla's wife; what then? - -MARIUS. And is this Fulvia, Sylla's daughter, too? - -FULVIA. And this is Fulvia, Sylla's daughter, too. - -MARIUS. Two welcome guests, in whom the majesty -Of my conceit and courage must consist. -What think you, senators and countrymen? -See, here are two, the fairest stars of Rome. -The dearest dainties of my warlike foe, -Whose lives upon your censures do subsist.[139] - -LEPIDUS. Dread consul, the continuance of their lives -Shall egg on Sylla to a greater haste; -And, in bereaving of their vital breath, -Your grace shall force more fury from your foe. -Of these extremes we leave the choice to you. - -MARIUS. Then think that some strange fortune shall ensue. - -FULVIA. Poor Fulvia, now thy happy days are done! -Instead of marriage pomp, the fatal lights -Of funerals must masque about thy bed: -Nor shall thy father's arms with kind embrace -Hem in thy shoulders, trembling now for fear. -I see in Marius' looks such tragedies, -As fear my heart; and fountains fill mine eyes. - -CORNELIA. Fie, Fulvia! shall thy father's daughter faint, -Before the threats of danger shall approach? -Dry up those tears, and like a Roman maid, -Be bold and silent, till our foe have said. - -MARIUS. Cornelia, wife unto my traitor-foe, -What gadding mood hath forc'd thy speedy flight -To leave thy country, and forsake thy friends? - -CORNELIA. Accursed Marius, offspring of my pains, -Whose furious wrath hath wrought thy country's woe, -What may remain for me or mine in Rome, -That see the tokens of thy tyrannies? -Vile monster, robb'd of virtue, what revenge -Is this, to wreak thine anger on the walls? -To raze our house, to banish all our friends, -To kill the rest, and captive us at last? -Think'st thou by barbarous deeds to boast thy state, -Or spoiling Sylla, to depress his hate? -No, Marius, but for every drop of blood -And inch of wrong he shall return thee two. - -FLACCUS. Madam, in danger wisdom doth advise -In humble terms to reconcile our foes. - -MARIUS. She is a woman, Flaccus; let her talk, -That breathes forth bitter words instead of blows. - -CORNELIA. And in regard of that, immodest man, -Thou shouldst desist from outrage and revenge. - -LECTORIUS. What, can your grace endure these cursed scoffs? - -MARIUS. Why, my Lectorius, I have ever learnt -That ladies cannot wrong me with upbraids; -Then let her talk, and my concealed hate -Shall heap revengement upon Sylla's pate. - -FULVIA. Let fevers first afflict thy feeble age; -Let palsies make thy stubborn fingers faint; -Let humours, streaming from thy moisten'd brains, -With clouds of dimness choke thy fretful eyes, -Before these monstrous harms assail my sire. - -MARIUS. By'r lady,[140] Fulvia, you are gaily read: -Your mother well may boast you for her own; -For both of you have words and scoffs at will. -And since I like the compass of your wit, -Myself will stand, and, ladies, you shall sit. -And, if you please to wade in farther words, -Let's see what brawls your memories affords. - -CORNELIA. Your lordship's passing mannerly in jest; -But that you may perceive we smell your drift, -We both will sit, and countenance your shift. - -MARIUS. Where constancy and beauty do consort, -There ladies' threatenings turn to merry sport. -How fare these beautiful? what, well at ease? - -FULVIA. As ready as at first for to displease; -For, full confirm'd that we shall surely die, -We wait our ends with Roman constancy. - -MARIUS. Why, think you Marius hath confirm'd your death? - -FULVIA. What other fruit may spring from tyrant's hands? - -MARIUS. In faith then, ladies, thus the matter stands: -Since you mistake my love and courtesy, -Prepare yourselves, for you shall surely die. - -CORNELIA. Ay, Marius, now I know thou dost not lie; -And that thou mayst, unto thy lasting blame, -Extinguish in our deaths thy wished fame, -Grant us this boon that, making choice of death, -We may be freed from fury of thine ire. - -MARIUS. An easy boon; ladies, I condescend. - -CORNELIA. Then suffer us in private chamber close -To meditate a day or two alone; -And, tyrant, if thou find us living then, -Commit us straight unto thy slaughtering-men. - -MARIUS. Ladies, I grant; for Marius nill deny -A suit so easy and of such import; -For pity 'twere that dames of constancy -Should not be agents of their misery. - [_Here he whispers_ LECTORIUS. -Lectorius, hark, despatch. - [_Exit_ LECTORIUS. - -CORNELIA. So, Fulvia, now the latest doom is fix'd, -And nought remains but constant Roman hearts -To bear the brunt of irksome fury's spite. -Rouse thee, my dear, and daunt those faint conceits, -That trembling stand aghast at bitter death. -Bethink thee now that Sylla was thy sire, -Whose courage heaven nor fortune could abate: -Then, like the offspring of fierce Sylla's house, -Pass with the thrice-renowned Phrygian dame, -As to thy marriage, so unto thy death: -For nought to wretches is more sweet than death. - -FULVIA. Madam, confirm'd as well to die as live, -Fulvia awaiteth nothing but her death. -Yet had my father known the course of change, -Or seen our loss by lucky augury, -This tyrant nor his followers had liv'd -To 'joy the ruin of fierce Sylla's house. - -MARIUS. But, lady, they that dwell on fortune's call -No sooner rise, but subject are to fall. - -FULVIA. Marius, I doubt not but our constant ends -Shall make thee wail thy tyrant's government. - -MARIUS. When tyrant's rule doth breed my care and woe, -Then will I say two ladies told me so. -But here comes Lectorius. Now, my lord. -Have you brought those things? - - _Enter_ LECTORIUS. - -LECTORIUS. I have, noble consul. - -MARIUS. Now, ladies, you are resolute to die? - -CORNELIA. Ay, Marius, for terror cannot daunt us. -Tortures were framed to dread the baser eye, -And not t'appal a princely majesty. - -MARIUS. And Marius lives to triumph o'er his foes, -That train their warlike troops amidst the plains, -And are enclos'd and hemm'd with shining arms, -Not to appal such princely majesty. -Virtue, sweet ladies, is of more regard -In Marius' mind, where honour is enthron'd, -Than Rome or rule of Roman empery. - [_Here he puts chains about their necks_. -The bands, that should combine your snow-white wrists, -Are these which shall adorn your milk-white necks. -The private cells, where you shall end your lives, -Is Italy, is Europe--nay the world. -Th'Euxinian Sea, the fierce Sicilian Gulf, -The river Ganges and Hydaspes' stream -Shall level lie, and smooth as crystal ice, -While Fulvia and Cornelia pass thereon. -The soldiers, that should guard you to your deaths, -Shall be five thousand gallant youths of Rome, -In purple robes cross-barr'd with pales of gold, -Mounted on warlike coursers for the field, -Fet[141] from the mountain-tops of Corsica, -Or bred in hills of bright Sardinia, -Who shall conduct and bring you to your lord. -Ay, unto Sylla, ladies, shall you go, -And tell him Marius holds within his hands -Honour for ladies, for ladies rich reward; -But as for Sylla and for his compeers, -Who dare 'gainst Marius vaunt their golden crests, -Tell him for them old Marius holds revenge, -And in his hands both triumphs life and death. - -CORNELIA. Doth Marius use with glorious words to jest, -And mock his captives with these glosing[142] terms? - -MARIUS. No, ladies; -Marius hath sought for honour with his sword, -And holds disdain to triumph in your falls. -Live, Cornelia: live, fair and fairest Fulvia! -If you have done or wrought me injury, -Sylla shall pay it through his misery. - -FULVIA. So gracious, famous consul, are thy words, -That Rome and we shall celebrate thy worth, -And Sylla shall confess himself o'ercome. - -CORNELIA. If ladies' prayers or tears may move the heavens, -Sylla shall vow himself old Marius' friend. - -MARIUS. Ladies, for that I nought at all regard: -Sylla's my foe, I'll triumph over him; -For other conquest glory doth not win. -Therefore come on, -That I may send you unto Sylla. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter a_ CLOWN, _drunk, with a pint of wine in his hand, - and two or three_ SOLDIERS. - -1ST SOLDIER. Sirrah, dally not with us; you know where he is. - -CLOWN. O, sir, a quart is a quart in any man's purse, and drink is -drink, and can my master live without his drink, I pray you? - -2D SOLDIER. You have a master then, sirrah? - -CLOWN. Have I a master, thou scoundrel? I have an orator to my master, -a wise man to my master. But, fellows, I must make a parenthesis of -this pint-pot, for words make men dry: now, by my troth, I drink to -Lord Anthony. - -3D SOLDIER. Fellow-soldiers, the weakness of his brain hath made his -tongue walk largely; we shall have some novelties by-and-by. - -CLOWN. O most surpassing wine, -Thou marrow of the vine! -More welcome unto me -Than whips to scholars be. -Thou art, and ever was, -A means to mend an ass; -Thou makest some to sleep, -And many mo to weep, -And some be glad and merry, -With heigh down derry, derry. -Thou makest some to stumble, -And many mo to fumble, -And me have pinky neyne.[143] -More brave and jolly wine! -What need I praise thee mo, -For thou art good, with heigh-ho! - -3D SOLDIER. If wine then be so good, I prithee, for thy part, -Tell us where Lord Anthony is, and thou shalt have a quart. - -CLOWN. First shall the snow be black, -And pepper lose his smack, -And stripes forsake my back: -First merry drunk with sack, -I will go boast and track, -And all your costards crack, -Before I do the knack -Shall make me sing alack. -Alack, the old man is weary, -For wine hath made him merry. -With a heigh-ho. - -1ST SOLDIER. I prythee leave these rhymes, and tell us where thy -master is? - -CLOWN. Faith, where you shall not be, -Unless ye go with me. -But shall I tell them so? -O, no, sir, no, no, no. -The man hath many a foe, -As far as I do know: -You do not flout me, I hope. -See how this liquor fumes, -And how my force presumes. -You would know where Lord Anthony is? I perceive you. -Shall I say he is in yond farmhouse? I deceive you. -Shall I tell you this wine is for him? The gods forfend, -And so I end. Go, fellow-fighters, there's a bob for ye. - -2D SOLDIER. My masters, let us follow this clown, for questionless this -grave orator is in yonder farmhouse[144]. But who cometh yonder? - - _Enter_ OLD ANTHONY. - -ANTHONY. I wonder why my peasant stays so long, -And with my wonder hasteth on my woe, -And with my woe I am assailed with fear, -And with my fear await with faintful breath -The final period of my pains by death. - -1ST SOLDIER. Yond's the man we seek for, soldiers. Unsheathe your -swords, and make a riddance of Marius' ancient enemy. - -CLOWN. Master, fly, fly, -Or else you shall die! -A plague on this wine, -Hath made me so fine! -And will you not be gone? -Then I'll leave you alone, -And sleep upon your woe, -With a lamentable heigh-ho. - [_Exit_. - -ANTHONY. Betrayed at last by witless oversight! -Now, Anthony, prepare thyself to die. -Lo, where the monstrous ministers of wrath -Menace thy murder with their naked swords. - -2D SOLDIER. Anthony, well-met: the consul Marius, with other confederate -senators, have adjudged thee death, therefore prepare thyself, and think -we favour thee in this little protraction. - -ANTHONY. Immortal powers, that know the painful cares -That wait upon my poor distressed heart, -O, bend your brows, and level all your looks -Of dreadful awe upon these daring men! -And thou, sweet niece of Atlas, on whose lips -And tender tongue the pliant muses sit, -Let gentle course of sweet aspiring speech, -Let honey-flowing terms of weary woe, -Let fruitful figures and delightful lines -Enforce a spring of pity from their eyes, -Amaze the murd'rous passions of their minds, -That they may favour woful Anthony. -O countrymen, what shall become of Rome, -When reverend duty droopeth through disgrace? -O countrymen, what shall become of Rome, -When woful nature, widow of her joys, -Weeps on our walls to see her laws depress'd? -O Romans, hath not Anthony's discourse -Seal'd up the mouths of false seditious men, -Assoil'd[145] the doubts and quaint controls of power, -Relieved the mournful matron with his pleas? -And will you seek to murder Anthony? -The lions brook with kindness their relief; -The sheep reward the shepherd with their fleece; -Yet Romans seek to murder Anthony. - -1ST SOLDIER. Why, what enchanting terms of art are these, -That force my heart to pity his distress? - -2D SOLDIER. His action, speech, his favour and his grace, -My rancour rage and rigour doth deface. - -3D SOLDIER. So sweet his words, that now of late, meseems, -His art doth draw my soul from out my lips. - -ANTHONY. What envious eyes, reflecting nought but rage, -What barbarous heart, refresh'd with nought but blood, -That rends not to behold the senseless trees -In doly[146] season drooping without leaves? -The shepherd sighs upon the barren hills, -To see his bleating lambs with faintful looks -Behold the valleys robb'd of springing flowers, -That whilom wont to yield them yearly food. -Even meanest things, exchang'd from former state, -The virtuous mind with some remorse doth mate. -Can then your eyes with thundering threats of rage -Cast furious gleams of anger upon age? -Can then your hearts with furies mount so high, -As they should harm the Roman Anthony? -I, far more kind than senseless tree, have lent -A kindly sap to our declining state, -And like a careful shepherd have foreseen -The heavy dangers of this city Rome; -And made the citizens the happy flock, -Whom I have fed with counsels and advice: -But now those locks that, for their reverend white, -Surpass the down on Aesculapius' chin: -But now that tongue, whose terms and fluent style -For number pass'd the hosts of heavenly fires: -But now that head, within whose subtle brains -The queen of flowing eloquence did dwell-- - - _Enter a_ CAPTAIN. - -These locks, this tongue, this head, this life, and all, -To please a tyrant, trait'rously must fall. - -CAPTAIN. Why, how now, soldiers, is he living yet? -And will you be bewitched with his words? -Then take this fee, false orator, from me: [_Stabs him_. -Elysium best beseems thy faintful limbs. - -ANTHONY. O blissful pains! now Anthony must die, -Which serv'd and lov'd Rome and her empery. - [_Moritur[147]. - -CAPTAIN. Go, curtal off that neck with present stroke, -And straight present it unto Marius. - -1ST SOLDIER. Even in this head did all the muses dwell: -The bees, that sat upon the Grecian's lips, -Distill'd their honey on his temper'd tongue. - -2D SOLDIER. The crystal dew of fair Castalian springs -With gentle floatings trickled on his brains: -The graces kissed his kind and courteous brows, -Apollo gave the beauties of his harp, - - _Enter_ LECTORIUS _pensive_. - -And melodies unto his pliant speech. - -CAPTAIN. Leave these presumptuous praises, countrymen: -And see Lectorius, pensive where he comes. -Lo, here, my lord, the head of Anthony; -See here the guerdon fit for Marius' foe, -Whom dread Apollo prosper in his rule. - -LECTORIUS. O Romans, Marius sleeps among the dead, -And Rome laments the loss of such a friend. - -CAPTAIN. A sudden and a woful chance, my lord, -Which we intentive[148] fain would understand. - -LECTORIUS. Though swoll'n with sighs, my heart for sorrow burst, -And tongue with tears and plaints be choked up, -Yet will I furrow forth with forced breath -A speedy passage to my pensive speech. -Our consul Marius, worthy soldiers, -Of late within a pleasant plot of ground -Sat down for pleasure near a crystal spring, -Accompanied with many lords of Rome. -Bright was the day, and on the spreading trees -The frolic citizens[149] of forest sung -Their lays and merry notes on perching boughs; -When suddenly appeared in the east -Seven mighty eagles with their talons fierce, -Who, waving oft about our consul's head, -At last with hideous cry did soar away. -When suddenly old Marius aghast, -With reverend smile, determin'd with a sigh -The doubtful silence of the standers-by. -Romans, said he, old Marius now must die: -These seven fair eagles, birds of mighty Jove, -That at my birthday on my cradle sat, -Now at my last day warn[150] me to my death, -And lo, I feel the deadly pangs approach. -What should I more? In brief, with many prayers -For Rome, his son--his goods and lands dispos'd-- -Our worthy consul to our wonder died. -The city is amaz'd, for Sylla hastes -To enter Rome with fury, sword and fire. -Go place that head upon the capitol, -And to your wards, for dangers are at hand. - [_Exit_. - -CAPTAIN. Had we foreseen this luckless chance before, -Old Anthony had liv'd and breathed yet. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS QUINTUS. - - - _A great skirmish in Rome and long, some slain. At - last enter_ SYLLA _triumphant, with_ POMPEY, METELLUS, - _Citizens, Soldiers_. - -SYLLA. Now, Romans, after all these mutinies, -Seditions, murders and conspiracies, -Imagine with impartial hearts at last, -What fruits proceed from these contentious brawls. -Your streets, where erst the fathers of your state -In robes of purple walked up and down, -Are strewed with mangled members, streaming blood: -And why? the reasons of this ruthful wrack -Are your seditious innovations, -Your fickle minds inclin'd to foolish change. -Ungrateful men! whilst I with tedious pain -In Asia seal'd my duty with my blood, -Making the fierce Dardanians faint for fear, -Spreading my colours in Galatia, -Dipping my sword in the Enetans' blood, -And foraging the fields of Phocida, -You called my foe from exile with his friends; -You did proclaim me traitor here in Rome; -You raz'd my house, you did defame my friends. -But, brawling wolves, you cannot bite the moon, -For Sylla lives, so forward to revenge, -As woe to those that sought to do me wrong. -I now am entered Rome in spite of force, -And will so hamper all my cursed foes. -As be he tribune, consul, lord, or knight, -That hateth Sylla, let him look to die. -And first to make an entrance to mine ire, -Bring me that traitor Carbo out of hand. - -POMPEY. O Sylla, in revenging injuries, -Inflict the pain where first offence did spring, -And for my sake establish peace in Rome, -And pardon these repentant citizens. - -SYLLA. Pompey, I love thee, Pompey, and consent -To thy request; but, Romans, have regard, -Lest over-reaching in offence again, -I load your shoulders with a double pain. - - [_Exeunt citizens. - - Bring in_ CARBO _bound_. - -But, Pompey, see where jolly Carbo comes, -Footing it featly like a mighty man. -What, no obeisance, sirrah, to your lord? - -CARBO[151]. My lord? No, Sylla: he that thrice hath borne -The name of consul scorns to stoop to him, -Whose heart doth hammer nought but mutinies. - -POMPEY. And doth your lordship then disdain to stoop? - -CARBO. Ay, to mine equal, Pompey, as thou art. - -SYLLA. Thine equal, villain? no, he is my friend; -Thou, but a poor anatomy of bones, -Cas'd in a knavish tawny withered skin. -Wilt thou not stoop? art thou so stately then? - -CARBO. Sylla, I honour gods, not foolish men. - -SYLLA. Then break that wither'd bough, that will not bend[152], -And, soldiers, cast him down before my feet: [_They throw him down_. -Now, prating sir, my foot upon thy neck, -I'll be so bold to give your lordship check. -Believe me, soldiers, but I over-reach; -Old Carbo's neck at first was made to stretch. - -CARBO. Though body bend, thou tyrant most unkind, -Yet never shalt thou humble Carbo's mind. - -SYLLA. O sir, I know, for all your warlike pith -A man may mar your worship with a with.[153] -You, sirrah, levied arms to do me wrong; -You brought your legions to the gates of Rome; -You fought it out in hope that I would faint; -But, sirrah, now betake you to your books, -Entreat the gods to save your sinful soul: -For why this carcase must in my behalf -Go feast the ravens that serve our augurs' turn. -Methinks I see already, how they wish -To bait their beaks in such a jolly dish. - -CARBO. Sylla, thy threats and scoffs amate me not. -I prythee, let thy murderers hale me hence; -For Carbo rather likes to die by sword, -Than live to be a mocking-stock to thee. - -SYLLA. The man hath haste; good soldiers, take him hence: -It would be good to alter his pretence. -But be advis'd that, when the fool is slain, -You part the head and body both in twain. -I know that Carbo longs to know the cause, -And shall: thy body for the ravens[154], thy head for daws. - -CARBO. O matchless ruler of our capitol, -Behold poor Rome with grave and piteous eye -Fulfilled with wrong and wretched tyranny! - [_Exit_ CARBO _cum militibus. - - Enter_ SCIPIO, NORBANUS, _and_ CARINNA.[155] - -SYLLA. Tut, the proud man's prayer will never pierce the sky. -But whither press these mincing senators? - -NORBANUS. We press with prayers, we come with mournful tears, -Entreating Sylla by those holy bands, -That link fair Juno with her thundering Jove, -Even by the bonds of hospitality, -To pity Rome afflicted through thy wrath. -Thy soldiers (Sylla) murder innocents: -O, whither will thy lawless fury stretch, -If little ruth ensue thy country's harms? - -SYLLA. Gay words, Norbanus, full of eloquence, -Accompanied with action and conceit: -But I must teach thee judgment therewithal -Dar'st thou approach my presence, that hast borne -Thine arms in spite of Sylla and his friends? -I tell thee, foolish man, thy judgment wanted -In this presumptuous purpose that is pass'd: -And, loitering scholar, since you fail in art, -I'll learn you judgment shortly to your smart. -Despatch him, soldiers; I must see him die. -And you, Carinna, Carbo's ancient friend, -Shall follow straight your headless[156] general. -And, Scipio, were it not I lov'd thee well, -Thou should'st accompany these slaves to hell: -But get you gone, and if you love yourself. - - [_Exit_ SCIPIO. - -CARINNA. Pardon me, Sylla! pardon, gentle Sylla! - -SYLLA. Sirrah, this gentle name was coin'd too late, -And shadow'd in the shrouds of biting hate. -Despatch! [_Kill him_.] why so; good fortune to my friends-- -As for my foes, even such shall be their ends. -Convey them hence. Metellus, gentle Metellus, -Fetch me Sertorius from Iberia: -In doing so thou standest me in stead, -For sore I long to see the traitor's head. - -METELLUS. I go, confirm'd to conquer him by sword, -Or in th'exploit to hazard life and all. [_Exit_. - -SYLLA. Now, Pompey, let me see: those senators -Are dangerous stops of our pretended[157] state, -And must be curtail'd, lest they grow too proud. -I do proscribe just forty senators, -Which shall be leaders in my tragedy. -And for our gentlemen are over-proud, -Of them a thousand and six hundred die; -A goodly army, meet to conquer hell. -Soldiers, perform the course of my decree. -Their friends my foes, their foes shall be my friends. -Go sell their goods by trumpet at your wills: -Meanwhile Pompey shall see, and Rome shall rue, -The miseries that shortly shall ensue. - [_Exeunt_. - - _Alarum, skirmish, a retreat. Enter_ YOUNG MARIUS - _upon the walls of_ PRAENESTE _with some Soldiers, - all in black and wonderful melancholy_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. O endless course of needy man's avail! -What silly thoughts, what simple policies, -Make man presume upon this traitorous life! -Have I not seen the depth of sorrow once, -And then again have kiss'd the queen of chance. -O Marius, thou, Tillitius, and thy friends, -Hast seen thy foe discomfited in fight: -But now the stars have form'd my final harms. -My father Marius lately dead in Rome; -My foe with honour doth triumph in Rome, -My friends are dead and banished from Rome. -Ay, Marius, father, friends, more blest than thee! -They dead, I live; I thralled, they are free. -Here in Praeneste am I cooped up, -Amongst a troop of hunger-starved men, -Set to prevent false Sylla's fierce approach, -But now exempted both of life and all. -Well, fortune, since thy fleeting change hath cast -Poor Marius from his hopes and true desires, -My resolution shall exceed thy power. -Thy colour'd wings steeped in purple blood, -Thy blinding wreath distain'd in purple blood, -Thy royal robes wash'd in my purple blood, -Shall witness to the world thy thirst of blood; -And when the tyrant Sylla shall expect -To see the son of Marius stoop to fear, -Then, then, O, then, my mind shall well appear, -That scorn my life, and hold mine honour dear. - - [_Alarum. A retreat_. - -Hark how these murderous Romans, viper-like, -Seek to bewray their fellow-citizens. -O wretched world, from whence with speedy flight -True love, true zeal, true honour late is fled! - -SOLDIER. What makes my lord so careless and secure, -To leave the breach and here lament alone? - -YOUNG MARIUS. Not fear, my friend, for I could never fly; -But study how with honour for to die. -I pray thee, call the chiefest citizens; -I must advise them in a weighty cause: -Here shall they meet me; and, until they come, -I will go view the danger of the breach. - - [_Exit_ YOUNG MARIUS, _with the Soldiers_. - - _Enter, with drums and Soldiers_, LUCRETIUS, _with - other Romans, as_ TUDITANUS, &c. - -LUCRETIUS. Say, Tuditanus, didst thou ever see -So desperate defence as this hath been. - -TUDITANUS. As in Numidia, tigers wanting food, -Or, as in Lybia, lions full of ire, -So fare these Romans on Praeneste walls. - -LUCRETIUS. Their valour, Tuditanus, and resist, -The man-like fight of younger Marius, -Makes me amaz'd to see their miseries, -And pity them, although they be my foes. -What said I? Foes? O Rome, with ruth I see -Thy state consum'd through folly and dissension! -Well, sound a parley; I will see if words - - [_Sound a parley_--YOUNG MARIUS _appears - upon the walls with the Citizens_. - -Can make them yield, which will not fly for strokes. - -YOUNG MARIUS. What seeks this Roman warrior at our hands? - -LUCRETIUS. That seeks he, Marius, that he wisheth thee: -An humble heart and then a happy peace. -Thou see'st thy fortunes are depress'd and down; -Thy victuals spent; thy soldiers weak with want; -The breach laid open, ready to assault: -Now, since thy means and maintenance are done, -Yield, Marius, yield. Praenestians, be advis'd; -Lucretius is advis'd to favour you. -I pray thee, Marius, mark my last advice: -Relent in time; let Sylla be thy friend; -So thou in Rome may'st lead a happy life, -And those with thee shall pray for Marius still. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lucretius, I consider on thy words: -Stay there awhile; thou shalt have answer straight. - -LUCRETIUS. Apollo grant that my persuasions may -Preserve these Roman soldiers from the sword. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My friends and citizens of Praeneste town, -You see the wayward working of our stars; -Our hearts confirm'd to fight, our victuals spent. -If we submit, it's Sylla must remit; -A tyrant, traitor, enemy to Rome, -Whose heart is guarded still with bloody thoughts. -These flattering vows Lucretius here avows, -Are pleasing words to colour poison'd thoughts. -What, will you live with shame, or die with fame? - -1ST CITIZEN. A famous death, my lord, delights us most. - -2D CITIZEN. We of thy faction, Marius, are resolv'd -To follow thee in life and death together. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Words full of worth, beseeming noble minds: -The very balsamum to mend my woes. -O countrymen! you see Campania spoil'd; -A tyrant threat'ning mutinies in Rome; -A world despoil'd of virtue, faith, and trust. -If then, no peace, no liberty, no faith, -Conclude with me, and let it be no life! -Live not to see your tender infants slain; -These stately towers made level with the land; -This body mangled by our enemy's sword: -But full resolv'd to do as Marius doth, -Unsheathe your poniards, and let every friend -Bethink him of a soldier-like farewell. -Sirrah, display my standard on the walls, -And I will answer yond Lucretius: -Who loveth Marius, now must die with Marius! - -LUCRETIUS. What answer will your lordship then return us? - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lucretius, we that know what Sylla is-- -How dissolute, how trothless and corrupt, -In brief conclude to die, before we yield: -But so to die--Lucretius, mark me well-- -As loth to see the fury of our swords -Should murther friends and Roman citizens. -Fie, countrymen! what fury doth infect -Your warlike bosoms, that were wont to fight -With foreign foes, not with Campanian friends. -Now unadvised youth must counsel eld; -For governance is banish'd out of Rome. -Woe to that bough, from whence these blooms are sprung! -Woe to that Aetna, vomiting this fire! -Woe to that brand, consuming country's weal! -Woe to that Sylla, careless and secure, -That gapes with murder for a monarchy! -Go, second Brutus, with a Roman mind, -And kill that tyrant. And for Marius' sake, -Pity the guiltless wives of these your friends. -Preserve their weeping infants from the sword, -Whose fathers seal their honours with their bloods. -Farewell, Lucretius: first I press in place [_Stab_. -To let thee see a constant Roman die. -Praenestians, lo, a wound, a fatal wound! -The pain but small, the glory passing great! -Praenestians, see a second stroke! why so; [_Again_. -I feel the dreeping dimness of the night, -Closing the coverts of my careful eyes. -Follow me, friends; for Marius now must die -With fame, in spite of Sylla's tyranny.[158] - [_Moritur_. - -1ST CITIZEN. We follow thee our chieftain even in death. -Our town is thine, Lucretius; but we pray -For mercy for our children and our wives. - [_Moritur_. - -2D CITIZEN. O, save my son, Lucretius; let him live. - [_Moritur_. - -LUCRETIUS. A wondrous and bewitched constancy, -Beseeming Marius' pride and haughty mind. -Come, let us charge the breach; the town is ours. -Both male and female, put them to the sword: -So please you, Sylla, and fulfil his word. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _A little skirmish. A retreat. Enter in royally_ LUCRETIUS. - -LUCRETIUS. Now, Romans, we have brought Praeneste low, -And Marius sleeps amidst the dead at last: -So then to Rome, my countrymen, with joy, -Where Sylla waits the tidings of our fight. -Those prisoners that are taken, see forthwith -With warlike javelins you put them to death. -Come, let us march! See Rome in sight, my hearts, -Where Sylla waits the tidings of our war. - - _Enter_ SYLLA, VALERIUS FLACCUS, LEPIDUS, POMPEY, _Citizens' - Guard_: SYLLA, _seated in his robes of state, is saluted by - the Citizens, &c_. - -FLACCUS. Romans, you know, and to your griefs have seen -A world of troubles hatched here at home, -Which through prevention being well-nigh cross'd -By worthy Sylla and his warlike band, -I, consul, with these fathers think it meet -To fortify our peace and city's weal, -To name some man of worth that may supply -Dictator's power and place; whose majesty -Shall cross the courage of rebellious minds. -What think you, Romans, will you condescend? - -SYLLA. Nay, Flaccus, for their profits they must yield; -For men of mean condition and conceit -Must humble their opinions to their lords. -And if my friends and citizens consent, -Since I am born to manage mighty things, -I will, though loth, both rule and govern them. -I speak not this, as though I wish to reign, -But for to know my friends: and yet again -I merit, Romans, far more grace than this. - -FLACCUS. Ay, countrymen, if Sylla's power and mind, -If Sylla's virtue, courage, and device, -If Sylla's friends and fortunes merit fame, -None then but he should bear dictator's name. - -POMPEY. What think you, citizens, why stand ye mute? -Shall Sylla be dictator here in Rome? - -CITIZENS. By full consent Sylla shall be dictator. - -FLACCUS. Then in the name of Rome I here present -The rods and axes into Sylla's hand; -And fortunate prove Sylla, our dictator. - - [_Trumpets sound: cry within_, SYLLA _Dictator_. - -SYLLA. My fortunes, Flaccus, cannot be impeach'd. -For at my birth the planets passing kind -Could entertain no retrograde aspects: -And that I may with kindness 'quite their love, -My countrymen, I will prevent the cause -'Gainst all the false encounters of mishap. -You name me your dictator, but prefix -No time, no course, but give me leave to rule -And yet exempt me not from your revenge. -Thus by your pleasures being set aloft, -Straight by your furies I should quickly fall. -No, citizens, who readeth Sylla's mind, -Must form my titles in another kind: -Either let Sylla be dictator ever, -Or flatter Sylla with these titles never. - -CITIZENS. Perpetual be thy glory and renown: -Perpetual lord dictator shalt thou be. - -POMPEY. Hereto the senate frankly doth agree. - -SYLLA. Then so shall Sylla reign, you senators. -Then so shall Sylla rule, you citizens, -As senators and citizens that please me -Shall be my friends; the rest cannot disease me. - - _Enter_ LUCRETIUS, _with Soldiers_. - -But see, whereas Lucretius is return'd! -Welcome, brave Roman: where is Marius? -Are these Praenestians put unto the sword? - -LUCRETIUS. The city, noble Sylla, razed is, -And Marius dead--not by our swords, my lord, -But with more constancy than Cato died. - -SYLLA. What, constancy! and but a very boy? -Why then I see he was his father's son. -But let us have this constancy described. - -LUCRETIUS. After our fierce assaults and their resist, -Our siege, their sallying out to stop our trench, -Labour and hunger reigning in the town, -The younger Marius on the city's wall -Vouchsaf'd an inter-parley at the last; -Wherein with constancy and courage too -He boldly arm'd his friends, himself, to death; -And, spreading of his colours on the wall, -For answer said he could not brook to yield, -Or trust a tyrant such as Sylla was. - -SYLLA. What, did the brainsick boy upbraid me so? -But let us hear the rest, Lucretius. - -LUCRETIUS. And, after great persuasions to his friends -And worthy resolution of them all, -He first did sheathe his poniard in his breast, -And so in order died all the rest. - -SYLLA. Now, by my sword, this was a worthy jest.[159] -Yet, silly boy, I needs must pity thee, -Whose noble mind could never mated be. -Believe me, countrymen, a sudden thought, -A sudden change in Sylla now hath wrought. -Old Marius and his son were men of name, -Nor fortune's laughs nor low'rs their minds could tame, -And when I count their fortunes that are past, -I see that death confirm'd their fames at last. -Then he that strives to manage mighty things, -Amidst his triumphs gains a troubled mind. -The greatest hope, the greatest harm it brings, -And poor men in content their glory find. -If then content be such a pleasant thing, -Why leave I country life to live a king? -Yet kings are gods, and make the proudest stoop; -Yea, but themselves are still pursued with hate: -And men were made to mount and then to droop. -Such chances wait upon uncertain fate. -That where she kisseth once, she quelleth twice; -Then whoso lives content is happy, wise. -What motion moveth this philosophy? -O Sylla, see the ocean ebbs and flows;[160] -The spring-time wanes, when winter draweth nigh: -Ay, these are true and most assured notes. -Inconstant chance such tickle turns has lent. -As whoso fears no fall, must seek content. - -FLACCUS. Whilst graver thoughts of honour should allure thee, -What maketh Sylla muse and mutter thus? - -SYLLA. I, that have pass'd amidst the mighty troops -Of armed legions, through a world of war, -Do now bethink me, Flaccus, of my chance: -How I alone, where many men were slain, -In spite of fate am come to Rome again. -And though[161] I wield the reverend stiles of state; -She[162], Sylla, with a beck could break thy neck. -What lord of Rome hath dar'd as much as I? -Yet, Flaccus, know'st thou not that I must die? -The labouring sisters on the weary looms -Have drawn my web of life at length, I know; -And men of wit must think upon their tombs: -For beasts with careless steps to Lethe go -Where men, whose thoughts and honours climb on high, -Living with fame, must learn with fame to die. - -POMPEY. What lets, my lord, in governing this state, -To live in rest, and die with honour too? - -SYLLA. What lets me, Pompey? why, my courteous friend, -Can he remain secure that wields a charge, -Or think of wit when flatterers do commend, -Or be advis'd that careless runs at large? -No, Pompey: honey words make foolish minds, -And pow'r the greatest wit with error blinds. -Flaccus, I murder'd Anthony, thy friend; -Romans, some here have lost at my command -Their fathers, mothers, brothers, and allies; -And think you, Sylla, thinking these misdeeds, -Bethinks not on your grudges and mislike? -Yes, countrymen, I bear them still in mind: -Then, Pompey, were I not a silly man -To leave my rule, and trust these Romans then? - -POMPEY. Your grace hath small occasions of mistrust, -Nor seek these citizens for your disclaim. - -SYLLA. But, Pompey, now these reaching plumes of pride, -That mounted up my fortunes to the clouds, -By grave conceits shall straight be laid aside, -And Sylla thinks of far more simple shrouds. -For having tried occasion in the throne, -I'll see if she dare frown, when state is gone. -Lo, senators, the man that sat aloft, -Now deigns to give inferiors highest place. -Lo, here the man whom Rome repined oft, -A private man content to brook disgrace. -Romans, lo, here the axes, rods, and all: -I'll master fortune, lest she make me thrall. -Now whoso list accuse me, tell my wrongs, -Upbraid me in the presence of this state. -Is none these jolly citizens among, -That will accuse, or say I am ingrate? -Then will I say, and boldly boast my chances, -That nought may force the man whom fate advances. - -FLACCUS. What meaneth Sylla in this sullen mood, -To leave his titles on the sudden thus? - -SYLLA. Consul, I mean with calm and quiet mind -To pass my days, till[163] happy death I find. - -POMPEY. What greater wrong than leave thy country so? - -SYLLA. Both it and life must Sylla leave in time. - -CITIZEN. Yet during life have care of Rome and us. - -SYLLA. O wanton world, that flatter'st in thy prime, -And breathest balm and poison mixed in one! -See how these wavering Romans wish'd my reign, -That whilom fought and sought to have me slain. [_Aside_.] -My countrymen, this city wants no store -Of fathers, warriors, to supply my room; -So grant me peace, and I will die for Rome. - - _Enter two Burglars to them_, POPPEY _and_ CURTALL. - -CURTALL. These are very indiscreet counsels, neighbour Poppey, -and I will follow your misadvisement. - -POPPEY. I tell you, goodman Curtall, the wench hath wrong. O vain -world, O foolish men! Could a man in nature cast a wench down, and -disdain in nature to lift her up again? Could he take away her -dishonesty without bouncing up the banns of matrimony? O learned -poet, well didst thou write fustian verse. - - _These maids are daws - That go to the laws, - And a babe in the belly_. - -CURTALL. Tut, man, 'tis the way the world must follow, for - - _Maids must be kind, - Good husbands to find_. - -POPPEY. But mark the fierse[164], - - _If they swell before, - It will grieve them sore_. - -But see, yond's Master Sylla: faith, a pretty fellow is a. - -SYLLA. What seek my countrymen? what would my friends? - -CURTALL. Nay, sir, your kind words shall not serve the turn: why, think -you to thrust your soldiers into our kindred with your courtesies, sir? - -POPPEY. I tell you, Master Sylla, my neighbour will have the law: he had -the right, he will have the wrong; for therein dwells the law. - -CONSUL. What desire these men of Rome? - -CURTALL. Neighbour, sharpen the edge-tool of your wits upon the -whetstone of indiscretion, that your words may shine like the razors -of Palermo[165]: [_to_ POPPEY] you have learning with ignorance, -therefore speak my tale. - -POPPEY. Then, worshipful Master Sylla, be it known unto you, -That my neighbour's daughter Dority -Was a maid of restority; -Fair, fresh, and fine -As a merry cup of wine; -Her eyes like two potch'd eggs, -Great and goodly her legs; -But mark my doleful ditty, -Alas! for woe and pity! -A soldier of your's -Upon a bed of flowers -Gave her such a fall, -As she lost maidenhead and all. -And thus in very good time -I end my rudeful rhyme. - -SYLLA. And what of this, my friend? why seek you me, -Who have resign'd my titles and my state, -To live a private life, as you do now? -Go move the Consul Flaccus in this cause, -Who now hath power to execute the laws. - -CURTALL. And are you no more master dixcator, nor generality of the -soldiers? - -SYLLA. My powers do cease, my titles are resign'd. - -CURTALL. Have you signed your titles? O base mind, that being in the -Paul's steeple of honour, hast cast thyself into the sink of simplicity. -Fie, beast! -Were I a king, I would day by day -Suck up white bread and milk, -And go a-jetting in a jacket of silk; -My meat should be the curds, -My drink should be the whey, -And I would have a mincing lass to love me every day. - -POPPEY. Nay, goodman Curtall, your discretions are very simple; let -me cramp him with a reason. Sirrah, whether is better good ale or -small-beer? Alas! see his simplicity that cannot answer me: why, -I say ale. - -CURTALL. And so say I, neighbour. - -POPPEY. Thou hast reason; ergo, say I, 'tis better be a king than -a clown. Faith, Master Sylla, I hope a man may now call ye knave by -authority. - -SYLLA. With what impatience hear I these upbraids, -That whilom plagued the least offence with death. -O Sylla, these are stales of destiny -By some upbraids to try thy constancy. -My friends, these scorns of yours perhaps may move -The next dictator shun to yield his state, -For fear he find as much as Sylla doth. -But, Flaccus, to prevent their farther wrong, -Vouchsafe some lictor may attach the man, -And do them right that thus complain abuse. - -FLACCUS. Sirrah, go you and bring the soldier, -That hath so loosely lean'd to lawless lust: -We will have means sufficient, be assured, -To cool his heat, and make the wanton chaste. - -CURTALL. We thank your mastership. Come, neighbour, let us jog. -Faith, this news will set my daughter Dorothy agog. - - [_Exeunt cum Lictore_. - -SYLLA. Grave senators and Romans, now you see -The humble bent of Sylla's changed mind. -Now will I leave you, lords, from courtly train -To dwell content amidst my country cave, -Where no ambitious humours shall approach -The quiet silence of my happy sleep: -Where no delicious jouissance or toys -Shall tickle with delight my temper'd ears; -But wearying out the lingering day with toil, -Tiring my veins, and furrowing of my soul, -The silent night, with slumber stealing on, -Shall lock these careful closets of mine eyes. -O, had I known the height of happiness, -Or bent mine eyes upon my mother-earth, -Long since, O Rome, had Sylla with rejoice -Forsaken arms to lead a private life! - -FLACCUS. But in this humbleness of mind, my lord, -Whereas experience prov'd and art do meet, -How happy were these fair Italian fields, -If they were graced with so sweet a sun. -Then I for Rome, and Rome with me, requires -That Sylla will abide, and govern Rome. - -SYLLA. O Flaccus, if th'Arabian phoenix strive -By nature's warning to renew her kind, -When, soaring nigh the glorious eye of heaven, -She from her cinders doth revive her sex, -Why should not Sylla learn by her to die, -That erst have been the Phoenix of this land? -And drawing near the sunshine of content, -Perish obscure to make your glories grow. -For as the higher trees do shield the shrubs -From posting Phlegon's[166] warmth and breathing fire, -So mighty men obscure each other's fame, -And make the best deservers fortune's game. - - _Enter_ GENIUS. - -But ah, what sudden furies do affright? -What apparitious fantasies are these? -O, let me rest, sweet lords, for why methinks -Some fatal spells are sounded in mine ears. - -GENIUS. _Subsequitur tua mors: privari lumine Syllam, -Numina Parcarum jam fera precipiunt -Precipiunt fera jam Parcarum numina Syllam -Lumine privari: mors tua subsequitur. -Elysium petis, o faelix! et fatidici astri -Praescius: Heroes, o, petis innumeros! -Innumeros petis, o, Heroes, praescius astri -Fatidici: et faelix, o, petis Elysium_! - [Evanescit subito. - -SYLLA. _Ergo-ne post dulces annos properantia fata? -Ergo-ne jam tenebrae praemia lucis erunt? -Attamen, ut vitae fortunam gloria mortis -Vincat, in extremo funere cantet olor_. - -POMPEY. How fares my lord? what dreadful thoughts are these? -What doubtful answers on a sudden thus? - -SYLLA. Pompey, the man that made the world to stoop, -And fetter'd fortune in the chains of power, -Must droop and draw the chariot of fate -Along the darksome banks of Acheron. -The heavens have warn'd me of my present fall. -O, call Cornelia forth: let Sylla see -His daughter Fulvia, ere his eyes be shut. - - [_Exit one for_ CORNELIA. - -FLACCUS. Why, Sylla, where is now thy wonted hope -In greatest hazard of unstayed chance. -What, shall a little biting blast of pain -Blemish the blossoms of thy wonted pride? - -SYLLA. My Flaccus, worldly joys and pleasures fade; -Inconstant time, like to the fleeting tide, -With endless course man's hopes doth overbear: -Nought now remains that Sylla fain would have, -But lasting fame, when body lies in grave. - - _Enter_ CORNELIA, FULVIA. - -CORNELIA. How fares my lord? How doth my gentle Sylla. - -SYLLA. Ah, my Cornelia! passing happy now: -Free from the world, allied unto the heavens: -Not curious of incertain chances now. - -CORNELIA. Words full of woe, still adding to my grief, -A cureless cross of many hundred harms. -O, let not Rome and poor Cornelia lose, -The one her friend, the other her delight. - -SYLLA. Cornelia, man hath power by some instinct -And gracious revolution of the stars, -To conquer kingdoms, not to master fate: -For when the course of mortal life is run, -Then Clotho ends the web her sister spun. -Pompey, Lord Flaccus, fellow-senators, -In that I feel the faintful dews of death -Steeping mine eyes within their chilly wet, -The care I have of wife and daughter both, -Must on your wisdom happily rely. -With equal distribution see you part -My lands and goods betwixt these lovely twain: -Only bestow a hundred thousand sesterces -Upon my friends and fellow-soldiers. -Thus, having made my final testament, -Come, Fulvia, let thy father lay his head -Upon thy lovely bosom, and entreat -A virtuous boon and favour at thy hands. -Fair Roman maid, see that thou wed thy fairness[167] -To modest, virtuous, and delightful thoughts: -Let Rome, in viewing thee, behold thy sire. -Honour Cornelia, from whose fruitful womb -Thy plenteous beauties sweetly did appear; -And with this lesson, lovely maid, farewell. - -FULVIA. O tedious and unhappy chance for me. - -SYLLA. Content thee, Fulvia, for it needs must be. -Cornelia, I must leave thee to the world; -And by those loves that I have lent thee oft, -In mutual wedlock-rites and happy war, -Remember Sylla in my Fulvia still. -Consul, farewell! my Pompey, I must hence: -And farewell, Rome: and, Fortune, now I bless thee, -That both in life and death would'st not oppress me! - [_Dies_. - -CORNELIA. O hideous storms of never-daunted fate! -Now are those eyes, whose sweet reflections cool'd -The smother'd rancours of rebellious thoughts, -Clad with the sable mantles of the night; -And like the tree that, robb'd of sun and showers, -Mourns desolate withouten leaf or sap, -So poor Cornelia, late bereft of love, -Sits sighing, hapless, joyless, and forlorn. - -FULVIA. Gone is the flow'r that did adorn our fields; -Fled are those sweet reflections of delight: -Dead is my father! Fulvia, dead is he -In whom thy life, for whom thy death, must be. - -FLACCUS. Ladies, to tire the time in restless moan -Were tedious unto friends and nature too. -Sufficeth you, that Sylla so is dead, -As fame shall sing his power, though life be fled. - -POMPEY. Then to conclude his happiness, my lords, -Determine where shall be his funeral. - -LEPIDUS. Even there where other nobles are interr'd. - -POMPEY. Why, Lepidus, what Roman ever was, -That merited so high a name as he? -Then why with simple pomp and funeral -Would you entomb so rare a paragon? - -CORNELIA. An urn of gold shall hem his ashes in: -The vestal virgins with their holy notes -Shall sing his famous, though too fatal, death. -I and my Fulvia with dispersed hair -Will wait upon this noble Roman's hearse. - -FULVIA. And Fulvia, clad in black and mournful pall, -Will wait upon her father's funeral. - -POMPEY. Come, bear we hence this trophy of renown, -Whose life, whose death, was far from fortune's frown. - - [_Exeunt omnes. - - The funerals of_ SYLLA _in great pomp. - - Deo juvante, nil nocet livor malus: - Et non juvante nil juvat labor gravis_. - - - FINIS. - - - - - - -MUCEDORUS. - - - -_EDITIONS. - -A Most pleasant Comedie of Mucedorus the kings sonne of Valentia and -Amadine the Kings daughter of Arragon, with the merie conceites of -Mouse. Newly set foorth, as it hath bin sundrie times plaide in the -honorable Cittie of London. Very delectable and full of mirth. London -Printed for William Iones, dwelling at Holborne conduit, at the signe of -the Gunne_. 1598. 4to. - -_A Most pleasant Comedie of Mucedorus the Kings sonne of Valentia, and -Amadine the Kings daughter of Aragon. With the merry conceites of Mouse. -Amplified with new additions, as it was acted before the Kings Maiestie -at White-hall on Shroue-Sunday night. By his Highnes Seruants vsually -playing at the Globe. Very delectable, and full of conceited Mirth. -Imprinted at London for William Iones, dwelling neare Holborne Conduit, -at the signe of the Gunne_. 1610. 4to. - -An edition of 1606 is mentioned in "Beauclerc's Catalogue," 1781, as -noticed by Hazlitt. There were others in 1613, 1615, 1619, 1668, and -without date, all in 4to. - -This drama, at one time conjecturally given to Shakespeare, is now first -reprinted from the original copy of 1598, collated with that of 1610; -and the additions are inserted between brackets. Whether the additions -and corrections were the work of the original writer, or of some one -else, is uncertain; but it does not appear improbable that they were the -author's. - -From the play of "Mucedorus" was formed a ballad entitled "The Wandering -Prince and Princess, or Mucedorus and Amadine." - - - -THE PROLOGUE.[168] - -Most sacred Majesty, whose great deserts -Thy subject England, nay, the world, admires: -Which heaven grant still increase! O, may your praise -Multiplying with your hours, your fame still raise. -Embrace your Council: love with faith them guide, -That both at one bench, by each other's side. -So may your life pass on, and run so even, -That your firm zeal plant you a throne in heaven, -Where smiling angels shall your guardians be -From blemish'd traitors, stain'd with perjury. -And, as the night's inferior to the day, -So be all earthly regions to your sway! -Be as the sun to day, the day to night, -For from your beams Europe shall borrow light. -Mirth drown your bosom, fair delight your mind, -And may our pastime your contentment find. - [_Exit_ Prologue. - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE. - - -_Eight[169] persons may easily play it. - -The_ KING _and_ RUMBELO. _For one_. -MUCEDORUS, _the Prince of Valencia. For one_. -AMADINE, _the_ KING'S _daughter of Arragon. For one_. -SEGASTO, _a Nobleman. For one_. -ENVY: TREMELIO, _a Captain. | For one_. -BREMO, _a wild man_. | -COMEDY, _a boy, an old woman. | For one_. -ARIENA, AMADINE'S _maid_. | -COLLEN, _a Councillor, a Messenger. For one_. -MOUSE, _the Clown. For one_. - - - - -MUCEDORUS. - - - _Enter_ COMEDY _joyfully, with a garland of bays on her head_. - -Why so; thus do I hope to please: -Music revives, and mirth is tolerable, -Comedy, play thy part, and please; -Make merry them that come to joy with thee. -Joy, then, good gentles; I hope to make you laugh. -Sound forth Bellona's silver-tuned strings. -Time fits us well, the day and place is ours. - - _Enter_ ENVY, _his arms naked, besmeared with blood_. - -ENVY. Nay, stay, minion; there lies a block! -What, all on mirth? I'll interrupt your tale, -And mix your music with a tragic end. - -COMEDY. What monstrous ugly hag is this, -That dares control the pleasures of our will? -Vaunt, churlish cur, besmear'd with gory blood, -That seem'st to check the blossoms of delight, -And stifle the sound of sweet Bellona's breath, -Blush, monster, blush, and post away with shame, -That seekest disturbance of a goddess' deeds. - -ENVY. Post hence thyself, thou counterchecking trull; -I will possess this habit, spite of thee, -And gain the glory of thy wished port. -I'll thunder music shall appal the nymphs, -And make them shiver their clattering strings: -Flying for succour to their Danish caves. - - _Sound drums within, and cry, Stab, stab_! - -Hearken, thou shalt hear a noise -Shall fill the air with a shrilling sound, -And thunder music to the gods above: -Mars shall himself breathe down -A peerless crown upon brave Envy's head, -And raise his chival with a lasting fame. -In this brave music Envy takes delight, -Where I may see them wallow in their blood, -To spurn at arms and legs quite shivered off, -And hear the cry of many thousand slain, -How lik'st thou this, my trull? this sport alone for me! - -COMEDY. Vaunt, bloody cur, nurs'd up with tigers' sap, -That so dost seek to quail a woman's mind. -Comedy is mild, gentle, willing for to please, -And seeks to gain the love of all estates. -Delighting in mirth, mix'd all with lovely tales, -And bringeth things with treble joy to pass. -Thou bloody envious disdainer of men's joys, -Whose name is fraught with bloody stratagems, -Delights in nothing but in spoil and death, -Where thou may'st trample in their lukewarm blood, -And grasp their hearts within thy cursed paws. -Yet veil thy mind; revenge thou not on me; -A silly woman begs it at thy hands. -Give me the leave to utter out my play; -Forbear this place; I humbly crave thee, hence! -And mix not death 'mongst pleasing comedies, -That treat nought else but pleasure and delight. -If any spark of human rests in thee, -Forbear; begone; tender the suit of me. - -ENVY. Why, so I will; forbearance shall be such, -As treble death shall cross thee with despite, -And make thee mourn, where most thou joyest, -Turning thy mirth into a deadly dole: -Whirling thy pleasures with a peal of death, -And drench thy methods in a sea of blood. -This will I do; thus shall I bear with thee; -And, more to vex thee with a deeper spite, -I will with threats of blood begin thy play: -Favouring thee with envy and with hate. - -COMEDY. Then, ugly monster, do thy worst; -I will defend them in despite of thee: -And though thou think'st with tragic fumes -To brave my play unto my deep disgrace, -I force it not, I scorn what thou canst do; -I'll grace it so, thyself shall it confess, -From tragic stuff to be a pleasant comedy. - -ENVY. Why then, Comedy, send thy actors forth, -And I will cross the first steps of their tread, -Making them fear the very dart of death. - -COMEDY. And I'll defend them, maugre all thy spite. -So, ugly fiend, farewell, till time shall serve, -That we may meet to parley for the best. - -ENVY. Content, Comedy; I'll go spread my branch -And scattered blossoms from mine envious tree, -Shall prove two monsters, spoiling of their joys. - [_Exit. - - [_Sound.] Enter_ MUCEDORUS _and_ ANSELMO, _his friend_. - -MUCEDORUS. Anselmo. - -ANSELMO. My lord and friend. - -MUCEDORUS. True, my Anselmo, both thy lord and friend, -Whose dear affections bosom with my heart, -And keep their domination in one orb. - -ANSELMO. Whence ne'er disloyalty shall root it forth, -But faith plant firmer in your choice respect. - -MUCEDORUS. Much blame were mine, if I should other deem, -Nor can coy Fortune contrary allow. -But, my Anselmo, loth I am to say, -I must estrange that friendship. -Misconstrue not; 'tis from the realm, not thee: -Though lands part bodies, hearts keep company. -Thou know'st that I imparted often have -Private relations with my royal sire, -Had as concerning beauteous Amadine, -Rich Arragon's blight jewel, whose face (some say) -That blooming lilies never shone so gay, -Excelling, not excell'd: yet, lest report -Does mangle verity, boasting of what is not, -Wing'd with desire, thither I'll straight repair, -And be my fortunes, as my thoughts are, fair! - -ANSELMO. Will you forsake Valencia, leave the court, -Absent you from the eye of sovereignty? -Do not, sweet prince, adventure on that task, -Since danger lurks each where; be won from it. - -MUCEDORUS. Desist dissuasion, -My resolution brooks no battery, -Therefore, if thou retain thy wonted form, -Assist what I intend. - -ANSELMO. Your miss will breed a blemish in the court, -And throw a frosty dew upon that beard, -Whose front Valencia stoops to. - -MUCEDORUS. If thou my welfare tender, then no more; -Let love's strong magic charm thy trivial phrase, -Wasted as vainly as to gripe the sun. -Augment not then more answers; lock thy lips, -Unless thy wisdom suit me with disguise, -According to my purpose. - -ANSELMO. That action craves no counsel, -Since what you rightly are, will more command, -Than best usurped shape. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou still art opposite in disposition; -A more obscure servile habiliment -Beseems this enterprise. - -ANSELMO. Then like a Florentine or mountebank! - -MUCEDORUS. 'Tis much too tedious; I dislike thy judgment, -My mind is grafted on an humbler stock. - -ANSELMO. Within my closet does there hang a cassock-- -Though base the weed is, 'twas a shepherd's-- -Which I presented in Lord Julio's masque. - -MUCEDORUS. That, my Anselmo, and none else but that, -Mask Mucedorus from the vulgar view. -That habit suits my mind; fetch me that weed. - [_Exit ANSELMO_. -Better than kings have not disdain'd that state, -And much inferior, to obtain their mate. - - _Re-enter_ ANSELMO _with a shepherd's coat, which he - gives to_ MUCEDORUS. - -MUCEDORUS. So let our respect command thy secrecy. -At once a brief farewell; -Delay to lovers is a second hell. - [_Exit MUCEDORUS_. - -ANSELMO. Prosperity forerun thee: awkward chance -Never be neighbour to thy wishes' venture: -Content and Fame advance thee: ever thrive, -And glory thy mortality survive! - - _Enter_ MOUSE _with a bottle of hay_. - -MOUSE. O, horrible, terrible! Was ever poor gentleman so scar'd out of -his seven senses? A bear? Nay, sure it cannot be a bear, but some devil -in a bear's doublet; for a bear could never have had that agility to -have frighted me. Well, I'll see my father hanged before I'll serve his -horse any more. Well, I'll carry home my bottle of hay, and for once -make my father's horse turn Puritan, and observe fasting-days, for he -gets not a bit. But soft! this way she followed me; therefore I'll take -the other path; and because I'll be sure to have an eye on him, I will -take hands with some foolish creditor, and make every step backward. - - [_As he goes backwards, the bear comes in, and - he tumbles over her, and runs away, and leaves - his bottle of hay behind him.] - - Enter_ SEGASTO _running, and_ AMADINE _after him, - being pursued with a bear_. - -SEGASTO. O, fly, madam, fly, or else we are but dead! - -AMADINE. Help, Segasto! help, help, sweet Segasto, or else I die! - - [SEGASTO _runs away_. - -SEGASTO. Alas, madam! there is no way but flight; -Then haste, and save yourself. - -AMADINE. Why then I die; ah! help me in distress. - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS _like a shepherd, with a sword - drawn and a bear's head in his hand_. - -MUCEDORUS. Stay, lady, stay; and be no more dismay'd; -That cruel beast, most merciless and fell, -Which hath bereaved thousands of their lives, -Affrighted many with his hard pursues, -Prying from place to place to find his prey, -Prolonging thus his life by others' death, -His carcase now lies headless, void of breath. - -AMADINE. That foul, deformed monster, is he dead? - -MUCEDORUS. Assure yourself thereof--behold his head; -Which, if it please you, lady, to accept, -With willing heart I yield it to your majesty. - -AMADINE. Thanks, worthy shepherd, thanks a thousand times; -This gift, assure thyself, contents me more -Than greatest bounty of a mighty prince, -Although he were the monarch of the world. - -MUCEDORUS. Most gracious goddess, more than mortal wight-- -Your heavenly hue of right imports no less-- -Most glad am I, in that it was my chance -To undertake this enterprise in hand, -Which doth so greatly glad your princely mind. - -AMADINE. No goddess, shepherd, but a mortal wight-- -A mortal wight distressed as thou seest: -My father here is King of Arragon: -I, Amadine, his only daughter am, -And after him sole heir unto the crown. -Now, whereas it is my father's will -To marry me unto Segasto, one, -Whose wealth through father's former usury -Is known to be no less than wonderful, -We both of custom oftentimes did use, -Leaving the court, to walk within the fields -For recreation, especially [in] the spring, -In that it yields great store of rare delights; -And, passing farther than our wonted walks, -Scarce ent'red were within these luckless woods. -But right before us down a steep-fall hill, -A monstrous ugly bear did hie him fast -To meet us both--I faint to tell the rest, -Good shepherd--but suppose the ghastly looks, -The hideous fears, the thousand hundred woes, -Which at this instant Amadine sustained. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet, worthy princess, let thy sorrow cease, -And let this sight your former joys revive. - -AMADINE. Believe me, shepherd, so it doth no less. - -MUCEDORUS. Long may they last unto your heart's content. -But tell me, lady, what is become of him, -Segasto call'd, what is become of him? - -AMADINE. I know not, I; that know the powers divine; -But God grant this, that sweet Segasto live! - -MUCEDORUS. Yet hard-hearted he, in such a case, -So cowardly to save himself by flight, -And leave so brave a princess to the spoil. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, for thy worthy valour tried, -Endangering thyself to set me free, -Unrecompensed, sure, thou shalt not be. -In court thy courage shall be plainly known; -Throughout the kingdom will I spread thy name. -To thy renown and never-dying fame; -And that thy courage may be better known, -Bear thou the head of this most monstrous beast -In open sight to every courtier's view. -So will the king, my father, thee reward: -Come, let's away and guard me to the court. - -[MUCEDORUS. With all my heart.] - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _solus_. - -SEGASTO. When heaps of harms do hover over-head, -'Tis time as then, some say, to look about, -And so [of] ensuing harms to choose the least. -But hard, yea hapless, is that wretch's chance, -Luckless his lot and caitiff-like accurs'd, -At whose proceedings fortune ever frowns-- -Myself, I mean, most subject unto thrall; -For I, the more I seek to shun the worst, -The more by proof I find myself accurs't. -Erewhiles assaulted with an ugly bear: -Fair Amadine in company all alone: -Forthwith by flight I thought to save myself, -Leaving my Amadine unto her shifts; -For death it was for to resist the bear, -And death no less of Amadine's harms to hear. -Accursed I in ling'ring life thus long -In living thus, each minute of an hour -Doth pierce my heart with darts of thousand deaths: -If she by flight her fury do escape, -What will she think? -Will she not say--yea, flatly to my face, -Accusing me of mere disloyalty-- -A trusty friend is tried in time of need; -But I, when she in danger was of death, -And needed me, and cried, Segasto, help! -I turn'd my back, and quickly ran away, -Unworthy I to bear this vital breath! -But what, what needs these plaints? -If Amadine do live, then happy I. -She will in time forgive, and so forget. -Amadine is merciful, not Juno-like, -In harmful heart to harbour hatred long. - - _Enter_ MOUSE _the Clown running, crying, Clubs_! - -MOUSE. Clubs, prongs, pitchforks, bills! O help! -A bear, a bear, a bear! - -SEGASTO. Still bears, and nothing else but bears? -Tell me, sirrah, where she is. - -CLOWN. O sir, she is run down the woods: -I see her white head and her white belly. - -SEGASTO. Thou talkest of wonders, to tell me of white bears; -But, sirrah, didst thou ever see any such? - -CLOWN. No, faith, I never saw any such; -But I remember my father's words, -He bad me take heed I was not caught with a white bear. - -SEGASTO. A lamentable tale, no doubt. - -CLOWN. I tell you what, sir; as I was going afield to serve my father's -great horse, and carried a bottle of hay upon my head--now, do you see, -sir?--I, fast hoodwinked, that I could see nothing, perceiving the bear -coming, I threw my hay into the hedge and ran away. - -SEGASTO. What, from nothing? - -CLOWN. I warrant you, yes; I saw something; for there was two load of -thorns besides my bottle of hay, and that made three. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, sirrah; the bear that thou didst see, -Did she not bear a bucket on her arm? - -CLOWN. Ha, ha, ha! I never saw bear go a-milking in all my life. -But hark you, sir, I did not look so high as her arm; -I saw nothing but her white head and her white belly. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, sirrah, where dost thou dwell? - -CLOWN. Why, do you not know me? - -SEGASTO. Why, no; how should I know thee? - -CLOWN. Why then you know nobody, and you know not me[170]. I tell you, -sir, I am the goodman Rat's son, of the next parish over the hill. - -SEGASTO. Goodman Rat's son; why, what's thy name? - -CLOWN. Why, I am very near kin unto him. - -SEGASTO. I think so; but what's thy name. - -CLOWN. My name? I have [a] very pretty name; I'll tell you what my name -is--my name is Mouse. - -SEGASTO. What, plain Mouse? - -CLOWN. Ay, plain Mouse, without either welt or gard. -But do you hear, sir, I am but a very young Mouse, -For my tail is scarce grown out yet. Look you here else. - -SEGASTO. But I pray thee, who gave thee that name? - -CLOWN. Faith, sir, I know not that; but if you would fain know, ask -my father's great horse, for he hath been half a year longer with my -father than I have. - -SEGASTO. This seems to be a merry fellow; -I care not if I take him home with me. -Mirth is a comfort to a troubled mind, -A merry man a merry master makes. [_Aside_. -How say'st thou, sirrah? wilt thou dwell with me? - -CLOWN. Nay, soft, sir, two words to a bargain; pray you, what -occupation are you? - -SEGASTO. No occupation; I live upon my lands. - -CLOWN. Your lands; away, you are no master for me. Why, do you think -that I am so mad, to go seek my living in the lands amongst the stones, -briars and bushes, and tear my holiday apparel? Not I, by your leave. - -SEGASTO. Why, I do not mean thou shalt. - -CLOWN. How then? - -SEGASTO. Why, thou shalt be my man, and wait upon me at the court. - -CLOWN. What's that? - -SEGASTO. Where the king lies. - -CLOWN. What's that same king--a man or a woman? - -SEGASTO. A man, as thou art. - -CLOWN. As I am? Hark you, sir; pray you, what kin is he to goodman King -of our parish, the churchwarden? - -SEGASTO. No kin to him; he is the king of the whole land. - -CLOWN. King of the land? I never see him. - -SEGASTO. If thou wilt dwell with me, thou shalt see him every day. - -CLOWN. Shall I go home again to be torn in pieces with bears? No, not I; -I will go home and put on a clean shirt, and then go drown myself. - -SEGASTO. Thou shalt not need, if thou wilt dwell with me; thou shalt -want nothing. - -CLOWN. Shall I not? Then here's my hand: I'll dwell with you. And hark -you, sir! now you have entertained me, I will tell you what I can do. -I can keep my tongue from picking and stealing, and my hands from lying -and slandering, I warrant you, as well as ever you had man, in all your -life. - -SEGASTO. Now will I to court with sorrowful heart, rounded with doubts. -If Amadine do live, then happy I: yea, happy I, if Amadine do live! - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter the_ KING, _with a young Prince prisoner_, - AMADINE[171], _with_ COLLEN _and Councillors_. - -KING. Now, brave lords, [that] our wars are brought to end; -Our foes [have had] the foil, and we in safety rest, -It us behoves to use such clemency -In peace, as valour in the wars. It is -As great honour to be bountiful -At home, as to be conquerors in the field. -Therefore, my lords, the more to my content, -Your liking, and your country's safeguard, -We are dispos'd in marriage for to give -Our daughter to Lord Segasto here, -Who shall succeed the diadem after me, -And reign hereafter as I tofore have done, -Your sole and lawful King of Arragon: -What say you, lordings, like you of my advice? - -COLLEN. An't please your majesty, we do not only allow of your -highness's pleasure, but also vow faithfully in what we may to -further it. - -KING. Thanks, good my lords, if long Adrostus live, -He will at full requite your courtesies. -Tremelio, in recompense of thy late valour done, -Take unto thee the Catalonian prince[172], -Lately our prisoner taken in the wars. -Be thou his keeper; his ransom shall be thine; -We'll think of it, when leisure shall afford. -Meanwhile, do use him well; his father is a king. - -TREMELIO. Thanks to your majesty, his usage shall be such -As he thereat shall think no cause to grutch. - - [_Exeunt_ TREMELIO _and Prince_. - -KING. Then march we on to court, and rest our wearied limbs. -But, Collen, I have a tale in secret kept for thee: -When thou shalt hear a watchword from thy king, -Think then some weighty matter is at hand, -That highly shall concern our state, -Then, Collen, look thou be not far from me: -And for thy service thou tofore hast done, -Thy truth and valour prov'd in every point, -I shall with bounties thee enlarge therefore: -So guard us to the court. - -COLLEN. What so my sovereign doth command me do, -With willing mind I gladly yield consent. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _and the_ CLOWN, _with weapons about him_. - -SEGASTO. Tell me, sirrah, how do you like your weapons? - -CLOWN. O, very well, very well; they keep my sides warm. - -SEGASTO. They keep the dogs from your shins very well, do they not? - -CLOWN. How, keep the dogs from my shins? I would scorn but my shins -could keep the dogs from them. - -SEGASTO. Well, sirrah, leaving idle talk, tell me, -Dost thou know Captain Tremelio's chamber? - -CLOWN. Ay, very well, it hath a door. - -SEGASTO. I think so; for so hath every chamber. -But dost thou know the man? - -CLOWN. Ay forsooth, he hath a nose on his face. - -SEGASTO. Why, so hath every one. - -CLOWN. That's more than I know. - -SEGASTO. But dost thou remember the Captain, that was here with the -King even now, that brought the young prince prisoner? - -CLOWN. O, very well. - -SEGASTO. Go unto him, and bid him come to me. Tell him I have a matter -in secret to impart to him. - -CLOWN. I will, master; master, what's his name? - -SEGASTO. Why, Captain Tremelio. - -CLOWN. O, the meal-man. I know him very well. He brings meal every -Saturday; but hark you, master, must I bid him come to you, or must -you come to him? - -SEGASTO. No, sirrah, he must come to me. - -CLOWN. Hark you, master; how, if he be not at home? -What shall I do then? - -SEGASTO. Why then, leave word with some of his folks. - -CLOWN. How,[173] master, if there be nobody within? -I will leave word with his dog. - -SEGASTO. Why, can his dog speak? - -CLOWN. I cannot tell; wherefore doth he keep his chamber else? - -SEGASTO. To keep out such knaves as thou art. - -CLOWN. Nay, by'r Lady, then go yourself. - -SEGASTO. You will go, sir, will ye not? - -CLOWN. Yes, marry, will I. O, 'tis come to my head; -And a' be not within, I'll bring his chamber to you. - -SEGASTO. What, wilt thou pluck down the King's house? - -CLOWN. Nay, by'r Lady, I'll know the price of it first. -Master, it is such a hard name, I have forgotten it again. I pray you, -tell me his name. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, Captain Tremelio. - -CLOWN. O, Captain Treble-knave, Captain Treble-knave. - - _Enter_ TREMELIO. - -TREMELIO. How now, sirrah, dost thou call me? - -CLOWN. You must come to my master, Captain Treble-knave. - -TREMELIO. My Lord Segasto, did you send for me? - -SEGASTO. I did, Tremelio. Sirrah, about your business. - -CLOWN. Ay, marry, what's that, can you tell? - -SEGASTO. No, not well. - -CLOWN. Marry, then, I can; straight to the kitchen-dresser, to John -the cook, and get me a good piece of beef and brewis; and then to the -buttery-hatch, to Thomas the butler for a jack of beer, and there for -an hour I'll so belabour myself; and therefore I pray you call me not -till you think I have done, I pray you, good master. - -SEGASTO. Well, sir, away. [_Exit_ MOUSE. -Tremelio, this it is. Thou knowest the valour of Segasto, -Spread through all the kingdom of Arragon, -And such as hath found triumph and favours, -Never daunted at any time? But now a shepherd -[Is] admired at in court for worthiness, -And Segasto's honour [is] laid aside. -My will therefore is this, that thou dost find -Some means to work the shepherd's death; I know -Thy strength sufficient to perform my desire, and thy love no otherwise - than to revenge my injuries. - -TREMELIO. It is not the frowns of a shepherd that Tremelio fears, -Therefore account it accomplished, what I take in hand. - -SEGASTO. Thanks, good Tremelio, and assure thyself, -What I promise that will I perform. - -TREMELIO. Thanks, my good lord, and in good time see where -He cometh. Stand by awhile, and you shall see -Me put in practice your intended drifts. -Have at thee, swain, if that I hit thee right! - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS. - -MUCEDORUS. Vile coward, so without cause to strike a man--Turn, -coward, turn; now strike, and do thy worst. - [MUCEDORUS _killeth him_. - -SEGASTO. Hold, shepherd, hold; spare him, kill him not. -Accursed villain, tell me, what hast thou done? -Ah, Tremelio, trusty Tremelio! -I sorrow for thy death, and since that thou -Living didst prove faithful to Segasto, -So Segasto now living shall honour the dead corpse -Of Tremelio with revenge. Bloodthirsty villain, -Born and bred to merciless murther, tell me -How durst thou be so bold, as once to lay -Thy hands upon the least of mine? Assure thyself -Thou shalt be us'd according to the law. - -MUCEDORUS. Segasto, cease; these threats are needless. -But in mine own defence accuse not me -Of murther that have done nothing. - -SEGASTO. Nay, shepherd, reason not with me; -I'll manifest the fact unto the King, -Whose doom will be thy death, as thou deserv'st. -What ho, Mouse, come away! - - _Enter_ MOUSE. - -CLOWN. Why, how now, what's the matter? -I thought you would be calling before I had done. - -SEGASTO. Come, help, away with my friend. - -CLOWN. Why, is he drunk? cannot he stand on his feet? - -SEGASTO. No, he is not drunk; he is slain. - -CLOWN. Flain! no, by['r] Lady, he is not flain. - -SEGASTO. He's killed, I tell thee. - -CLOWN. What, do you use to kill your friends? -I will serve you no longer. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee the shepherd kill'd him. - -CLOWN. O, did a so? -But, master, I will have all his apparel -If I carry him away. - -SEGASTO. Why, so thou shalt. - -CLOWN. Come, then, I will help; mass, master, I think -His mother sang _looby_ to him, he is so heavy. - - [_Exeunt_. - -MUCEDORUS. Behold the fickle state of man, always mutable; -Never at one. -Sometimes we feed on fancies -With the sweet of our desires: sometimes again -We feel the heat of extreme miseries. -Now am I in favour about the court and country, -To-morrow those favours will turn to frowns, -To-day I live revenged on my foe, -To-morrow I die, my foe revenged on me. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ BREMO, _a wild man_. - -BREMO. No passenger this morning? what, not one? -A chance that seldom doth befall. -What, not one? then lie thou there, -And rest thyself, till I have further need. - [_Lays down his club_. -Now, Bremo, sith thy leisure so affords, -An endless thing. Who knows not Bremo's strength, -Who like a king commands within these woods. -The bear, the boar, dares not abide my sight, -But hastes away to save themselves by flight. -The crystal waters in the bubbling brooks, -When I come by, doth swiftly slide away, -And claps themselves in closets under banks, -Afraid to look bold Bremo in the face: -The aged oaks at Bremo's breath do bow, -And all things else are still at my command, -Else what would I? -Rend them in pieces, and pluck them from the earth, -And each way else I would revenge myself. -Why, who comes here, with whom I dare not fight? -Who fights with me, and doth not die the death? -Not one. What favour shows this sturdy stick to those, that here -Within these woods are combatants with me? -Why, death, and nothing else but present death. -With restless rage I wander through these woods; -No creature here but feareth Bremo's force, -Man, woman, child; beast and bird, -And everything that doth approach my sight, -Are forc'd to fall, if Bremo once do frown. -Come, cudgel, come, my partner in my spoils, -For here I see this day it will not be. -But when it falls, that I encounter any, -One pat sufficeth for to work my will. -What, comes not one? Then let's begone; -A time will serve, when we shall better speed. - [_Exit. - - Enter the_ KING, SEGASTO, _the_ SHEPHERD, _and the_ - CLOWN, _with others_. - -KING. Shepherd, -Thou hast heard thine accusers. Murther -Is laid to thy charge; what canst thou say? -Thou hast deserved death. - -MUCEDORUS. Dread sovereign, I must needs confess -I slew this captain in mine own defence, -Not of any malice, but by chance; -But mine accuser hath a further meaning. - -SEGASTO. Words will not here prevail, -I seek for justice, and justice craves his death. - -KING. Shepherd, thine own confession hath condemned thee. -Sirrah, take him away, and do him to execution straight. - -CLOWN. So he shall, I warrant him. But do you hear, Master King, he is -kin to a monkey; his neck is bigger than his head. - -SEGASTO. Sirrah, away with him, and hang him about the middle. - -CLOWN. Yes, forsooth, I warrant you. Come on, sir, a so like a -sheep-biter a looks. - - _Enter_ AMADINE, _and a boy with a bear's head_. - -AMADINE. Dread sovereign and well-beloved sire, -On benden knees I crave the life of this -Condemn'd shepherd, which heretofore preserved -The life of thy sometime distressed daughter. - -KING. Preserved the life of my sometime distressed daughter? -How can that be? I never knew the time, -Wherein thou wast distress'd. I never knew the day -But that I have maintained thy estate, -As best beseem'd the daughter of a king: -I never saw the shepherd until now. -How comes it then, that he preserv'd thy life? - -AMADINE. Once walking with Segasto in the woods, -Further than our accustom'd manner was, -Right before us down a steep-fall hill, -A monstrous ugly bear did hie him fast -To meet us both--now whether this be true, -I refer it to the credit of Segasto. - -SEGASTO. Most true, an't like your majesty. - -KING. How then? - -AMADINE. The bear, being eager to obtain his prey, -Made forward to us with an open mouth, -As if he meant to swallow us both at once. -The sight whereof did make us both to dread, -But specially your daughter Amadine, -Who for I saw no succour incident, -But in Segasto's valour, I grew desperate, -And he most coward-like began to fly. -Left me distress'd to be devour'd of him-- -How say you, Segasto? is it not true? - -KING. His silence verifies it to be true. What then? - -AMADINE. Then I amaz'd, distressed, all alone, -Did hie me fast to 'scape that ugly bear. -But all in vain; for why he reached after me, -And oft I hardly did[174] escape his paws, -Till at the length this shepherd came, -And brought to me his head. -Come hither, boy; lo, here it is, -Which I present unto your majesty. - -KING. The slaughter of this bear deserves great fame. - -SEGASTO. The slaughter of a man deserves great blame. - -KING. Indeed occasion oftentimes so falls out. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio in the wars, O King, preserved thee. - -AMADINE. The shepherd in the woods, O King, preserved me. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio fought, when many men did yield. - -AMADINE. So would the shepherd, had he been in field. - -CLOWN. So would my master, had he not run away. [_Aside_. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio's force saved thousands from the foe. - -AMADINE. The shepherd's force hath saved thousands mo. - -CLOWN. Ay, shipsticks, nothing else. [_Aside_. - -KING. Segasto, cease to accuse the shepherd; -His worthiness deserves a recompense, -All we are bound to do the shepherd good. -Shepherd, whereas -It was my sentence thou should'st die, -So shall my sentence stand, for thou shalt die. - -SEGASTO. Thanks to your majesty. - -KING. But soft, Segasto, not for this offence. -Long may'st thou live; and when the Sisters shall decree -To cut in twain the twisted thread of life, -Then let him die: for this I set him free, -And for thy valour I will honour thee. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks to your majesty. - -KING. Come, daughter, let us now depart -To honour the worthy valour of the shepherd -With our rewards. - - [_Exeunt_. - -CLOWN. O master, hear you; you have made a fresh hand now; you would be -slow, you. Why, what will you do now? You have lost me a good occupation -by this means. Faith, master, now I cannot hang the shepherd. I pray you, -let me take the pains to hang you: it is but half an hour's exercise. - -SEGASTO. You are still in your knavery; but, sith I cannot have his life, -I will procure his banishment for ever. -Come on, sirrah. - -CLOWN. Yes, forsooth, I come. -Laugh at him, I pray you. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. From Amadine, and from her father's court, -With gold and silver, and with rich rewards -Flowing from the banks of golden treasuries. -More may I boast, and say, but I, -Was never shepherd in such dignity. - - _Enter the_ MESSENGER _and the_ CLOWN. - -MESSENGER. All hail, worthy shepherd! - -CLOWN. All rain, lousy shepherd! - -MUCEDORUS. Welcome, my friends, from whence come you? - -MESSENGER. The King and Amadine greet thee well, -And after greetings done, bids thee depart the court -Shepherd, begone. - -CLOWN. Shepherd, take law legs; fly away, shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. Whose words are these? Come these from Amadine? - -MESSENGER. Ay, from Amadine. - -CLOWN. Ay, from Amadine. - -MUCEDORUS. Ah! luckless fortune, worse than Phaeton's tale, -My former bliss is now become my bale. - -CLOWN. What, wilt thou poison thyself? - -MUCEDORUS. My former heaven is now become my hell. - -CLOWN. The worst alehouse -That I ever came in in all my life. - -MUCEDORUS. What shall I do? - -CLOWN. Even go hang thyself half an hour. - -MUCEDORUS. Can Amadine so churlishly command, -To banish the shepherd from her father's court? - -MESSENGER. What should shepherds do in the court? - -CLOWN. What should shepherds do among us? -Have we not lords enough o'er[175] us in the court? - -MUCEDORUS. Why, shepherds are men, and kings are no more. - -MESSENGER. Shepherds are men, and masters over their flock. - -CLOWN. That's a lie; who pays them their wages, then? - -MESSENGER. Well, you are always interrupting of me, -But you are best look to him, -Lest you hang for him, when he is gone. - [_Exit. - - The_ CLOWN _sings_. - -CLOWN. _And you shall hang for company, - For leaving me alone_. - -Shepherd, stand forth, and hear thy sentence. -Shepherd, begone within three days, in pain of -My displeasure; shepherd, begone; shepherd, begone, -Begone, begone, begone; shepherd, shepherd, shepherd. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. And must I go, and must I needs depart? -Ye goodly groves, partakers of my songs, -In time tofore, when fortune did not frown, -Pour forth your plaints, and wail awhile with me. -And thou bright sun, my comfort in the cold, -Hide, hide thy face, and leave me comfortless. -Ye wholesome herbs and sweet-smelling savours-- -Yea, each thing else prolonging life of man-- -Change, change your wonted course, that I, -Wanting your aid, in woful sort may die. - - _Enter_ AMADINE [_and_ ARIENA, _her maid_.] - -AMADINE. Ariena, if anybody ask for me, -Make some excuse, till I return. - -ARIENA. What, and Segasto call? - -AMADINE. Do thou the like to him? I mean not to stay long. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. This voice so sweet my pining spirits revives. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, well-met; tell me how thou doest. - -MUCEDORUS. I linger life, yet wish for speedy death. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, although thy banishment -Already be decreed, and all against my will, -Yet Amadine---- - -MUCEDORUS. Ah, Amadine! to hear -Of banishment is death--ay, double death to me; -But since I must depart, one thing I crave. - -AMADINE. Say on, with all my heart. - -MUCEDORUS. That in absence either far or near, -You honour me as servant with your name. - -AMADINE. Not so. - -MUCEDORUS. And why? - -AMADINE. I honour thee as sovereign of my heart. - -MUCEDORUS. A shepherd and a sovereign nothing like. - -AMADINE. Yet like enough, where there is no dislike. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet great dislike, or else no banishment. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, it is only Segasto that -Procures thy banishment. - -MUCEDORUS. Unworthy wights are most in jealousy. - -AMADINE. Would God they would -Free thee from banishment, or likewise banish me. - -MUCEDORUS. Amen say I, to have your company. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, sith thou sufferest -This for my sake, -With thee in exile also let me live, -On this condition, shepherd, thou canst love. - -MUCEDORUS. No longer love, no longer let me live. - -AMADINE. Of late I loved one indeed, now love -I none but only thee. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, worthy princess: -I burn likewise, yet smother up the blast, -I dare not promise what I may perform. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, hark what I shall say, -I will return unto my father's court, -There[176] to provide me of such necessaries -As for my journey I shall think most fit. -This being done, I will return to thee. Do thou -Therefore appoint the place, where we may meet. - -MUCEDORUS. Down in the valley where I slew the bear; -And there doth grow a fair broad branched beech, -That overshades a well: so who comes first, -Let them abide the happy meeting of -Us both. How like you this? - -AMADINE. I like it very well. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, if you please, you may appoint the time. - -AMADINE. Full three hours hence, God willing, I will return. - -MUCEDORUS. The thanks that Paris gave the Grecian queen, -The like doth Mucedorus yield. - -AMADINE. Then, Mucedorus, for three hours, farewell. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. Your departure, lady, breeds a privy pain. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _solus_. - -SEGASTO. 'Tis well, Segasto, that thou hast thy will. -Should such a shepherd, such a simple swain, -As he eclipse thy credit, famous through -The court? No, ply, Segasto, ply; -Let it not in Arragon be said, -A shepherd hath Segasto's honour won. - - _Enter_ MOUSE, _the Clown, calling his master_. - -CLOWN. What ho! master, will you come away? - -SEGASTO. Will you come hither, I pray you, what's the matter? - -CLOWN. Why, is it not past eleven o'clock? - -SEGASTO. How then, sir? - -CLOWN. I pray you, come away to dinner. - -SEGASTO. I pray you, come hither. - -CLOWN. Here's such a-do with you, will you never come? - -SEGASTO. I pray you, sir, what news of the message I sent you about? - -CLOWN. I tell you, all the messes be on the table already-- -(There wants not so much as a mess of mustard) half an hour ago. - -SEGASTO. Come, sir, your mind is all upon your belly. -You have forgotten what I did bid you do. - -CLOWN. Faith, I know nothing, but you bad me go to breakfast. - -SEGASTO. Was that all? - -CLOWN. Faith, I have forgotten it, the very scent of the meat made -me forget[177] it quite. - -SEGASTO. You have forgotten the errand I bid you do? - -CLOWN. What arrant? an arrant knave or an arrant whore? - -SEGASTO. Why, thou knave, did I not bid thee banish the shepherd? - -CLOWN. O, the shepherd's bastard? - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, the shepherd's banishment. - -CLOWN. I tell you, the shepherd's bastard shall be well kept; I'll look -to it myself. But I pray you, come away to dinner. - -SEGASTO. Then you will not tell me whether you have banished him, or no? - -CLOWN. Why, I cannot say _banishment_, and you would give me a thousand -pounds to say so. - -SEGASTO. Why, you whoreson slave, have you forgotten that I sent you -and another to drive away the shepherd. - -CLOWN. What an ass are you; here's a stir indeed, here's message, -arrant, banishment, and I cannot tell what. - -SEGASTO. I pray you, sir, shall I know whether you have drove him away. - -CLOWN. Faith, I think I have; and you will not believe me, ask my staff. - -SEGASTO. Why, can thy staff tell? - -CLOWN. Why, he was with me too. - -SEGASTO. Then happy I, that have obtain'd my will. - -CLOWN. And happier I, if you would go to dinner. - -SEGASTO. Come, sirrah, follow me. - -CLOWN. I warrant you, I will not lose an inch of you now you are going -to dinner, I promise you. I thought [it] seven year, before I could get -him away. [_Aside.] - [Exeunt. - - Enter_ AMADINE _sola_ - -AMADINE. God grant my long delay procures no harm, -Nor this my tarrying frustrate my pretence. -My Mucedorus surely stays for me, -And thinks me over long. At length I come, -My present promise to perform. -Ah, what a thing is firm, unfeigned love! -What is it which true love dares not attempt? -My father he may make, but I must match; -Segasto loves; but Amadine must like, -Where likes her best; compulsion is a thrall. -No, no, the hearty choice is all in all, -The shepherd's virtue Amadine esteems. -But what, methinks my shepherd is not come; -I muse at that, the hour is sure at hand. -Well, here I'll rest, till Mucedorus come. - [_She sits her down. - - Enter_ BREMO, _looking about; hastily [he] taketh hold of her_. - -BREMO. A happy prey! now, Bremo, feed on flesh: -Dainties, Bremo, dainties, thy hungry paunch to fill: -Now glut thy greedy guts with lukewarm blood. -Come, fight with me; I long to see thee dead. - -AMADINE. How can she fight, that weapons cannot wield? - -BREMO. What, canst not fight? Then lie thou down and die. - -AMADINE. What, must I die? - -BREMO. What needs these words? I thirst to suck thy blood. - -AMADINE. Yet pity me, and let me live awhile. - -BREMO. No pity I; I'll feed upon thy flesh, -I'll tear thy body piecemeal joint from joint. - -AMADINE. Ah, how I want my shepherd's company! - -BREMO. I'll crush thy bones betwixt two oaken trees. - -AMADINE. Haste, shepherd, haste, or else thou com'st too late. - -BREMO. I'll suck the sweetness from thy marrow bones. - -AMADINE. Ah, spare, ah, spare to shed my guiltless blood! - -BREMO. With this my bat will I beat out -Thy brains. Down, down, I say: -Prostrate thyself upon the ground. - -AMADINE. Then, Mucedorus, farewell, my hoped joys, farewell! -Yea, farewell life, and welcome present death. [_She kneels_. -To thee, O God, I yield my dying ghost. - -BREMO. Now, Bremo, play thy part. -How now, what sudden chance is this? -My limbs do tremble, and my sinews shake; -My unweak'ned arms have lost their former force. -Ah, Bremo, Bremo! what a foil hast thou, -That yet at no time ever wast afraid -To dare the greatest gods to fight with thee, [_He strikes_. -And now want strength for one down-driving blow? -Ah, how my courage fails, when I should strike! -Some new-come spirit abiding in my breast, -Say'th, _Spare her, Bremo; spare her, do not kill_. -Shall I[178] spare her, which never spared any? -To it, Bremo, to it; essay[179] again. -I cannot wield my weapons in my hand; -Methinks I should not strike so fair a one, -I think her beauty hath bewitch'd my force, -Or else within me altered nature's course. -Ay, woman, wilt thou live in woods with me? - -AMADINE. Fain would I live, yet loth to live in woods. - -BREMO. Thon shalt not choose; it shall be as I say; -And therefore follow me. - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. It was my will an hour ago and more, -As was my promise, for to make return; -But other business hind'red my pretence. -It is a world to see, when man appoints, -And purposely one certain thing decrees, -How many things may hinder his intent. -What one would wish, the same is farthest off. -But yet th'appointed time cannot be past, -Nor hath her presence yet prevented[180] me. -Well, here I'll stay, and expect the coming. - - [_They cry within, Hold him, stay him, hold_! - -MUCEDORUS. Some one or other is pursued, no doubt; -Perhaps some search for me; 'tis good -To doubt the worst, therefore I will be gone. - [_Exit. - - Cry within, Hold him, hold him! Enter_ MOUSE, _the - Clown, with a pot_. - -CLOWN. Hold him, hold him, hold him! here's a stir indeed. Here came -hue after the crier, and I was set close at mother Nip's house, and -there I call'd for three pots of ale, as 'tis the manner of us courtiers. -Now, sirrah, I had taken the maidenhead of two of them--now, as I was -lifting up the third to my mouth, there came, Hold him, hold him! Now I -could not tell whom to catch hold on; but I am sure I caught one, -perchance a may be in this pot. Well, I'll see. Mass, I cannot see him -yet; well, I'll look a little further. Mass, he is a little slave, if a -be here; why here's nobody. All this goes well yet; but if the old trot -should come for her pot?--ay, marry, there's the matter. But I care not; -I'll face her out, and call her old rusty, dusty, musty, fusty, crusty -firebrand, and worse than all that, and so face her out of her pot. But -soft! here she comes. - - _Enter the_ OLD WOMAN. - -OLD WOMAN. Come on, you knave; where's my pot, you knave? - -CLOWN. Go, look your pot; come not to me for your pot, 'twere good -for you. - -OLD WOMAN. Thou liest, thou knave; thou hast my pot. - -CLOWN. You lie, and you say it. I, your pot? I know what I'll say. - -OLD WOMAN, Why, what wilt thou say? - -CLOWN. But say I have him, and thou dar'st. - -OLD WOMAN. Why, thou knave, thou hast not only my pot, but my drink -unpaid for. - -CLOWN. You lie like an old--I will not say whore. - -OLD WOMAN. Dost thou call me whore? I'll cap thee for my pot. - -CLOWN. Cap me, and thou darest; search me, whether I have it or no. - - [_She searcheth him, and he drinketh over her - head, and casts down the pot. She stumbleth - at it, then they fall together by the ears; - she takes her pot and goes out. - - Enter_ SEGASTO. - -SEGASTO. How now, sirrah, what's the matter? - -CLOWN. O, flies, master, flies. - -SEGASTO. Flies? where are they? - -CLOWN. O, here, master, all about your face. - -SEGASTO. Why, thou liest; I think thou art mad. - -CLOWN. Why, master, I have kill'd a dungcartful at the least. - -SEGASTO. Go to, sirrah. Leaving this idle talk, give ear to me. - -CLOWN. How, give you one of my ears? not, and you were ten masters. - -SEGASTO. Why, sir, I bad you give ear to my words. - -CLOWN. I tell you, I will not be made a curtal for no man's pleasure. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, attend what I say. Go thy ways straight, and rear -the whole town. - -CLOWN. How, rear the town? even go yourself; it is more than I can do. -Why, do you think I can rear a town, that can scarce rear a pot of ale -to my head? I should rear a town, should I not! - -SEGASTO. Go to the constable, and make a privy search; for the shepherd -is run away with the King's daughter. - -CLOWN. How? is the shepherd run away with the King's daughter, or is the -King's daughter run away with the shepherd? - -SEGASTO. I cannot tell; but they are both gone together. - -CLOWN. What a fool she is to run away with the shepherd! Why, I think I -am a little handsomer man than the shepherd myself; but tell me, master, -must I make a privy search, or search in the privy? - -SEGASTO. Why, dost thou think they will be there? - -CLOWN. I cannot tell. - -SEGASTO. Well, then, search everywhere; leave no place unsearched -for them. - [_Exit_. - -CLOWN. O, now am I in office, now will I to that old firebrand's house, -and will not leave one place unsearched. Nay, I'll to her ale-stand, -and drink as long as I can stand; and when I have done, I'll let out -all the rest, to see if he be not hid in the barrel. And I find him not -there, I'll to the cupboard. I'll not leave one corner of her house -unsearched. I'faith, ye old crust, I will be with you now. - [_Exit. - - [Sound music.] - - Enter the_ KING OF VALENTIA, ANSELMO, RODERIGO, - LORD BORACHIUS, _with others_. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Enough of music; it but adds to torment. -Delights to vexed spirits are as dates -Set to a sickly man, which rather cloy than comfort: -Let me entreat you to entreat no more. - -RODERIGO. Let yon strings sleep; have done there. - - [_Let the music cease_. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Mirth to a soul disturb'd is[181] embers turn'd, -Which sudden gleam with molestation, -But sooner lose their sight for it. -'Tis gold bestow'd upon a rioter, -Which not relieves, but murders him: -'Tis a drug given to the healthful, -Which infects, not cures. -How can a father, that hath lost his son: -A prince both wise, virtuous, and valiant, -Take pleasure in the idle acts of time? -No, no; till Mucedorus I shall see again, -All joy is comfortless, all pleasure pain. - -ANSELMO. Your son, my lord, is well. - -KING OF VALENTIA. I prythee, speak that thrice. - -ANSELMO. The prince, your son, is safe. - -KING OF VALENTIA. O, where, Anselmo? surfeit me with that. - -ANSELMO. In Arragon, my liege; and at his 'parture, -[He] bound my secrecy by his affection's love, -Not to disclose it. -But care of him, and pity of your age, -Makes my tongue blab what my breast vow'd-- -Concealment. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Thou not deceiv'st me? I ever thought thee -What I find thee now, an upright, loyal man. -But what desire or young-fed humour, nurs'd -Within the brain, drew him so privately -To Arragon? - -ANSELMO. A forcing adamant: -Love, mix'd with fear and doubtful jealousy: -Whether report gilded a worthless trunk, -Or Amadine deserved her high extolment. - -KING OF VALENTIA. See our provision be in readiness, -Collect us followers of the comeliest hue, -For our chief guardians; we will thither wend. -The crystal eyes of heaven shall not thrice wink, -Nor the green flood six times his shoulders turn, -Till we salute the Arragonian king. -Music, speak loudly; now the season's apt, -For former dolors are in pleasure wrapt. - - [_Exeunt omnes] - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS, _to disguise himself_. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, Mucedorus, whither wilt thou go? -Home to thy father to thy native soil, -Or try some long abode within these woods? -Well, I will hence depart, and hie me home. -What, hie me home, said I? that may not be; -In Amadine rests my felicity. -Then, Mucedorus, do as thou didst decree: -Attire thee hermit-like within these groves; -Walk often to the beech, and view the well; -Make settles there, and seat thyself thereon; -And when thou feelest thyself to be athirst, -Then drink a hearty draught to Amadine. -No doubt, she thinks on thee, and will one day -Come pledge thee at this well. -Come, habit, thou art fit for me. [_He disguiseth himself_. -No shepherd now: a hermit I must be. -Methinks this fits me very well. -Now must I learn to bear a walking-staff, -And exercise some gravity withal. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN. - -CLOWN. Here's through the woods and through the woods, to look out a -shepherd and stray king's daughter. But soft! who have we here? what -art thou? - -MUCEDORUS. I am an hermit. - -CLOWN. An emmet? I never saw such a big emmet in all my life before. - -MUCEDORUS. I tell you, sir, I am an hermit: one that leads a solitary -life within these woods. - -CLOWN. O, I know thee now, thou art he[182] that eats up all the hips -and haws; we could not have one piece of fat bacon for thee all this -year. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou dost mistake me; but I pray thee, tell me what dost -thou seek in these woods? - -CLOWN. What do I seek? for a stray king's daughter run away with a -shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. A stray king's daughter run away with a shepherd. -Wherefore? canst thou tell? - -CLOWN. Yes, that I can; 'tis this. My master and Amadine walking one -day abroad, nearer to these woods than they were used (about what I -cannot tell); but toward them comes running a great bear. Now my master -he played the man, and ran away; and Amadine, crying after him;--now, -sir, comes me a shepherd, and he strikes off the bear's head. Now, -whether the bear were dead before or no, I cannot tell; for bring -twenty bears before me, and bind their hands and feet, and I'll kill -them all. Now, ever since, Amadine hath been in love with the shepherd; -and for goodwill she's even run away with the shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. What manner of man was a? canst describe him unto me? - -CLOWN. Scribe him? ay, I warrant you, that I can. A was a little, low, -broad, tall, narrow, big, well-favoured fellow: a jerkin of white cloth, -and buttons of the same cloth. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou describest him well; but if I chance to see any such, -pray you, where shall I find you, or what's your name? - -CLOWN. My name is called Master Mouse. - -MUCEDORUS. O Master Mouse, I pray you, what office might you bear -in the court? - -CLOWN. Marry, sir, I am a rusher of the stable. - -MUCEDORUS. O, usher of the table. - -CLOWN. Nay, I say rusher, and I'll prove my office good. For look, sir, -when any comes from under the sea or so, and a dog chance to blow his -nose backward, then with a whip I give him the good time of the day, -and straw rushes presently. Therefore I am a rusher: a high office, -I promise ye. - -MUCEDORUS. But where shall I find you in the court? - -CLOWN. Why, where it is best being, either in the kitchen a eating, or -in the buttery drinking. But if you come, I will provide for thee a -piece of beef and brewis knuckle-deep in fat. Pray you, take pains; -remember Master Mouse. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. Ay, sir, I warrant I will not forget you. -Ah, Amadine! what should become of thee? -Whither shouldst thou go so long unknown? -With watch and ward each passage is beset, -Doubtless she hath lost herself within these woods, -And wand'ring to and fro she seeks the well, -Which yet she cannot find; -Therefore will I seek her out. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ BREMO _and_ AMADINE. - -BREMO. Amadine! -How like you Bremo and his woods? - -AMADINE. As like the woods of Bremo's cruelty. -Though I were dumb, and could not answer him, -The beasts themselves would with relenting tears -Bewail thy savage and unhuman deeds. - -BREMO. My love, why dost thou murmur to thyself? -Speak louder, for thy Bremo hears thee not. - -AMADINE. My Bremo? no, the shepherd is my love. - -BREMO. Have I not saved thee from sudden death, -Giving thee leave to live, that thou might'st love? -And dost thou whet me on to cruelty? -Come, kiss me (sweet) for all my favours past. - -AMADINE. I may not, Bremo, and therefore pardon me. - -BREMO. See how she flings away from me; -I will follow and give a rend[183] to her. [_Aside_. -Deny my love; ah, worm of beauty! -I will chastise thee; come, come, -Prepare thy head upon the block. - -AMADINE. O, spare me, Bremo! love should limit life, -Not to be made a murderer of himself. -If thou wilt glut thy loving heart with blood, -Encounter with the lion or the bear, -And (like a wolf) prey not upon a lamb. - -BREMO. Why, then, dost thou repine at me? -If thou wilt love me, thou shalt be my queen; -I will crown thee with a complet made of ivory, -And make the rose and lily wait on thee. -I'll rend the burly branches from the oak,[184] -To shadow thee from burning sun: -The trees shall spread themselves where thou dost go; -And as they spread, I'll trace along with thee. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. Thou shalt be fed with quails and partridges, -With blackbirds, larks, thrushes, and nightingales. -Thy drink shall be goats' milk and crystal water, -Distill'd from the fountains and the clearest springs, -And all the dainties that the woods afford -I'll freely give thee to obtain thy love. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. The day I'll spend to recreate my love, -With all the pleasures that I can devise, -And in the night I'll be thy bed-fellow, -And lovingly embrace thee in mine arms. - -AMADINE. One may; so may not you. [_Aside_. - -BREMO. The satyrs and the wood-nymphs shall attend -On thee, and lull thee asleep with music's sound, -And in the morning, when thou dost awake, -The lark shall sing good morrow to my queen, -And whilst he sings, I'll kiss my Amadine. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. When thou art up, the wood-lanes shall be strawed -With violets, cowslips, and sweet marigolds, -For thee to trample and to trace upon; -And I will teach thee how to kill the deer, -To chase the hart, and how to rouse the roe, -If thou wilt live to love and honour me. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS. - -BREMO. Welcome, sir, an hour ago I look'd for such a guest. -Be merry, wench, we'll have a frolic feast, -Here's flesh enough for to suffice us both, -Say, sirrah, wilt thou fight, or dost thou yield to die? - -MUCEDORUS. I want a weapon; how can I fight? - -BREMO. Thou want'st a weapon? why, then thou yield'st to die. - -MUCEDORUS. I say not so; I do not yield to die. - -BREMO. Thou shalt not choose; I long to see thee dead. - -AMADINE. Yet spare him, Bremo, spare him. - -BREMO. Away, I say, I will not spare him. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet give me leave to speak. - -BREMO. Thou shalt not speak. - -AMADINE. Yet give him leave to speak for my sake. - -BREMO. Speak on; but be not over-long. - -MUCEDORUS. In time of yore, when men (like brutish beasts) -Did lead their lives in loathsome cells and woods, -And wholly gave themselves to witless will -(A rude, unruly rout), then man to man became -A present prey: then might prevailed: -The weakest went to wall, -Right was unknown; for wrong was all in all. -As men thus lived in this[185] great outrage, -Behold, one Orpheus came (as poets tell), -And them from rudeness unto reason brought: -Who led by reason, some forsook the woods; -Instead of caves, they built them castles strong; -Cities and towns were founded by them then. -Glad were they, [that] they found such ease, -And in the end they grew to perfect amity. -Weighing their former wickedness, -They term'd the time, wherein they lived then -A golden age, a goodly golden age. -Now, Bremo, for so I hear thee called, -If men which lived tofore, as thou dost now, -Wildly[186] in wood, addicted all to spoil, -Returned were by worthy Orpheus' means, -Let me (like Orpheus) cause thee to return -From murder, bloodshed, and like cruelty. -What, should we fight before we have a cause? -No, let us live and love together faithfully-- -I'll fight for thee-- - -BREMO. Fight for me or die? Or fight, or else thou diest? - -AMADINE. Hold, Bremo, hold! - -BREMO. Away, I say; thou troublest me. - -AMADINE. You promised me to make me your queen. - -BREMO. I did; I mean no less. - -AMADINE. You promised that I should have my will. - -BREMO. I did; I mean no less. - -AMADINE. Then save this hermit's life; for he may save us both. - -BREMO. At thy request I'll spare him, -But never any after him. Say, hermit, -What canst thou do? - -MUCEDORUS. I'll wait on thee; sometime upon thy queen. -Such service shalt thou shortly have as Bremo never had. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO, _the_ CLOWN, _and_ RUMBELO. - -SEGASTO. Come, sirs; what, shall I never have you -Find out Amadine and the shepherd. - -CLOWN. And I have been through the woods, and through the woods, -And could see nothing but an emmet. - -RUMBELO. Why, I see a thousand emmets; thou meanest a little one? - -CLOWN. Nay, that emmet that I saw was bigger than thou art. - -RUMBELO. Bigger than I? what a fool have you to your man? I pray you, -master, turn him away. - -SEGASTO. But dost thou hear, was he not a man? - -CLOWN. I think he was, for he said he did lead a salt-seller's life -about the woods. - -SEGASTO. Thou wouldest say, a solitary life about the woods? - -CLOWN. I think it was so indeed. - -RUMBELO. I thought what a fool thou art. - -CLOWN. Thou art a wise man; why, he did nothing but sleep since he went. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, Mouse, how did he go? - -CLOWN. In a white gown, and a white hat on his head, and a staff -in his hand. - -SEGASTO. I thought so; it was a hermit that walked a solitary life -in the woods. Well, get you to dinner; and after never leave seeking, -till you bring some news of them, or I'll hang you both. - [_Exit_. - -CLOWN. How now, Rumbelo, what shall we do now? - -RUMBELO. Faith, I'll home to dinner, and afterward to sleep. - -CLOWN. Why, then thou wilt be hanged. - -RUMBELO. Faith, I care not; for I know I shall never find them. -Well, I'll once more abroad, and if I cannot find them, I'll never -come home again. - -CLOWN. I tell thee what, Rumbelo; thou shalt go in at one end of the -wood, and I at the other, and we will meet both together in the midst. - -RUMBELO. Content; let's away to dinner. - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. Unknown to any here within these woods, -With bloody Bremo do I lead my life. -The monster he doth murther all he meets; -He spareth none, and none doth him escape. -Who would continue--who, but only I-- -In such a cruel cutthroat's company? -Yet Amadine is there; how can I choose? -Ah, silly soul! how oftentimes she sits -And sighs, and calls, _Come, shepherd, come; -Sweet Mucedorus, come and set me free_, -When Mucedorus present stands her by! -But here she comes. - - _Enter_ AMADINE. - -What news, fair lady, as you walk these woods? - -AMADINE. Ah, hermit! none but bad, and such -As thou knowest. - -MUCEDORUS. How do you like -Your Bremo and his woods? - -AMADINE. Not my Bremo, -Nor Bremo's[187] woods. - -MUCEDORUS. And why not yours? -Methinks he loves you well. - -AMADINE. I like him not. -His love to me is nothing worth. - -MUCEDORUS. Lady, in this (methinks) you offer wrong, -To hate the man that ever loves you best. - -AMADINE. Hermit,[188] I take no pleasure in his love, -Neither doth Bremo like me best. - -MUCEDORUS. Pardon my boldness, lady,[189] sith we both -May safely talk now out of Bremo's sight. Unfold -To me (if so you please) the full discourse, -How, when, and why you came into these woods, -And fell into this bloody butcher's hands. - -AMADINE. Hermit, I will; -Of late a worthy shepherd I did love-- - -MUCEDORUS. A shepherd, lady? Sure, a man unfit -To match with you! - -AMADINE. Hermit, 'tis[190] true; and when we had-- - -MUCEDORUS. Stay there, the wild man comes; -Refer the rest until another time. - - _Enter_ BREMO. - -BREMO. What secret tale is this, what whispering have we here? -Villain, I charge thee tell thy tale again. - -MUCEDORUS. If needs I must, lo! here it is again: -When as we both had lost the sight of thee, -It griev'd us both, but specially the queen. -Who in thy absence ever fears the worst, -Lest some mischance befall your royal grace. -Shall my sweet Bremo wander through the woods: -Toil to and fro for to redress my wants: -Hazard his life, and all to cherish me? -I like not this, quoth she. -And thereupon [she] crav'd to know of me, -If I could teach her handle weapons well. -My answer was, I had small skill therein, -But glad, most mighty king, to learn of thee. -And this was all. - -BREMO. Was't so? -None can dislike of this. I'll teach -You both to fight. But first, my queen, begin: -Here, take this weapon; see how thou canst use it. - -AMADINE. This is too big; -I cannot wield it in my arm. - -BREMO. Is't so, we'll have a knotty crabtree staff for thee: -But, sirrah, tell me, what say'st thou? - -MUCEDORUS. With all my heart I willing am to learn. - -BREMO. Then take my staff, and see how thou canst wield it. - -MUCEDORUS. First teach me how to hold it in my hand. - -BREMO. Thou hold'st it well. [To _Amadine_.] -Look how he doth; -Thou mayest the sooner learn. - -MUCEDORUS. Next tell me how and when 'tis best to strike. - -BREMO. 'Tis best to strike when time doth serve, -'Tis best to lose no time. - -MUCEDORUS. Then now or never is my time to strike. - -BREMO. And when thou strikest, be sure to hit the head. - -MUCEDORUS. The head? - -BREMO. The very head. - -MUCEDORUS. Then have at thine, -So lie there and die; [_He strikes him down dead_. -A death, no doubt, according to desert, -Or else a worse, as thou deservest a worse. - -AMADINE. It glads my heart this tyrant's death to see. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, lady, it remains in you -To end the tale you lately had begun, -Being interrupted by this wicked wight-- -You said you loved a shepherd? - -AMADINE. Ay, so I do, and none but only him; -And will do still, as long as life shall last. - -MUCEDORUS. But tell me, lady, sith I set you free, -What course of life do you intend to take? - -AMADINE. I will (disguised) wander through the world -Till I have found him out. - -MUCEDORUS. How, if you find your shepherd in these woods? - -AMADINE. Ah! none so happy then as Amadine.[191] - -MUCEDORUS. In tract of time a man may alter much: -Say, lady, do you know your shepherd well? - [_He discovers himself_. - -AMADINE. My Mucedorus, hath he set me free? - -MUCEDORUS. He hath set thee free. - -AMADINE. And lived so long -Unknown to Amadine? - -MUCEDORUS. Ay, that's a question -Whereof you may not be resolved. -You know that I am banish'd from the court, -I know likewise each passage is beset, -So that we cannot long escape unknown, -Therefore my will is this, that we return, -Right through the thickets, to the wild man's cave, -And there a while live on his provision, -Until the search and narrow watch be past: -This is my counsel, and I think it best. - -AMADINE. I think the very same. - -MUCEDORUS. Come, let's begone. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN, _who searches and falls over the - wild man, and so carries him away_. - -CLOWN. Nay, soft, sir, are you here? a bots on you! -I was like to be hanged for not finding you, -We would borrow a certain stray king's daughter of you; -A wench, a wench, sir, we would have. - -MUCEDORUS. A wench of me? I'll make thee eat my sword. - -CLOWN. O Lord, nay, and you are so lusty, -I'll call a cooling card for you: -Ho, master, master, come away quickly! - - _Enter_ SEGASTO. - -SEGASTO. What's the matter? - -CLOWN. Look, master, Amandine and the shepherd! O brave! - -SEGASTO. What, minion, have I found you out? - -CLOWN. Nay, that's a lie, I found her out myself. - -SEGASTO. Thou gadding huswife, -What cause hadst thou to gad abroad, -When as thou knowest our wedding-day so nigh? - -AMADINE. Not so, Segasto; no such thing in hand. -Show your assurance, then I'll answer you? - -SEGASTO. Thy father's promise my assurance is. - -AMADINE. But what he promis'd he hath not perform'd. - -SEGASTO. It rests in thee to perform the same. - -AMADINE. Not I. - -SEGASTO. And why? - -AMADINE. So is my will, and therefore even so. - -CLOWN. Master, with a nonny, nonny, no.[192] - -SEGASTO. Ah, wicked villain! art thou here? - -MUCEDORUS. What needs these words? we weigh them not. - -SEGASTO. We weigh them not! proud shepherd, I scorn thy company. - -CLOWN. We'll not have a corner of thy company. - -MUCEDORUS. I scorn not thee, nor yet the least of thine. - -CLOWN. That's a lie, a would have kill'd me with his pugs-nando. - -SEGASTO. This stoutness, Amadine, contents me not. - -AMADINE. Then seek another, that may you better please. - -MUCEDORUS. Well, Amadine. it only rests in thee -Without delay to make thy choice of three. -There stands Segasto: here a shepherd stands: -There stands the third. Now make thy choice. - -CLOWN. A lord at the least I am. - -AMADINE. My choice is made; for I will none but thee. - -SEGASTO. A worthy mate, no doubt, for such a wife. - -MUCEDORUS. And, Amadine, why wilt thou none but me? -I cannot keep thee, as thy father did; -I have no lands for to maintain thy state; -Moreover, if thou mean to be my wife, -Commonly this must be thy use: -To bed at midnight, up at four, -Drudge all day, and trudge from place to place, -Whereby our daily victuals for to win: -And last of all, which is the worst of all, -No princess then, but a plain shepherd's wife. - -CLOWN. Then God gi' you good morrow, goody shepherd! [_Aside_. - -AMADINE. It shall not need; if Amadine do live, -Thou shalt be crowned King of Arragon. - -CLOWN. O master, laugh; when he's king, then I'll be a queen. [_Aside_. - -MUCEDORUS. Then know that, which never tofore was known, -I am no shepherd, no Arragonian I, -But born of royal blood. My father's of Valentia -King, my mother Queen: who, for thy secret[193] sake, -Took this hard task in hand. - -AMADINE. Ah, how I joy my fortune is so good! - -SEGASTO. Well, now I see Segasto shall not speed; -But, Mucedorus, I as much do joy -To see thee here within our Court of Arragon, -As if a kingdom had befallen me this time. -I with my heart surrender her to thee. - [_He giveth her unto him_. -And loose[194] what right to Amadine I have. - -CLOWN. What, [a] barn's door, and born where my father -Was constable. A bots on thee! how dost thee? [_Aside_. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, Segasto; but yet you levell'd at the crown. - -CLOWN. Master, bear this and bear all. - -SEGASTO. Why so, sir? - -CLOWN. He sees you take a goose by the crown. - -SEGASTO. Go to, sir, away, post you to the King, -Whose heart is fraught with careful doubts; -Glad him up, and tell him these good news, -And we will follow as fast as we may. - -CLOWN. I go, master; I run, master. - - [_Exeunt severally. - - Enter the_ KING _and_ COLLEN. - -KING. Break, heart, and end my pallid[195] woes! -My Amadine, the comfort of my life, -How can I joy, except she were in sight? -Her absence breedeth sorrow to my soul, -And with a thunder breaks my heart in twain. - -COLLEN. Forbear those passions, gentle King, -And you shall see 'twill turn unto the best, -And bring your soul to quiet and to joy. - -KING. Such joy as death, I do assure me that, -And nought but death, unless of her I hear, -And that with speed; I cannot sigh thus long-- -But what a tumult do I hear within? - - [_They cry within, Joy and happiness_! - -COLLEN. I hear a noise of overpassing joy -Within the court. My lord, be of good comfort. -And here comes one in haste. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN, _running_. - -CLOWN. A King, a king, a king! - -COLLEN. Why, how now, sirrah? what's the matter? - -CLOWN. O, 'tis news for a king; 'tis worth money. - -KING. Why, sirrah, thou shalt have silver and gold, if it be good. - -CLOWN. O, 'tis good, 'tis good. Amadine-- - -KING. O, what of her? tell me, and I will make thee a knight. - -CLOWN. How, a sprite? no, by Lady, I will not be a sprite, masters. -Get ye away; if I be a sprite, I shall be so lean, I shall make you -all afraid. - -COLLEN. Thou sot, the King means to make thee a gentleman. - -CLOWN. Why, I shall want 'pparel. - -KING. Thou shalt want for nothing. - -CLOWN. Then stand away; trick[196] up thyself; here they come. - - _Enter_ SEGASTO, MUCEDORUS, _and_ AMADINE. - -AMADINE. My gracious father, pardon thy disloyal daughter. - -KING. What, do mine eyes behold my daughter -Amadin? Rise up, dear daughter, -And let these my embracing arms show some -Token of thy father's joy, which, ever since -Thy departure, hath languished in sorrow. - -AMADINE. Dear father, -Never were your sorrows greater than my griefs: -Never you so desolate as I comfortless. -Yet, nevertheless, acknowledging myself -To be the cause of both, on bended knees -I humbly crave your pardon. - -KING. I'll pardon thee, dear daughter, but as for -Him---- - -AMADINE. Ah, father! what of him? - -KING. As sure as I am king, and wear the crown, -I will revenge on that accursed wretch. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet, worthy prince, work not thy will in wrath: -Show favour. - -KING. Ay, such favour as thou deservest. - -MUCEDORUS. I do deserve the daughter of a king. - -KING. O, impudent! a shepherd and so insolent? - -MUCEDORUS. No shepherd [am] I, but a worthy prince. - -KING. In fair conceit, not princely born. - -MUCEDORUS. Yes, princely born; my father is a king, -My mother queen, and of Valentia both. - -KING. What, Mucedorus? welcome to our court! -What cause hadst thou to come to me disguis'd? - -MUCEDORUS. No cause to fear; I caused no offence, -But this--desiring thy daughter's virtues for to see, -Disguis'd myself from out my father's court, -Unknown to any. In secret I did rest, -And passed many troubles near to death; -So hath your daughter my partaker been, -As you shall know hereafter more at large, -Desiring you, you will give her to me, -Even as mine own, and sovereign of my life, -Then shall I think my travels are well spent. - -KING. With all my heart, but this-- -Segasto claims my promise made tofore, -That he should have her as his only wife, -Before my council, when we came from war. -Segasto, may I crave thee let it pass, -And give Amadine as wife to Mucedorus. - -SEGASTO. With all my heart, were it a far greater thing, -And what I may to furnish up their rites, -With pleasing sports and pastimes you shall see. - -KING. Thanks, good Segasto; I will think of this. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, good my lord; and while I live, -Account of me in what I can or may. - -AMADINE. And, good Segasto, these great courtesies -Shall not be forgot. - -CLOWN. Why, hark you, master! bones, what have you done? What, given -away the wench you made me take such pains for? you are wise indeed; -mass, and I had known of that, I would have had her myself. Faith, -master, now we may go to breakfast with a woodcock-pie. - -SEGASTO. Go, sir; you were best leave this knavery. - -KING. Come on, my lords, let's now to court, -Where we may finish up the joyfullest day -That ever happ'd to a distressed king.[197] -With mirth and joy and great solemnity -We'll finish up these Hymen's rites most pleasantly. - -CLOWN. Ho, lords! at the first, I am one too; but hear, Master King, -by your leave, a cast. Now you have done with them, I pray you begin -with me. - -KING. Why, what wouldst thou have? - -CLOWN. O, you forgot now! a little apparel to make's handsome. What, -should lords go so beggarly as I do? - -KING. What I did promise thee, I will perform. -Attend on me: come, let's depart. - - [_They all speak_. - -We'll wait on you with all our hearts. - -CLOWN. And with a piece of my liver too. - - [_Exeunt omnes_. - - _Enter_ COMEDY _and_ ENVY. - -COMEDY. How now, Envy? what, blushest thou already? -Peep forth, hide not thy head with shame; -But with a courage praise a woman's deeds. -Thy threats were vain, thou couldst do me no hurt, -Although thou seem'st to cross me with despite, -I overwhelm'd and turn'd upside down thy block, -And made thyself to stumble at the same. - -ENVY. Though stumbled, yet not overthrown: -Thou canst not draw my heart to mildness, -Yet must I needs confess thou hast done well, -And play'd thy part with mirth and pleasant glee. -Say all this; yet canst thou not conquer me, -Although this time thou hast got-- -Yet not the conquest neither, -A double revenge another time I'll have.[198] - -COMEDY. Then, caitiff cursed, stoop upon thy knee; -Yield to a woman, though not to me, -And from her foes high God defend her still, -That they 'gainst her may never work their will. - -ENVY. Envy, were he never so stout -Would beck and bow unto her majesty. -Indeed, Comedy, thou hast overrun me now, -And forc'd me stoop unto a woman's sway. -God grant her grace amongst us long may reign, -And those that would not have it so, -Would that by Envy soon their hearts they might forego. - -COMEDY. The council, nobles, and this realm, -Lord, guide it still with thy most holy hand! -The Commons and the subjects, grant them grace. -Their prince to serve, her to obey, and treason to deface: -Long may she reign in joy and great felicity, -Each Christian heart do say amen with me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - - - -THE TWO ANGRY WOMEN OF ABINGTON. - - - -_EDITION. - -The Pleasant Historie of the two angrie women of Abington. With the -humorous mirthe of Dick Coomes and Nicholas Prouerbes, two Seruingmen. -As it was lately playde by the right Honorable the Earle of Nottingham, -Lord high Admirall, his seruants. By Henry Porter Gent. Imprinted at -London for Ioseph Hunt, and William Ferbrand, and are to be solde at -the Corner of Colman-streete, neere Loathburie_. 1599. 4to. - -Another 4to, printed for Ferbrand alone, was published during the same -year.--_Dyce_. - - - - -[DYCE'S PREFACE.][199] - - -The text of the former 4to, which is, I apprehend, the earlier impression, -has been adopted in the present reprint, except where the readings of the -other edition have been occasionally preferred, and where obvious -typographical errors have been rectified. Every minute particular in -which the second 4to differs from the first, I have thought it unnecessary -to note. The absurd punctuation and faulty metrical arrangement of the -old copy have not been followed; and I must be allowed to add that I have -retained the original spelling only in accordance to the decision of the -Percy Council.[200] - -Though Henry Porter was a dramatist of considerable reputation, all his -productions, except the copy now reprinted, appear to have utterly -perished; and, I believe, the only materials to be found for his -biography are the subjoined memoranda in the Diary of Henslowe:[201]-- - - Pd this 23 of Aguste 1597 to Harey Porter to carye to | - T. Nashe now at this tyme in the fflete for wrytinge of | s - _the eylle of Dogges_ ten shellinges to bee paide agen to | x - me when he canne I say ten shillinges | - - Lent unto the company the 30 of Maye 1598 to bye a boocke | li - [202] called _Love prevented_ the some of fower powndes dd. | iiij - to Thomas Dowton, Mr Porter | - - Lent unto the company the 18 of Aguste 1598 to bye a Booke | li - called _Hoote Anger sone cowld_ of Mr Porter, Mr Cheattell | vj - and bengemen Johnson in full payment, the some of | - - Lent unto Thomas Dowton the 22 of Desember 1598 to bye a | li - boocke of Harey Porter called _the 2 pte of the 2 angrey_ | v - _Wemen of Abengton_ | - - Let unto Harey Porter at the request of the company in | - earnest of his booke called _ij merey women of abington_ | - the some of forty shellings and for the resayte of that | s - money he gave me his faythfull promise that I should have | xl - alle his bookes which he writte ether him selfe or with | - any other which some was dd. the 28th of febreary 1598[-9]. | - - Lent unto Harey Cheattell the 4 of March 1598[-9] in | s - earneste of his boocke which Harey Porter and he is a | x - writtinge the some of--called _the Spencers_. | - - Lent Harey Porter the 11 of Aprell 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Lent Hary Porter the 16 of Aprell 1599 the some of[203] | d - | xij - - Lent Harey Porter the 5 of Maye 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Lent Harey Porter the 15 of Maye 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Be it knowne unto all men that I Henry Porter do owe unto - Phillip Henchlowe the some of x's of lawfull money of - England which I did borrowe of hym the 26 of Maye a'o. dom. - 1599 Henry Porter[204]. - -"The Two Angry Women of Abington" is thus noticed by the late Charles -Lamb: "The pleasant comedy from which these extracts are taken is -contemporary with some of the earliest of Shakespeare's, and is no whit -inferior to either the 'Comedy of Errors' or the 'Taming of the Shrew,' -for instance. It is full of business, humour, and merry malice. Its -night scenes are peculiarly sprightly and wakeful. The versification -unencumbered, and rich with compound epithets."[205] - A.D. - - - -THE PROLOGUE. - -Gentlemen, I come to ye like one that lacks and would borrow, but was -loth to ask, lest he should be denied: I would ask, but I would ask to -obtain; O, would I knew that manner of asking! To beg were base; and to -couch low, and to carry an humble show of entreaty, were too dog-like, -that fawns on his master to get a bone from his trencher: out, cur! I -cannot abide it; to put on the shape and habit of this new world's -new-found beggars, mistermed soldiers[206], as thus: "Sweet gentlemen, -let a poor scholar implore and exerate that you would make him rich in -the possession of a mite of your favours, to keep him a true man in wit, -and to pay for his lodging among the Muses! so God him help, he is -driven to a most low estate! 'tis not unknown what service of words he -hath been at; he lost his limbs in a late conflict of flout; a brave -repulse and a hot assault it was, he doth protest, as ever he saw, since -he knew what the report of a volley of jests were; he shall therefore -desire you"--A plague upon it, each beadle disdained would whip him from -your company. Well, gentlemen, I cannot tell how to get your favours -better than by desert: then the worse luck, or the worse wit, or -somewhat, for I shall not now deserve it. Well, then[207], I commit -myself to my fortunes and your contents; contented to die, if your severe -judgments shall judge me to be stung to death with the adder's hiss. - - - -THE NAMES OF THE SPEAKERS.[208] - - -M[ASTER] GOURSEY. -MIST[RESS] GOURSEY. -M[ASTER] BARNES. -MIST[RESS] BARNES. -FRANK GOURSEY. -PHILIP [BARNES.] -BOY. -MALL BARNES. -DICK COOMES. -HODGE. -NICHOLAS PROVERBS. -SIR RALPH SMITH. -[LADY SMITH.] -WILL, _Sir Ralph's man. -[Other Attendants_.] - - - - -THE PLEASANT COMEDY OF THE TWO ANGRY WOMEN OF ABINGTON. - - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY _and his wife, and_ MASTER BARNES - _and his wife, with their two sons, and their two servants_. - -MASTER GOURSEY. Good Master Barnes, this entertain of yours, -So full of courtesy and rich delight, -Makes me misdoubt my poor ability -In quittance of this friendly courtesy. - -MR BAR. O Master Goursey, neighbour-amity -Is such a jewel of high-reckoned worth, -As for the attain of it what would not I -Disburse, it is so precious in my thoughts! - -MR GOUR. Kind sir, near-dwelling amity indeed -Offers the heart's inquiry better view -Than love that's seated in a farther soil: -As prospectives[209], the[210] nearer that they be, -Yield better judgment to the judging eye; -Things seen far off are lessened in the eye, -When their true shape is seen being hard by. - -MR BAR. True, sir, 'tis so; and truly I esteem -Mere[211] amity, familiar neighbourhood, -The cousin german unto wedded love. - -MR GOUR. Ay, sir, there's surely some alliance 'twixt them, -For they have both the offspring from the heart: -Within the heart's-blood-ocean still are found -Jewels of amity and gems of love. - -MR BAR. Ay, Master Goursey, I have in my time -Seen many shipwrecks of true honesty; -But incident such dangers ever are -To them that without compass sail so far: -Why, what need men to swim, when they may wade?-- -But leave this talk, enough of this is said: -And, Master Goursey, in good faith, sir, welcome;-- -And, Mistress Goursey, I am much in debt -Unto your kindness that would visit me. - -MRS GOUR. O Master Barnes, you put me but in mind -Of that which I should say; 'tis we that are -Indebted to your kindness for this cheer: -Which debt that we may repay, I pray let's have -Sometimes your company at our homely house. - -MRS BAR. That, Mistress Goursey, you shall surely have; -He'll[212] be a bold guest, I warrant ye, -And bolder too with you than I would have him. - -MRS. GOUR. How, do you mean he will be bold with me? - -MRS BAR. Why, he will trouble you at home, forsooth, -Often call in, and ask ye how ye do; -And sit and chat with you all day till night, -And all night too,[213] if he might have his will. - -MR BAR. Ay, wife, indeed I thank her for her kindness; -She hath made me much good cheer passing that way. - -MRS BAR. Passing well-done of her, she is a kind wench. -I thank ye, Mistress Goursey, for my husband; -And if it hap your husband come our way -A-hunting or such ordinary sports, -I'll do as much for yours as you for mine. - -MR GOUR. Pray do, forsooth.--God's Lord, what means the woman? -She speaks it scornfully: faith, I care not; -Things are well-spoken, if they be well-taken. [_Aside_.] -What, Mistress Barnes, is it not time to part? - -MRS BAR. What's a-clock, sirrah? - -NICHOLAS. 'Tis but new-struck one. - -MR GOUR. I have some business in the town by three. - -MR BAR. Till then let's walk into the orchard, sir. -What, can you play at tables? - -MR GOUR. Yes, I can. - -MR BAR. What, shall we have a game? - -MR GOUR. And if you please. - -MR BAR. I'faith, content; we'll spend an hour so. -Sirrah, fetch the tables.[214] - -NICH. I will, sir. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Sirrah Frank, whilst they are playing here, -We'll to the green to bowls. - -FRAN. Philip, content. Coomes, come hither, sirrah: -When our fathers part, call us upon the green. -Philip, come, a rubbers[215], and so leave. - -PHIL. Come on. - [_Exeunt_ PHILIP _and_ FRANCIS.] - -COOMES. 'Sbloud, I do not like the humour of these springals; they'll -spend all their fathers' good at gaming. But let them trowl the bowls -upon the green. I'll trowl the bowls in the buttery by the leave of God -and Master Barnes: and his men be good fellows, so it is; if they be -not, let them go snick up[216]. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ NICHOLAS _with the tables_. - -MR BAR. So, set them down. -Mistress Goursey, how do you like this game? - -MRS GOUR. Well, sir. - -MR BAR. Can ye play at it? - -MRS GOUR. A little, sir. - -MR BAR. Faith, so can my wife. - -MR GOUR. Why, then, Master Barnes, and if you please, -Our wives shall try the quarrel 'twixt us two, -And we'll look on. - -MR BAR. I am content. What, women[217], will you play? - -MRS GOUR. I care not greatly. - -MRS BAR. Nor I, but that I think she'll play me false. - -MR GOUR. I'll see she shall not. - -MRS BAR. Nay, sir, she will be sure you shall not see; -You, of all men, shall not mark her hand; -She hath such close conveyance in her play. - -MR GOUR. Is she so cunning grown? Come, come, let's see. - -MRS GOUR. Yea, Mistress Barnes, will ye not house your jests, -But let them roam abroad so carelessly? -Faith, if your jealous tongue utter another, -I'll cross ye with a jest, and ye were my mother.-- -Come, shall we play? [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Ay, what shall we play a game? - -MRS GOUR. A pound a game. - -MR GOUR. How, wife? - -MRS GOUR. Faith, husband, not a farthing less. - -MR GOUR. It is too much; a shilling were good game. - -MRS GOUR. No, we'll be ill-huswives once; -You have been oft ill husbands: let's alone. - -MR BAR. Wife, will you play so much? - -MRS BAR. I would be loth to be so frank a gamester -As Mistress Goursey is; and yet for once -I'll play a pound a game as well as she. - -MR BAR. Go to, you'll have your will - [_Offer to go from them_. - -MRS BAR. Come, there's my stake. - -MRS GOUR. And there's mine. - -MRS BAR. Throw for the dice. Ill luck! then they are yours. - -MR BAR. Master Goursey, who says that gaming's bad, -When such good angels[218] walk 'twixt every cast? - -MR GOUR. This is not noble sport, but royal play. - -MR BAR. It must be so, where royals[218] walk so fast. - -MRS BAR. Play right, I pray. - -MRS GOUR. Why, so I do. - -MRS BAR. Where stands your man? - -MRS GOUR. In his right place. - -MRS BAR. Good faith, I think ye play me foul an ace. - -MR BAR. No, wife, she plays ye true. - -MRS BAR. Peace, husband, peace; I'll not be judg'd by you. - -MRS GOUR. Husband, Master Barnes, pray, both go walk! -We cannot play if standers-by do talk. - -MR GOUR. Well, to your game; we will not trouble ye. - [_Go from them_. - -MRS GOUR. Where stands your man now? - -MRS BAR. Doth he not stand right? - -MRS GOUR. It stands between the points. - -MRS BAR. And that's my spite. -But yet methinks the dice runs much uneven. -That I throw but deuce-ace and you eleven. - -MRS GOUR. And yet you see that I cast down the hill. - -MRS BAR. Ay, I beshrew ye, 'tis not with my will. - -MRS GOUR. Do ye beshrew me? - -MRS BAR. No, I beshrew the dice, -That turn you up more at once than me at twice. - -MRS GOUR. Well, you shall see them turn for you anon. - -MRS BAR. But I care not for them, when your game is done. - -MRS GOUR. My game! what game? - -MRS BAR. Your game, your game at tables. - -MRS GOUR. Well, mistress, well; I have read Aesop's fables, -And know your moral meaning well enough. - -MRS BAR. Lo, you'll be angry now! here's[219] good stuff. - -MR GOUR. How now, women?[220] who hath won the game? - -MRS GOUR. Nobody yet. - -MR BAR. Your wife's the fairest for't. - -MRS BAR. Ay, in your eye. - -MRS GOUR. How do you mean? - -MRS BAR. He holds you fairer for't than I. - -MRS GOUR. For what, forsooth? - -MRS BAR. Good gamester, for your game. - -MR BAR. Well, try it out; 'tis all but in the bearing[221]. - -MRS BAR. Nay, if it come to bearing, she'll be best. - -MRS GOUR. Why, you're as good a bearer as the rest. - -MRS BAR. Nay, that's not so; you bear one man too many. - -MRS GOUR. Better do so than bear not any. - -MR BAR. Beshrew me, but my wife's jests grow too bitter; -Plainer speeches for her were more fitter[222]: -Malice lies embowelled in her tongue, -And new hatch'd hate makes every jest a wrong. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Look ye, mistress, now I hit ye. - -MRS BAR. Why, ay, you never use to miss a blot[223], -Especially when it stands so fair to hit. - -MRS GOUR. How mean ye, Mistress Barnes? - -MRS BAR. That Mistress Goursey's in the hitting vein. - -MRS GOUR. I hot[224] your man. - -MRS BAR. Ay, ay, my man, my man; but, had I known, -I would have had my man stood nearer home. - -MRS GOUR. Why, had ye kept your man in his right place, -I should not then have hit him with an ace. - -MRS BAR. Right, by the Lord! a plague upon the bones! - -MRS GOUR. And a hot mischief on the curser too! - -MR BAR. How now, wife? - -MR GOUR. Why, what's the matter, woman? - -MRS GOUR. It is no matter; I am-- - -MRS BAR. Ay, you are-- - -MRS GOUR. What am I? - -MRS BAR. Why, that's as you will be ever. - -MRS GOUR. That's every day as good as Barnes's wife. - -MRS BAR. And better too: then, what needs all this trouble? -A single horse is worse than that bears double. - -MR BAR. Wife, go to, have regard to what you say; -Let not your words pass forth the verge of reason, -But keep within the bounds of modesty; -For ill-report doth like a bailiff stand, -To pound the straying and the wit-lost tongue, -And makes it forfeit into folly's hands. -Well, wife, you know it is no honest part -To entertain such guests with jests and wrongs: -What will the neighbouring country vulgar say, -When as they hear that you fell out at dinner? -Forsooth, they'll call it a pot-quarrel straight; -The best they'll name it is a woman's jangling. -Go to, be rul'd, be rul'd. - -MRS BAR. God's Lord, be rul'd, be rul'd! -What, think ye I have such a baby's wit, -To have a rod's correction for my tongue? -School infancy! I am of age to speak, -And I know when to speak: shall I be chid -For such a-- - -MRS GOUR. What-a? nay, mistress, speak it out; -I scorn your stopp'd compares: compare not me -To any but your equals, Mistress Barnes. - -MR GOUR. Peace, wife, be quiet. - -MR BAR. O, persuade, persuade! -Wife, Mistress Goursey, shall I win your thoughts -To composition of some kind effects? -Wife, if you love your credit, leave this strife, -And come shake hands with Mistress Goursey here. - -MRS BAR. Shall I shake hands? let her go shake her heels; -She gets nor hands nor friendship at my hands: -And so, sir, while I live, I will take heed, -What guests I bid again unto my house. - -MR BAR. Impatient woman, will you be so stiff -In this absurdness? - -MRS BAR. I am impatient now I speak; -But, sir, I'll tell you more another time: -Go to, I will not take it as I have done. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. Nay, she might stay; I will not long be here -To trouble her. Well, Master Barnes, -I am sorry that it was our haps to-day, -To have our pleasures parted with this fray: -I am sorry too for all that is amiss, -Especially that you are mov'd in this; -But be not so, 'tis but a woman's jar: -Their tongues are weapons, words their blows of war; -'Twas but a while we buffeted, you saw, -And each of us was willing to withdraw; -There was no harm nor bloodshed, you did see: -Tush, fear us not, for we shall well agree. -I take my leave, sir. Come, kind-hearted man, -That speaks his wife so fair--ay, now and then; -I know you would not for an hundreth pound, -That I should hear your voice's churlish sound; -I know you have a far more milder tune -Than "Peace, be quiet, wife;" but I have done. -Will ye go home? the door directs the way; -But, if you will not, my duty is to stay[225]. - -MR BAR. Ha, ha! why, here's a right woman, is there not? -They both have din'd, yet see what stomachs they have! - -MR. GOUR. Well, Master Barnes, we cannot do withal[226]: -Let us be friends still-- - -MR BAR. O Master Goursey, the mettle of our minds, -Having the temper of true reason in them. -Affords[227] a better edge of argument -For the maintain of our familiar loves -Than the soft leaden wit of women can; -Wherefore with all the parts of neighbour-love -I [do] impart[228] myself to Master Goursey. - -MR GOUR. And with exchange of love I do receive it: -Then here we'll part, partners of two curs'd wives. - -MR BAR. O, where shall we find a man so bless'd that is not? -But come; your business and my home-affairs -Makes me deliver that unfriendly word -'Mongst friends--farewell. - -MR GOUR. Twenty farewells, sir. - -MR BAR. But hark ye, Master Goursey; -Look ye persuade at home, as I will do: -What, man! we must not always have them foes. - -MR GOUR. If I can help it. - -MR BAR. God help, God help! -Women are even untoward creatures still. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP, FRANCIS, _and his_ BOY, _from bowling_. - -PHIL. Come on, Frank Goursey: you have had good luck -To win the game. - -FRAN. Why, tell me, is't not good, -That never play'd before upon your green? - -PHIL. 'Tis good, but that it cost me ten good crowns; -That makes it worse. - -FRAN. Let it not grieve thee, man; come o'er to us; -We will devise some game to make you win -Your money back again, sweet Philip. - -PHIL. And that shall be ere long, and if I live: -But tell me, Francis, what good horses have ye, -To hunt this summer? - -FRAN. Two or three jades, or so. - -PHIL. Be they but jades? - -FRAN. No, faith; my wag-string here -Did founder one the last time that he rid-- -The best grey nag that ever I laid my leg over. - -BOY. You mean the flea-bitten. - -FRAN. Good sir, the same. - -BOY. And was the same the best that e'er you rid on? - -FRAN. Ay, was it, sir. - -BOY. I'faith, it was not, sir. - -FRAN. No! where had I one so good? - -BOY. One of my colour, and a better too. - -FRAN. One of your colour? I ne'er remember him: -One of that colour! - -BOY. Or of that complexion. - -FRAN. What's that ye call complexion in a horse? - -BOY. The colour, sir. - -FRAN. Set me a colour on your jest, or I will-- - -BOY. Nay, good sir, hold your hands! - -FRAN. What, shall we have it? - -BOY. Why, sir, I cannot paint. - -FRAN. Well, then, I can; -And I shall find a pencil for ye, sir. - -BOY. Then I must find the table, if you do. - -FRAN. A whoreson, barren, wicked urchin! - -BOY. Look how you chafe! you would be angry more, -If I should tell it you. - -FRAN. Go to, I'll anger ye, and if you do not. - -BOY. Why, sir, the horse that I do mean -Hath a leg both straight and clean, -That hath nor spaven, splint, nor flaw, -But is the best that ever ye saw; -A pretty rising knee--O knee! -It is as round as round may be; -The full flank makes the buttock round: -This palfrey standeth on no ground, -When as my master's on her back, -If that he once do say but, tack:[229] -And if he prick her, you shall see -Her gallop amain, she is so free; -And if he give her but a nod, -She thinks it is a riding-rod; -And if he'll have her softly go, -Then she trips it like a doe; -She comes so easy with the rein, -A twine-thread turns her back again; -And truly I did ne'er see yet -A horse play proudlier on the bit: -My master with good managing -Brought her first unto the ring;[230] -He likewise taught her to corvet, -To run, and suddenly to set; -She's cunning in the wild-goose race, -Nay, she's apt to every pace; -And to prove her colour good, -A flea, enamour'd of her blood, -Digg'd for channels in her neck, -And there made many a crimson speck: -I think there's none that use to ride -But can her pleasant trot abide; -She goes so even upon the way, -She will not stumble in a day; -And when my master-- - -FRAN. What do I? - -BOY. Nay, nothing, sir. - -PHIL. O, fie, Frank, fie! -Nay, nay, your reason hath no justice now, -I must needs say; persuade him first to speak, -Then chide him for it! Tell me, pretty wag, -Where stands this prancer, in what inn or stable? -Or hath thy master put her out to run, -Then in what field, what champion,[231] feeds this courser, -This well-pac'd, bonny steed that thou so praisest? - -BOY. Faith, sir, I think-- - -FRAN. Villain, what do ye think? - -BOY. I think that you, sir, have been ask'd by many, -But yet I never heard that ye told any. - -PHIL. Well, boy, then I will add one more to many. -And ask thy master where this jennet feeds. -Come, Frank, tell me--nay, prythee, tell me, Frank, -My good horse-master, tell me--by this light, -I will not steal her from thee; if I do, -Let me be held a felon to thy love. - -FRAN. No, Philip, no. - -PHIL. What, wilt thou wear a point[232] but with one tag? -Well, Francis, well, I see you are a wag. - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. 'Swounds, where be these timber-turners, -these trowl-the-bowls, these green-men, these-- - -FRAN. What, what, sir? - -COOMES. These bowlers, sir. - -FRAN. Well, sir, what say you to bowlers? - -COOMES. Why, I say they cannot be saved. - -FRAN. Your reason, sir? - -COOMES. Because they throw away their souls at every mark. - -FRAN. Their souls! how mean ye? - -PHIL. Sirrah, he means the soul of the bowl. - -FRAN. Lord, how his wit holds bias like a bowl! - -COOMES. Well, which is the bias? - -FRAN. This next to you. - -COOMES. Nay, turn it this way, then the bowl goes true. - -BOY. Rub, rub! - -COOMES. Why rub? - -BOY. Why, you overcast the mark, and miss the way. - -COOMES. Nay, boy, I use to take the fairest of my play. - -PHIL. Dick Coomes, methinks thou art[233] very pleasant: -Where[234] got'st thou this merry humour? - -COOMES. In your father's cellar, the merriest place in th' house. - -PHIL. Then you have been carousing hard? - -COOMES. Yes, faith, 'tis our custom, when your father's men and we meet. - -PHIL. Thou art very welcome thither, Dick. - -COOMES. By God, I thank ye, sir, I thank ye, sir: by God, I have a quart -of wine for ye, sir, in any place of the world. There shall not a -servingman in Barkshire fight better for ye than I will do, if you have -any quarrel in hand: you shall have the maidenhead of my new sword; I -paid a quarter's wages for't, by Jesus. - -PHIL. O, this meat-failer Dick! -How well't has made the apparel of his wit, -And brought it into fashion of an honour! -Prythee, Dick Coomes, but tell me how thou dost? - -COOMES. Faith, sir, like a poor man of service. - -PHIL. Or servingman. - -COOMES. Indeed, so called by the vulgar. - -PHIL. Why, where the devil hadst thou that word? - -COOMES. O, sir, you have the most eloquent ale in all the[235] world; -our blunt soil affords none such. - -FRAN. Philip, leave talking with this drunken fool. Say, sirrah, -where's my father? - -COOMES. "Marry, I thank ye for my very good cheer,--O Lord, it is not -so much worth.--You see I am bold with ye.--Indeed, you are not so bold -as welcome; I pray ye, come oft'ner.--Truly, I shall trouble ye." All -these ceremonies are despatch'd between them, and they are gone. - -FRAN. Are they so? - -COOMES. Ay, before God, are they. - -FRAN. And wherefore came not you to call me then? - -COOMES. Because I was loth to change my game. - -FRAN. What game? - -COOMES. You were at one sort of bowls as I was at another. - -PHIL. Sirrah, he means the butt'ry bowls of beer. - -COOMES. By God, sir, we tickled it. - -FRAN. Why, what a swearing keeps this drunken ass? -Canst thou not say but swear at every word? - -PHIL. Peace, do not mar his humour, prythee, Frank. - -COOMES. Let him alone; he's a springall; he knows not what belongs -to an oath. - -FRAN. Sirrah, be quiet, or I do protest-- - -COOMES. Come, come, what do you protest? - -FRAN. By heaven, to crack your crown. - -COOMES. To crack my crown! I lay ye a crown of that, lay it down, and -ye dare; nay, 'sblood, I'll venture a quarter's wages of that. Crack my -crown, quotha! - -FRAN. Will ye not yet be quiet? will ye urge me? - -COOMES. Urge ye, with a pox! who urges ye? You might have said so much -to a clown, or one that had not been o'er the sea to see fashions: I -have, I tell ye true; and I know what belongs to a man. Crack my crown, -and ye can. - -FRAN. And I can, ye rascal! - -PHIL. Hold, hair-brain, hold! dost thou not see he's drunk? - -COOMES. Nay, let him come: though he be my master's son, I am my -master's man, and a man is a man in any ground of England. Come, and he -dares, a comes upon his death: I will not budge an inch, no, 'sblood, -will I[236] not. - -FRAN. Will ye not? - -PHIL. Stay, prythee, Frank. Coomes, dost thou hear? - -COOMES. Hear me no hears: stand away, I'll trust none of you all. If I -have my back against a cartwheel, I would not care if the devil came. - -PHIL. Why, ye fool, I am your friend. - -COOMES. Fool on your face! I have a wife. - -FRAN. She's a whore, then. - -COOMES. She's as honest as Nan Lawson. - -PHIL. What's she? - -COOMES. One of his whores. - -PHIL. Why, hath he so many? - -COOMES. Ay, as many as there be churches in London. - -PHIL. Why, that's a hundred and nine. - -BOY. Faith, he lies a hundred. - -PHIL. Then thou art a witness to nine. - -BOY. No, by God, I'll be witness to none. - -COOMES. Now do I stand like the George at Colebrook. - -BOY. No, thou stand'st like the Bull at St Alban's. - -COOMES. Boy, ye lie--the Horns.[237] - -BOY. The bull's bitten; see, how he butts! - -PHIL. Coomes, Coomes, put up;[238] my friend and thou art friends. - -COOMES. I'll hear him say so first. - -PHIL. Frank, prythee, do; be friends, and tell him so. - -FRAN. Go to, I am. - -BOY. Put up, sir; and ye be a man, put up. - -COOMES. I am easily persuaded, boy. - -PHIL. Ah, ye mad slave! - -COOMES. Come, come, a couple of whoremasters I found ye, -and so I leave ye. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Lo, Frank, dost thou not see he's drunk, -That twits thee[239] with thy disposition? - -FRAN. What disposition? - -PHIL. Nan Lawson, Nan Lawson. - -FRAN. Nay, then-- - -PHIL. Go to, ye wag, 'tis well: -If ever ye get a wife, i'faith I'll tell. -Sirrah, at home we have a servingman; -He is[240] not humour'd bluntly as Coomes is, -Yet his condition[241] makes me often merry: -I'll tell thee, sirrah, he's a fine neat fellow, -A spruce slave; I warrant ye, he will[242] have -His cruel garters[243] cross about the knee, -His woollen hose as white as th'driven snow, -His shoes dry-leather neat, and tied with red ribbons, -A nosegay bound with laces in his hat-- -Bridelaces, sir--and his hat all green[244], -Green coverlet for such a grass-green wit. -"The goose that grazeth on the green," quoth he, -"May I eat on, when you shall buried be!" -All proverbs is his speech, he's proverbs all. - -FRAN. Why speaks he proverbs? - -PHIL. Because he would speak truth, -And proverbs, you'll confess, are old-said sooth. - -FRAN. I like this well, and one day I will see him: -But shall we part? - -PHIL. Not yet, I'll bring ye somewhat on your way, -And as we go, between your boy and you -I'll know where that brave prancer stands at livery. - -FRAN. Come, come, you shall not. - -PHIL. I'faith, I will. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MASTER BARNES _and his Wife_. - -MR BAR. Wife, in my mind to-day you were to blame, -Although my patience did not blame ye for it: -Methought the rules of love and neighbourhood -Did not direct your thoughts; all indiscreet[245] -Were your proceedings in the entertain -Of them that I invited to my house. -Nay, stay, I do not chide, but counsel, wife, -And in the mildest manner that I may: -You need not view me with a servant's eye, -Whose vassal[246] senses tremble at the look -Of his displeased master. O my wife, -You are myself! when self sees fault in self, -Self is sin-obstinate, if self amend not: -Indeed, I saw a fault in thee myself, -And it hath set a foil upon thy fame, -Not as the foil doth grace the diamond. - -MRS BAR. What fault, sir, did you see in me to-day? - -MR BAR. O, do not set the organ of thy voice -On such a grunting key of discontent! -Do not deform the beauty of thy tongue -With such misshapen answers. Rough wrathful words -Are bastards got by rashness in the thoughts: -Fair demeanours are virtue's nuptial babes, -The offspring of the well-instructed soul; -O, let them call thee mother, then, my wife! -So seem not barren of good courtesy. - -MRS BAR. So; have ye done? - -MR BAR. Ay, and I had done well, -If you would do what I advise for well. - -MRS BAR. What's that? - -MR BAR. Which is, that you would be good friends -With Mistress Goursey. - -MRS BAR. With Mistress Goursey! - -MR BAR. Ay, sweet wife. - -MRS BAR. Not so, sweet husband. - -MR BAR. Could you but show me any grounded cause. - -MRS BAR. The grounded cause I ground, because I will not. - -MR BAR. Your will hath little reason, then, I think. - -MRS BAR. Yes, sir, my reason equalleth my will. - -MR BAR. Let's hear your reason, for your will is great. - -MRS BAR. Why, for I will not. - -MR BAR. Is all your reason "for I will not," wife? -Now, by my soul, I held ye for more wise, -Discreet, and of more temp'rature in sense, -Than in a sullen humour to affect -That woman's[247] will--borne, common, scholar phrase: -Oft have I heard a timely-married girl, -That newly left to call her mother mam, -Her father dad: but yesterday come from -"That's my good girl, God send thee a good husband!" -And now being taught to speak the name of husband, -Will, when she would be wanton in her will, -If her husband ask'd her why, say "for I will." -Have I chid men for[248] [an] unmanly choice, -That would not fit their years? have I seen thee -Pupil such green young things, and with thy counsel -Tutor their wits? and art thou now infected -With this disease of imperfection? -I blush for thee, ashamed at thy shame. - -MRS BAR. A shame on her that makes thee rate me so! - -MR BAR. O black-mouth'd rage, thy breath is boisterous, -And thou mak'st virtue shake at this high storm! -She is[249] of good report; I know thou know'st it. - -MRS BAR. She is not, nor I know not, but I know -That thou dost love her, therefore think'st her so; -Thou bear'st with her, because she bears with thee. -Thou may'st be ashamed to stand in her defence: -She is a strumpet, and thou art no honest man -To stand in her defence against thy wife. -If I catch her in my walk, now, by Cock's[250] bones, -I'll scratch out both her eyes. - -MR BAR. O God! - -MRS BAR. Nay, never say "O God" for the matter: -Thou art the cause; thou bad'st her to my house, -Only to blear the eyes of Goursey, did'st not? -But I will send him word, I warrant thee, -And ere I sleep too, trust upon it, sir. - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Methinks this is a mighty fault in her; -I could be angry with her: O, if I be so, -I shall but put a link unto a torch, -And so give greater light to see her fault. -I'll rather smother it in melancholy: -Nay, wisdom bids me shun that passion; -Then I will study for a remedy. -I have a daughter,--now, heaven invocate, -She be not of like spirit as her mother! -If so, she'll be a plague unto her husband, -If that he be not patient and discreet, -For that I hold the ease of all such trouble. -Well, well, I would my daughter had a husband, -For I would see how she would demean herself -In that estate; it may be, ill enough,-- -And, so God shall help me, well-remembered now! -Frank Goursey is his father's son and heir: -A youth that in my heart I have good hope on; -My senses say a match, my soul applauds -The motion: O, but his lands are great, -He will look high; why, I will strain myself -To make her dowry equal with his land. -Good faith, and 'twere a match, 'twould be a means -To make their mothers friends. I'll call my daughter, -To see how she's dispos'd to marriage.-- -Mall, where are ye? - - _Enter_ MALL. - -MALL. Father, here I am. - -MR BAR. Where is your mother? - -MALL. I saw her not, forsooth, since you and she -Went walking both together to the garden. - -MR BAR. Dost thou hear me, girl? I must dispute with thee. - -MALL. Father, the question then must not be hard, -For I am very weak in argument. - -MR BAR. Well, this it is; I say 'tis good to marry. - -MALL. And this say I, 'tis not good to marry. - -MR BAR. Were it not good, then all men would not marry; -But now they do. - -MALL. Marry, not all; but it is good to marry. - -MR BAR. Is it both good and bad; how can this be? - -MALL. Why, it is good to them that marry well; -To them that marry ill, no greater hell. - -MR BAR. If thou might marry well, wouldst thou agree? - -MALL. I cannot tell; heaven must appoint for me. - -MR BAR. Wench, I am studying for thy good indeed. - -MALL. My hopes and duty wish your thoughts good speed. - -MR BAR. But tell me, wench, hast thou a mind to marry? - -MALL. This question is too hard for bashfulness; -And, father, now ye pose my modesty. -I am a maid, and when ye ask me thus, -I, like a maid, must blush, look pale and wan, -And then look red[251] again; for we change colour, -As our thoughts change. With true-fac'd passion -Of modest maidenhead I could adorn me, -And to your question make a sober cour'sey, -And with close-clipp'd civility be silent; -Or else say "No, forsooth," or "Ay, forsooth." -If I said, "No, forsooth," I lied forsooth: -To lie upon myself were deadly sin, -Therefore I will speak truth and shame the devil. -Father, when first I heard ye name a husband, -At that same very time my spirits quickened. -Despair before had kill'd them, they were dead: -Because it was my hap so long to tarry, -I was persuaded I should never marry; -And sitting sewing thus upon the ground, -I fell in trance of meditation; -But coming to myself, "O Lord," said I, -"Shall it be so I must I unmarried die?" -And, being angry, father, farther, said-- -"Now, by Saint Anne, I will not die a maid!" -Good faith, before I came to this ripe growth, -I did accuse the labouring time of sloth; -Methought the year did run but slow about, -For I thought each year ten I was without. -Being fourteen and toward the tother year, -Good Lord, thought I, fifteen will ne'er be here! -For I have heard my mother say that then -Pretty maids were fit for handsome men: -Fifteen past, sixteen, and seventeen too, -What, thought I, will not this husband do? -Will no man marry me? have men forsworn -Such beauty and such youth? shall youth be worn -As rich men's gowns, more with age than use? -Why, then I let restrained fancy loose, -And bad it gaze for pleasure; then love swore me -To do whate'er my mother did before me; -Yet, in good faith, I have been very loth, -But now it lies in you to save my oath: -If I shall have a husband, get him quickly, -For maids that wear cork shoes may step awry. - -MR BAR. Believe me, wench, I do not reprehend[252] thee, -But for this pleasant answer do commend thee. -I must confess, love doth thee mighty wrong, -But I will see thee have thy right ere long; -I know a young man, whom I hold most fit -To have thee both for living and for wit: -I will go write about it presently. - -MALL. Good father, do. [_Exit_ [BARNES]. - O God, methinks I should -Wife it as fine as any woman could! -I could carry a port to be obeyed, -Carry a mastering eye upon my maid, -With "Minion, do your business, or I'll make ye," -And to all house authority betake me. -O God! would I were married! by my troth, -But if I be not, I swear I'll keep my oath. - - _Enter_ MRS BARNES. - -MRS BAR. How now, minion, where have you been gadding? - -MALL. Forsooth, my father called me forth to him. - -MRS BAR. Your father! and what said he to ye, I pray? - -MALL. Nothing, forsooth. - -MRS BAR. Nothing! that cannot be; something he said. - -MALL. Ay, something that as good as nothing was. - -MRS BAR. Come, let me hear that something-nothing, then. - -MALL. Nothing but of a husband for me, mother. - -MRS BAR. A husband! that was something; but what husband? - -MALL. Nay, faith, I know not, mother: would I did! - -MRS BAR. Ay, "would ye did!" i'faith, are ye so hasty? - -MALL. Hasty, mother! why, how old am I? - -MRS BAR. Too young to marry. - -MALL. Nay, by the mass, ye lie. -Mother, how old were you when you did marry? - -MRS BAR. How old soe'er I was, yet you shall tarry. - -MALL. Then the worse for me. Hark, mother, hark! -The priest forgets that e'er he was a clerk: -When you were at my years, I'll hold my life, -Your mind was to change maidenhead for wife. -Pardon me, mother, I am of your mind, -And, by my troth, I take it but by kind.[253] - -MRS BAR. Do ye hear, daughter? you shall stay my leisure. - -MALL. Do you hear, mother? would you stay from pleasure, -When ye have mind to it? Go to, there's no wrong -Like this, to let maids lie alone so long: -Lying alone they muse but in their beds, -How they might lose their long-kept maidenheads. -This is the cause there is so many scapes, -For women that are wise will not lead apes -In hell: I tell ye, mother, I say true; -Therefore come husband: maidenhead adieu! [_Exit_. - -MRS BAR. Well, lusty guts, I mean to make ye stay, -And set some rubs in your mind's smoothest way[254]. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. Mother-- - -MRS BAR. How now, sirrah; where have you been walking? - -PHIL. Over the meads, half-way to Milton, mother, -To bear my friend, Frank Goursey, company. - -MRS BAR. Where's your blue coat[255], your sword and buckler, sir? -Get you such like habit for a serving-man, -If you will wait upon the brat of Goursey. - -PHIL. Mother, that you are mov'd, this makes me wonder; -When I departed, I did leave ye friends: -What undigested jar hath since betided? - -MRS BAR. Such as almost doth choke thy mother, boy, -And stifles her with the conceit of it; -I am abus'd, my son, by Goursey's wife. - -PHIL. By Mistress Goursey. - -MRS BAR. Mistress Flirt--yea[256], foul strumpet, -Light-a-love, short-heels! Mistress Goursey -Call her again, and thou wert better no. - -PHIL. O my dear mother, have some patience! - -MRS BAR. Ay, sir, have patience, and see your father -To rifle up the treasure of my love, -And play the spendthrift upon such an harlot! -This same will make me have patience, will it not? - -PHIL. This same is women's most impatience: -Yet, mother, I have often heard ye say, -That you have found my father temperate, -And ever free from such affections. - -MRS BAR. Ay, till[257] my too much love did glut his thoughts, -And make him seek for change. - -PHIL. O, change your mind! -My father bears more cordial love to you. - -MRS BAR. Thou liest, thou liest, for he loves Goursey's wife, -Not me. - -PHIL. Now I swear, mother, you are much to blame; -I durst be sworn he loves you as his soul. - -MRS BAR. Wilt thou be pampered by affection? -Will nature teach thee such vild[258] perjury? -Wilt thou be sworn, ay, forsworn,[259] careless boy? -And if thou swear't, I say he loves me not. - -PHIL. [Mother] he loves[260] ye but too well, I swear, -Unless ye knew much better how to use him. - -MRS BAR. Doth he so, sir? thou unnatural boy! -"Too well," sayest thou? that word shall cost thee[261] somewhat: -O monstrous! have I brought thee up to this? -"Too well!" O unkind, wicked, and degenerate, -Hast thou the heart to say so of thy mother? -Well, God will plague thee for't, I warrant thee: -Out on thee, villain! fie upon thee, wretch! -Out of my sight, out of my sight, I say! - -PHIL. This air is pleasant, and doth please me well, -And here I will stay. - -MRS BAR. Wilt thou, stubborn villain? - - _Enter_ MR BARNES. - -MR BAR. How now, what's the matter? - -MRS BAR. Thou sett'st thy son to scoff and mock at me: -Is't not sufficient I am wrong'd of thee, -But he must be an agent to abuse me? -Must I be subject to my cradle too? -O God, O God, amend it! - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Why, how now, Philip? is this true, my son? - -PHIL. Dear father, she is much impatient: -Ne'er let that hand assist me in my need, -If I more said than that she thought amiss -To think that you were so licentious given; -And thus much more, when she inferr'd it more, -I swore an oath you lov'd her but too well: -In that as guilty I do hold myself. -Now that I come to more considerate trial, -I know my fault: I should have borne with her: -Blame me for rashness, then, not for want of duty. - -MR BAR. I do absolve thee; and come hither, Philip: -I have writ a letter unto Master Goursey, -And I will tell thee the contents thereof; -But tell me first, think'st thou Frank Goursey loves thee? - -PHIL. If that a man devoted to a man, -Loyal, religious in love's hallowed vows-- -If that a man that is sole laboursome -To work his own thoughts to his friend's delight, -May purchase good opinion with his friend, -Then I may say, I have done this so well, -That I may think Frank Goursey loves me well. - -MR BAR. 'Tis well; and I am much deceived in him, -And if he be not sober, wise, and valiant. - -PHIL. I hope my father takes me for thus wise, -I will not glue myself in love to one -That hath not some desert of virtue in him: -Whate'er you think of him, believe me, father, -He will be answerable to your thoughts -In any quality commendable. - -MR BAR. Thou cheer'st my hopes in him; and, in good faith, -Thou'st[262] made my love complete unto thy friend: -Philip, I love him, and I love him so, -I could afford him a good wife, I know. - -PHIL. Father, a wife! - -MR BAR. Philip, a wife. - -PHIL. I lay my life--my sister! - -MR BAR. Ay, in good faith. - -PHIL. Then, father, he shall have her; he shall, I swear. - -MR BAR. How canst thou say so, knowing not his mind? - -PHIL. All's one for that; I will go to him straight. -Father, if you would seek this seven-years'-day, -You could not find a fitter match for her; -And he shall have her, I swear he shall; -He were as good be hanged, as once deny[263] her. -I'faith, I'll to him. - -MR BAR. Hairbrain, hairbrain, stay! -As yet we do not know his father's mind: -Why, what will Master Goursey say, my son, -If we should motion it without his knowledge? -Go to, he's a wise and discreet gentleman, -And that expects from me all honest parts; -Nor shall he fail his expectation; -First I do mean to make him privy to it: -Philip, this letter is to that effect. - -PHIL. Father, for God's[264] sake, send it quickly, then: -I'll call your man. What, Hugh! where's Hugh, there, ho? - -MR BAR. Philip, if this would prove a match, -It were the only means that could be found -To make thy mother friends with Mistress Goursey. - -PHIL. How, a match! I'll warrant ye, a match. -My sister's fair, Frank Goursey he is rich; -Her[265] dowry, too, will be sufficient; -Frank's young,[266] and youth is apt to love; -And, by my troth, my sister's maidenhead -Stands like a game at tennis: if the ball -Hit into the hole, or hazard, farewell all: - -MR BAR. How now, where's Hugh? - - [_Enter_ NICHOLAS.] - -PHIL. Why, what doth this proverbial with us? -Why, where's Hugh? - -MR BAR. Peace, peace. - -PHIL. Where's Hugh, I say? - -MR BAR. Be not so hasty, Philip. - -PHIL. Father, let me alone, -I do it but to make myself some sport. -This formal fool, your man, speaks nought but proverbs, -And speak men what they can to him, he'll answer -With some rhyme-rotten sentence or old saying, -Such spokes as th'ancient of the parish use, -With, "Neighbour, 'tis an old proverb and a true, -Goose giblets are good meat, old sack better than new;" -Then says another, "Neighbour, that is true;" -And when each man hath drunk his gallon round-- -A penny pot, for that's the old man's gallon-- -Then doth he lick his lips, and stroke his beard, -That's glued together with his slavering drops -Of yeasty ale, and when he scarce can trim -His gouty fingers, thus he'll phillip it, -And with a rotten hem, say, "Ay, my hearts, -Merry go sorry! cock and pie, my hearts"! -But then their saving penny proverb comes, -And that is this, "They that will to the wine, -By'r Lady[267] mistress, shall lay their penny to mine." -This was one of this penny-father's[268] bastards, -For, on my life, he was never[269] begot -Without the consent of some great proverb-monger. - -MR BAR. O, ye are a wag. - -PHIL. Well, now unto my business. -'Swounds, will that mouth, that's made of old-said saws -And nothing else, say nothing to us now? - -NICH. O Master Philip, forbear; you must not leap over the stile, before -you come at it; haste makes waste; soft fire makes sweet malt; not too -fast for falling; there's no haste to hang true men.[270] - -PHIL. Father, we ha't, ye see, we ha't. Now will I see if my memory will -serve for some proverbs too. O--a painted cloth were as well worth a -shilling as a thief worth a halter; well, after my hearty commendations, -as I was at the making hereof; so it is, that I hope as you speed, so -you're sure; a swift horse will tire, but he that trots easily will -endure. You have most learnedly proverb'd it, commending the virtue of -patience or forbearance, but yet, you know, forbearance is no quittance. - -NICH. I promise ye, Master Philip, you have spoken as true as steel. - -PHIL. Father, there's a proverb well applied. - -NICH. And it seemeth unto me, ay, it seems to me, that you, Master -Philip, mock me: do you not know, _qui mocat mocabitur_? mock age, -and see how it will prosper. - -PHIL. Why, ye whoreson proverb-book bound up in folio, -Have ye no other sense to answer me -But every word a proverb? no other English? -Well, I'll fulfil a proverb on thee straight. - -NICH. What is it, sir? - -PHIL. I'll fetch my fist from thine ear. - -NICH. Bear witness, he threatens me! - -PHIL. That same is the coward's common proverb. -But come, come, sirrah, tell me where Hugh is. - -NICH. I may, and I will; I need not, except I list; you shall not -command me, you give me neither meat, drink, nor wages; I am your -father's man, and a man's a man, and a have but a hose on his head; -do not misuse me so, do not; for though he that is bound must obey, -yet he that will not tarry, may[271] run away--so he may. - -MR BAR. Peace, Nick, I'll see he shall use thee well; -Go to, peace, sirrah: here, Nick, take this letter, -Carry it to him to whom it is directed. - -NICH. To whom is it? - -MR BAR. Why, read it: canst thou read? - -NICH. Forsooth, though none of the best, yet meanly. - -MR BAR. Why, dost thou not use it? - -NICH. Forsooth, as use makes perfectness, so seldom seen is soon -forgotten. - -MR BAR. Well-said: but go; it is to Master Goursey. - -PHIL. Now, sir, what proverb have ye to deliver a letter? - -NICH. What need you to care? who speaks to you? you may speak when ye -are spoken to, and keep your wind to cool your pottage. Well, well, you -are my master's son, and you look for his land; but they that hope for -dead men's shoes may hap go barefoot: take heed, as soon goes the young -sheep to the pot as the old. I pray God save my master's life, for -seldom comes the better! - -PHIL. O, he hath given it me! Farewell, Proverbs. - -NICH. Farewell, frost.[272] - -PHIL. Shall I fling an old shoe after ye? - -NICH. No; you should say, God send fair weather after me! - -PHIL. I mean for good luck. - -NICH. A good luck on ye! - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Alas, poor fool! he uses all his wit. -Philip, in faith[273] this mirth hath cheered thought, -And cosen'd it of his right play of passion. -Go after Nick, and, when thou think'st he's there, -Go in and urge to that which I have writ: -I'll in these meadows make a circling walk, -And in my meditation conjure so, -As that same[274] fiend of thought, self-eating anger, -Shall by my spells of reason[275] vanish quite: -Away, and let me hear from thee to-night. - -PHIL. To-night! yes, that you shall: but hark ye, father; -Look that you my sister waking keep, -For Frank, I swear, shall kiss her, ere I sleep. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ FRANK _and_ BOY. - -FRAN. I am very dry with walking o'er the green.-- -Butler, some beer! Sirrah, call the butler. - -BOY. Nay, faith, sir, we must have some smith to give the butler a -drench, or cut him in the forehead, for he hath got a horse's disease, -namely the staggers; to-night he's a good huswife, he reels all that he -wrought to-day; and he were good now to play at dice, for he casts[276] -excellent well. - -FRAN. How mean'st thou? is he drunk? - -BOY. I cannot tell; but I am sure he hath more liquor in him than a -whole dicker of hides; he's soak'd throughly, i'faith. - -FRAN. Well, go and call him; bid him bring me drink. - -BOY. I will, sir. - [_Exit_. - -FRAN. My mother pouts, and will look merrily -Neither upon my father nor on me: -He says she fell out with Mistress Barnes to-day; -Then I am sure they'll not be quickly friends. -Good Lord, what kind of creatures women are! -Their love is lightly[277] won and lightly lost; -And then their hate is deadly and extreme: -He that doth take a wife betakes himself -To all the cares and troubles of the world. -Now her disquietness doth grieve my father, -Grieves me, and troubles all the house besides. -What, shall I have some drink? [_Horn sounded within_]--How now? a horn! -Belike the drunken knave is fall'n asleep, -And now the boy doth wake him with his horn. - - _Enter_ BOY. - -How now, sirrah, where's the butler? - -BOY. Marry, sir, where he was even now, asleep; but I wak'd him, and -when he wak'd he thought he was in Master Barnes's buttery, for he -stretch'd himself thus, and yawning, said, "Nick, honest Nick, fill a -fresh bowl of ale; stand to it, Nick, and thou beest a man of God's -making, stand to it;" and then I winded my horn, and he's horn-mad. - - _Enter_ HODGE. - -HOD. Boy, hey! ho, boy! and thou beest a man, draw.--O, here's a blessed -moonshine, God be thanked!--Boy, is not this goodly weather for barley? - -BOY. Spoken like a right malster, Hodge: but dost thou hear? thou art -not drunk? - -HOD. No, I scorn that, i'faith. - -BOY.[278] But thy fellow Dick Coomes is mightily drunk. - -HOD. Drunk! a plague on it, when a man cannot carry his drink well! -'sblood, I'll stand to it. - -BOY. Hold, man; see, and thou canst stand first. - -HOD. Drunk! he's a beast, and he be drunk; there's no man that is a -sober man will be drunk; he's a boy, and he be drunk. - -BOY. No, he's a man as thou art. - -HOD. Thus 'tis, when a man will not be ruled by his friends: I bad him -keep under the lee, but he kept down the weather two bows; I told him he -would be taken with a planet, but the wisest of us all may fall. - -BOY. True, Hodge. [_Boy trips him_. - -HOD. Whoop! lend me thy hand, Dick, I am fall'n into a well; lend me thy -hand, I shall be drowned else. - -BOY. Hold fast by the bucket, Hodge. - -HOD. A rope on it! - -BOY. Ay, there is a rope on it; but where art thou, Hodge? - -HOD. In a well; I prythee, draw up. - -BOY. Come, give up thy body; wind up, hoist - -HOD. I am over head and ears. - -BOY. In all, Hodge, in all. - -FRAN. How loathsome is this beast-man's shape to me, -This mould of reason so unreasonable!-- -Sirrah, why dost thou trip him down, seeing he's drunk? - -BOY. Because, sir, I would have drunkards cheap.[279] - -FRAN. How mean ye? - -BOY. Why, they say that, when anything hath a fall, it is cheap; and so -of drunkards. - -FRAN. Go to, help him up: [_Knocking without_] but, hark, who knocks? - - [BOY _goes to the door, and returns_.] - -BOY. Sir, here's one of Master Barnes's men with a letter to my old -master. - -FRAN. Which of them is it? - -BOY. They call him Nicholas, sir. - -FRAN. Go, call him in. - - [_Exit_ BOY.] - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. By your leave, ho! How now, young master, how is't? - -FRAN. Look ye, sirrah, where your fellow lies: -He's[280] in a fine taking, is he not? - -COOMES. Whoop, Hodge! where art thou, man, where art thou? - -HOD. O, in a well. - -COOMES. In a well, man! nay, then, thou art deep in understanding. - -FRAN. Ay, once to-day you were almost so, sir. - -COOMES. Who, I! go to, young master, I do not like this humour in ye, I -tell ye true; give every man his due, and give him no more: say I was -in such a case! go to, 'tis the greatest indignation that can be offered -to a man; and, but a man's more godlier given, you were able to make him -swear out his heart-blood. What, though that honest Hodge have cut his -finger here, or, as some say, cut a feather: what, though he be mump, -misled, blind, or as it were--'tis no consequent to me: you know I have -drunk all the ale-houses in Abington dry, and laid the taps on the -tables, when I had done: 'sblood, I'll challenge all the true rob-pots -in Europe to leap up to the chin in a barrel of beer, and if I cannot -drink it down to my foot, ere I leave, and then set the tap in the midst -of the house, and then turn a good turn on the toe on it, let me be -counted nobody, a pingler,[281]--nay, let me be[282] bound to drink -nothing but small-beer seven years after--and I had as lief be hanged. - - _Enter_ NICHOLAS. - -FRAN. Peace, sir, I must speak with one.-- -Nicholas, I think, your name is. - -NlCH. True as the skin between your brows. - -FRAN. Well, how doth thy master? - -NlCH. Forsooth, live, and the best doth no better. - -FRAN. Where is the letter he hath sent me? - -NlCH. _Ecce signum_! here it is. - -FRAN. 'Tis right as Philip said, 'tis a fine fool [_Aside_]. ---This letter is directed to my father; -I'll carry it to him. Dick Coomes, make him drink. - [_Exit_. - -COOMES. Ay, I'll make him drunk,[283] and he will. - -NICH. Not so, Richard; it is good to be merry and wise. - -DICK[284] [COOMES]. Well, Nicholas, as thou art Nicholas, welcome; but -as thou art Nicholas and a boon companion, ten times welcome. Nicholas, -give me thy hand: shall we be merry? and we shall, say but we shall, and -let the first word stand. - -NICH. Indeed, as long lives the merry man as the sad; an ounce of debt -will not pay a pound of care. - -COOMES. Nay, a pound of care will not pay an ounce of debt. - -NICH. Well, 'tis a good horse never stumbles: but who lies here? - -COOMES. 'Tis our Hodge, and I think he lies asleep: you made him drunk -at your house to-day; but I'll pepper some of you for't. - -NICH. Ay, Richard, I know you'll put a man over the shoes, and if you -can; but he's a fool will take more than will do him good. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, ye shall take more than will do ye good, or I'll make -ye clap under the table. - -NICH. Nay, I hope, as I have temperance to forbear drink, so have I -patience to endure drink: I'll do as company doth; for when a man doth -to Rome come, he must do as there is done.[285] - -COOMES. Ha, my resolved Nick, froligozene! Fill the pot, hostess; -swouns, you whore! Harry Hook's a rascal. Help me, but carry my fellow -Hodge in, and we'll c'rouse[286] it, i'faith. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. By this, I think, the letter is delivered, -And 'twill be shortly time that I step in, -And woo their favours for my sister's fortune: -And yet I need not; she may do as well, -But yet not better, as the case doth stand, -Between our mothers; it may make them friends; -Nay, I would swear that she would do as well, -Were she a stranger to one quality, -But they are so acquainted, they'll ne'er part. -Why, she will flout the devil, and make blush -The boldest face of man that e'er man saw; -He that hath best opinion of his wit, -And hath his brainpan fraught with bitter jests, -Or of his own, or stol'n, or howsoever, -Let him stand ne'er so high in his own conceit, -Her wit's a sun that melts him down like butter, -And makes him sit at table pancake-wise, -Flat, flat, God knows, and ne'er a word to say; -Yet she'll not leave him then, but like a tyrant -She'll persecute the poor wit-beaten man, -And so bebang him with dry bobs and scoffs, -When he is down, most coward-like, good faith, -As I have pitied the poor patient. -There came a farmer's son a-wooing to her, -A proper man: well-landed too he was, -A man that for his wit need not to ask -What time a year 'twere good to sow his oats, -Nor yet his barley; no, nor when to reap, -To plough his fallows, or to fell his trees, -Well-experienc'd thus each kind of way; -After a two months' labour at the most-- -And yet 'twas well he held it out so long-- -He left his love, she had so lac'd his lips -He could say nothing to her but "God be with ye!" -Why she, when men have din'd and call for cheese, -Will straight maintain jests bitter to disgest;[287] -And then some one will fall to argument, -Who if he over-master her with reason, -Then she'll begin to buffet him with mocks. -Well, I do doubt Francis hath so much spleen, -They'll ne'er agree; but I will moderate. -By this time it is time, I think, to enter: -This is the house; shall I knock? no; I will not. -[Nor] wait, while one comes out to answer [me]:[288] -I'll in, and let them be as bold with us. - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY, _reading a letter_. - -MR GOUR. _If that they like, her dowry shall be equal -To your son's wealth or possibility: -It is a means to make our wives good friends, -And to continue friendship 'twixt us two_. -'Tis so, indeed: I like this motion, -And it hath my consent, because my wife -Is sore infected and heart-sick with hate; -And I have sought the Galen of advice, -Which only tells me this same potion -To be most sovereign for her sickness' cure. - - _Enter_ FRANK _and_ PHILIP. - -Here comes my son, conferring with his friend.-- -Francis, how do you like your friend's discourse? -I know he is persuading to this motion. - -FRAN. Father, as matter that befits a friend, -But yet not me, that am too young to marry. - -MR GOUR. Nay, if thy mind be forward with thy years, -The time is lost thou tarriest. Trust me, boy, -This match is answerable to thy birth; -Her blood and portion give each other grace; -These indented lines promise a sum, -And I do like the value: if it hap -Thy liking to accord to my consent, -It is a match. Wilt thou go see the maid? - -FRAN. Ne'er trust me, father, the shackles[289] of marriage, -Which I do see in others, seem so severe, -I dare not put my youngling liberty -Under the awe of that instruction; -And yet I grant the limits of free youth -Going astray are often restrain'd by that. -But mistress wedlock, to my scholar-thoughts, -Will be too curs'd, I fear: O, should she snip -My pleasure-aiming mind, I shall be sad, -And swear, when I did marry, I was mad! - -MR GOUR. But, boy, let my experience teach thee this-- -Yet, in good faith, thou speak'st not much amiss-- -When first thy mother's fame to me did come, -Thy grandsire thus then came to me his son, -And even my words to thee to me he said, -And as to me thou say'st to him I said, -But in a greater huff and hotter blood,-- -I tell ye, on youth's tip-toes then I stood: -Says he (good faith, this was his very say), -"When I was young, I was but reason's fool, -And went to wedding as to wisdom's school; -It taught me much, and much I did forget, -But, beaten much, by it I got some wit; -Though I was shackled from an often scout, -Yet I would wanton it, when I was out; -'Twas comfort old acquaintance then to meet, -Restrained liberty attain'd is sweet." -Thus said my father to thy father[290], son, -And thou mayst do this too, as I have done. - -PHIL. In faith, good counsel, Frank: what say'st thou to it? - -FRAN. Philip, what should I say? - -PHIL. Why, either ay or no. - -FRAN. O, but which rather? - -PHIL. Why, that which was persuaded by thy father. - -FRAN. That's ay then[291]. Ay. O, should it fall out ill, -Then I, for I am guilty of that ill!-- -I'll not be guilty. No. - -PHIL. What, backward gone! - -FRAN. Philip, no whit backward; that is, on. - -PHIL. On, then. - -FRAN. O, stay! - -PHIL. Tush, there is no good luck in this delay. -Come, come; late-comers, man, are shent. - -FRAN. Heigho, I fear I shall repent! -Well, which way, Philip[292]? - -PHIL. Why, this way. - -FRAN. Canst thou tell, -And takest upon thee to be my guide to hell?-- -But which way, father? - -MR GOUR. That way. - -FRAN. Ay, you know, -You found the way to sorrow long ago. -Father, God be wi' ye[293]: you have sent your son -To seek on earth an earthly day of doom, -Where I shall be adjudged, alack the ruth, -To penance for the follies of my youth! -Well, I must go; but, by my troth, my mind -Is not capable to love [in][294] that kind. -O, I have look'd upon this mould of men, -As I have done upon a lion's den! -Praised I have the gallant beast I saw, -Yet wish'd me no acquaintance with his paw: -And must I now be grated with them? well, -Yet I may hap to prove a Daniel; -And, if I do, sure it would make me laugh, -To be among wild beasts and yet be safe. -Is there a remedy to abate their rage? -Yes, many catch them, and put them in a cage. -Ay, but how catch them? marry, in your hand -Carry me forth a burning firebrand, -For with his sparkling shine, old rumour says, -A firebrand the swiftest runner frays: -This I may do; but, if it prove not so, -Then man goes out to seek his adjunct woe. -Philip, away! and, father, now adieu! -In quest of sorrow I am sent by you. - -MR GOUR. Return, the messenger of joy, my son. - -FRAN. Seldom in this world such a work is done. - -PHIL. Nay, nay, make haste, it will be quickly night. - -FRAN. Why, is it not good to woo by candle-light? - -PHIL. But, if we make not haste, they'll be a-bed. - -FRAN. The better, candles out and curtains spread. - - [_Exeunt_ FRANCIS and PHILIP.] - -MR GOUR. I know, though that my son's years be not many, -Yet he hath wit to woo as well as any. -Here comes my wife: I am glad my boy is gone. - - _Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY. - -Ere she came hither. How now, wife? how is't? -What, are ye yet in charity and love -With Mistress Barnes? - -MRS GOUR. With Mistress Barnes! why Mistress[295] Barnes, I pray? - -MR GOUR. Because she is your neighbour and-- - -MRS GOUR. And what? -And a jealous, slandering, spiteful quean she is, -One that would blur my reputation -With her opprobrious malice, if she could; -She wrongs her husband, to abuse my fame: -'Tis known that I have lived in honest name -All my lifetime, and been your right true wife. - -MR GOUR. I entertain no other thought, my wife, -And my opinion's sound of your behaviour. - -MRS GOUR. And my behaviour is as sound as it; -But her ill-speeches seeks to rot my credit, -And eat it with the worm of hate and malice. - -MR GOUR. Why, then, preserve it you by patience. - -MRS GOUR. By patience! would ye have me shame myself, -And cosen myself to bear her injuries? -Not while her eyes be open, will I yield -A word, a letter, a syllable's value. -But equal and make even her wrongs to me -To her again. - -MR GOUR. Then, in good faith, wife, ye are more to blame. - -MRS GOUR. Am I to blame, sir? pray, what letter's this? - [_Snatches the letter_.] - -MR GOUR. There is a dearth of manners in ye, wife, -Rudely to snatch it from me. Give it me. - -MRS GOUR. You shall not have it, sir, till I have read it. - -MR GOUR. Give me it, then, and I will read it to you. - -MRS GOUR. No, no, it shall not need: I am a scholar -Good enough to read a letter, sir. - -MR GOUR. God's passion, if she know but the contents, -She'll seek to cross this match! she shall not read it. [_Aside_.] -Wife, give it me; come, come, give it me. - -MRS GOUR. Husband, in very deed, you shall not have it. - -MR GOUR. What, will you move me to impatience, then? - -MRS GOUR. Tut, tell not me of your impatience; -But since you talk, sir, of impatience, -You shall not have the letter, by this light, -Till I have read it; soul, I'll burn it first! - -MR GOUR. Go to, ye move me, wife; give me the letter; -In troth, I shall grow angry, if you do not. - -MRS GOUR. Grow to the house-top with your anger, sir! -Ne'er tell me, I care not thus much for it. - -MR GOUR. Well, I can bear enough, but not too much. -Come, give it me; 'twere best you be persuaded; -By God--ye make me swear--now God forgive me!-- -Give me, I say, and stand not long upon it; -Go to, I am angry at the heart, my very heart. - -MRS GOUR. Heart me no hearts! you shall not have it, sir, -No, you shall not; ne'er look so big, -I will not be afraid at your great looks; -You shall not have it, no, you shall not have it. - -MR GOUR. Shall I not have it? in troth, I'll try that: -Minion, I'll ha''t; shall I not ha''t?--I am loth-- -Go to, take pausement, be advis'd-- -In faith, I will; and stand not long upon it-- -A woman of your years! I am asham'd -A couple of so long continuance -Should thus--God's foot--I cry God heart'ly mercy!-- -Go to, ye vex me; and I'll vex ye for it; -Before I leave ye, I will make ye glad -To tender it on your knees; hear ye, I will, I will. -What, worse and worse stomach! true faith, -Shall I be cross'd by you in my old age? -And where I should have greatest comfort, too, -A nurse of you?--nurse in the devil's name!-- -Go to, mistress; by God's precious deer, -If ye delay-- - -MRS GOUR. Lord, Lord, why, in what a fit -Are you in, husband! so enrag'd, so mov'd, -And for so slight a cause, to read a letter! -Did this letter, love, contain my death, -Should you deny my sight of it, I would not -Nor see my sorrow nor eschew my danger, -But willingly yield me a patient -Unto the doom that your displeasure gave. -Here is the letter; not for that your incensement - [_Gives back the letter_.] -Makes me make offer of it, but your health, -Which anger, I do fear, hath craz'd[296], -And viper-like hath suck'd away the blood -That wont was to be cheerful in this cheek: -How pale ye look! - -MR GOUR. Pale! Can ye blame me for it? I tell you true, -An easy matter could not thus have moved me. -Well, this resignment--and so forth--but, woman, -This fortnight shall I not forget ye for it.-- -Ha, ha, I see that roughness can do somewhat! -I did not think, good faith, I could have set -So sour a face upon it, and to her, -My bed-embracer, my right bosom friend. -I would not that she should have seen the letter-- -As poor a man as I am--by my troth, -For twenty pound: well, I am glad I have it. [_Aside_.] -Ha, here's ado about a thing of nothing! -What, stomach, ha! 'tis happy you're come down. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. Well, crafty[297] fox, I'll hunt ye, by my troth, -Deal ye so closely! Well, I see his drift: -He would not let me see the letter, lest -That I should cross the match; and I will cross it. -Dick Coomes! - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. Forsooth. - -MRS GOUR. Come hither, Dick; thou art a man I love, -And one whom I have much in my regard. - -COOMES. I thank ye for it, mistress, I thank ye for it. - -MRS GOUR. Nay, here's my hand, I will do very much -For thee, if e'er thou stand'st in need of me; -Thou shalt not lack, whilst thou hast a day to live, -Money, apparel-- - -COOMES. And sword and bucklers? - -MRS GOUR. And sword and bucklers too, my gallant Dick, -So thou wilt use but this in my defence. - [_Pointing to his sword_.] - -COOMES. This! no, faith, I have no mind to this; break my head, if this -break not, if we come to any tough play. Nay, mistress, I had a sword, -ay, the flower of Smithfield for a sword, a right fox,[298] i'faith; -with that, and a man had come over with a smooth and a sharp stroke, it -would have cried twang, and then, when I had doubled my point, trac'd my -ground, and had carried my buckler before me like a garden-butt, and -then come in with a cross blow, and over the pick[299] of his buckler -two ells long, it would have cried twang, twang, metal, metal: but a -dog hath his day; 'tis gone, and there are few good ones made now. I see -by this dearth of good swords, that[300] dearth of sword-and-buckler -fight begins to grow out:[301] I am sorry for it; I shall never see -good manhood again, if it be once gone; this poking fight of rapier and -dagger will come up then; then a man, a tall[302] man, and a good -sword-and-buckler man, will be spitted like a cat or a coney; then a boy -will be as good as a man, unless the Lord show mercy unto us; well, I -had as lief be hang'd as live to see that day. Well, mistress, what -shall I do? what shall I do? - -MRS GOUR. Why, this, brave Dick. Thou knowest that Barnes's wife -And I am foes: now, man me to her house; -And though it be dark, Dick, yet we'll have no light. -Lest that thy master should prevent our journey -By seeing our depart. Then, when we come, -And if that she and I do fall to words, -Set in thy foot and quarrel with her men, -Draw, fight, strike, hurt, but do not kill the slaves, -And make as though thou strookest[303] at a man, -And hit her, and thou canst,--a plague upon her!-- -She hath misus'd me, Dick: wilt thou do this? - -COOMES. Yes, mistress, I will strike her men; but God forbid that e'er -Dick Coomes should be seen to strike a woman! - -MRS GOUR. Why, she is mankind;[304] therefore thou mayest strike her. - -COOMES. Mankind! nay, and she have any part of a man, I'll strike her, -I warrant. - -MRS GOUR. That's my good Dick, that's my sweet Dick! - -COOMES. 'Swouns, who would not be a man of valour to have such words of -a gentlewoman! one of their words are more to me than twenty of these -russet-coats, cheese-cakes, and butter-makers. Well, I thank God, I am -none of these cowards; well, and a man have any virtue in him, I see he -shall be regarded. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Art thou resolved, Dick? wilt thou do this for me? -And if thou wilt, here is an earnest-penny -Of that rich guerdon I do mean to give thee. - [_Gives money_.] - -COOMES. An angel,[305] mistress! let me see. Stand you on my left hand, -and let the angel lie on my buckler on my right hand, for fear of losing. -Now, here stand I to be tempted. They say, every man hath two spirits -attending on him, either good or bad; now, I say, a man hath no other -spirits but either his wealth or his wife: now, which is the better of -them? Why, that is as they are used; for use neither of them well, and -they are both nought. But this is a miracle to me, that gold that is -heavy hath the upper, and a woman that is light doth soonest fall, -considering that light things aspire, and heavy things soonest go down: -but leave these considerations to Sir John;[306] they become a -black-coat better than a blue.[307] Well, mistress, I had no mind to-day -to quarrel; but a woman is made to be a man's seducer; you say, quarrel? - -MRS GOUR. Ay. - -COOMES. There speaks an angel: is it good? - -MRS GOUR. Ay. - -COOMES. Then, I cannot do amiss; the good angel goes with me. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH, _his_ LADY, WILL, [_and_ ATTENDANTS]. - -SIR RALPH. Come on, my hearts: i'faith, it is ill-luck, -To hunt all day, and not kill anything. -What sayest thou, lady? art thou weary yet? - -LADY. I must not say so, sir. - -SIR RALPH. Although thou art! - -WILL. And can you blame her, to be forth so long, -And see no better sport? - -SIR RALPH. Good faith, 'twas very hard. - -LADY. No, 'twas not ill, -Because, you know, it is not good to kill. - -SIR RALPH. Yes, venison, lady. - -LADY. No, indeed, nor them; -Life is as dear in deer as 'tis in men. - -SIR RALPH. But they are kill'd for sport. - -LADY. But that's bad play, -When they are made to sport their lives away. - -SIR RALPH. 'Tis fine to see them run. - -LADY. What, out of breath? -They run but ill that run themselves to death. - -SIR RALPH. They might make, then, less haste, and keep their wind. - -LADY. Why, then, they see the hounds brings death behind. - -SIR RALPH. Then, 'twere as good for them at first to stay, -As to run long, and run their lives away. - -LADY. Ay, but the stoutest of you all that's here -Would run from death and nimbly scud for fear. -Now, by my troth, I pity these poor elves.[308] - -SIR RALPH. Well, they have made us but bad sport to-day. - -LADY. Yes, 'twas my sport to see them 'scape away. - -WILL. I wish that I had been at one buck's fall. - -LADY. Out, thou wood-tyrant! thou art worst of all. - -WILL. A wood-man,[309] lady, but no tyrant I. - -LADY. Yes, tyrant-like thou lov'st to see lives die. - -SIR RALPH. Lady, no more: I do not like this luck, -To hunt all day, and yet not kill a buck. -Well, it is late; but yet I swear I will -Stay here all night, but I a buck will kill. - -LADY. All night! nay, good Sir Ralph Smith, do not so. - -SIR RALPH. Content ye, lady. Will, go fetch my bow: -A berry[310] of fair roes I saw to-day -Down by the groves, and there I'll take my[311] stand, -And shoot at one--God send a lucky hand! - -LADY. Will ye not, then, Sir Ralph, go home with me? - -SIR RALPH. No, but my men shall bear thee company.-- -Sirs, man her home. Will, bid the huntsmen couple, -And bid them well reward their hounds to-night.-- -Lady, farewell. Will, haste ye with the bow; -I'll stay for thee here by the grove below. - -WILL. I will; but 'twill be dark, I shall not see: -How shall I see ye, then? - -SIR RALPH. Why, halloo to me, and I will answer thee. - -WILL. Enough, I will. - -SIR RALPH. Farewell. - [_Exit_. - -LADY. How willingly dost thou consent to go -To fetch thy master that same killing bow! - -WILL. Guilty of death I willing am in this, -Because 'twas our ill-haps to-day to miss: -To hunt, and not to kill, is hunter's sorrow. -Come, lady, we'll have venison ere to-morrow. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP, FRANK [_and_ BOY]. - -PHIL. Come, Frank, now are we hard by the[312] house: -But how now? Sad? - -FRAN. No, to study how to woo thy sister. - -PHIL. How, man? how to woo her! why, no matter how; -I am sure thou wilt not he ashamed to woo. -Thy cheeks not subject to a childish blush, -Thou hast a better warrant by thy wit; -I know thy oratory can unfold -[A] quick invention, plausible discourse, -And set such painted beauty on thy tongue, -As it shall ravish every maiden sense; -For, Frank, thou art not like the russet youth -I told thee of, that went to woo a wench, -And being full stuff'd up with fallow wit -And meadow-matter, ask'd the pretty maid -How they sold corn last market-day with them, -Saying, "Indeed, 'twas very dear with [us]." -And, do ye hear, ye[313] had not need be so, -For she[314] will, Francis, throughly[315] try your wit; -Sirrah, she'll bow the metal of your wits, -And, if they crack, she will not hold ye current; -Nay, she will weigh your wit, as men weigh angels,[316] -And, if it lack a grain, she will not change with ye. -I cannot speak it but in passion, -She is a wicked wench to make a jest; -Ah me, how full of flouts and mocks she is! - -FRAN. Some aqua-vitae reason to recover -This sick discourser! Sound[317] not, prythee, Philip. -Tush, tush, I do not think her as thou sayest: -Perhaps she's[318] opinion's darling, Philip, -Wise in repute, the crow's bird. O my friend, -Some judgments slave themselves to small desert, -And wondernise the birth of common wit, -When their own[319] strangeness do but make that strange, -And their ill errors do but make that good: -And why should men debase to make that good? -Perhaps such admiration wins her wit. - -PHIL. Well, I am glad to hear this bold prepare -For this encounter. Forward, hardy Frank! -Yonder's the window with the candle in't; -Belike she's putting on her night attire: -I told ye, Frank, 'twas late. Well, I will call her, -Marry, softly, that my mother may not hear. -Mall, sister Mall! - - _Enter_ MALL _in the window_. - -MAL. How now, who's there? - -PHIL. 'Tis I. - -MAL. 'Tis I! Who I? I, quoth the dog, or what? -A Christcross row I?[320] - -PHIL. No, sweet pinkany.[321] - -MAL. O, is't you, wild-oats? - -PHIL. Ay, forsooth, wanton. - -MAL. Well said, scapethrift. - -FRAN. Philip, be these your usual best salutes? [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Is this the harmless chiding of that dove? [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Dove! One of those that draw the queen of love? [_Aside_.] - -MAL. How now? who's that, brother? who's that with ye? - -PHIL. A gentleman, my friend. - -MAL. By'r lady, he hath a pure wit. - -FRAN. How meane your holy judgment? - -MAL. O, well put-in, sir! - -FRAN. Up, you would say. - -MAL. Well climb'd, gentleman! -I pray, sir, tell me, do you cart the queen of love? - -FRAN. Not cart her, but couch her in your eye, -And a fit place for gentle love to lie. - -MAL. Ay, but methinks you speak without the book, -To place a four[322]-wheel waggon in my look: -Where will you have room to have the coachman sit? - -FRAN. Nay, that were but small manners, and not fit: -His duty is before you bare to stand, -Having a lusty whipstock[323] in his hand. - -MAL. The place is void; will you provide me one? - -FRAN. And if you please, I will supply the room. - -MAL. But are ye cunning in the carman's lash? -And can ye whistle well? - -FRAN. Yes, I can well direct the coach of love. - -MAL. Ah, cruel carter! would you whip a dove? - -PHIL. Hark ye, sister-- - -MAL. Nay, but hark ye, brother; -Whose white boy[324] is that same? know ye his mother? - -PHIL. He is a gentleman of a good house. - -MAL. Why, is his house of gold? -Is it not made of lime and stone like this? - -PHIL. I mean he's well-descended. - -MAL. God be thanked! -Did he descend some steeple or some ladder? - -PHIL. Well, you will still be cross; I tell ye, sister-- -This gentleman, by all your friends' consent -Must be your husband. - -MAL. Nay, not all, some sing another note; -My mother will say no, I hold a groat. -But I thought 'twas somewhat, he would be a carter; -He hath been whipping lately some blind bear, -And now he would ferk the blind boy here with us. - -PHIL. Well, do you hear, you, sister, mistress [that] would have-- -You that do long for somewhat, I know what-- -My father told me--go to, I'll tell all, -If ye be cross--do you hear me? I have labour'd -A year's work in this afternoon for ye: -Come from your cloister, votary, chaste nun, -Come down and kiss Frank Goursey's mother's son. - -MAL. Kiss him, I pray? - -PHIL. Go to, stale maidenhead! come down, I say, -You seventeen and upward, come, come down; -You'll stay till twenty else for your wedding gown. - -MAL. Nun, votary, stale maidenhead, seventeen and upward! -Here be names! what, nothing else? - -FRAN. Yes, or a fair-built steeple without bells. - -MAL. Steeple! good people, nay, another cast. - -FRAN. Ay, or a well-made ship without a mast. - -MAL. Fie, not so big, sir, by one part of four. - -FRAN. Why, then, ye are a boat without an oar. - -MAL. O well row'd wit! but what's your fare, I pray? - -FRAN. Your fair self must be my fairest pay. - -MAL. Nay, and you be so dear, I'll choose another. - -FRAN. Why, take your first man, wench, and go no further. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Peace, Francis. Hark ye, sister, this I say: -You know my mind; or answer ay or nay. -[Your] wit and judgment hath resolv'd his mind, -And he foresees what after he shall find: -If such discretion, then, shall govern you, -Vow love to him, he'll do the like to you. - -MAL. Vow love! who would not love such a comely feature, -Nor high nor low, but of the middle stature? -A middle man, that's the best size indeed; -I like him well: love grant us well to speed! - -FRAN. And let me see a woman of that tallness, -So slender and of such a middle smallness, -So old enough, and in each part so fit, -So fair, so kind, endued with so much wit, -Of so much wit as it is held a wonder, -'Twere pity to keep love and her asunder; -Therefore go up, my joy, call down my bliss; -Bid her come seal the bargain with a kiss. - -MAL. Frank, Frank, I come through dangers, death, and harms, -To make love's patent[325] with my[326] seal of arms. - -PHIL. But, sister, softly, lest my mother hear. - -MAL. Hush, then; mum, mouse in cheese[327], cat is near. - [_Exit_ MAL. - -FRAN. Now, in good faith, Philip, this makes me smile, -That I have wooed and won in so small while. - -PHIL. Francis, indeed my sister, I dare say. -Was not determined to say thee nay; -For this same tother thing, call'd maiden-head, -Hangs by so small a hair or spider's thread, -And worn so too[328] with time, it must needs fall, -And, like a well-lur'd hawk, she knows her call. - - [_Enter_ MALL.] - -MAL. Whist, brother, whist! my mother heard me tread, -And ask'd, Who's there? I would not answer her; -She call'd, A light! and up she's gone to seek me: -There when she finds me not, she'll hither come; -Therefore dispatch, let it be quickly done. -Francis, my love's lease I do let to thee, -Date of my life and thine: what sayest thou to me? -The ent'ring, fine, or income thou must pay, -Are kisses and embraces every day; -And quarterly I must receive my rent; -You know my mind. - -FRAN. I guess at thy intent: -Thou shalt not miss a minute of thy time. - -MAL. Why, then, sweet Francis, I am only thine.-- -Brother, bear witness. - -PHIL. Do ye deliver this as your deed? - -MAL. I do, I do. - -PHIL. God send ye both good speed! -God's Lord, my mother! Stand aside, -And closely too, lest that you be espied. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES.] - -MRS BAR. Who's there? - -PHIL. Mother, 'tis I. - -MRS BAR. You disobedient ruffian, careless wretch, -That said your father lov'd me but too well? -I'll think on't, when thou think'st I have forgot it: -Who's with thee else?--How now, minion? you! -With whom? with him!--Why, what make you here, sir, - - [_Discovers_ FRANCIS _and_ MALL.] - -And thus late too? what, hath your mother sent ye -To cut my throat, that here you be in wait?-- -Come from him, mistress, and let go his hand.-- -Will ye not, sir? - -FRAN. Stay, Mistress Barnes, or mother--what ye will; -She is[329] my wife, and here she shall be still. - -MRS BAR. How, sir? your wife! wouldst thou my daughter have? -I'll rather have her married to her grave.[330] -Go to; be gone, and quickly, or I swear -I'll have my men beat ye for staying here. - -PHIL. Beat him, mother! as I am true[331] man, -They were better beat the devil and his dam. - -MRS BAR. What, wilt thou take his part? - -PHIL. To do him good, -And 'twere to wade hitherto up in blood. - -FRAN. God-a-mercy, Philip!--But, mother, hear me. - -MRS BAR. Call'st thou me mother? no, thy mother's name -Carries about with it reproach and shame. -Give me my daughter: ere that she shall wed -A strumpet's son, and have her so misled, -I'll marry her to a carter; come, I say, -Give me her from thee. - -FRAN. Mother, not to-day, -Nor yet to-morrow, till my life's last morrow -Make me leave that which I with leave did borrow: -Here I have borrowed love, I'll not denay[332] it.-- -Thy wedding night's my day, then I'll repay it.-- -Till then she'll trust me. Wench, is't[333] not so? -And if it be, say ay, if not, say no. - -MAL. Mother, good mother, hear me! O good God, -Now we are even, what, would you make us odd? -Now, I beseech ye, for the love of Christ, -To give me leave once to do what I list. -I am as you were, when you were a maid; -Guess by yourself how long you would have stay'd, -Might you have had your will: as good begin -At first as last, it saves us from much sin; -Lying alone, we muse on things and things, -And in our minds one thought another brings: -This maid's life, mother, is an idle life, -Therefore I'll be, ay, I will be a wife; -And, mother, do not mistrust[334] my age or power, -I am sufficient, I lack ne'er an hour; -I had both wit to grant, when he did woo me, -And strength to bear whate'er he can do to me. - -MRS BAR. Well, bold-face, but I mean to make ye stay. -Go to, come from him, or I'll make ye come: -Will ye not come? - -PHIL. Mother, I pray, forbear; -This match is for my sister. - -MRS BAR. Villain, 'tis not; -Nor she shall not be so match'd now.[335] - -PHIL. In troth, she shall, and your unruly hate -Shall not rule us; we'll end all this debate -By this begun device. - -MRS BAR. Ay, end what you begun! Villains, thieves, -Give me my daughter! will ye rob me of her?-- -Help, help! they'll rob me here, they'll rob me here! - - _Enter_ MASTER BARNES _and his men_. - -MR BAR. How now? what outcry's here? why, how now, woman? - -MRS BAR. Why, Goursey's son, confederate[336] with this boy, -This wretch unnatural and undutiful, -Seeks hence to steal my daughter: will you suffer it? -Shall he, that's son to my arch-enemy, -Enjoy her? Have I brought her up to this? -O God, he shall not have her, no, he shall not! - -MR BAR. I am sorry she knows it. [_Aside_.]--Hark ye, wife, -Let reason moderate your rage a little. -If you examine but his birth and living, -His wit and good behaviour, you will say, -Though that ill-hate make your opinion bad, -He doth deserve as good a wife as she. - -MRS BAR. Why, will you give consent he shall enjoy her? - -MR BAR. Ay, so that thy mind would agree with mine? - -MRS BAR. My mind shall ne'er agree to this agreement. - - _Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.[337] - -MR BAR. And yet it shall go forward:--but who's here? -What, Mistress Goursey! how knew she of this? - -PHIL. Frank, thy mother! - -FRAN. 'Sowns, where? a plague upon it! -I think the devil is set to cross this match. - -MRS GOUR. This is the house, Dick Coomes, and yonder's [th'] light: -Let us go near. How now? methinks I see -My son stand hand in hand with Barnes his daughter. -Why, how now, sirrah? is this time of night -For you to be abroad? what have we here? -I hope that love hath not thus coupled you. - -FRAN. Love, by my troth, mother, love: she loves me, -And I love her; then we must needs agree. - -MRS BAR. Ay, but I'll keep her sure enough from thee. - -MRS GOUR. It shall not need, I'll keep him safe enough; -Be sure he shall not graft in such a stock. - -MRS BAR. What stock, forsooth? as good a stock as thine: -I do not mean that he shall graft in mine. - -MRS GOUR. Nor shall he, mistress. Hark, boy; th'art but mad -To love the branch that hath a root so bad. - -FRAN. Then, mother, I will graft a pippin on a crab. - -MRS GOUR. It will not prove well. - -FRAN. But I will prove my skill. - -MRS BAR. Sir, but you shall not. - -FRAN. Mothers both, I will. - -MR BAR. Hark, Philip: send away thy sister straight; -Let Francis meet her where thou shalt appoint; -Let them go several to shun suspicion, -And bid them go to Oxford both this night; -There to-morrow say that we will meet them, -And there determine of their marriage. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. I will: though it be very late and dark. -My sister will endure it for a husband. [_Aside_.] - -MR BAR. Well, then, at Carfax,[338] boy, I mean to meet them. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Enough. _Exit_ [MASTER BARNES.] -Would they would begin to chide! -For I would have them brawling, that meanwhile -They may steal hence, to meet where I appoint it. [_Aside_.] -What, mother, will you let this match go forward? -Or, Mistress Goursey, will you first agree? - -MRS GOUR. Shall I agree first? - -PHIL. Ay, why not? come, come. - -MRS GOUR. Come from her, son, and if thou lov'st thy mother. - -MRS BAR. With the like spell, daughter, I conjure thee. - -MRS GOUR. Francis, by fair means let me win thee from her, -And I will gild my blessing, gentle son, -With store of angels. I would not have thee -Check thy good fortune by this cos'ning choice: -O, do not thrall thy happy liberty -In such a bondage! if thou'lt needs be bound, -Be then to better worth; this worthless choice -Is not fit for thee. - -MRS BAR. Is't not fit for him? wherefore is't not fit? -Is he too brave[339] a gentleman, I pray? -No, 'tis not fit; she shall not fit his turn: -If she were wise, she would be fitter for -Three times his better. Minion, go in, or I'll make ye; -I'll keep ye safe from him, I warrant ye. - -MRS GOUR. Come, Francis, come from her. - -FRAN. Mothers, with both hands shove I hate from love, -That like an ill-companion would infect -The infant mind of our affection: -Within this cradle shall this minute's babe -Be laid to rest; and thus I'll hug my joy. - -MRS GOUR. Wilt thou be obstinate, thou self-will'd boy? -Nay, then, perforce I'll part ye, since ye will not. - -COOMES. Do ye hear, mistress? pray ye give me leave to talk two or three -cold words with my young master.--Hark ye, sir, ye are my master's son, -and so forth; and indeed I bear ye some good-will, partly for his sake, -and partly for your own; and I do hope you do the like to me,--I should -be sorry else. I must needs say ye are a young man; and for mine own -part, I have seen the world, and I know what belongs to causes, and the -experience that I have, I thank God I have travelled for it. - -FRAN. Why, how far have ye travell'd for it? - -BOY. From my master's house to the ale-house. - -COOMES. How, sir? - -BOY. So, sir. - -COOMES. Go to. I pray, correct your boy; 'twas ne'er a good world, since -a boy would face a man so. - -FRAN. Go to. Forward, man. - -COOMES. Well, sir, so it is, I would not wish ye to marry without my -mistress' consent. - -FRAN. And why? - -COOMES. Nay, there's ne'er a why but there is a wherefore; I have -known some have done the like, and they have danc'd a galliard at -beggars'-bush[340] for it. - -BOY. At beggars'-bush! Hear him no more, master; he doth bedaub ye with -his dirty speech. Do ye hear, sir? how far stands beggars'-bush from -your father's house, sir? Why, thou whoreson refuge[341] of a tailor, -that wert 'prentice to a tailor half an age, and because, if thou hadst -served ten ages thou wouldst prove but a botcher, thou leapst from the -shop-board to a blue coat, doth it become thee to use thy terms so? -well, thou degree above a hackney, and ten degrees under a page, sew up -your lubber lips, or 'tis not your sword and buckler shall keep my -poniard from your breast. - -COOMES. Do ye hear, sir? this is your boy. - -FRAN. How then? - -COOMES. You must breech him for it. - -FRAN. Must I? how, if I will not? - -COOMES. Why, then, 'tis a fine world, when boys keep boys, and know not -how to use them. - -FRAN. Boy, ye rascal! - -MRS GOUR. Strike him, and thou darest. - -COOMES. Strike me? alas, he were better strike his father! Sowns, go to, -put up your bodkin.[342] - -FRAN. Mother, stand by; I'll teach that rascal-- - -COOMES. Go to, give me good words, or, by God's dines,[343] I'll buckle -ye for all your bird-spit. - -FRAN. Will you so, sir? - -PHIL. Stay, Frank, this pitch of frenzy will defile thee; -Meddle not with it: thy unreproved valour -Should be high-minded; couch it not so low. -Dost hear me? take occasion to slip hence, -But secretly, let not thy mother see thee: -At the back-side there is a coney-green;[344] -Stay there for me, and Mall and I will come to thee. [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Enough, I will [_Aside_.] Mother, you do me wrong -To be so peremptory in your command, -And see that rascal to abuse me so. - -COOMES. Rascal! take that and take all! Do ye hear, sir? I do not mean -to pocket up this wrong. - -Boy. I know why that is. - -COOMES. Why? - -Boy. Because you have ne'er a pocket. - -COM. A whip, sirrah, a whip! But, sir, provide your tools against -to-morrow morning; 'tis somewhat dark now, indeed: you know Dawson's -close, between the hedge and the pond; 'tis good even ground; I'll meet -you there; and I do not, call me cut;[345] and you be a man, show -yourself a man; we'll have a bout or two; and so we'll part for that -present. - -FRAN. Well, sir, well. - -NICH. Boy, have they appointed to fight? - -BOY. Ay, Nicholas; wilt not thou go see the fray? - -NICH. No, indeed; even as they brew, so let them bake. I will not thrust -my hand into the flame, and [I] need not; 'tis not good to have an oar -in another man's boat; little said is soon amended, and in little -meddling cometh great rest; 'tis good sleeping in a whole skin; so a man -might come home by Weeping-Cross:[346] no, by lady, a friend is not so -soon gotten as lost; blessed are the peace-makers; they that strike with -the sword, shall be beaten with the scabbard. - -PHIL. Well-said, Proverbs: ne'er another to that purpose? - -NICH. Yes, I could have said to you, sir, Take heed is a good reed.[347] - -PHIL. Why to me, take heed? - -NICH. For happy is he whom other men's harms do make to beware. - -PHIL. O, beware, Frank! Slip away, Mall, you know what I told ye. I'll -hold our mothers both in talk meanwhile. [_Aside_.] -Mother and Mistress Barnes, methinks you should not stand in hatred so -hard one with another. - -MRS BAR. Should I not, sir? should I not hate a harlot, -That robs me of my right, vild[348] boy? - -MRS GOUR. That title I return unto thy teeth, - [_Exeunt_ FRANCIS _and_ MALL. -And spit the name of harlot in thy face. - -MRS BAR. Well, 'tis not time of night to hold out chat -With such a scold as thou art; therefore now -Think that I hate thee, as I do the devil. - -MRS GOUR. The devil take thee, if thou dost not, wretch! - -MRS BAR. Out upon thee, strumpet! - -MRS GOUR. Out upon thee, harlot! - -MRS BAR. Well, I will find a time to be reveng'd: -Meantime I'll keep my daughter from thy son.-- -Where are ye, minion? how now, are ye gone? - -PHIL. She went in, mother. - -MRS GOUR. Francis, where are ye? - -MRS BAR. He is not here. O, then, they slipp'd away, -And both together! - -PHIL. I'll assure ye, no: -My sister she went in--into the house. - -MRS BAR. But then she'll out again at the back door, -And meet with him: but I will search about -All these same fields and paths near to my house: -They are not far, I am sure, if I make haste. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. O God, how went he hence, I did not see him? -It was when Barnes's wife did scold with me; -A plague on[349] her!--Dick, why didst not thou look to him? - -COOMES. What should I look for him? no, no. -I look not for him while[350] to-morrow morning. - -MRS GOUR. Come, go with me to help me look him out. -Alas! I have nor light, nor link, nor torch! -Though it be dark, I will take any pains -To cross this match. I prithee, Dick, away. - -COOMES. Mistress, because I brought ye out, I'll bring ye home; but, -if I should follow, so he might have the law on his side. - -MRS GOUR. Come, 'tis no matter; prythee, go with me. - - _Exeunt_ [MRS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.] - -MR BAR. Philip, thy mother's gone to seek thy sister, -And in a rage, i'faith: but who comes here? - -PHIL. Old Master Goursey, as I think, 'tis he. - -MR BAR. 'Tis so, indeed. - - [_Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY.] - -MR GOUR. Who's there? - -MR BAR. A friend of yours. - -MR GOUR. What, Master Barnes! did ye not see my wife? - -MR BAR. Yes, sir, I saw her; she was here even now. - -MR GOUR. I doubted that; that made me come unto you: -But whither is she gone? - -PHIL. To seek your son, who slipp'd away from her -To meet with Mall my sister in a place, -Where I appointed; and my mother too -Seeks for my sister; so they both are gone: -My mother hath a torch; marry, your wife -Goes darkling up and down, and Coomes before her. - -MR GOUR. I thought that knave was with her; but 'tis well: -I pray God, they may come by ne'er a light, -But both be led a dark dance in the night! - -HOD. Why, is my fellow, Dick, in the dark with my mistress? I pray God, -they be honest, for there may be much knavery in the dark: faith, if I -were there, I would have some knavery with them. [_Aside_] -Good master, will ye carry the torch yourself, and give me leave to play -at blind-man-buff with my mistress. - -PHIL. On that condition thou wilt do thy best -To keep thy mistress and thy fellow, Dick, -Both from my sister and thy master's son, -I will entreat thy master let thee go. - -HOD. O, ay, I warrant ye, I'll have fine tricks to cosen them. - -MR GOUR. Well, sir, then, go your ways; I give you leave. - -HOD. O brave! but whereabout are they? - -PHIL. About our coney-green they surely are, -If thou canst find them. - -HOD. O, let me alone to grope for cunnies. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Well, now will I to Frank and to my sister. -Stand you two heark'ning near the coney-green; -But sure your light in you must not be seen; -Or else let Nicholas stand afar off with it, -And as his life keep it from Mistress Goursey. -Shall this be done? - -MR BAR. Philip, it shall. - -PHIL. God be with ye! I'll be gone. - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Come on, Master Goursey: this same is a means -To make our wives friends, if they resist not. - -MR GOUR. Tut, sir, howsoever, it shall go forward. - -MR BAR. Come, then, let's do as Philip hath advis'd. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MALL. - -MAL. Here is the place where Philip bad me stay, -Till Francis came; but wherefore did my brother -Appoint it here? why in the coney-burrow? -He had some meaning in't, I warrant ye. -Well, here I'll set me down under this tree, -And think upon the matter all alone. -Good Lord, what pretty things these conies are! -How finely they do feed till they be fat, -And then what a sweet meat a coney is! -And what smooth skins they have, both black and gray! -They say they run more in the night than day: -What is the reason? mark; why in the light -They see more passengers than in the night; -For harmful men many a hay[351] do set, -And laugh to see them tumble in the net; -And they put ferrets in the holes--fie, fie!-- -And they go up and down where conies lie; -And they lie still, they have so little wit: -I marvel the warrener will suffer it; -Nay, nay, they are so bad, that they themselves -Do give consent to catch these pretty elves. -How if the warrener should spy me here? -He would take me for a coney, I dare swear. -But when that Francis comes, what will he say? -"Look, boy, there lies a coney in my way!" -But, soft, a light! who's that? soul, my mother! -Nay, then, all-hid[352]: i'faith, she shall not see me; -I'll play bo-peep with her behind this tree. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES.] - -MRS BAR. I marvel where this wench doth[353] hide herself -So closely; I have search'd in many a bush. - -MAL. Belike my mother took me for a thrush. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. She's hid in this same warren, I'll lay money. - -MAL. Close as a rabbit-sucker[354] from an old coney. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. O God, I would to God that I could find her! -I would keep her from her love's toys yet. - -MAL. Ay, so you might, if your daughter had no wit. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. What a vild[355] girl 'tis, that would hav't so young! - -MAL. A murrain take that dissembling tongue! -Ere your calf's teeth were out, you thought it long. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. But, minion, yet I'll keep you from the man. - -MAL. To save a lie, mother, say, if you can. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Well, now to look for her. - -MAL. Ay, there's the spite: -What trick shall I now have to 'scape her light? [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Who's there? what, minion, is it you?-- -Beshrew her heart, what a fright she put me to! -But I am glad I found her, though I was afraid. [_Aside_.] -Come on your ways; you are[356] a handsome maid! -Why [steal] you forth a-doors so late at night? -Why, whither go ye? come, stand still, I say. - -MAL. No, indeed, mother; this is my best way. - -MRS BAR. 'Tis not the best way; stand by me, I tell ye. - -MAL. No; you would catch me, mother. O, I smell ye! - -MRS BAR. Will ye not stand still? - -MAL. No, by lady, no. - -MRS BAR. But I will make ye. - -MAL. Nay, then, trip-and-go. - -MRS BAR. Mistress, I'll make ye weary, ere I have done. - -MAL. Faith, mother, then, I'll try, how you can run. - -MRS BAR. Will ye? - -MAL. Yes, faith. [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ [FRANK _and_ BOY.] - -FRAN. Mall, sweet-heart, Mall! what, not a word? - -BOY. A little farther, master; call again. - -FRAN. Why, Mall! I prythee, speak; why, Mall, I say! -I know thou art not far, if thou wilt[357] speak; -Why, Mall!-- -But now I see she's in her merry vein, -To make me call, and put me to more pain. -Well, I must bear with her; she'll bear with me: -But I will call, lest that it be not so.-- -What, Mall! what, Mall, I say! Boy, are we right? -Have we not miss'd the way this same dark night? - -BOY. Mass, it may be so: as I am true[358] man, -I have not seen a coney since I came; -Yet at the coney-burrow we should meet. -But, hark! I hear the trampling of some feet. - -FRAN. It may be so, then; therefore, let's lie close. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.] - -MRS GOUR. Where art thou, Dick? - -COOMES. Where am I, quoth-a! marry, I may be where anybody will say I -am; either in France or at Rome, or at Jerusalem, they may say I am, -for I am not able to disprove them, because I cannot tell where I am. - -MRS GOUR. O, what a blindfold walk have we had, Dick, -To seek my son! and yet I cannot find him. - -COOMES. Why, then, mistress, let's go home. - -MRS GOUR. Why, 'tis so dark we shall not find the way. - -FRAN. I pray God, ye may not, mother, till it be day! [_Aside_. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, take heed, mistress, here's a tree. - -MRS GOUR. Lead thou the way, and let me hold by thee. - -BOY. Dick Coomes, what difference is there between a blind man and he -that cannot see? - -FRAN. Peace, a pox on thee! - -COOMES. Swounds, somebody spake. - -MRS GOUR. Dick, look about; -It may be here we may find them out. - -COOMES. I see the glimpse[359] of somebody here.-- -And ye be a sprite, I'll fray the bugbear.-- -There a-goes, mistress. - -MRS GOUR. O, sir, have I spied you? - -FRAN. A plague on the boy! 'was he that descried[360] me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - [_Enter_ PHILIP.] - -PHIL. How like a beautous lady mask'd in black -Looks that same large circumference of heaven! -The sky, that was so fair three hours ago, -Is in three hours become an Ethiop; -And being angry at her beauteous change, -She will not have one of those pearled stars -To blab her sable metamorphosis:[361] -'Tis very dark. I did appoint my sister -To meet me at the coney-borough below, -And Francis too; but neither can I see. -Belike my mother happ'ned on that place, -And fray'd them from it, and they both are now -Wand'ring about the[362] fields: how shall I find them? -It is so dark, I scarce can see my hand: -Why, then, I'll hollow for them--no, not so; -So will his voice betray him to our mothers, -And if he answer, and bring them where he is. -What shall I then do? it must not be so-- -'Sblood,[363] it must be so; how else, I pray? -Shall I stand gaping here all night till day, -And then be ne'er the near?[364] So ho, so ho! - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. So ho! I come: where are ye? where art thou? here! - -PHIL. How now, Frank, where hast thou[365] been? - -WILL. Frank! what Frank? 'sblood, is Sir Ralph mad? [_Aside_.] -Here's the bow. - -PHIL. I have not been much private with that voice: -Methinks Frank Goursey's talk and his doth tell me -I am mistaken; especially by his bow; -Frank had no bow. Well, I will leave this fellow, -And hollow somewhat farther in the fields. [_Aside_.] ---Dost thou hear, fellow? I perceive by thee -That we are both mistaken: I took thee -For one thou art not; likewise thou took'st me -For Sir Ralph Smith, but sure I am not he: -And so, farewell; I must go seek my friend. -So ho! - [_Exit_. - -WILL. So ho, so ho! nay, then, Sir Ralph, so whore! -For a whore she was sure, if you had her here -So late. Now, you are Sir Ralph Smith![366] -Well do ye counterfeit and change your voice, -But yet I know ye. But what should be that Francis? -Belike that Francis cosen'd him of his wench, -And he conceals himself to find her out; -'Tis so, upon my life. Well, I will go, -And help him ring his peal of so ho, so ho! [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ FRANK. - -FRAN. A plague on Coomes! a plague upon the boy! -A plague, too--not on my mother for an hundreth pound! -'Twas time to run; and yet I had not thought -My mother could have followed me so close, -Her legs with age I thought had foundered; -She made me quite run through a quickset hedge, -Or she had taken me. Well, I may say, -I have run through the briars for a wench; -And yet I have her not--the worse luck mine. -Methought I heard one hollow hereabout; -I judge it Philip; O, the slave will laugh, -When as he hears how that my mother scar'd me! -Well, here I'll stand until I hear him hollow, -And then I'll answer him; he is not far. - - [_Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH.] - -SIR RALPH. My man is hollowing for me up and down, -And yet I cannot meet with him. So ho! - -FRAN. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. Why, what a pox, wert thou so near me, man, -And wouldst not speak? - -FRAN. 'Sblood, ye're very hot. - -SIR RALPH. No, sir, I am cold enough with staying here -For such a knave as you. - -FRAN. Knave! how now, Philip? -Art mad, art mad? - -SIR RALPH. Why, art not thou my man, -That went to fetch my bow?[367] - -FRAN. Indeed, a bow -Might shoot me ten bows down the weather so: -I your man! - -SIR RALPH. What art thou, then? - -FRAN. A man: but what's thy name? - -SIR RALPH. Some call me Ralph. - -FRAN. Then, honest Ralph, farewell. - -SIR RALPH. Well-said, familiar Will! plain Ralph, i'faith. - - [_Hollow within_ PHILIP _and_ WILL.][368] - -FRAN. There calls my man. - -SIR RALPH. But there goes mine away; -And yet I'll hear what this next call will say, -And here I'll tarry, till he call again. - [_Retires_.][369] - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. So ho! - -FRAN. So ho! where art thou, Philip? - -WILL. 'Sblood,[370] Philip! -But now he call'd me Francis: this is fine. [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Why studiest thou? I prythee, tell me, Philip, -Where the wench[371] is. - -WILL. Even now he ask'd me (Francis) for the wench, -And now he asks[372] me (Philip) for the wench. [_Aside_.] -Well, Sir Ralph, I must needs tell ye now, -'Tis[373] not for your[374] credit to be forth -So late a-wenching in this order.[375] - -FRAN. What's this? so late a-wenching, doth he say? [_Aside_] ---Indeed, 'tis true I am thus late a-wenching, -But I am forc'd to wench without a wench. - -WILL. Why, then, you might have ta'n your bow at first, -And gone and kill'd a buck, and not have been -So long a-drabbing, and be ne'er the near.[376] - -FRAN. Swounds, what a puzzle am I in this night! -But yet I'll put this fellow farther [question. _Aside_] ---Dost thou hear, man? I am not Sir Ralph Smith, -As thou dost think I am; but I did meet him, -Even as thou sayest, in pursuit of a wench. -I met the wench too, and she ask'd for thee, -Saying 'twas thou that wert her love, her dear, -And that Sir Ralph was not an honest knight -To train her thither, and to use her so. - -WILL. 'Sblood, my wench! swounds, were he ten Sir Ralphs-- - -FRAN. Nay, 'tis true, look to it; and so, farewell. - [_Exit_. - -WILL. Indeed, I do love Nan our dairymaid: -And hath he traine[d] her forth to that intent, -Or for another? I carry his crossbow, -And he doth cross me, shooting in my bow. -What shall I do? - [_Exit_.][377] - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. So ho! - -PHIL. Francis, art thou there? - -SIR RALPH. No, here's no Francis. Art thou Will, my man? - -PHIL. Will Fool your man, Will goose[378] your man! -My back, sir, scorns to wear your livery. - -SIR RALPH. Nay, sir, I mov'd but such a question to you, -And it hath not disparag'd you, I hope; -'Twas but mistaking; such a night as this -May well deceive a man. God be w'ye,[379] sir. - [_Exit_.] - -PHIL. God's will, 'tis Sir Ralph Smith, a virtuous knight! -How gently entertains he my hard answer! -Rude anger made my tongue unmannerly: -I cry him mercy. Well, but all this while -I cannot find a Francis.--Francis, ho! - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. Francis, ho! O, you call Francis now! -How have ye us'd my Nan? come, tell me, how. - -PHIL. Thy Nan! what Nan? - -WILL. Ay, what Nan, now! say, do you not seek a wench? - -PHIL. Yes, I do. - -WILL. Then, sir, that is she. - -PHIL. Art not thou [he] I met withal before? - -WILL. Yes, sir; and you did counterfeit before, -And said to me you were not Sir Ralph Smith. - -PHIL. No more I am not. I met Sir Ralph Smith; -Even now he ask'd me, if I saw his man. - -WILL. O, fine! - -PHIL. Why, sirrah, thou art much deceived in me: -Good faith, I am not he thou think'st I am. - -WILL. What are ye, then? - -PHIL. Why, one that seeks one Francis and a wench. - -WILL. And Francis seeks one Philip and a wench. - -PHIL. How canst thou tell? - -WILL. I met him seeking Philip and a wench. -As I was seeking Sir Ralph and a wench. - -PHIL. Why, then, I know the matter: we met cross, -And so we miss'd; now here we find our loss. -Well, if thou wilt, we two will keep together, -And so we shall meet right with one or other. - -WILL. I am content: but, do you hear me, sir? -Did not Sir Ralph Smith ask ye for a wench? - -PHIL. No, I promise thee, nor did he look -For any but thyself, as I could guess. - -WILL. Why, this is strange: but come, sir, let's away: -I fear that we shall walk here, till't be day. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ BOY. - -[BOY.] O God, I have run so far into the wind, that I have run myself -out of wind! They say a man is near his end, when he lacks breath; and -I am at the end of my race, for I can run no farther; then here I be in -my breath-bed, not in my death-bed.[380] - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. They say men moil and toil for a poor living; so I moil and -toil, and am living, I thank God; in good time be it spoken. It had -been better for me my mistress's angel had been light, for then perhaps -it had not led me into this darkness. Well, the devil never blesses a -man better, when he purses up angels by owl-light. I ran through a hedge -to take the boy, but I stuck in the ditch, and lost the boy. [_Falls_.] -'Swounds, a plague on that clod, that molehill, that ditch, or what the -devil so e'er it were, for a man cannot see what it was! Well, I would -not, for the price of my sword and buckler, anybody should see me in -this taking, for it would make me but cut off their legs for laughing at -me. Well, down I am, and down I mean to be, because I am weary; but to -tumble down thus, it was no part of my meaning: then, since I am down, -here I'll rest me, and no man shall remove me. - - _Enter_ HODGE. - -HOD. O, I have sport in coney, i'faith! I have almost burst myself with -laughing at Mistress Barnes. She was following of her daughter; and I, -hearing her, put on my fellow Dick's sword-and-buckler voice and his -_swounds_ and _sblood_ words, and led her such a dance in the dark as it -passes.[381] "Here she is," quoth I. "Where?" quoth she. "Here," quoth I. -O, it hath been a brave here-and-there night! but, O, what a soft-natured -thing the dirt is! how it would endure my hard treading, and kiss my feet -for acquaintance! and how courteous and mannerly were the clods[382] to -make me stumble only of purpose to entreat me lie down and rest me! But -now, and I could find my fellow Dick, I would play the knave with him -honestly, i'faith. Well, I will grope in the dark for him, or I'll poke -with my staff, like a blind man, to prevent a ditch. - [_He stumbles[383] on_ DICK COOMES. - -COOMES. Who's that, with a pox? - -HOD. Who art thou, with a pestilence? - -COOMES. Why, I am Dick Coomes. - -HOD. What, have I found thee. Dick? nay, then, I am for ye, Dick, - [_Aside_.] ---Where are ye, Dick? - -COOMES. What can I tell, where I am? - -HOD. Can ye not tell? come, come, ye wait on your mistress well! come -on your ways; I have sought you, till I am weary, and call'd ye, till -I am hoarse: good Lord, what a jaunt I have had this night, heigho! - -COOMES. Is't you, mistress, that came over me? 'Sblood, 'twere a good -deed to come over you for this night's work. I cannot afford all this -pains for an angel: I tell ye true; a kiss were not cast away upon a -good fellow, that hath deserved more that way than a kiss, if your -kindness would afford it him: what, shall I have't, mistress? - -HOD. Fie, fie, I must not kiss my man. - -COOMES. Nay, nay, ne'er stand; shall I, shall I? nobody sees: say but -I shall, and I'll smack it[384] soundly, i'faith. - -HOD. Away, bawdy man! in truth, I'll tell your master. - -COOMES. My master! go to, ne'er tell me of my master: he may pray for -them that may, he is past it: and for mine own part, I can do somewhat -that way, I thank God; I am not now to learn, and 'tis your part to have -your whole desire. - -HOD. Fie, fie, I am ashamed of you: would you tempt your mistress to -lewdness? - -COOMES. To lewdness! no, by my troth, there's no such matter in't, it is -for kindness; and, by my troth, if you like my gentle offer, you shall -have what courteously I can afford ye. - -HOD. Shall I indeed, Dick? I'faith, if I thought nobody would see-- - -COOMES. Tush, fear not that; swoons, they must have cats' eyes, then. - -HOD. Then, kiss me, Dick. - -COOMES. A kind wench, i'faith! [_Aside_.]--Where are ye, mistress? - -HOD. Here, Dick. O, I am in the dark! Dick, go about.[385] - -COOMES. Nay, I'll throw[386] sure: where are ye? - -HOD. Here. - -COOMES. A plague on this post! I would the carpenter had been hang'd, -that set it up, for me.[387] Where are ye now? - -HOD. Here. - -COOMES. Here! O, I come. [_Exit_.] A plague on it, I am in a pond, -mistress! - -HOD. Ha, ha! I have led him into a pond.--Where art thou, Dick? - -COOMES. [_Within_.] Up to the middle in a pond! - -HOD. Make a boat of thy buckler, then, and swim out. Are ye so hot, with -a pox? would you kiss my mistress? cool ye there, then, good Dick Coomes. -O, when he comes forth, the skirts of his blue coat will drop like a -pent[388]-house! O, that I could see, and not be seen; how he would -spaniel it, and shake himself, when he comes out of the pond! But I'll -be gone; for now he'll fight with a fly, if he but buzz[389] in his ear. - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. Here's so-ho-ing with a plague! so hang, and ye will; for I have -been almost drown'd. A pox of your stones,[390] and ye call this kissing! -Ye talk of a drowned rat, but 'twas time to swim like a dog; I had been -serv'd like a drown'd cat else. I would he had digg'd his grave that -digg'd the pond! my feet were foul indeed, but a less pail than a pond -would have served my turn to wash them. A man shall be serv'd thus -always, when he follows any of these females: but 'tis my kind heart -that makes me thus forward in kindness unto them: well, God amend them, -and make them thankful to them that would do them pleasure. I am not -drunk, I would ye should well know it; and yet I have drunk more than -will do me good, for I might have had a pump set up with as[391] good -March beer as this was, and ne'er set up an ale-bush for the matter. -Well, I am somewhat in wrath, I must needs say; and yet I am not more -angry than wise, nor more wise than angry; but I'll fight with the next -man I meet, and it be but for luck's sake; and if he love to see himself -hurt, let him bring light with him; I'll do it by darkling else, by -God's dines. Well, here will I walk, whosoever says nay. - - _Enter_ NICHOLAS. - -NICH. He that worse may, must hold the candle; but my master is not so -wise, as God might have made him. He is gone to seek a hare in a hen's -nest, a needle in a bottle of hay, which is as seldom seen as a black -swan: he is gone to seek my young mistress; and I think she is better -lost than found, for whosoever hath her, hath but a wet eel by the tail. -But they may do, as they list; the law is in their own hands; but, and -they would be rul'd by me, they should set her on the lee-land, and bid -the devil split her; beshrew her fingers, she hath made me watch past -mine hour; but I'll watch her a good turn for it. - -COOMES. How, who's that? Nicholas!--So, first come, first serv'd; -I am for him [_Aside_]. ---How now, Proverb, Proverb? 'sblood, how now, Proverb? - -NICH. My name is Nicholas, Richard; and I know your meaning, and I hope -ye mean no harm. I thank ye: I am the better for your asking. - -COOMES. Where have ye been a-whoring thus late, ha? - -NICH. Master Richard, the good wife would not seek her daughter in -the oven, unless she had been there herself: but, good Lord, you -are knuckle-deep in dirt!--I warrant, when he was in, he swore -Walsingham[392], and chaf'd terrible for the time. [_Aside_.] ---Look, the water drops from you as fast as hops. - -COOMES. What need'st thou to care, whip-her-Jenny[393], -tripe-cheeks?[394], out, you fat ass! - -NICH. Good words cost nought: ill words corrupt good manners, Richard; -for a hasty man never wants woe. And I had thought you had been my -friend; but I see all is not gold that glitters; there's falsehood in -fellowship; _amicus certus in re certa cernitur_; time and truth tries -all; and 'tis an old proverb, and not so old as true, bought wit is the -best; I can see day at a little hole; I know your mind as well as though -I were within you; 'tis ill halting before a cripple: go to, you seek to -quarrel; but beware of had I wist[395]; so long goes the pot to the -water, at length it comes home broken; I know you are as good a man as -ever drew sword, or as was e'er girt in a girdle, or as e'er went on -neat's leather, or as one shall see upon a summer's day, or as e'er -look'd man in the face, or as e'er trod on God's earth, or as e'er broke -bread or drunk drink; but he is proper that hath proper conditions[396]; -but be not you like the cow, that gives a good sop of milk, and casts it -down with her[397] heels; I speak plainly, for plain-dealing is a jewel, -and he that useth it shall die a beggar; well, that happens in an hour, -that happens not in seven years; a man is not so soon whole as hurt; and -you should kill a man, you would kiss his--well, I say little, but I -think the more. Yet I'll give him good words; 'tis good to hold a candle -before the devil; yet, by God's dine[398], I'll take no wrong, if he had -a head as big as Brass[399], or look'd as high as Paul's steeple. - [_Aside_.] - -COOMES. Sirrah, thou grasshopper, that shalt skip from my sword as from a -scythe; I'll cut thee out in collops and eggs, in steaks, in slic'd beef, -and fry thee with the fire I shall strike from the pike of thy buckler. - -NICH. Ay, Brag's a good dog; threat'ned folks live long. - -COOMES. What say ye, sir? - -NICH. Why, I say not so much as, How do ye? - -COOMES. Do ye not so, sir? - -NICH. No, indeed, whatsoe'er I think; and thought is free. - -COOMES. You whoreson wafer-cake, by God's dines, I'll crush ye for this! - -NICH. Give an inch, and you'll take an ell; I will not put my finger in -a hole, I warrant ye: what, man! ne'er crow so fast, for a blind man may -kill a hare; I have known when a plain fellow hath hurt a fencer, so I -have: what! a man may be as slow as a snail, but as fierce as a lion, -and he be moved; indeed, I am patient, I must needs say, for patience in -adversity brings a man to the Three Cranes in the Vintry. - -COOMES. Do ye hear? set down your torch; draw, fight, I am for ye. - -NICH. And I am for ye too, though it be from this midnight to the next -morn. - -COOMES. Where be your tools? - -NlCH. Within a mile of an oak, sir; he's a proud horse will not carry -his own provender, I warrant ye. - -COOMES. Now am I in my quarrelling humour, and now can I say nothing but, -zounds, draw! but I'll untruss, and then have to it. [_Aside_.] - - _Enter [severally]_ HODGE _and_ BOY. - -HOD. Who's there? boy! honest boy, well-met: where hast thou been? - -BOY. O Hodge, Dick Coomes hath been as good as a cry of hounds, to make -a breath'd[400] hare of me! but didst thou see my master? - -HOD. I met him even now, and he ask'd me for thee, and he is gone up -and down, whooing like[401] an owl for thee. - -BOY. Owl, ye ass! - -HOD. Ass! no, nor glass, for then it had been Owlglass[402]: -but who's that, boy? - -BOY. By the mass, 'tis our Coomes and Nicholas; and it seems they are -providing to fight. - -HOD. Then we shall have fine sport, i'faith. Sirrah, let's stand close, -and when they have fought a bout or two, we'll run away with the torch, -and leave them to fight darkling, shall we? - -BOY. Content; I'll get the torch: stand close. - -COOMES. So now my back hath room to reach: I do not love to be lac'd in, -when I go to lace a rascal. I pray God, Nicholas prove not a fly:[403] -it would do me good to deal with a good man now, that we might have -half-a-dozen good smart strokes. Ha, I have seen the day I could have -danc'd in my fight, one, two, three, four, and five, on the head of him; -six, seven, eight, nine, and ten on the sides of him; and, if I went so -far as fifteen, I warrant I shewed[404] him a trick of one-and-twenty; -but I have not fought this four days, and I lack a little practice of -my ward; but I shall make a shift: ha, close [_Aside_]. ---Are ye disposed, sir? - -NICH. Yes, indeed, I fear no colours: change sides, Richard. - -COOMES. Change the gallows! I'll see thee hang'd first. - -NICH. Well, I see the fool will not leave his bable[405] for the Tower -of London. - -COOMES. Fool, ye rogue! nay, then, fall to it. - -NICH. Good goose, bite not. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, how pursy I am! Well, I see exercise is all: I must -practice my weapons oft'ner; I must have a goal or two at foot-ball, -before I come to my right kind [_Aside_]. -Give me thy hand, Nicholas: thou art a better man than I took thee for, -and yet thou art not so good a man as I. - -NICH. You dwell by ill-neighbours, Richard; that makes ye praise -yourself. - -COOMES. Why, I hope thou wilt say I am a man? - -NICH. Yes, I'll say so, if I should see ye hang'd. - -COOMES. Hang'd, ye rogue! nay, then, have at ye. - - [_While they fight, exeunt_ HODGE _and_ BOY _with the torch_.] - -Zounds, the light is gone! - -NICH. O Lord, it is as dark as pitch! - -COOMES. Well, here I'll lie, with my buckler thus, lest striking up and -down at randall[406] the rogue might hurt me, for I cannot see to save -it, and I'll hold my peace, lest my voice should bring him where I am. - [_Stand aside_.] - -NICH. 'Tis good to have a cloak for the rain; a bad shift is better than -none at all; I'll sit here, as if I were as dead as a door-nail. - [_Stand aside_.][407] - - _Enter_ MR BARNES _and_ MR GOURSEY. - -MR GOUR. Hark! there's one hallooes. - -MR BARNES. And there's another. - -MR GOUR. And everywhere we come, I hear some halloo, -And yet it is our haps to meet with none. - -MR BAR. I marvel where your Hodge is and my man. - -MR GOUR. Ay, and our wives? we cannot meet with them, -Nor with the boy, nor Mall, nor Frank, nor Philip, -Nor yet with Coomes, and yet we ne'er stood still. -Well, I am very angry with my wife, -And she shall find I am not pleas'd with her, -If we meet ne'er so soon: but 'tis my hope[408] -She hath had as blind a journey on't as we; -Pray God, she have, and worse, if worse may be! - -MR BAR. This is but short-liv'd envy[409], Master Goursey: -But, come, what say ye to my policy? - -MR GOUR. I'faith, 'tis good, and we will practise it; -But, sir, it must be handled cunningly, -Or all is marr'd; our wives have subtle heads, -And they will soon perceive a drift device. - - _Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH. - -SIR RALPH. So ho! - -MR GOUR. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. Who there? - -MR BAR. Here's one or two. - -SIR RALPH. Is Will there? - -MR BAR. No. Philip? - -MR GOUR. Frank? - -SIR RALPH. No, no.-- -Was ever man deluded thus like me? -I think some spirit leads me thus amiss, -As I have often heard that some have been -Thus in the nights. -But yet this mazes me; where e'er I come, -Some asks me still for Frank or Philip, -And none of them can tell me where Will is. [_Aside_. - -WILL. So ho! | - -PHIL. So ho! | [_They hallo within_. - -HOD. So ho! | - -BOY. So ho! | - -SIR RALPH. Zounds, now I hear four halloo at the least! -One had a little voice; then, that's the wench -My man hath lost: well, I will answer all. [_Aside.] ---So ho! - - [_Enter_ HODGE.] - -HOD. Whoop, whoop! - -SIR RALPH. Who's there? Will? - -HOD. No, sir; honest Hodge: but, I pray ye, sir, did ye not meet with a -boy with a torch? he is run away from me, a plague on him! - -SIR RALPH. Heyday, from Frank and Philip to a torch, -And to a boy! nay, zounds, then, hap as 'twill. [_Aside_. - - [_Exeunt_ SIR RALPH _and_ HODGE _severally_. - -MR GOUR. Who goes there? - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. Guess here. - -MR BAR. Philip? - -WILL. Philip! no, faith; my name's Will--ill-Will, for I was never worse: -I was even now with him, and might have been still, but that I fell into -a ditch and lost him, and now I am going up and down to seek him. - -MR GOUR. What would'st thou do with him? - -WILL. Why, I would have him go with me to my master's. - -MR GOUR. Who's thy master? - -WILL. Why, Sir Ralph Smith; and thither he promis'd me he would come; -if he keep his word, so 'tis. - -MR BAR. What was a[410] doing, when thou first found'st him? - -WILL. Why, he halloo'd for one Francis, and Francis halloo'd for him; -I halloo'd for my master, and my master for me; but we miss'd still, -meeting contrary, Philip and Francis with me and my master, and I and -my master with Philip and Frank. - -MR GOUR. Why, wherefore is Sir Ralph so late abroad? - -WILL. Why, he meant to kill a buck; I'll say so to save his honesty, -but my Nan was his mark [_Aside_]. And he sent me for his bow, and when -I came, I halloo'd for him; but I never saw such luck to miss him; it -hath almost made me mad. - -MR BAR. Well, stay with us; perhaps Sir Ralph and he will come anon: -hark! I do hear one halloo. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. Is this broad waking in a winter's night? -I am broad walking in a winter's night-- -Broad indeed, because I am abroad-- -But these broad fields, methinks, are not so broad -That they may keep me forth of narrow ditches. -Here's a hard world! -For I can hardly keep myself upright in it: -I am marvellous dutiful--but, so ho! - -WILL. So ho! - -PHIL. Who's there? - -WILL. Here's Will. - -PHIL. What, Will! how 'scap'st thou? - -WILL. What, sir? - -PHIL. Nay, not hanging, but drowning: wert thou in a pond or a ditch? - -WILL. A pestilence on it! is't you, Philip? no, faith, I was but dirty -a little: but here's one or two ask'd for ye. - -PHIL. Who be they, man? - -MR BAR. Philip, 'tis I and Master Goursey. - -PHIL. Father, O father, I have heard them say -The days of ignorance are pass'd and done; -But I am sure the nights of ignorance -Are not yet pass'd, for this is one of them. -But where's my sister? - -MR BAR. Why, we cannot tell. - -PHIL. Where's Francis? - -MR GOUR. Neither saw we him. - -PHIL. Why, this is fine. -What, neither he nor I, nor she nor you, -Nor I nor she, nor you and I, till[411] now, -Can meet, could meet, or e'er, I think, shall meet! -Call ye this wooing? no, 'tis Christmas sport -Of Hob-man-blind[412], all blind, all seek to catch, -All miss--but who comes here? - - _Enter_ FRANK _and his_ BOY. - -FRAN. O, have I catch'd ye, sir? It was your doing -That made me have this pretty dance to-night; -Had not you spoken, my mother had not scar'd me: -But I will swinge ye for it. - -PHIL. Keep the king's peace! - -FRAN. How! art thou become a constable? -Why, Philip, where hast thou been all this while? - -PHIL. Why, where you were not: but, I pray [you], where's my sister? - -FRAN. Why, man, I saw her not; but I have sought her, -As I should seek-- - -PHIL. A needle, have ye not? -Why you, man, are the needle that she seeks -To work withal! Well, Francis, do you hear? -You must not answer so, that you have sought her; -But have ye found her? faith, and if you have, -God give ye joy of that ye found with her! - -FRAN[413]. I saw her not: how could I find her? - -MR GOUR. Why, could ye miss from Master Barnes's house -Unto his coney-burrow? - -FRAN. Whether I could or no, father, I did. - -PHIL. Father, I did! Well, Frank, wilt thou believe me? -Thou dost not know how much this same doth grieve me: -Shall it be said thou miss'd so plain a way, -When as so fair a wench did for thee stay? - -FRAN. Zounds, man! - -PHIL. Zounds, man! and if thou hadst been blind, -The coney-burrow thou needest must find. -I tell, thee, Francis, had it been my case, -And I had been a wooer in thy place, -I would have laid my head unto the ground, -And scented out my wench's way, like a hound; -I would have crept upon my knees all night, -And have made the flintstones links to give me light; -Nay, man, I would. - -FRAN. Good Lord, what you would do! -Well, we shall see one day, how you can woo. - -MR GOUR. Come, come, we see that we have all been cross'd; -Therefore, let's go, and seek them we have lost. - [_Exeunt_ - - _Enter_ MALL. - -[MAL.] Am I alone? doth not my mother come? -Her torch I see not, which I well might see, -If any way she were coming toward me: -Why, then, belike she's gone some other way; -And may she go, till I bid her [to] turn! -Far shall her way be then, and little fair, -Foe she hath hindered me of my good turn; -God send her wet and weary, ere she turn! -I had been at Oxenford, and to-morrow -Have been releas'd from all my maiden's sorrow, -And tasted joy, had not my mother been; -God, I beseech thee, make it her worst sin! -How many maids this night lies in their beds, -And dream that they have lost their maidenheads! -Such dreams, such slumbers I had too enjoy'd, -If waking malice had not them destroy'd. -A starved man with double death doth die, -To have the meat might save him in his eye, -And may not have it: so am I tormented, -To starve for joy I see, yet am prevented. -Well, Frank, although thou wooedst and quickly won, -Yet shall my love to thee be never done; -I'll run through hedge and ditch, through brakes and briars, -To come to thee, sole lord of my desires: -Short wooing is the best, an hour, not years, -For long-debating love is full of fears. -But, hark! I hear one tread. O, were't my brother, -Or Frank, or any man, but not my mother! - - [_Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH.] - -SIR RALPH. O, when will this same year of night have end? -Long-look'd for day's sun, when wilt thou ascend? -Let not this thieve[414] friend, misty veil of night, -Encroach on day, and shadow thy fair light, -Whilst thou com'st tardy from thy Thetis' bed, -Blushing forth golden hair and glorious red; -O, stay not long, bright lanthorn of the day, -To light my miss'd-way feet to my right way! - -MAL. It is a man, his big voice tells me so, -Much am I not acquainted with it, tho'; -And yet mine ear, sound's true distinguisher, -Boys[415] that I have been more familiar -With it than now I am: well, I do judge, -It is no envious fellow, out[416] of grudge; -Therefore I'll plead acquaintance, hire his guiding, -And buy of him some place of close abiding, -Till that my mother's malice be expir'd, -And we may joy in that is long desired [_Aside_] ---Who's there? - -SIR RALPH. Are ye a maid? No question, this is she -My man doth miss: faith, since she lights on me, -I do not mean till day to let her go; -For whe'er[417] she is my man's love, I will know [_Aside_ -Hark ye, maid, if [a] maid, are ye so light, -That you can see to wander in the night? - -MAL. Hark ye, true man, if true, I tell ye, no; -I cannot see at all which way I go. - -SIR RALPH. Fair maid, is't so? say, had ye ne'er a fall? - -MAL. Fair man, not so; no, I had none at all. - -SIR RALPH. Could you not stumble on one man, I pray? - -MAL. No, no such block till now came in my way. - -SIR RALPH. Am I that block, sweet tripe; then, fall and try. - -MAL. The ground's too hard a feather-bed; not I. - -SIR RALPH. Why, how, and you had met with such a stump? - -MAL. Why, if he had been your height, I meant to jump. - -SIR RALPH. Are ye so nimble? - -MAL. Nimble as a doe. - -SIR RALPH. Bak'd in a pie. - -MAL. Of ye. - -SIR RALPH. Good meat, ye know. - -MAL. Ye hunt sometimes? - -SIR RALPH. I do. - -MAL. What take ye? - -SIR RALPH. Deer. - -MAL. You'll ne'er strike rascal[418]? - -SIR RALPH. Yes, when ye are there. - -MAL. Will ye strike me? - -SIR RALPH. Yes: will ye strike again? - -MAL. No, sir: it fits not maids to fight with men. - -SIR RALPH. I wonder, wench, how I thy name might know. - -MAL. Why, you may find it, sir, in th'Christcross row[419]. - -SIR RALPH. Be my schoolmistress, teach me how to spell it. - -MAL. No, faith, I care not greatly, if I tell it; -My name is Mary Barnes. - -SIR RALPH. How, wench? Mall Barnes! - -MAL. The very same. - -SIR RALPH. Why, this is strange. - -MAL. I pray, sir, what's your name? - -SIR RALPH. Why, Sir Ralph Smith doth wonder, wench, at this; -Why, what's the cause thou art abroad so late? - -MAL. What, Sir Ralph Smith! nay, then, I will disclose -All the whole cause to him, in him repose -My hopes, my love: God him, I hope, did send -Our loves and both our mothers' hates to end. [_Aside_.] ---Gentle Sir Ralph, if you my blush might see, -You then would say I am ashamed to be -Found, like a wand'ring stray, by such a knight, -So far from home at such a time of night: -But my excuse is good; love first by fate -Is cross'd, controll'd, and sundered by fell hate. -Frank Goursey is my love, and he loves me; -But both our mothers hate and disagree; -Our fathers like the match and wish it done; -And so it had, had not our mothers come; -To Oxford we concluded both to go; -Going to meet, they came; we parted so; -My mother followed me, but I ran fast, -Thinking who went from hate had need make haste; -Take me she cannot, though she still pursue: -But now, sweet knight, I do repose on you; -Be you my orator and plead my right, -And get me one good day for this bad night. - -SIR RALPH. Alas, good heart, I pity thy hard hap! -And I'll employ all that I may for thee. -Frank Goursey, wench! I do commend thy choice: -Now I remember I met one Francis, -As I did seek my man,--then, that was he,-- -And Philip too,--belike that was thy brother: -Why, now I find how I did lose myself, -And wander[420] up and down, mistaking so. -Give me thy hand, Mall: I will never leave, -Till I have made your mothers friends again, -And purchas'd to ye both your hearts' delight, -And for this same one bad many a good night. -'Twill not be long, ere that Aurora will, -Deck'd in the glory of a golden sun, -Open the crystal windows of the east, -To make the earth enamour'd of her face, -When we shall have clear light to see our way: -Come; night being done, expect a happy day. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES. - -MRS BAR. O, what a race this peevish girl hath led me! -How fast I ran, and now how weary I am! -I am so out of breath I scarce can speak,-- -What shall I do?--and cannot overtake her. -'Tis late and dark, and I am far from home: -May there not thieves lie watching hereabout, -Intending mischief unto them they meet? -There may; and I am much afraid of them, -Being alone without all company. -I do repent me of my coming forth; -And yet I do not,--they had else been married, -And that I would not for ten times more labour. -But what a winter of cold fear I thole[421], -Freezing my heart, lest danger should betide me! -What shall I do to purchase company? -I hear some halloo here about the fields: -Then here I'll set my torch upon this hill, -Whose light shall beacon-like conduct them to it; -They that have lost their way, seeing a light, -For it may be seen far off in the night, -Will come to it. Well, here I'll lie unseen, -And look who comes, and choose my company. -Perhaps my daughter may first come to it. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY.] - -MRS GOUR. Where am I now? nay, where was I even now? -Nor now, nor then, nor where I shall be, know I. -I think I am going home: I may as well -Be[422] going from home; 'tis[423] so very dark, -I cannot see how to direct a step. -I lost my man, pursuing of my son; -My son escap'd me too: now, all alone, -I am enforc'd[424] to wander up and down. -Barnes's wife's[425] abroad: pray God, that she -May have as good a dance, nay, ten times worse! -O, but I fear she hath not; she hath light -To see her way. O, that some[426] bridge would break, -That she might fall into some deep digg'd ditch, -And either break her bones or drown herself! -I would these mischiefs I could wish to her -Might light on her!--but, soft; I see a light: -I will go near; it is comfortable, -After this night's sad spirits-dulling darkness. -How now? what, is it set to keep itself? - -MRS BAR. A plague on't, is she there? [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. O, how it cheers and quickens up my thoughts! - -MRS BAR. O that it were the basilisk's fell eye, -To poison thee! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I care not, if I take it-- -Sure none is here to hinder me-- -And light me home. - -MRS BAR. I had rather she were hang'd -Than I should set it there to do her good. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I'faith, I will. - -MRS BAR. I'faith, you shall not, mistress; -I'll venture a burnt finger but I'll have it. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Yet Barnes's wife would chafe, if that she knew, -That I had this good luck to get a light. - -MRS BAR. And so she doth; but praise your[427] luck at parting. - [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. O, that it were[428] her light, good faith, that she -Might darkling walk about as well as I! - -MRS BAR. O, how this mads me, that she hath her wish! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. How I would laugh to see her trot about! - -MRS BAR. O, I could cry for anger and for rage! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. But who should set it here, I marv'l, a God's name. - -MRS BAR. One that will have't from you in the devil's name. _Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I'll lay my life that it was Barnes's son. - -MRS BAR. No, forsooth, it was Barnes's wife. - -MRS GOUR. A plague upon her, how she made me start! [_Aside_.] -Mistress, let go the torch. - -MRS BAR. No, but I will not. - -MRS GOUR. I'll thrust it in thy face, then. - -MRS BAR. But you shall not. - -MRS GOUR. Let go, I say. - -MRS BAR. Let you go, for 'tis mine. - -MRS GOUR. But my possession says, it is none of thine. - -MRS BAR. Nay, I have hold too. - -MRS GOUR. Well, let go thy hold, -Or I will spurn thee. - -MRS BAR. Do; I can spurn thee too. - -MRS GOUR. Canst thou? - -MRS BAR. Ay, that I can. - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY _and_ MASTER BARNES, - [PHILIP, FRANK, &c.] - -MR GOUR. Why, how now, women? how unlike to women -Are ye both now! come, part, come, part, I say. - -MR BAR. Why, what immodesty is this in you! -Come, part, I say; fie, fie. - -MRS BAR. Fie, fie? I say she shall not have my torch.-- -Give me thy torch, boy:--I will run a-tilt, -And burn out both her eyes in my encounter. - -MRS GOUR. Give room, and let us have this hot career[429]. - -MR GOUR. I say ye shall not: wife, go to, tame your thoughts, -That are so mad with fury. - -MR BAR. And, sweet wife, -Temper your rage with patience; do not be -Subject so much to such misgovernment. - -MRS BAR. Shall I not, sir, when such a strumpet wrongs me? - -MR GOUR. How, strumpet, Mistress Barnes! nay, I pray, hark ye: -I oft indeed have heard ye call her so, -And I have thought upon it, why ye should -Twit her with name of strumpet; do you know -Any hurt by her, that you term her so? - -MR BAR. No, on my life; rage only makes her say so. - -MR GOUR. But I would know whence this same rage should come; -Where's smoke, there's fire; and my heart misgives -My wife's intemperance hath got that name;-- -And, Mistress Barnes, I doubt and shrewdly[430] doubt, -And some great cause begets this doubt in me, -Your husband and my wife doth wrong us both. - -MR BAR. How, think ye so? nay, Master Goursey, then, -You run in debt to my opinion, -Because you pay not such advised wisdom, -As I think due unto my good conceit. - -MR GOUR. Then still I fear I shall your debtor prove. - -[MR BAR.] Then I arrest you in the name of love; -Not bail, but present answer to my plea; -And in the court of reason we will try, -If that good thoughts should believe jealousy. - -PHIL. Why, look ye, mother, this is 'long of you.-- -For God's sake, father, hark? why, these effects -Come still from women's malice: part, I pray.-- -Coomes, Will, and Hodge, come all, and help us part them!-- -Father, but hear me speak one word--no more. - -FRAN. Father, but hear him[431] speak, then use your will. - -PHIL. Cry peace between ye for a little while. - -MRS GOUR. Good husband, hear him speak - -MRS BAR. Good husband, hear him. - -COOMES. Master, hear him speak; he's a good wise young stripling for -his years, I tell ye, and perhaps may speak wiser than an elder body; -therefore hear him. - -HOD. Master, hear; and make an end; you may kill one another in jest, -and be hanged in earnest. - -MR GOUR. Come, let us hear him. Then speak quickly, Philip. - -MR BAR. Thou shouldst have done ere this; speak, Philip, speak. - -MRS BAR. O Lord, what haste you make to hurt yourselves!-- -Good Philip, use some good persuasions -To make them friends. - -PHIL. Yes, I'll do what I can.-- -Father and Master Goursey, both attend. -It is presumption in so young a man -To teach where he might learn, or to[432] direct, -Where he hath had direction; but in duty -He may persuade as long as his persuase -Is back'd with reason and a rightful suit. -Physic's first rule is this, as I have learned: -Kill the effect by cutting off the cause. -The same effects of ruffian outrages -Comes by the cause of malice in your wives; -Had not they two been foes, you had been friends, -And we had been at home, and this same war -In peaceful sleep had ne'er been dreamt upon. -Mother and Mistress Goursey, to make them friends, -Is to be friends yourselves: you are the cause, -And these effects proceed, you know, from you; -Your hates gives life unto these killing strifes, -But die, and if that envy[433] die in you.-- -Fathers, yet stay.--O, speak!--O, stay a while!-- -Francis, persuade thy mother.--Master Goursey, -If that my mother will resolve[434] your mind[435] -That 'tis but mere suspect, not common proof, -And if my father swear he's innocent, -As I durst pawn my soul with him he is, -And if your wife vow truth and constancy, -Will you be then persuaded? - -MR GOUR. Philip, if thy father will remit -The wounds I gave him, and if these conditions -May be performed, I banish all my wrath. - -MR BAR. And if thy mother will but clear me, Philip, -As I am ready to protest I am, -Then Master Goursey is my friend again. - -PHIL. Hark, mother; now you hear that your desires -May be accomplished; they will both be friends, -If you'll perform these easy articles. - -MRS BAR. Shall I be friends with such an enemy? - -PHIL. What say you[436] unto my persuase? - -MRS BAR. I say she's[437] my deadly enemy. - -PHIL. Ay, but she will be your friend, if you revolt. - -MRS BAR. The words I said! what, shall I eat a truth? - -PHIL. Why, hark ye, mother. - -FRAN. Mother, what say you? - -MRS GOUR. Why, this I say, she slandered my good name. - -FRAN. But if she now deny it, 'tis no defame. - -MRS GOUR. What, shall I think her hate will yield so much? - -FRAN. Why, doubt it not; her spirit may be such. - -MR GOUR. Why, will it be? - -PHIL. Yet stay, I have some hope. -Mother, why, mother, why, hear ye[438]: -Give me your hand; it is no more but thus; -'Tis easy labour to shake hands with her: -Little[439] breath is spent in speaking of fair words, -When wrath hath violent delivery. - -MR BAR. What, shall we be resolv'd? - -MRS BAR. O husband, stay!-- -Stay, Master Goursey: though your wife doth hate me, -And bears unto me malice infinite -And endless, yet I will respect your safeties; -I would not have you perish by our means: -I must confess that only suspect, -And no proof else, hath fed my hate to her. - -MRS GOUR. And, husband, I protest by heaven and earth -That her suspect is causeless and unjust, -And that I ne'er had such a vild[440] intent; -Harm she imagin'd, where as none was meant. - -PHIL. Lo, sir, what would ye more? - -MR BAR. Yes, Philip, this; -That I confirm him in my innocence -By this large universe. - -MR GOUR. By that I swear, -I'll credit none of you, until I hear -Friendship concluded straight between them two: -If I see that they willingly will do, -Then I'll imagine all suspicion ends; -I may be then assured, they being friends. - -PHIL. Mother, make full my wish, and be it so. - -MRS BAR. What, shall I sue for friendship to my foe? - -PHIL. No: if she yield, will you? - -MRS BAR. It may be, ay. - -PHIL. Why, this is well. The other I will try.-- -Come, Mistress Goursey, do you first agree. - -MRS GOUR. What, shall I yield unto mine enemy? - -PHIL. Why, if she will, will you? - -MRS GOUR. Perhaps I will - -PHIL. Nay, then, I find this goes well forward still. -Mother, give me your hand [_to_ MRS G.], give me yours too-- -Be not so loth; some good thing I must do; -But lay your torches by, I like not them; -Come, come, deliver them unto your men: -Give me your hands. So, now, sir, here I stand, -Holding two angry women in my hand: -And I must please them both; I could please tone[441], -But it is hard when there is two to one, -Especially of women; but 'tis so, -They shall be pleas'd, whether they will or no.-- -Which will come first? what, both give back! ha, neither! -Why, then, yond help that both may come together[442]. -So, stand still, stand [still] but a little while, -And see, how I your angers will beguile. -Well, yet there is no hurt; why, then, let me -Join these two hands, and see how they'll agree: -Peace, peace! they cry; look how they friendly kiss! -Well, all this while there is no harm in this: -Are not these two twins? twins should be both alike, -If tone speaks fair, the tother should not strike: -Jesus, the warriors will not offer blows! -Why, then, 'tis strange that you two should be foes. -O yes, you'll say, your weapons are your tongues; -Touch lip with lip, and they are bound from wrongs: -Go to, embrace, and say, if you be friends, -That here the angry women's quarrels ends. - -MRS GOUR. Then here it ends, if Mistress Barnes say so. - -MRS BAR. If you say ay, I list not to say no. - -MR GOUR. If they be friends, by promise we agree. - -MR BAR. And may this league of friendship ever be! - -PHIL. What say'st thou, Frank? doth not this fall out well? - -FRAN. Yes, if my Mall were here, then all were well. - - _Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH _with_ MALL. [MALL _stays behind_.] - -SIR RALPH. Yonder they be, Mall: stay, stand close, and stir not -Until I call. God save ye, gentlemen! - -MR BAR. What, Sir Ralph Smith! you are welcome, man: -We wond'red when we heard you were abroad. - -SIR RALPH. Why, sir, how heard ye that I was abroad? - -MR BAR. By your man. - -SIR RALPH. My man! where is he? - -WILL. Here. - -SIR RALPH. O, ye are a trusty squire! - -NICH. It had been better, and he had said, a sure card. - -PHIL. Why, sir? - -NICH. Because it is the proverb. - -PHIL. Away, ye ass! - -NICH. An ass goes a four legs; I go of two, Christ cross. - -PHIL. Hold your tongue. - -NICH. And make no more ado. - -MR GOUR. Go to, no more ado. Gentle Sir Ralph, -Your man is not in fault for missing you, -For he mistook by us, and we by him. - -SIR RALPH. And I by you, which now I well perceive. -But tell me, gentlemen, what made ye all -Be from your beds this night, and why thus late -Are your wives walking here about the fields[443]: -'Tis strange to see such women of accompt -Here; but I guess some great occasion [prompt.] - -MR GOUR. Faith, this occasion, sir: women will jar; -And jar they did to-day, and so they parted; -We, knowing women's malice let alone -Will, canker-like, eat farther in their hearts, -Did seek a sudden cure, and thus it was: -A match between his daughter and my son; -No sooner motioned but 'twas agreed, -And they no sooner saw but wooed and lik'd: -They have it sought to cross, and cross['d] it thus. - -SIR RALPH. Fie, Mistress Barnes and Mistress Goursey both; -The greatest sin wherein your souls may sin, -I think, is this, in crossing of true love: -Let me persuade ye. - -MRS BAR. Sir, we are persuaded, -And I and Mistress Goursey are both friends; -And, if my daughter were but found again, -Who now is missing, she had my consent -To be dispos'd of to her own content. - -SIR RALPH. I do rejoice that what I thought to do, -Ere I begin, I find already done: -Why, this will please your friends at Abington. -Frank, if thou seek'st that way, there thou shalt find -Her, whom I hold the comfort of thy mind. - -MAL. He shall not seek me; I will seek him out, -Since of my mother's grant I need not doubt. - -MR[S] BAR. Thy mother grants, my girl, and she doth pray -To send unto you both a joyful day! - -HOD. Nay, Mistress Barnes, I wish her better: that those joyful days -may be turn'd to joyful nights. - -COOMES. Faith, 'tis a pretty wench, and 'tis pity but she should -have him. - -NICH. And, Mistress Mary, when ye go to bed, God send you good rest, -and a peck of fleas in your nest, every one as big as Francis! - -PHIL. Well said, wisdom! God send thee wise children! - -NICH. And you more money. - -PHIL. Ay, so wish I. - -NICH. 'Twill be a good while, ere you wish your skin full of -eyelet-holes. - -PHIL. Frank, hark ye: brother, now your wooing's done, -The next thing now you do is for a son, -I prythee; for, i'faith, I should be glad -To have myself called nunkle[444], and thou dad. -Well, sister, if that Francis play the man, -My mother must be grandam and you mam. -To it, Francis--to it, sister!--God send ye joy! -'Tis fine to sing, dancey, my own sweet boy! - -FRAN. Well, sir, jest on. - -PHIL. Nay, sir[445], do you jest on. - -MR BAR. Well, may she prove a happy wife to him! - -MR GOUR. And may he prove as happy unto her! - -SIR RALPH. Well, gentlemen, good hap betide them both! -Since 'twas my hap thus happily to meet, -To be a witness of this sweet contract, -I do rejoice; wherefore, to have this joy -Longer present with me, I do request -That all of you will be my promis'd guests: -This long night's labour doth desire some rest, -Besides this wished end; therefore, I pray, -Let me detain ye but a dinner time: -Tell me, I pray, shall I obtain so much? - -MR BAR. Gentle Sir Ralph, your courtesy is such, -As may impose command unto us all; -We will be thankful bold at your request. - -PHIL. I pray, Sir Ralph, what cheer shall we have? - -SIR RALPH. I'faith, country fare, mutton and veal, -Perchance a duck or goose [upon the platter.] - -MAL. O, I am sick! - -ALL. How now, Mall? what's the matter? - -MAL. Father and mother, if you needs would know, -He nam'd a goose, which is my stomach's foe. - -PHIL. Come, come, she is with child of some odd jest, -And now she's sick, till that she bring[446] it forth. - -MAL. A jest, quoth you! well, brother, if it be, -I fear 'twill prove an earnest unto me. -Goose, said ye, sir? O, that same very name -Hath in it much variety of shame! -Of all the birds that ever yet was seen, -I would not have them graze upon this green; -I hope they will not, for this crop is poor, -And they may pasture upon greater store: -But yet 'tis pity that they let them pass, -And like a common bite the Muse's grass. -Yet this I fear: if Frank and I should kiss, -Some creaking goose would chide us with a hiss; -I mean not that goose that -Sings it knows not what; -'Tis not that hiss, when one says, "hist, come hither," -Nor that same hiss that setteth dogs together, -Nor that same hiss that by a fire doth stand, -And hisseth T. or F.[447] upon the hand; -But 'tis a hiss, and I'll unlace my coat, -For I should sound[448] sure, if I heard that note, -And then green ginger for the green goose cries, -Serves not the turn--I turn'd the white of eyes. -The _rosa-solis_ yet that makes me live -Is favour[449] that these gentlemen may give; -But if they be displeased, then pleas'd am I -To yield myself a hissing death to die. -Yet I hope here is[450] none consents to kill, -But kindly take the favour of good-will. -If any thing be in the pen to blame, -Then here stand I to blush the writer's shame: -If this be bad, he promises a better; -Trust him, and he will prove a right true debtor. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - - - -LOOK ABOUT YOU. - - - -_EDITION. - -A Pleasant Commodie called Looke About you. As it was lately played by -the right honourable the Lord High Admirall his seruaunts. London, -Printed for William Ferbrand, and are to be solde at his shop at the -signe of the Crowne neere Guildhall gate_. 1600. 4to. - -This drama is now first reprinted from the original edition, which has -no division into acts and scenes. Mr Halliwell ("Dict. of Old Plays," -1860, p. 149) observes: "This is a diverting play, and the plot of it -is founded on the English historians of the reign of Henry II."[451] - -"Look About You" is not only a _pleasant_ comedy, full of bustle and -amusing episodes, and abundantly stored with illustrations of manners, -but it is a piece which exhibits, on the part of the unknown writer, -a considerable share of power and originality. The crazed Earl of -Gloucester is not an ill-conceived character, and may have supplied a -hint to Shakespeare; and the cross-purposes, stratagems, and deceptions, -of which it is full, remind us of our great dramatist's own "Comedy of -Errors," with which, however, it has nothing in common. It is by no -means improbable, at the same time, that "Look About You," and not -Shakespeare's play, was the piece performed at Gray's Inn in December -1594.[452] - -Skink, who fills the part assigned to the vice in the earlier comedies, -is a well-sustained and entertaining character, and the series of -transformations which he and the rest undergo, even while they -occasionally perplex us a little, as the plot thickens, and the figures -on the stage multiply, can hardly fail to amuse. - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE[453] - - -HENRY II., _King of England_. -PRINCE HENRY, _the young usurped King_. -PRINCE JOHN. -PRINCE RICHARD. -EARLS OF GLOUCESTER, LANCASTER, CHESTER, LEICESTER, _and_ MORTON. -SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE. -ROBIN HOOD, _Earl of Huntington_. -SKINK, _disguised as a hermit_. -THE QUEEN. -LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. -BLOCK. -_Warden of the Fleet_. -REDCAP, _a messenger_. -_Constable and Watch_. -_A Pursuivant_. -_A Drawer_. -_Music_. - - - - -A PLEASANT COMEDY CALLED LOOK ABOUT YOU. - - - -SCENE THE FIRST. - - - _Enter_ ROBERT HOOD, _a young Nobleman, a Servant with him, with - riding wands in their hands, as if they had been new-lighted_. - -ROB. Go, walk the horses, wait me on the hill; -This is the hermit's cell; go out of sight. -My business with him must not be reveal'd -To any mortal creature but himself. - -SERV. I'll wait your honour in the cross highway. [_Exit_. - -ROB. Do so. Hermit devout and reverend, -If drowsy age keep not thy stiffened joints -On thy unrestful bed, or if the hours -Of holy orisons detain thee not, -Come forth. - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like an hermit_. - -SKINK. Good morrow, son, -Good morrow; and God bless thee, Huntington, -A brighter gleam of true nobility -Shines not in any youth more than in thee. -Thou shalt be rich in honour, full of speed; -Thou shalt win foes by fear, and friends by meed. - -ROB. Father, I come not now to know my fate; -Important business urgeth princely Richard [_Deliver letters_. -In these terms to salute thy reverent age. -Read and be brief; I know some cause of trust -Made him employ me for his messenger. - -SKINK. A cause of trust indeed, true-honoured youth. -Princes had need, in matters of import, -To make nice choice. Fair earl, if I not err, -Thou art the prince's ward? - -ROB. Father, I am -His ward, his chamberlain, and bed-fellow. - -SKINK. Fair fall thee, honourable Robert Hood! -Wend to Prince Richard: say, though I am loth -To use my skill in conjuration, -Yet Skink, that poisoned red-cheek'd Rosamond, -Shall make appearance at the parliament; -He shall be there by noon, assure his grace. - -ROB. Good-morrow, father, see you fail him not, -For though the villain did a horrible deed, -Yet hath the young king Richard, and Earl John, -Sworn to defend him from his greatest foes. - -SKINK. God's benison be with thee, noble Earl! - -ROB. Adieu, good father. Holla, there! my horse! - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. Up, spur the kicking jade, while I make speed -To conjure Skink out of his hermit's weed; -Lie there, religion: keep thy master grave, -And on the fair trust of these princes' word -To court again, Skink. But, before I go, -Let mischief take advice of villainy, -Why to the hermit letters should be sent, -To post Skink to the court incontinent. -Is there no trick in this? ha! let me see! -Or do they know already I am he? -If they do so, faith, westward[454] then with Skink -But what an ass am I to be thus fond! -Here lies the hermit, whom I dying found -Some two months since, when I was hourly charg'd -With Hugh the crier and with constables. -I saw him in the ready way to heaven; -I help'd him forward: 'twas a holy deed; -And there he lies some six foot in the ground. -Since where, and since, I kept me in his weeds, -O, what a world of fools have fill'd my cells! -For fortunes, run-aways, stol'n goods, lost cattle! -Among the number, all the faction -That take the young king's part against the old, -Come to myself to hearken for myself. -So did the adverse party make inquire, -But either fall full of contrary desire: -The old king's part would kill me being stain'd; -The young king's keep me from their violence. -So then thou need'st not fear; go boldly on, -Brave Hal, Prince Dick, and my spruce hot-spur John, -Here's their safe-conduct. O, but for Rosamond! -A fig for Rosamond! to this hope I'll lean, -At a queen's bidding I did kill a quean. - - - -SCENE THE SECOND. - - - _Sound trumpets; enter with a Herald, on the one side_, - HENRY THE SECOND, _crowned, after him_ LANCASTER, CHESTER, - SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE: _on the other part_, KING HENRY - _the son, crowned, Herald after him; after him_ PRINCE - RICHARD, JOHN, LEICESTER. _Being set, enters fantastical_ - ROBERT OF GLOSTER _in a gown girt; walks up and down_. - -OLD KING. Why doth not Gloster take his honoured seat? - -GLO. In faith, my liege, Gloster is in a land, -Where neither surety is to sit or stand. -I only do appear as I am summoned, -And will await without till I am call'd. - -YOUNG K. Why, hear you, Gloster? - -GLO. Henry, I do hear you. - -YOUNG K. And why not _King_? - -GLO. What's he that sits so near you? - -RICH. King too. - -GLO. Two kings? Ha, ha! - -OLD K. Gloster, sit, we charge thee. - -GLO. I will obey your charge; I will sit down, -But in this house on no seat but the ground. - -JOHN. The seat's too good. - -GLO. I know it, brother John. - -JOHN. Thy brother? - -OLD K. Silence there. - -YOUNG KING. Pass to the bills, Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -FAU. My lieges both, old Fauconbridge is proud -Of your right honour'd charge. He that worst may -Will strain his old eyes: God send peace this day! -A bill for the releasement of the queen preferr'd, -By Henry the young King, Richard the Prince, John, Earl -Of Morton, Bohmine, Earl of Leicester, and the Commons. - -OLD K. Did you prefer this bill? - -ALL. We did. - -CHES. and LAN. Ye did not well. - -GLO. Why, this is good; now shall we have the hell. - -THREE BRO. Chester and Lancaster, you wrong the king. - -CHES. and LAN. Our king we do not. - -YOUNG K. Do not you see me crown'd? - -LAN. But whilst he lives, we to none else are bound. - -LEI. Is it not wrong, think you, when all the world['s] -Troubled with rumour of a captive queen, -Imprisoned by her husband in a realm, -Where her own son doth wear a diadem? -Is like an head of people mutinous, -Still murmuring at the shame done her and us? -Is it not more wrong, when her mother zeal, -Sounded through Europe, Afric, Asia, -Tells in the hollow of news-thirsting ears, -Queen Elinor lives in a dungeon, -For pity and affection to her son? -But when the true cause, Clifford's daughter's death, -Shall be exposed to stranger nations, -What volumes will be writ, what libels spread, -And in each line our state dishonoured! - -FAU. My lord speaks to the purpose; marry, -It may be so; pray God it prove not so. - -LEI. Hear me conclude, and therewithal conclude; -It is an heinous and unheard-of sin: -Queen Elinor, daughter to kingly France, -King Henry's wife, and royal Henry's mother, -Is kept close prisoner for an act of justice, -Committed on an odious concubine. - -KING. Thou wrong'st her, Leicester. - -LEI. Lechers ever praise -The cause of their confusion; she was vile. - -FAU. She was ill-spoken of, it's true, [too] true. - -GLO. Yonder sits one would do as much for you, -Old fool; young Richard hath a gift, I know it, -And on your wife my sister would bestow it. -Here's a good world! men hate adulterous sin, -Count it a gulf, and yet they needs will in. [_Aside_. - -LEI. What answer for the queen? - -LAN. The king replies, -Your words are foul slanderous forgeries. - -JOHN. His highness says not so. - -LAN. His highness doth, -Tells you it is a shame for such wild youth -To smother any impiety, -With shew to chastise loose adultery, -Say Rosamond was Henry's concubine. -Had never king a concubine but he? -Did Rosamond begin the fires in France? -Made she the northern borders reek with flames? -Unpeopled she the towns of Picardy? -Left she the wives of England husbandless? -O, no. She sinn'd, I grant; so do we all; -She fell herself, desiring none should fall. -But Elinor, whom you so much commend, -Hath been the bellows of seditious fire, -Either through jealous rage or mad desire. -Is't not a shame to think that she hath arm'd -Four sons' right hands against their father's head, -And not the children of a low-priz'd wretch, -But one, whom God on earth hath deified? -See, where he sits with sorrow in his eyes! -Three of his sons and hers tutor'd by her: -Smiles, whilst he weeps, and with a proud disdain -Embrace blithe mirth, while his sad heart complain. - -FAU. Ha! laugh they? nay, by the rood, that is not well; -Now fie, young princes, fie! - -HEN. Peace, doting fool. - -JOHN. Be silent, ass. - -FAU. With all my heart, my lords; my humble leave, my lords. -God's mother, ass and fool for speaking truth! -'Tis terrible; but fare ye well, my lords. - -RlCH. Nay, stay, good Fauconbridge; impute it rage, -That thus abuses your right reverend age. -My brothers are too hot. - -FAU. Too hot indeed! -Fool, ass, for speaking truth! It's more than need. - -RICH. Nay, good Sir Richard, at my kind intreat, -For all the love I bear your noble house, -Let not your absence kindle further wrath. -Each side's at council now; sit down, I pray. -I'll quit it with the kindest love I may. - -GLOS. Ay, to his wife. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Prince Richard, I'll sit down; -But by the faith I owe fair England's crown, -Had you not been, I would have left the place; -My service merits not so much disgrace. - -RICH. Good Fauconbridge, I thank thee. - - [_Go to their places_. - -GLO. And you'll think of him, -If you can step into his bower at Stepney. - -FAU. Prince Richard's very kind; I know his kindness. -He loves me, but he loves my lady better. -No more. I'll watch him; I'll prevent his game; -Young lad, it's ill to halt before the lame. [_Aside. - - [They break asunder, papers this while being - offered and subscribed between either_. - -HEN. I'll not subscribe to this indignity; -I'll not be called a king, but be a king. -Allow me half the realm; give me the north, -The provinces that lie beyond the seas: -Wales and the Isles, that compass in the main. - -GLO. Nay, give him all, and he will scant be pleased. [_Aside_. - -RICH. Brother, you ask too much. - -JOHN. Too much? too little! -He shall have that and more; I swear he shall. -I will have Nottingham and Salisbury, -Stafford and Darby, and some other earldom, -Or, by St John (whose blessed name I bear), -I'll make these places like a wilderness. -Is't not a plague, an horrible abuse, -A king, a King of England, should be father -To four such proper youths as Hal and Dick, -My brother Geoffrey, and my proper self, -And yet not give his sons such maintenance, -As he consumes among his minions? - -RICH. Be more respective, John. - -JOHN. Respective, Richard? -Are you turn'd pure? a changing weathercock! [_Aside_. -I say its reason Henry should be king, -Thou prince, I duke, as Geoffrey is a duke. - -LAN. What shall your father do? - -JOHN. Live at his prayers, -Have a sufficient pension by the year, -Repent his sins, because his end is near. - -GLO. A gracious son, a very gracious son! [_Aside_. - -KING. Will this content you? I that have sat still, -Amaz'd to see my sons devoid of shame; -To hear my subjects with rebellious tongues -Wound the kind bosom of their sovereign; -Can no more bear, but from a bleeding heart -Deliver all my love for all your hate: -Will this content ye?[455] Cruel Elinor, -Your savage mother, my uncivil queen: -The tigress, that hath drunk the purple blood -Of three times twenty thousand valiant men; -Washing her red chaps in the weeping tears -Of widows, virgins, nurses, sucking babes; -And lastly, sorted with her damn'd consorts, -Ent'red a labyrinth to murther love. -Will this content you? She shall be releas'd, -That she may next seize me she most envies! - -HEN. Our mother's liberty is some content. - -KING. What else would Henry have? - -HEN. The kingdom. - -KING. Peruse this bill; draw near; let us confer. - -JOHN. Hal, be not answered but with sovereignty, -For glorious is the sway of majesty. - -KING. What would content you, John? - -JOHN. Five earldoms, sir. - -KING. What you, son Richard? - -RICH. Pardon, gracious father, -And th'furtherance for my vow of penance. -For I have sworn to God and all his saints, -These arms erected in rebellious brawls -Against my father and my sovereign, -Shall fight the battles of the Lord of Hosts, -In wrong'd Judaea and Palestina. -That shall be Richard's penance for his pride, -His blood a satisfaction for his sin, -His patrimony, men, munition, -And means to waft them into Syria. - -KING. Thou shalt have thy desire, heroic son, -As soon as other home-bred brawls are done. - -LAN. Why weeps old Fauconbridge? - -FAU. I am almost blind, -To hear sons cruel and the fathers kind. -Now, well-a-year,[456] that e'er I liv'd to see -Such patience and so much impiety! - -GLO. Brother, content thee; this is but the first: -Worse is a-brewing, and yet not the worst. - -LEI. You shall not stand to this. - -HEN. And why, my lord? - -LEI. The lands of Morton doth belong to John. - -HEN. What's that to me? by Act of Parliament -If they be mine confirm'd, he must be pleas'd. - -JOHN. Be pleased, King-puppet! have I stood for thee, -Even in the mouth of death? open'd my arms -To circle in sedition's ugly shape? -Shook hands with duty, bad adieu to virtue, -Profan'd all majesty in heaven and earth; -Writ in black characters on my white brow -The name of _rebel John_ against his father? -For thee, for thee, thou 'otomy[457] of honour, -Thou worm of majesty, thou froth, thou bubble![458] -And must I now be pleas'd in peace to stand, -While statutes make thee owner of my land? - -GLO. Good pastime, good, now will the thieves fall out! [_Aside_. - -JOHN. O, if I do, let me be never held -Royal King Henry's son; pardon me, father; -Pull down this rebel, that hath done thee wrong. -Dick, come and leave his side; assail him, lords; -Let's have no parley but with bills and swords. - -KING. Peace, John, lay down thy arms; hear Henry speak. -He minds thee no such wrong. - -JOHN. He were not best. - -HEN. Why, hair-brain'd brother, can ye brook no jest? -I do confirm you Earl of Nottingham. - -JOHN. And Morton too? - -HEN. Ay, and Morton too. - -JOHN. Why so? now once more I'll sit down by you. - -GLO. Blow, wind! the youngest of King Henry's stock -Would fitly serve to make a weathercock. - -JOHN. Gape, earth! challenge thine own, as Gloster lies; -Pity such muck is cover'd with the skies? - -FAU. Be quiet, good my lords; ['tis] the King's command -You should be quiet, and 'tis very meet; -It's most convenient--how say you, Prince Richard? - -RICH. It is indeed. - -FAU. Why, that is wisely said; -You are a very kind, indifferent man, -Marry a' God, and by my halidom, -Were not I had a feeling in my head -Of some suspicion 'twixt my wife and him -I should affect him more than all the world. [_Aside_. - -GLO. Take heed, old Richard, keep thee there, mad lad. -My sisters' fair, and beauty may turn bad. [_Aside_. - - - -SCENE THE THIRD. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, _a paper in his hand_. - -OFFICER. Room there, make room for young Huntington. - -FAU. A gallant youth, a proper gentleman. - -HEN. Richard, I have had wrong about his wardship. - -RlCH. You cannot right yourself. - -JOHN. He can and shall. - -RICH. Not with your help; but, honourable youth, -Have ye perform'd the business I enjoin'd? - -ROB. I have, and Skink is come; here is his bill. - -HEN. No matter for his bill; let him come in. - -KING. Let him not enter; his infectious breath -Will poison the assembly. - -GLO. Never doubt;[459] -There's more infectious breaths about your throne. -Leicester is there; your envious sons are there; -If them you can endure, no poison fear. - -KING. Content thee, Gloster. - -GLO. I must be content -When you, that should mend all, are patient. - - _Enter_ SKINK. - -HEN. Welcome, good Skink, thou justly dost complain, -Thou stand'st in dread of death for Rosamond, -Whom thou didst poison at our dread command -And the appointment of our gracious mother. -See here my father's hand unto thy pardon. - -SKINK. I receive it graciously, wishing his soul sweet peace in heaven -for so meritorious a work, for I fear me I have not his heart, though -his hand. - -KING. Be sure thou hast not, murderous bloodsucker, -To jealous envy executioner. - -HEN. Besides, thou suest to have some maintenance; -We have bethought us how we will reward thee, -Thou shalt have Rowden lordship. - -GLO. Shall he so? -Will you reward your murtherers with my lands? - -HEN. Your lands? it is our gift; and he shall have it. - -GLO. I'll give him seizure first with this and this. - [_Strike him_. - -JOHN. Lay hold on Gloster. - -KING. Hold that murderous Skink. - -GLO. Villains, hands off; I am a prince, a peer, -And I have borne disgrace, while I can bear. - -FAU. Knaves, leave your rudeness; how now, brother -Gloster? nay, be appeas'd, be patient, brother. - -RICH. Shift for thyself, good Skink; there's gold, away: -Here will be parts.[460] - -SKINK. Swounds! I'll make one, and stay. - -JOHN. I prythee, begone, since thus it falleth out, -Take water; hence, away; thy life I doubt. - -SKINK. Well, farewell [then]; get I once out of door, -Skink never will put trust in warrants more. - [_Exit_. - -KING. Will Gloster not be bridled? - -GLO. Yes, my liege; -And saddled too, and rid, and spurred, and rein'd, -Such misery (in your reign) 'falls your friends. -Let go my arms, you dunghills; let me speak. - -KING. Where's that knave, Skink? I charge you see him stay'd. - -FAU. The swift-heel'd knave is fled; -Body-a-me, here's rule; here's work indeed. - -KING. Follow that Skink; let privy search be made; -Let not one pass, except he be well-known; -Let posts be every way sent speedily -For ten miles' compass round about the city. - -HEN. Take Gloster to you, Lieutenant of the Tower. -Keep him aside, till we confer awhile. -Father, you must subscribe to his committing. - -LAN. Why must he, Henry? - -LEI. Marry, for this cause: -He hath broke peace, and violated laws. - -GLO. So have you all done, rebels as you be. - -FAU. Good words, good brother; hear me, gracious lords. - -HEN. I prythee, Fauconbridge, be patient. -Gloster must of force answer this contempt. - -KING. I will not yield; he shall unto the Tower, -Warden of th'Fleet, take you the charge of Gloster. - -HEN. Why, be it so; yet stay with him awhile, -Till we take order for the company, -That shall attend him, and resort to him. - -GLO. Warden of the Fleet, I see I am your charge, -Befriend me thus, lest by their command -I be prevented of what I intend. - -KEEP. Command me any service in my power. - -GLO. I pray you call some nimble-footed fellow -To do a message for me to my sister. - -KEEP. Call in Redcap; he waiteth with a tipstaff, - [_Exit one for him_. -He stammers; but he's swift and trusty, sir. - - - -SCENE THE FOURTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -GLO. No matter for the stammering; is this he? - -RED. Ay, I am Re-Redcap, s-s-sir. - -GLO. Run. Redcap, to Stepney. - -RED. I'll be at Stepney p-p-presently. - -GLO. Nay, stay; go to the Lady Fauconbridge, my sister. - -RED. The La-La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fauconbreech? -I r-r-run, sir! - -GLO. But take thy errand; tell her I am prisoner, -Committed to the Fleet. - -RED. I am g-g-glad of th-th-that, my fa-fa-father -the p-p-porter sha-shall ge-ge-get a f-f-fee by you. - [_Still runs_. - -GLO. Stand still a while--desire her to make means -Unto Prince Richard for my liberty; -At thy return (make speed) I will reward thee. - -RED. I am g-g-gone, si-sir. - -RICH. Commend me to her, gentle Huntington; -Tell her in these affairs I'll stand her friend, -Her brother shall not long be prisoner: -Say I will visit her immediately. -Begone, sweet boy, to Marion Fauconbridge, -Thou lookest like love: persuade her to be loving. - -ROB. So far as honour will, I will persuade; -I'll lay love's battery to her modest ears; -Second my mild assault, you may chance win, -Fair parley at the least may hap pass in. - [_Exit_. - -HEN. Here, take your charge; let no man speak with him, -Except ourself, our brethren, or Earl Leicester. - -FAU. Not I, my lord? may not I speak with him? - -HEN. Yes, Fauconbridge, thou shalt. - -JOHN. And why? he is his wife's brother. - -FAU. Earl John, although I be, -I am true unto the state, and so is he. - -GLO. What, shall I have no servant of my own? - -HEN. No, but the household servants of the Fleet. - -GLO. I thank you, kinsman King; your father knows, -Gloster may boldly give a base slave blows. - -FAU. O, but not here; it was not well done here. - -KING. Farewell, good Gloster, you shall hear from us. - -GLO. Even what your sons will suffer you to send. -Is't not a misery to see you stand, -That sometime was the monarch of this land, -Intreating traitors for a subject's freedom? - -LEI. Let him not speak; away with him to prison. - -GLO. Here's like to be a well-stay'd commonwealth, -Wherein proud Leicester and licentious John -Are pillars for the king to lean upon. - -JOHN. We'll hear your railing lecture in the Fleet. - -GLO.[461] On thy displeasure--well ye have me here. -O, that I were within my fort of Bungay, -Whose walls are wash'd with the clear streams of Waveney,[462] -Then would not Gloster pass a halfpenny, -For all these rebels and their poor king too.[463] -Laughtst thou, King Henry? Thou know'st my words are true, -God help thee, good old man! adieu, adieu! - -JOHN. That castle shall be mine, wherein stands[464] Fauconbridge. - -FAU. Far from your reach, sure, under Feckhill-ridge, -Five hundred men (England hath few such wight) -Keep it for Gloster's use both day and night: -But you may easily win it. Wantons' words -Quickly can master men, tongues out-brawl swords! - -JOHN. Ye are an idiot. - -RICH. I prythee, John, forbear. - -JOHN. What, shall old winter with his frosty jests -Cross flow'ry pleasures? - -FAU. Ay, and nip you too! -God Mary mother,[465] I would tickle you, -Were there no more in place but I and you. - -KING. Cease these contentions; forward to the Tower. -Release Queen Elinor, and leave me there. -Your prisoner I am, sure, if ye had power; -There's nothing let's you but the Commons' fear: -Keep your state, lords; we will by water go, -Making the fresh Thames salt with tears of woe. - -HEN. And we'll by land thorough the City ride, -Making the people tremble at our pride. - - [_Exeunt with trumpets two ways_. - - - -SCENE THE FIFTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _solus_. - -SKINK. Blackheath, quoth he! And I were king of all Kent, I would give -it for a commodity of apron-strings, to be in my cottage again. Princes' -warrants! marry, Skink finds them as sure as an obligation seal'd with -batter. At King's-Bridge I durst not enter a boat. Through London the -stones were fiery. I have had a good cool way through the fields, and -in the highway to Ratcliffe stands a heater. Mile-end's covered with -_who goes there_? 'Tis for me, sure. O Kent, O Kent, I would give my -part of all Christendom[466] to feel thee, as I see thee. If I go -forward, I am stayed; if I go backward, there's a rogue in a red cap, -he's run from St John's after me. I were best stay here, lest if he come -with hue and cry, he stop me yonder. I would slip the collar for fear of -the halter; but here comes my runner, and if he run for me, his race -dies, he is as sure as dead as if a Parliament of devils[467] had -decreed it. - [_Retires_. - - - -SCENE THE SIXTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -RED. Ste-Ste-Stepney ch-church yonder; but I have forgot -The La-La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau--plague on her, -I mu-must b-back to the Fle-Fle-Fleet to kn-kn-know it. -The La- the La-La-Lady Fau--plague on't; G-Gloster -Will go ne-near to st-stab me so for forgetting -My errand, he is such a ma-ma-mad lord, the -La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. Help me, device; upon my life, this fool is sent -From Gloster to his sister Marian. - -RED. I m-must ne-needs go back, the La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. God speed, good fellow. - -RED. Go-Go-God sp-sp-speed you, sir. - -SKINK. Why runn'st thou from me? - -RED. Ma-Marry, sir, I have lo-lost a la-lady's name, and I am running -ba-back to se-se-seek it. - -SKINK. What lady? I prythee, stay. - -RED. Why, the La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. Fauconbridge? - -RED. Ay, the s-s-same: farewell. I th-th-thank you h-heartily. - -SKINK. If thou would'st speak with her, she is in Kent. I serve her; -what's thy business with my lady? - -RED. I sh-sh-should do an errand to her f-f-from my Lord of Gloucester; -but, a-a-and she be in K-Kent, I'll send it by you. - -SKINK. Where is my lord? - -RED. Marry, p-p-prisoner in the Fl-Fleet, a-a-and w-would have her -speak to P-Prince R-Richard for his re-re-release. - -SKINK. I have much business; hold, there's thy fare by water, my Lady -lies this night-- - -RED. Wh-wh-where, I pray? - -SKINK. At Gravesend at the Angel. - -RED. 'Tis devilish co-co-cold going by water. - -SKINK. Why, there's my cloak and hat to keep thee warm; -Thy cap and jerkin will serve me to ride in -By the way; thou hast wind and tide; take oars; -My lady will reward thee royally. - -RED. G-God-a-mercy, f-fa-faith; and ever th-thou co-co-come to the -Fl-Fl-Fleet, I'll give the tu-tu-turning of the ke-key f-for -n-no-nothing. - -SKINK. Hie thee; to-morrow morning at Gravesend I'll wash thy stammering -throat with a mug of ale merrily. - -RED. God be w-with you till s-soo-soon. What call you the lady? O, now I -re-remember: the La-Lady Fa-Fauconbridge. At what s-sign? - -SKINK. At the Angel. - -RED. A-Angel, the La-La-Lady Fa-Fa-Fauconbridge, Fa-Fan-Fanconbridge. - -SKINK. Farewell and be hang'd, good stammering ninny, I think I have set -your Redcap's heels a-running, would your pianot-chattering humour could -as sa-safely se-set me fr-from the searchers' walks. Yonder comes some -one. 'Hem! Skink, to your tricks this titty titty. Ah, the tongue, I -believe, will fail me.[468] - - - -SCENE THE SEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ CONSTABLE _and_ WATCH. - -CON. Come, make up to this fellow, let th'other go, he seems a gentleman. - [_Exit_ REDCAP _dressed as_ SKINK.] -What are you, sir? - -SKINK. Would I had kept my own suit, if the countenance carry it away. - -CON. Stand, sirrah, what are you? - -SKINK. The po-po-porter's son of the F-Fl-Fleet, going to Stepney about -business to the La-La-Lady Fa-Fa-Fauconbridge. - -CON. Well, bring him thither, some two or three of ye, honest -neighbours, and so back to the Fleet; we'll show ourselves diligent -above other officers. - -SKINK. Wh-wh-why, le-le-let me run. I am Re-Redcap. - -CON. Well, sure you shall now run no faster than I lead you, hear ye, -neighbour Simmes, I leave my staff with ye; be vigilant, I pray you, -search the suspicious houses at the town's end; this Skink's a trouncer. -Come, will you be gone, sir? - -SKINK. Yes, sir, and the devil go with you and them, -Well, yet have hope, mad ha-heart; co-co-come your way. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE EIGHTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _and_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Sweet nobility in reversion, Block, by the commission of his head, -conjures you and withal binds you, by all the tricks that pages pass in -time of Parliament, as swearing to the pantable,[469] crowning with -custards, paper-whiffs to the sleepers' noses, cutting of tags, stealing -of torches, _cum multis aliis_--tell, Block, what block you have cast in -the way of my lady's content! - -ROB. Block, by the antiquity of your ancestry, I have given your lady not -so much as the least cause of dislike; if she be displeased at any news -I bring, it's more than I must blab. - -BLO. Zounds, these pages be so proud, they care not for an old -servingman; you are a ward and so an earl, and no more: you disquiet our -house--that's the most; and I may be even with thee--that's the least. - - _Enter the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. What, Block, what, Block, I say! what do you there? - -BLO. Making the young lord merry, madam. - -LADY F. Go, attend the gate; -See if you can let in more grief thereat. - -BLO. Zounds, and grief come in there; and I see -Him once, I'll conjure his gaberdine. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Will you be gone, sir? - -BLO. Hem! these women, these women! -And she be not in love either with Prince Richard or this lad, let -Block's head be made a chopping-block. - [_Exit BLOCK_. - -ROB. Fair madam, what reply you to my suit? -The prince expects[470] smiles, welcomes, loving looks. - -LADY F. The prince, if he give heed to Marian's suit, -Must hear heart-sighs, see sorrow in my eyes, -And find cold welcome to calamities. - -ROB. And why, for God's sake? - -LADY F. Even for Gloster's sake. - -ROB. Why, by mine honour, and Prince Richard saith, -Your brother Gloster shall have liberty, -Upon condition you release a prisoner, -That you have long held in captivity. - -LADY F. I have no prisoner. - -ROB. Yes, a world of eyes -Your beauty in a willing bondage ties. - -LADY F. Go to, you are dispos'd to jest, my lord. - -ROB. In earnest, I must be an earnest suitor -To you for love; yet you must be my tutor. - -LADY F. Are you in love? - -ROB. I dearly love Prince Richard. - -LADY F. Then do you love the loveliest man alive, -The princeliest person of King Henry's sons. - -ROB. I like this well. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. He is virtuous in his mind, his body fair; -His deeds are just, his speeches debonair. - -ROB. Better and better still. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Indeed he is, what nobody can deny, -All lovely, beauty all, all majesty. - -ROB. I'll tell his excellence what you report; -No doubt he will be very thankful for't. - -LADY F. Nay, hear you, young lord! [for] God's pity, stay. - -ROB. What, have you more in Richard's praise to say? - -LADY F. I have said too much, if you misconstrue me. -Duty bids praise him, not unchastity. - -ROB. Unchastity? holy heavens forfend it, -That he or I, or you should once intend it! - - - -SCENE THE NINTH. - - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and_ RICHARD. - -BLO. They are there, sir, close at it, I leave -you, sir; the more room the less company. - -RICH. Drink that; farewell. [_Gives him money_. - -BLO. If that Sir Richard comes; this ties, this binds; -O gold, thy power converteth servants' minds. - [_Exit_. - -RICH. How now, fair madam, who hath anger'd you? - -LADY F. Grief at my brother's durance angers me. - -RICH. I had thought my ward, young Huntington, had vex'd you. - -LADY F. Who? he? alas, good gentleman, he wrong'd me not; -No matter, for all this I'll tell your tale. - - _A noise within, enter_ SKINK, BLOCK, CONSTABLE. - -BLO. Sir, there comes no more of you in with him than the constable. -Zounds, here's a beadroll of bills at the gate indeed; back, ye base! - -LADY F. Now, sirrah, what's the matter? - -BLO. Marry, here's a stammerer taken clipping the king's English, and -the constable and his watch hath brought him to you to be examin'd. - -CON. No, madam, we are commanded by the king to watch; and meeting this -fellow at Mile-end, he tells us he is the porter's son of the Fleet, -[and] that the Earl of Gloster sent him to you. - -SKINK. Ay, f-forsooth he desire[d] you to speak to the p-prince for him. - -LADY F. O, I conceive thee; bid him blithely fare, -Bear him this ring in token of my care. - -SKINK. If I be rid of this evil angel that haunts me, many rings, much -Fleet, will Skink come unto. [_Aside_. - -CON. Madam, if you know this fellow, we'll discharge him. - -BLO. Madam, and you be wise, trust your honest neighbours here; -let them bring this ca-ca-ca-ca-to the Fleet, and s-see your ring -delivered. - -SKINK. A plague upon you for a damned rogue! -The porter of the Fleet will surely know me. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Good neighbours, bring this honest fellow thither; -There's for his pains a crown, if he say true, -And for your labour there's as much for you. - -SKINK. Why, ma-ma-madam, I am Re-Re-Redcap, the porter's son. - -LADY F. Thou hast no wrong in this; farewell, good fellow. - -SKINK. Best speaking to Prince Richard? no, I'll try -And face out Redcap, if the slave were by. - -LADY F. Make them drink, Block. - -BLO. Come to the buttery-bar, stitty-stitty stammerer; come, honest -Constable, hey! the watch of our town; we'll drink, try-lill, i'faith. - - - -SCENE THE TENTH. - - - _As they go out, enters_ SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE, - _stealing forward_, PRINCE _and_ LADY _talking_.[471] - -ROB. _Lupus in fabula_, my noble Lord; -See the old fox, Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -RICH. We'll fit him well enough; second us, Robin. - -LADY F. I'll fit you well enough for all your hope. - - [FAUC. _beckons to_ BLOCK. - -FAU. Leave quaffing, sirrah, listen to their talk. - -BLO. O, while you live, beware, two are sooner seen than one; besides, -bear a brain, master, if Block should be now spied, my madam would not -trust this sconce neither in time nor tide. - -FAU. Well, leave me, now it buds; see, see, they kiss. - -BLO. Adieu, good old sinner, you may recover it with a sallet of -parsley and the herb patience; if not, sir, you know the worst. -It's but even this. - -RICH. Madam, what you desire, I not deny, -But promise Gloster life and liberty. -I beg but love. - -FAU. When doth she give her alms? [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Fair, honourable prince. - -FAU. Nay, then, they speed. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. My soul hath your deserts in good esteem. - -FAU. Witness these goodly tines[472], that grace my head. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. But were you the sole monarch of the earth, -Your power were insufficient to invade -My never-yielding heart of chastity. - -FAU. Sayst thou so, Mall? I promise thee for this, -I'll owe thy cherry lips an old man's kiss; -Look, how my cockerell droops; 'tis no matter, -I like it best, when women will not flatter. [_Aside_. - -RICH. Nay, but sweet lady-- - -ROB. Nay, but gracious lord, -Do not so much forget your princely worth -As to tempt[473] virtue t' unchastity. - -FAU. O noble youth! [_Aside_. - -ROB. Let not the lady's dead grief for her brother -Give life to shameless and detested sin. - -FAU. Sweet child. [_Aside_. - -ROB. Consider that she is of high descent. - -FAU. Most virtuous earl. [_Aside_. - -ROB. Wife to the noblest knight that ever breath'd. - -FAU. Now, blessing on thee, blessed Huntington! [_Aside_. - -ROB. And would you then first stain your princely stock, -Wrong beauty, virtue, honour, chastity, -And blemish Fauconbridge's untainted arms? - -FAU. By adding horns unto our falcon's head? -Well thought on, noble youth: 'twas well put in. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Besides, my gracious lord,-- - -FAU. Tickle him, Mall, -Plague him on that side for his hot desire. - -LADY F.--however secretly great princes sin. - -FAU. O, now the spring! she'll do it secretly. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. The King of all hearts will have all sins known. - -FAU. Ah, then she yields not! [_Aside_. - -RICH. Lady, here's my hand. -I did but try your honourable faith. - -FAU. He did but try her! would she have been tried, -It had gone hard on this and on this side. [_Aside_. - -RICH. And since I see your virtue so confirm'd, -As vice can have no entrance in your heart, -I vow, in sight of heaven, never again, -To move like question but for love. - -FAU. My heart is eased; hold, Block, take up my cloak. - -BLO. And your cap, too, sir?[474] - - [_Sir_ RICH. FAUC. _comes forward_. - -RICH. Sir Richard! - -FAU. What, sweet Prince, welcome, i'faith, -I see youth quickly gets the start of age; -But welcome, welcome; and, young Huntington, -Sweet Robin Hood, honour's best flow'ring bloom, -Welcome to Fauconbridge with all my heart! -How cheers my love, how fares my Marian, ha? -Be merry, chuck, and, Prince Richard, welcome. -Let it go, Mall; I know thy grievances. -Away, away; tut, let it pass, sweet girl. -We needs must have his help about the earls. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Let it not be delay'd, dear Fauconbridge. - -RICH. Sir Richard, first make suit unto my father, -I'll follow you to Court, and second you. - -FAU. Follow to court, ha? then I smell a rat, -It's probable he'll have a bout again; -Long siege makes entrance to the strongest fort. -It must not be; I must not leave him here. [_Aside_. -Prince Richard, if you love my brother's good, -Let's ride back to the court: I'll wait on you. - -RICH. He's jealous; but I must observe the time. [_Aside_. -We'll ride unto the court; I'll leave my boy -Till we return; are you agreed to this? - -FAU. O, ay, he is an honourable youth, -Virtuous and modest, Huntington's right heir, -His father Gilbert was the smoothest-fac'd lord -That e'er bare arms in England or in France. - -RICH. Solicit,[475] Robin: Lady, give good ear, -And of your brother's freedom never fear. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Marian, farewell; where's Block? open the gate; -Come, Prince, God send us to prove fortunate. - - [_Exeunt_. - -LADY F. Why do you stay,[476] sir? - -ROB. Madam, as a lieger to solicit for your absent love. - -LADY F. Walk in the garden; I will follow you, -I'faith, i'faith, you are a noble wag. - -ROB. An honourable wag and waggish earl, -Even what you will, sweet lady, I must bear, -Hoping of patience profit will ensue, -That you will bear the Prince as I bear you. - -LADY F. Well said, well said, I'll have these toys amended, -Go, will you walk into the garden, sir? - -ROB. But will you promise me to bring no maids, -To set upon my little manship there? -You threat'ned whipping, and I am in fear. - -LADY F. Upon my word, I'll bring none but myself. - -ROB. You see I am weapon'd, do not, I beseech thee.[477] -I'll stab them, come there twenty, ere they breech me. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. This youth and Richard think me easily won; -But Marian rather will embrace -The bony carcase of dismaying death, -Than prove unchaste to noble Fauconbridge. -Richard,[478] King Henry's son, is light, -Wanton, and loves not humble modesty, -Which makes me (much contrary to my thoughts) -Flatter his humour for my brother's safety, -But I protest I'll dwell among the dead, -Ere I pollute my sacred nuptial bed. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE ELEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _in his gown, calling_. - - -GLO. Porter, what, porter, where's this drowsy ass? - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -POR. Who calls? my Lord of Gloucester all alone? - -GLO. Alone, and have your wisdom's company! -Pray, where's the stammering chatterer, your son? -He's ever running; but he makes small haste. -I'll bring his lither legs in better frame, -And if he serve me thus another time-- - [_Knock within_. -Hark, sir, your clients knock; and't be your pye, -Let him[479] vouchsafe to chatter us some news, -Tell him we dance attendance in our chamber. - [_Exit_ PORTER. -This John and Henry are so full of hate, -That they will have my head by some device, -Gloster hath plotted means for an escape, -And if it fadge,[480] why so; if not, then well. -The way to heaven is death, this life's a hell. - - - -SCENE THE TWELFTH. - - - _Enter_ PORTER _and_ SKINK. - -POR. Why should the watchman come along with thee? - -SKINK. There's such, a que-question for yon s-same r-rogue; Skink, -p-plague keep [me] far enough from him, that a-an-honest f-fellow -ca-can-not w-w-walk the streets. - -POR. Well, sir, dispatch your business with the earl; -He's angry at your stay, I tell ye that. - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. 'Sblood, what a frown this Gloster casts at me; -I hope he means to lend me no more cuffs, -Such as he paid me at the Parliament. [_Aside_. - -GLO. What mutter you? what tidings from my sister? - -SKINK. Co-commendations, and s-she hath s-sent ye this r-ring. - -GLO. Hold, there's two angels; shut the chamber-door, -You must about some business for me straight; -Come nearer, man. - -SKINK. I fear I am too near. [_Aside_. - -GLO. Hast thou no tidings for my liberty? - -SKINK. No, b-but ye sh-shall he-hear f-from her p-p-presently. - -GLO. And p-presently, sir, off with your coat. -Nay, quick, uncase, I am bold to borrow it, -I'll leave my gown; change is no robbery. -Stutterer, it's so, ne'er flinch, ye cannot pass: -Cry, and by heaven I'll cut thy coward's throat, -Quickly cashier yourself: you see me stay. - -SKINK. N-n-nay, b-b-but wh-wh-what m-mean ye? - -GLO. To 'scape, I hope, sir, with your privilege-- - [_He takes his coat off_. -How now, who's this? my fine familiar Skink, -Queen Beldam's minion? - -SKINK. Zounds, ye see 'tis I. - -GLO. Time sorts not now to know these mysteries. -How thou cam'st by this ring, or stol'st this coat, -They are mine now in possession, for which kindness, -If I escape, I'll get thee liberty, -Or fire the Fleet about the warden's ears. -Mumbudget, not a word, as thou lovest thy life. - -SKINK. Ay mum, mum fair, pray God may chance it, -My lord, but that my case is desperate, -I'd see your eyes out, ere I would be cheated. - -GLO. Walk like an earl, villain; some are coming. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTEENTH. - - - _Enter PRINCE JOHN and PORTER_. - -JOHN. Where is this Gloster? - -GLO. Y-y-yonder he walks. Fa-fa-father, l-let me out. - -POR. Why, whither must you now? - -GLO. To Je-Jericho, I th-think; 'tis such a h-h-humorous earl. - -POR. Well, sir, will't please you hasten home again. - -GLO. I-I-ll be h-here in a trice; b-but p-pray have a care of th-this -madcap; if he g-give us the s-s-slip, s-s-some of us a-are like to -m-make a sl-sl-slippery occupation on't. - - [_This while_ JOHN _walks and stalks by_ SKINK [_disguised as_ - GLO'STER], _never a word between them_. - -POR. Look to your business, sir; let me alone. - -GLO. Alone; never trust me, if I trouble thee. - -JOHN. Mad Gloster mute, all mirth turn'd to despair? -Why, now you see what 'tis to cross a king, -Deal against princes of the royal blood, -You'll snarl and rail, but now your tongue is bedrid, -Come, caperhay[481], set all at six and seven; -What, musest thou with thought of hell or heaven? - -SKINK. Of neither, John; I muse at my disgrace, -That I am thus kept prisoner in this place. - -JOHN. O, sir, a number are here prisoners: -My cousin Morton, whom I came to visit. -But he (good man) is at his morrow mass; -But I, that neither care to say nor sing, -Come to seek that preaching hate and prayer, -And while they mumble up their orisons, -We'll play a game at bowls. What say'st thou, Gloster? - -SKINK. I care not, if I do. - -JOHN. You do not care, -Let old men care for graves, we for our sports; -Off with your gown, there lies my hat and cloak, -The bowls there quickly, ho? - -SKINK. No, my gown stirs not; it keeps sorrow warm, -And she and I am not to be divorced. - - _Enter_ PORTER _with bowls_. - -JOHN. Yes, there's an axe must part your head and you, -And with your head sorrow will leave your heart. -But come, shall I begin? a pound a game? - -SKINK. More pounds, and we thus heavy? well, begin. - -JOHN. Rub, rub, rub, rub. - -SKINK. Amen, God send it short enough, and me -A safe running with these[482] clothes from thee. - -JOHN. Play, Robin; run, run, run. - -SKINK. Far enough and well: fly one foot more; -Would I were half so far without the door. - -JOHN. Now, Porter, what's the news? - -POR. Your cousin Morton humbly craves, -Leaving your game, you would come visit him. - -JOHN. Bowl, Gloster; I'll come presently. -So near, mad Robin? then have after you. - - [_Ex_. PORT. - -SKINK. Would I were gone, make after as you may. - -JOHN. Well, sir, 'tis yours, one all; throw but the jack, -While I go talk with Morton. I'll not stay, -Keep coat and hat in pawn, I'll hold out play. - [_Ex_. JOHN. - -SKINK. I would be sorry, John, but you should stay, -Until my bias run another way. -Now pass and hey-pass, Skink, unto your tricks: -'Tis but a chance at hazard. There lies Gloster, -And here stands Skink; now, John, play thou thy part, -And if I 'scape I'll love thee with my heart. - [_Puts on_ PRINCE JOHN'S _cloak, sword, and hat_. -So, porter! let me forth. - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -POR. God bless your grace, spoke ye[483] with the Lord Morton? - -SKINK. I have, and must about his business to the Court. -It grieves me to break my sport with Gloster: -The melancholy earl is comfortless. - -POR. I would your grace would comfort him from hence, -The Fleet is weary of his company. - - [REDCAP _knocks_. - -SKINK. Drink that, some knocks; I prythee, let me out, -His head shall off ere long, never make doubt. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ JOHN _at the other door_. - -JOHN. Now, madcap, thou winn'st all; where art thou, Robin? -Uncased? nay, then, he means to play in earnest. -But where's my cloak, my rapier, and my hat? -I hold my birthright to a beggar's scrip, -The bastard is escaped in my clothes. -'Tis well he left me his to walk the streets; -I'll fire the city, but I'll find him out. -Perchance he hides himself to try my spleen. -I'll to his chamber. Gloster! hallo! Gloster! - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -POR. I wonder how thou cam'st so strangely chang'd! -'Tis not an hour since thou went'st from hence. - -RED. By my Ch-Ch-Christendom, I ha-have not b-been h-here this three -nights; a p-p-plague of him, that made me such a ch-chanting, and -s-sent me such a ja-ja-jaunt! blood, I was st-stayed for Skink, that -ill-fa-fa-fac'd rogue. - -POR. I pray God there be no practice in this change. -Now I remember these are Skink's clothes, -That he wore last day at the Parl'ament. - - _Knock; Enter at another door_ JOHN _in_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -JOHN. Porter? you Porter? - -POR. Do you not hear them knock? you must stay, sir. - -JOHN. Blood, I could eat these rogues. - -RED. Wh-wh-what, raw? -'Tis a very harsh mo-morsel, -Ne-next your he-heart. - -JOHN. A plague upon your jaunts! what, porter, slave? - -RED. I have been at G-Gravesend, sir. - -JOHN. What's that to me? - -RED. And at Ca-Ca-Canterbury. - -JOHN. And at the gallows! zounds, this frets my soul. - -RED. But I c-could not f-find your s-s-sister the La-Lady -Fau-Fauconbridge. - -JOHN. You stammering slave, hence! chat among your daws. -Come ye to mad me? while the rogue your father-- - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -RED. My f-fa-father? - -JOHN. Porter, you damned slave. - -POR. Is't midsummer: do you begin to rave? - -JOHN. Hark, how the traitor flouts me to my teeth! -I would entreat your knaveship, let me forth, -For fear I dash your brains out with the keys. -What is become of Gloster and my garments? - -POR. Alas, in your apparel Gloster's gone, -I let him out even now; I am undone. - -JOHN. It was your practice, and to keep me back, -You sent Jack Daw your son with ka-ka-ka, -To tell a sleeveless tale! lay hold on him, -To Newgate with him and your tut-a-tut! -Run, Redcap, and trudge about, -Or bid your father's portership farewell. - - [_Exeunt with_ PORTER. - -RED. Eh! here's a go-good je-je-jest, by the L-Lord, to mo-mock an ape -withal! my fa-fa-father has brought his ho-ho-hogs to a fa-fa-fair -m-m-market. Po-po-porter, quoth you? p-po-porter that will for me; and -I po-po-porter it, let them po-po-post me to heaven in this qua-quarter. -But I must s-s-seek this Gl-Gl-Gloster and Sk-Sk-Skink that -co-coney-catching ra-ra-rascal, a pa-pa-plague co-co-confound him. -Re-Re-Redcap must ru-run, he cannot tell whi-whither. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE FOURTEENTH. - - - _Sound trumpets, enter_ HENRY _the younger, on one - hand of him_ QUEEN ELINOR, _on the other_ LEICESTER. - -HEN. Mother and Leicester, add not oil to fire; -Wrath's kindled with a word, and cannot hear -The numberless persuasions you insort. - -QUEEN. O, but, my son, thy father favours him. -Richard, that vile abortive changeling brat, -And Fauconbridge, are fallen at Henry's feet. -They woo for him, but entreat my son -Gloster may die for this, that he hath done. - -LEI. If Gloster live, thou wilt be overthrown. - -QUEEN. If Gloster live, thy mother dies in moan. - -LEI. If Gloster live, Leicester will fly the realm. - -QUEEN. If Gloster live, thy kingdom's but a dream. - -HEN. Have I not sworn by that eternal arm, -That puts just vengeance' sword in monarchs' hands, -Gloster shall die for his presumption! -What needs more conjuration, gracious mother? -And, honourable Leicester, mark my words. -I have a bead-roll of some threescore lords -Of Gloster's faction. - -QUEEN. Nay, of Henry's faction, -Of thy false father's faction; speak the truth, -He is the head of factions; were he down, -Peace, plenty, glory, will impale thy crown. - -LEI. Ay, there's the _But_, whose heart-white if we hit, -The game is ours. Well, we may rage and rave[484] -At Gloster, Lancaster, Chester, Fauconbridge; -But his the upshot. - -QUEEN. Yet begin with Gloster. - -HEN. The destinies run to the Book of Fates, -And read in never-changing characters -Robert of Gloster's end; he dies to-day: -So fate, so heaven, so doth King Henry say. - -QUEEN. Imperially resolv'd. [_Trumpets far off_. - -LEI. The old King comes. - -QUEEN. Then comes luxurious lust; -The King of concubines; the King that scorns -The undefiled, chaste, and nuptial bed; -The King that hath his queen imprisoned: -For my sake, scorn him; son, call him not father; -Give him the style of a competitor. - -HEN. Pride, seize upon my heart: wrath, fill mine eyes! -Sit, lawful majesty, upon my front, -Duty, fly from me; pity, be exil'd: -Senses, forget that I am Henry's child. - -QUEEN. I kiss thee, and I bless thee for this thought. - - - -SCENE THE FIFTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ KING, LANCASTER, RICHARD, FAUCONBRIDGE. - -KING. O Lancaster, bid Henry yield some reason, -Why he desires so much the death of Gloster. - -HEN. I hear thee, Henry, and I thus reply: -I do desire the death of bastard Gloster, -For that he spends the Treasure of the Crown; -I do desire the death of bastard Gloster, -For that he doth desire to pull me down. -Or were this false (I purpose to be plain), -He loves thee, and for that I him disdain. - -HEN. Therein thou shewest a hate-corrupted mind; -To him the more unjust, to me unkind. - -QUEEN. He loves you, as his father lov'd his mother. - -KING. Fie, fie upon thee, hateful Elinor; -I thought thou hadst been long since scarlet-dyed. - -HEN. She is, and therefore cannot change her colour. - -RICH. You are too strict; Earl Gloster's fault -Merits not death. - -FAU. By the rood, the Prince says true; -Here is a statute from the Confessor[485]. - -HEN. The Confessor was but a simple fool. -Away with books; my word shall be a law, -Gloster shall die. - -LEI. Let Gloster die the death. - -LAN. Leicester, he shall not; -He shall have law, despite of him and thee. - -HEN. What law? will you be traitors? what's the law? - -RICH. His right hand's loss; and that is such a loss, -As England may lament, all Christians weep. -That hand hath been advanc'd against the Moors, -Driven out the Saracens from Gad's[486] and Sicily, -Fought fifteen battles under Christ's red cross; -And is it not, think you, a grievous loss, -That for a slave (and for no other harm) -It should be sundred from his princely arm? - -FAU. More for example, noble Lancaster; -But 'tis great pity too--too great a pity. - -HEN. I'll have his hand and head. - -RICH. Thou shalt have mine, then. - -QUEEN. Well said, stubborn Dick, Jack would not -Serve me so, were the boy here. - -RICH. Both John and I have serv'd your will too long; -Mother, repent your cruelty and wrong: -Gloster, you know, is full of mirth and glee, -And never else did your grace injury. - -QUEEN. Gloster shall die. - -HEN. Fetch him here, I'll see him dead. - -RICH. He that stirs for him shall lay down his head. - -FAU. O quiet, good my lords; patience, I pray, -I think he comes unsent for, by my fay. - - _Enter_ JOHN _in_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -RICH. What mean'st thou, Gloster? - -HEN. Who brought Gloster hither? - -JOHN. Let Gloster hang and them that ... [487] -There lies his case[488], a mischief on his carcase! - [_Throws off_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -QUEEN. My dear son Jack! - -JOHN. Your dear son Jack-an-apes; -Your monkey, your baboon, your ass, your gull! - -LEI. What ails Earl John? - -JOHN. Hence, further from my sight! -My fiery thoughts and wrath have work in hand; -I'll curse ye blacker than th'Avernian[489] Lake, -If you stand wond'ring at my sorrow thus. -I am with child, big, hugely swoll'n with rage, -Who'll play the midwife, and my throbs assuage? - -KING. I will, my son. - -HEN. I will, high-hearted brother. - -JOHN. You will? and you? tut, tut, all you are nothing! -'Twill out, 'twill out, myself myself can ease: -You chafe, you swell: ye are commanding King. -My father is your footstool, when ye please. -Your word's a law; these lords dare never speak. -Gloster must die; your enemies must fall! - -HEN. What means our brother? - -JOHN. He means that thou art mad: -She frantic: Leicester foolish: I the babe-- -Thou grind us, bite us, vex us, charge and discharge. -Gloster, O Gloster! - -QUEEN. Where is Gloster, son? - -HEN. Where is Gloster, brother? - -KING. I hope he be escaped. - -JOHN. O, I could tear my hair, and, falling thus -Upon the solid earth, -Dig into Gloster's grave, -So he were dead, and gone into the depth -Of under-world-- -Or get sedition's hundreth thousand hand, -And, like Briareus, battle with the stars, -To pull him down from heaven, if he were there! - -FAU. Look to Earl John; the gentleman is mad. - -JOHN. O, who would not be mad at this disgrace? -Gloster the fox is fled; there lies his case. - [_Points to the gown_. -He cozen'd me of mine; the porter helped him. - -HEN. The porter shall be hang'd; let's part and seek him: -Gloster shall die; all Europe shall not save him. - -JOHN. He is wise, too wise for us; yet I'll go with you -To get more fools into my company. - -QUEEN. This is your father's plot; revenge it, son. - -HEN. Father, by heaven, if this were your advice, -Your head or heart shall pay the bitter price. -Come, mother, brother, Leicester; let's away. - -JOHN. Ay, I'll be one, in hope to meet the bastard, -And then no more: myself will be his headsman. - - [_Exeunt_. - -KING. Richard and Fauconbridge, follow the search; -You may prevent mischance by meeting Gloster. -If ye find Skink, see that you apprehend him. -I hear there is a wizard at Blackheath; -Let some inquire of him, where Skink remains. -Although I trust not to those fallacies, -Yet now and then such men prove soothsayers. -Will you be gone? - -FAU. With all my heart, with all my heart, my lord. -Come, princely Richard, we are ever yok'd. -Pray God, there be no mystery in this. - -RICH. Be not suspicious, where there is no cause. - -FAU. Nay, nothing, nothing; I am but in jest. - - [_Exeunt_. - -KING. Call in a pursuivant. - -LAN. Here's one, my liege. - - _Enter_ PURSUIVANT. - -KING. There is a porter likely to be hang'd -For letting Gloster 'scape; sirrah, attend. -You shall have a reprieve to bring him us. -These boys are too-too stubborn, Lancaster; -But 'tis their mother's fault. If thus she move me, -I'll have her head, though all the world reprove me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE SIXTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _and_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Do not deny me, gentle Huntington. - -ROB. My lord will miss me. - -LADY F. Tut, let me excuse thee. - -ROB. Turn, woman? O, it is intolerable! -Except you promise me to play the page. -Do that, try one night, and you'll laugh for ever -To hear the orisons that lovers use: -Their ceremonies, sighs, their idle oaths! -To hear how you are prais'd and pray'd unto. -For you are Richard's saint. They talk of Mary -The blessed Virgin; but upon his beads -He only prays to Marian Fauconbridge. - -LADY F. The more his error; but will you agree -To be the Lady Fauconbridge one day? - -ROB. When is't? - -LADY. F. On Monday. - -ROB. Wherefore is't? - -LADY F. Nay, then, you do me wrong with inquisition, -And yet I care not greatly if I tell thee. -Thou seest my husband full of jealousy: -Prince Richard in his suit importunate, -My brother Gloster threat'ned by young Henry, -To clear these doubts, I will in some disguise -Go to Blackheath, unto the holy hermit, -Whose wisdom, in foretelling things to come, -Will let me see the issue of my cares. -If destinies ordain me happiness, -I'll chase these mists of sorrow from my heart -With the bright sun of mirth; if fate agree -To't[490], and my friends must suffer misery, -Yet I'll be merry too, till mischief come. -Only I long to know the worst of ill. - -ROB. I'll once put on a scarlet countenance. - -LADY F. Be wary, lest ye be discovered, Robin. - -ROB. Best paint me, then be sure I shall not blush. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _bleeding_, GLOSTER _with him_. - -BLO. Beat an officer, Redcap? I'll have ye talk'd withal! -Beat Sir Richard's porter? help, madam, help! - -GLO. Peace, you damned rogue. - -LADY F. Brother, I pray you forbear. - -GLO. Zwounds! an hundred's at my heels almost, -And yet the villain stands on compliment. - -BLO. A bots on[491] you, is't you? - -GLO. Will you to the door, you fool, and bar the gate? -Hold, there's an angel for your broken pate: -If any knock, let them not in in haste. - -BLO. Well, I will do, as I see cause; -Blood, thou art dear to me. -But here's a sovereign plaister for the sore: -Gold healeth wounds, gold easeth hearts! -What can a man have more? [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Dear brother, tell us how you made escape? - -GLO. You see I am here, but if you would know how, -I cannot 'scape, and tell the manner too, -By this I know your house is compassed -With hell-hound search[492]. - -LADY F. Brother, I'll furnish you with beard and hair, -And garment like my husband's. -How like you that? - -GLO. Well, when I have them: -Quickly, then, dispatch. [_Exit_ LADY.] S'blood! turn -Grey beard and hair. -Robin, conceal; this dieteth my mind. -Mirth is the object of my humorous spleen. -Thou high, commanding fury, further device! -Jests are conceited. I long to see their birth. - - _Re-enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -What, come ye, sister? Robin, a thief's hand! -But, prythee, where hadst thou this beard and hair? - -LADY F. Prince Richard wore them hither in a masque. - -GLO. Say'st thou me so? faith, [I] love the princely youth; -Tut, you must taste stolen pleasure now and then. - -ROB. But if she steal, and jealous eyes espy, -She will be sure condemn'd of burglary. - -GLO. Ha! crake! can your low stumps venture so deep -Into affection's stream? go to, you wanton! -What want we now? my nightcap! O, 'tis here. -So now no Gloster, but old Fauconbridge. -Hark, the search knocks; I'll let them in myself: -Welcome, good fellows; ha! what is't you lack? - - _Enter REDCAP, with two others_[493]. - -RED. Ma-master Co-Constable, se-se-search you th-that way; a-and, you -ho-honest man, th-that way. I'll ru-run th-this way m-my own se-self. - - [_They disperse themselves_. - -GLO. What search you for? what is it you would have? - - _Enter_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Madam, what shall I do to these brown-bill fellows? some run into -the wine cellar; some here, some there. - -GLO. Let them alone; let them search their fills. - -BLO. I'll look to their fingers for all that. - -GLO. Do so, good Block; be careful, honest Block. - -BLO. Sir stammerer and your wa-watch, y'are pa-past, i'faith. - [_Exit_. - -GLO, Will you not speak, knaves? tell me who you seek. - -RED. Ma-marry, sir, we s-seek a va-va-vacabond, a fu-fugative, my -la-lady's own b-brother; but, and he were the po-po-pope's own b-brother, -I would s-search f-f-for him; for I have a p-poor father r-ready to be -ha-ha-hang'd f-f-for him. - -GLO. O, 'tis for Gloster? marry, search, a' God's name, -Seek, peace[494]; will he break prison too? -It's a pity he should live; nay, I defy him. -Come, look about, search every little corner, -Myself will lead the way; pray you, come. -Seek, seek, and spare not, though it be labour lost: -He comes not under my roof; hear ye, wife? -He comes not hither, take it for a warning. - -RED. You sp-sp-speak like an honest ge-ge-gentleman, re-re-rest you -me-me-merry! co-co-come, my f-f-friends, I be-believe h-h-he r-ran by -the g-g-garden w-wall toward the wa-water side. - - [_Exeunt running_. - -GLO. This fellow is of the humour I would choose my wife: -Few words and many paces; a word and away; and so -Must I. Sister, adieu; pray you for me; I'll do the like for you. -Robin, farewell; commend me to the Prince. - -LADY F. Can ye not stay here safe? - -GLO. No, I'll not trust the changing humours of old Fauconbridge. -Adieu, young earl; sister, let's kiss and part. -Tush, never mourn, I have a merry heart. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Farewell all comfort. - -ROB. What, weeping, lady? -Then I perceive you have forgot Blackheath! - -LADY F. No, there I'll learn both of his life and death. - -ROB. Till Monday, madam, I must take my leave. - -LADY F. You will not miss then? - -ROB. Nay, if Robin fail ye, -Let him have never favour of fair lady! - -LADY F. Meanwhile, I'll spend my time in prayers and tears, -That Gloster may escape these threat'ned fears. - [_Exit_ - - - -SCENE THE SEVENTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like_ PRINCE[495] JOHN. - -SKINK. Thus jets my noble Skink along the streets, -To whom each bonnet vails, and all knees bend; -And yet my noble humour is too light -By the six shillings. Here are two crack'd groats -To helter-skelter at some vaulting-house[496]. -But who comes yonder? ha! old Fauconbridge? -Hath a brave chain; were John and he good friends, -That chain were mine, and should unto Blackheath. -I'll venture; it's but trial: luck may fall. -Good morrow, good Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -FAU. Good morrow, my sweet Prince, hearty good morrow; -This greeting well becomes us, marry does it, -Better, i'wis, than strife and jangling. -Now can I love ye; will ye to the sheriffs? -Your brother Richard hath been there this hour. - -SKINK. Yes, I am plodding forward, as you do; -What cost your chain? it's passing strongly wrought, -I would my goldsmith had a pattern of it. - -FAU. 'Tis at your grace's service: show it him. - -SKINK. Then dare ye trust me? - -FAU. Who? the princely John! -My sovereign's son: why, what a question's that. -I'll leave you; ye may know I dare trust you. - -SKINK. I'll bring it ye to the sheriff's, excuse my absence. - -FAU. I will, my noble lord; adieu, sweet prince. - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. Why so; this breakfast was well fed upon. -When Skink's devices on Blackheath do fail, -This and such cheats would set me under sail, -I'll to the water-side, would it were later [on]; -For still I am afraid to meet Prince John. - - - -SCENE THE EIGHTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _like_ FAUCONBRIDGE. - -[SKINK.] But what a mischief meant Fauconbridge -To come again so soon? that way he went, -And now comes peaking. Upon my life, -The buzzard hath me in suspicion, -But whatsoever chance, I'll filch a share. - -GLO. Yonder's Prince John; I hope he cannot know me, -There's nought but Gloster, Gloster in their mouths; -I am half-strangled with the garlic-breath -Of rascals that exclaim, as I pass by, -Gloster is fled; once taken, he must die. -But I'll to John--how does my gracious lord? -What babbles rumour now? What news of Gloster? - -SKINK. What news could I hear, since you left me last? -Were you not here even now? lent me your chain? -I think you dote. - -GLO. Sweet prince, age aye[497] forgets. -My brother's chain? a pretty accident! -But I'll have't, and be in the spite of John. [_Aside_. - -SKINK. There's more and more; I'll geld it, ere it go. - [_He breaks the chain_. -This same shall keep me in some tavern merry, -Till night's black hand curtain this too clear sky. - -GLO.[498] My sweet prince, I have some cause to use my chain; -Another time (whene'er your lordship please) -'Tis at your service, O marry God, it is. - -SKINK. Here, palsy, take your chain; stoop and be hang'd, - [_Casts it down_. -Yet the fish nibbled, when she might not swallow: -Go'ut[499] I have curtail'd, what I could not borrow. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. He's gone away in frets; would he might meet -My brother Fauconbridge in this mad mood, -There would be rare ado. Why, this fits me; -My brain flows with fresh wit and policy. -But, Gloster, look about, who have we yonder? -Another John, Prince Richard, and the sheriff? -Upon my life, the slave, that had the chain, -Was Skink, escap'd the Fleet by some mad sleight. -Well, farewell he, better and better still, -These seek for me; yet I will have my will. - - - -SCENE THE NINETEENTH. - - _Enter_ PRINCE JOHN, PRINCE RICHARD, _and the_ SHERIFF. - -JOHN. Sheriff, in any case be diligent. -Who's yonder? Fauconbridge? - -GLO. How now, sweet chuck; how fares my lovely prince? - -JOHN. What carest thou? or well or ill, we crave -No help of thee. - -GLO. God's mother, do ye scorn me? - -JOHN. Go'ut! what then? - -RICH. Fie, leave these idle brawls, I prythee, John; -Let's follow that we are enjoin'd unto. - -GLO. Ay, marry, prince, if now you slip the time, -Gloster will slip away; but, though he hate me, -I have done service; I have found him out. - -RICH. A shame confound thee for thy treachery, -Inconstant dotard, timorous old ass, -That shakes with cowardice, not with years. - -GLO. Go, I have found him, I have winded him. - -JOHN. O, let me hug thee, gentle Fauconbridge; -Forgive my oft ill-using of thine age. -I'll call thee father; I'll be penitent; -Bring me where Gloster is; I'll be thy slave, -All that is mine thou in reward shalt have. - -GLO. Soft; not too hasty; I would not be seen in't; -Marry a' God, my wife would chide me dead, -If Gloster by my means should lose his head. -Princely Richard, at this corner make your stand: -And for I know you love my sister well, -Know I am Gloster, and not Fauconbridge. - -RICH. Heaven prosper thee, sweet prince, in thy escape! - -GLO. Sheriff, make this your quarter, make good guard; -John, stay you here; this way he means to turn, -By Thomas, I lack a sword, body a' me! - -JOHN. What wouldst thou with a sword, old Fauconbridge? - -GLO. O sir, to make show in his defence, -For I have left him yonder at a house, -A friend's of mine, an honest citizen. - -JOHN. We'll fetch him thence. - -GLO. Nay, then, you injure me. Stay, till he come; he's in a russet cloak, -And must attend me like a serving-man. - -JOHN. Hold, there's my sword, and with my sword my heart. -Bring him, for God's sake, and for thy desert -My brother king and mother queen shall love thee. - -GLO. Mark me, good prince; yonder away we come, -I go afore, and Gloster follows me; -Let not the sheriff nor Richard meddle with us. -Begin you first; seize Gloster, and arrest him. -I'll draw and lay about me here and here; -Be heedful that your watchmen hurt me not. - -JOHN. I'll hang him that doth hurt thee; prythee, away, -I love thee; but thou kill'st me with delay. - -GLO. Well, keep close watch; I'll bring him presently. - -JOHN, Away then quickly. - -GLO. Gloster, close, master sheriff, Prince Richard. - -RICH. Gloster, adieu. - -GLO. I trust you. - -RICH. By my knighthood, I'll prove true. - - [_Exit_ GLOSTER. - -JOHN. Revenge, I'll build a temple to your name; -And the first offering shall be Gloster's head, -Thy altars shall be sprinkled with the blood, -Whose wanton current his mad humour fed; -He was a rhymer and a riddler, -A scoffer at my mother, prais'd my father: -I'll fit him now for all--escape and all. - -RICH. Take heed spite burst not in his proper gall. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTIETH. - - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _and_ BLOCK. - -JOHN. How now, what way took Fauconbridge, I wonder? -That is not Gloster, sure, that attends on him? - -FAU. He came not at the sheriff's by the morrow-mass, -I sought the Goldsmiths' row, and found him not; -Sirrah, y'are sure he sent not home my chain? - -BLO. Who should send [home] your chain, sir? - -FAU. The prince, Prince John; I lent it him to-day. - -JOHN. What's this they talk? - -BLO. By my truth, sir, and ye lent it him, I think you may go look it: -for one of the drawers of the Salutation told me even now, that he had -took up a chamber there till evening, and then he will away to Kent. - -FAU. Body of me, he means to spend my chain. -Come, Block; I'll to him. - -JOHN. Hear you, Fauconbridge; - -FAU. Why, what a knave art thou? yonder's Prince John. - -BLO. Then the drawer's a knave; he told me Prince John was at the -Salutation. - -JOHN. Where's Gloster, Fauconbridge? - -FAU. Sweet prince, I know not. - -JOHN. Come, jest not with me: tell me where he is? - -FAU. I never saw him since the Parl'ament. - -JOHN. Impudent liar, didst thou not even now -Say thou wouldst fetch him? Hadst thou not my sword? - -FAU. Wert thou a king, I will not bear the lie. -Thy sword? no, boy; thou seest this sword is mine. - -BLO. My master a liar? Zounds, wert thou a potentate! - -FAU. I scorn to wear thy arms, untutor'd child, -I fetch thee, Gloster, shameless did I see thee, -Since as I went this morning to the Sheriffs, -Thou borrow'dst my gold chain! - -JOHN. Thy chain? - -FAU. I hope thou wilt not cheat me, princocks John! - -JOHN. I'll cheat thee of thy life, if thou charge me -With any chain. - -FAU. Come, let him come, I pray, -I'll whip ye, boy, I'll teach you to out-face. - -BLO. Come, come, come! but one at once; ye dastards, come. - -RICH. Keep the king's peace, I see you are both deceiv'd, -He that was last here was not Fauconbridge. - -FAU. They slander me; who says that I was here? - -RICH. We do believe ye, sir; nor do you think -My brother John deceiv'd you of a chain. - -FAU. He did; I did deliver it with this hand. - -JOHN. I'll die upon the slanderer. - -FAU. Let the boy come. - -BLO. Aye, let him come, let him come. - -RICH. Fellow, thou speak'st even now, as if Prince John -Had been at some old tavern in the town! - -BLO. Aye, sir, I came up now but from the Salutation, -And a drawer, that doth not use to lie, told me -Prince John hath been there all this afternoon. - -JOHN. The devil in my likeness then is there. - -FAU. The devil in thy likeness or thyself -Had my gold chain. - -JOHN. Thou art the devil; for thou -Hadst my good sword, all these can witness it. - -FAU. God's mother, thou beliest me. - -JOHN. Give me the lie? - -RICH. Nay, calm this fury; let's down to the tavern; -Or one or both: these counterfeits are there. - -FAU. I know him well enough, that had my chain, -And there be two Johns, if I find one there. -By'r Lady, I will lay him fast. - -RICH. It is this Skink that mocks us, I believe. - -JOHN. Alas, poor Skink; it is the devil Gloster, -Who if I be so happy once to find, -I'll give contentment to his troubled mind. - -RICH. I hope he's far enough, and free enough, -Yet these conceits, I know, delight his soul. [_Aside_. -Follow me, Blocker, follow me, honest Blocker. - -BLO. Much follow you! I have another piece of work in hand; I hear say -Redcap's father shall be hanged this afternoon, I'll see him slip a -string, though I give my service the slip; besides, my lady bad me hear -his examination at his death. I'll get a good place, and pen it word for -word, and as I like it, let out a mournful ditty to the tune of -"Labandalashot," or "Row Well, ye Mariners," or somewhat as my muse -shall me invoke. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FIRST. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _like_ FAUCONBRIDGE, _with a_ PURSUIVANT; - GLOSTER _having a paper in his hand, the_ PURSUIVANT _bare_. - -GLO. A charitable deed, God bless the king; -He shall be then reprieved. - -PUR. Ay, sir, some day or two, -Till the young king and Prince John change it-- -Especially if the good earl be not found, -Which God forbid! - -GLO. What house is this, -That we are stepp'd into, to read this warrant in? - -PUR. A tavern, sir, the Salutation. - -GLO. A tavern? -Then I will turn prodigal; call for a pint -Of sack, good fellow. - -PUR. Drawer! - -DRA. [_Within_.] Anon, sir. - - _Enter_ DRAWER. - -GLO. A pint of thy best sack, my pretty youth. - -DRA. God bless your worship, sir; -Ye shall have the best in London, sir. - -GLO. What, know'st thou me I know'st thou old Fauconbridge? -I am no tavern-h[a]unter, I can tell thee. - -DRA. But my master hath taken many a fair pound -Of your man Block; he was here to-day, sir, -And emptied[500] two bottles of nippitate[501] sack. - -GLO. Well, fill us of your nippitate, sir; -This is well chanced. But hear[502] ye, boy! -Bring sugar in white paper, not in brown; -For in white paper I have here a trick, -Shall make the pursuivant first swoon, then sick. [_Aside_. -Thou honest fellow, what's thy name? - -PUR. My name is Winterborne, sir. - -GLO. What countryman, I prythee? - -PUR. Barkshire, and please ye. - -GLO. How long hast thou been sworn a messenger? - -PUR. But yesterday, and please your worship, -This is the first employment I have had. - - _Enter_ DRAWER, _with wine and sugar_. - -GLO. A good beginning; here, have to thee, fellow; -Thou art my fellow, now thou servest the king, -Nay, take sugar too, God's Lady dear! -I put it in my pocket; but it's here: -Drink a good draught, I prythee, Winterborne. - - [_He drinks and falls over the stool_. - -DRA. O Lord, Sir Richard, the man, the man! - -GLO. What a forgetful beast am I! Peace, boy, -It is his fashion ever, when he drinks. -Fellow, he hath the falling sickness; -Run, fetch two cushions to raise up his head, -And bring a little key to ope his teeth. [_Exit_ DRAWER. -Pursuivant, your warrant and your box-- -These must with me; the shape of Fauconbridge -Will hold no longer water hereabout. -Gloster will be a Proteus every hour, -That Elinor and Leicester, Henry, John, -And all that rabble of hate-loving curs, -May minister me more mirth to play upon. - - _Re-enter_ DRAWER, _with an_ ASSISTANT. - -DRA. Here's a key, sir, and one of our folk to help. - -GLO. No matter for a key; help him but in, -And lay him by the fire a little while, -He'll wake immediately; but be [not] heart-sick. -There's money for a candle and thy wine, -I'll go but up unto your alderman's, -And come down presently to comfort him. - - [_Exeunt_. - -SKINK. [_Within_.] Drawer! what Drawer? with a vengeance, Drawer! - -DRA. [_Within_.] Speak in the Crown[503] there. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SECOND. - - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like_ PRINCE JOHN. - -SKINK. They be come; the devil crown ye one by one. -Skink, thou'rt betray'd, that Master Fauconbridge, -Missing some of his chain has got thee dogg'd. -Drawer! what Drawer? - -DRA. Anon, anon, sir. - -SKINK. Was not Sir Richard Fauconbridge below? - -DRA. Yes, and please ye. - -SKINK. It does not please me well. Knows he that I am here? - -DRA. No, I protest. - -SKINK. Come hither, sirrah. I have little money; -But there's some few links of a chain of gold. -Upon your honesty, knows not Sir Richard -That I am here? - -DRA. No, by my holy-dam. - -SKINK. Who's that was with him? - -DRA. Why, a pursuivant. - -SKINK. Where is Sir Richard? - -DRA. At the alderman's. - -SKINK. A pursuivant, and at the alderman's? -What pig, or goose, or capon, have you kill'd -Within your kitchen new? - -DRA. A pig new-stick'd. - -SKINK. Fetch me a saucer of the blood; quick, run; [_Exit_ DRAWER. -I'll fit the pursuivant, and alderman, -And Fauconbridge, if Skink have any wit. -Well, Gloster, I did never love thee yet; -But thou'st the maddest lord that e'er I met. -If I 'scape this, and meet thee once again, -Curse Skink, if he die penny in thy debt. - - _Re-enter_ DRAWER. - -DRA. O my lord, the house is full of halberts, and a great many -gentlemen ask for the room where Prince John is. - -SKINK. Lend me thy apron; run and fetch a pot from the next room. -Betray'd, swounds, betray'd by gout, by palsy, by dropsy-- - _Re-enter_ DRAWER _with a pot_. -O brave boy, excellent blood! up, take my cloak -And my hat to thy share; when I come from Kent, I'll pay -Thee like a king. - -DRA. I thank you, my lord. - [_Exit_ DRAWER. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-THIRD. - - - _Enter_ JOHN, RICHARD, FAUCONBRIDGE, SHERIFFS, _and_ OFFICERS. - -SKINK. Now, fortune, help or never. They come--_and ye were a prince, -as ye say ye are, ye would be ashamed to abuse a poor servant thus; -but and if ye were not of the blood royal, I'd break the neck of ye -down the stairs, so would I, I'd teach you to hurt 'prentices_. - -RICH. Who hurt thee, fellow? - -SKINK. Prince devil or his dam; Prince John they call him. - -JOHN. Gloster, I hope. - -RICH. I doubt not but 'tis Skink. - -JOHN. Where is he? - -SKINK. Up them stairs; take heed of him, -He's in the Crown. - -FAU. Alas, poor fellow, he hath crown'd thee shrewdly. - -JOHN. In recompence, if it be him I seek, -I'll give thee his whole head to tread upon. -Follow me, brother; come, old Fauconbridge; -Keep the stairs, sheriff. You see, it waxeth dark; -Take heed he slip not by you. - - [_Exeunt_. - -SKINK. Hang yourselves, this darkness shall convey me out of doors, -I'll swim the Thames, but I'll attain Blackheath. -London, farewell; curse, John, rave, Fauconbridge! -Skink 'scapes you all by twilight's privilege. - [_Exit_. - -WITHIN. Where is he? lights, bring lights; drag out that boy. - - _Enter all with the_ BOY. - -JOHN. This is my cloak, my hat, my rapier; -And either it was Skink or Gloster. - -DRA. I know not who 'twas, sir; he said he was Prince John; he took -away my apron and a pottle-pot with him, and all-to blooded his head -and face. - -FAU. We met him, by St Anthony, we met him! - -JOHN. The fire of St Anthony confound -This changing counterfeit, whatsoever he be. - -RICH. It makes me laugh at envious greediness, -Who feeds upon her own heart's bitterness. - -JOHN. Sirrah, you that were born to cry anon, -What other copes-mates have you in the house? - -DRA. Sir, my master's gues's[504] be none of my copesmates. - -JOHN. Well, your gues's! can you guess who they be? - -DRA. Marry, here's a pursuivant, that this gentleman, sir, Richard -Fauconbridge, left sick even now. - -FAU. Marry of God, did I, thou lying knave? - -DRA. I am a poor boy, sir; your worship may say your pleasure; our -maids have had a foul hand with him. You said he would be sick; so he -is, with a witness. - -JOHN. Look about, Fauconbridge, here's work for you! -You have some evil angel in your shape. -Go, sirrah, bring us forth that Pursuivant. - - _Enter two, leading the_ PURSUIVANT, _sick_. - -RICH. Gloster, thou wilt be too-too venturous; -Thou dost delight in those odd humours so, -That much I fear they'll be thy overthrow. [_Aside_. - -PUR. O, O, O, not too fast; O, I am sick, O, very sick. - -JOHN. What picture of the pestilence is this? - -PUR. A poor man, sir, a poor man, sir: down, I pray ye; I pray, let me -sit down. Ah, Sir Richard, Sir Richard! Ah, good Sir Richard! what, have -I deserv'd to be thus dealt withal at your worship's hands? Ah! ah! ah! - -FAU. At my hands, knave? at my hands, paltry knave? - -DRA. And I should be brought to my book-oath, sir. - -WITHIN. What, Jeffrey? - -DRA. Anon, anon. - -JOHN. A plague upon your Jeffring; is your name Jeffrey? - -DRA. Ay, and't please you, sir. - -RICH. Why, gentle Jeffrey, then stay you awhile, -What can you say, if you come to your book? - -DRA. If I be pos'd upon a book, sir, though I be a poor 'prentice, -I must speak the truth, and nothing but the truth, sir. - -JOHN. And what's your truth, sir? - -PUR. O, O my heart. - -DRA. Marry, sir, this knight, this man of worship-- - -FAU. Well, what of me? what did my worship do? - -DRA. Marry, ye came into the Bell--our room next the bar--with this -honest man, as I take it. - -FAU. As thou tak'st it? - -PUR. O, sir, 'tis too true, too true, too true. O Lord. - -DRA. And there he call'd for a pint of sack, as good sack (I'll be pos'd -upon all the books that ever opened and shut), as any in all Christendom. - -FAU. Body of me, I come and call for sack? - -PUR. O, ye did, ye did, ye did. O, O. - -JOHN. Well, forward, sirrah. - -RICH. Gloster hath done this jest. [_Aside_. - -DRA. And you call'd then for sugar, sir, as good sugar and as wholesome, -as ever came in any cup of sack: you drank to this man, and you do well, -God be thanked--but he no sooner drank-- - -PUR. But I, but I, but I--O my head! O my heart! - -RICH. I cannot choose but smile at these conceits. - -JOHN. I am mad; and yet I must laugh at Fauconbridge: -Brother, look how Sir Richard acts his rage! - -FAU. I came? I call? the man is like to die, -Practice, by the mass; practice, by the marry God! -I shall be charg'd here for a poison'd knave, -Practice, by th'Lord, practice!--I see it clear. - -PUR. And more, Sir Richard. O Lord, O Sir Richard! - -FAU. What more? what hast thou more? what practice more? - -PUR. O my box, my box, with the king's arms! O my box, -O my box! it cost me, O Lord, every penny; O my box! - -RICH. And what of your box, sir? - -DRA. Marry, sir, it's lost; and 'tis well known my master keeps no -thieves in his house; O, there was none but you and he. - -FAU. O, then belike thou thinkest I had his box. - -PUR. O Sir Richard, I will not; O Lord, I will not charge you for all -the world; but--but--but for the warrant the old King sign'd to -reprieve the porter of the Fleet! O God, O God! - -JOHN. The porter of the Fleet? the old King sign'd?-- - -PUR. Ay, my good lord, ay, ay. - -JOHN. Is he reprieved then? - -PUR. No, my lord; O, Sir Richard took it from me with his own hand, O! - -FAU. Here's a device to bring me in contempt -With the old King, that I ever lov'd. -Princes and Sheriff, you can witness with me, -That I have been with you this afternoon-- -Only with you, with nobody but you-- -And now a fellow, whom the King would save -By a reprieve, this fellow says, is hang'd. - -JOHN. If thou hadst done it, I'd have justified it; -But, Richard, I conceit this jest already: -This mad-mate Skink, this honest merry knave, -Meeting this Pursuivant, and hearing tell -He had a warrant to reprieve a slave -Whom we would hang, stole it away from him. -This is sure the jest; upon my life, it is! - -PUR. O, but my warrant, how shall I do? O! - -RICH. But look about you, hot-brain'd brother John, -And I believe you'll find it otherwise; -Gloster hath got the warrant in disguise, -And sav'd the fellow you so fain would hang. - -JOHN. No, no; how say you, master Sheriff, is he not hang'd? - -SHER. My lord, the gibbet was set up by noon -In the Old Bailey, and I charg'd my men, -If I return not, though it were by torchlight, -To see him executed, ere they come. - -JOHN. I am greedy to hear news. - -FAU. Robb'd of my chain, out-faced I had a sword, -Accused of poisoning, cozenage, seeking blood! -Not to be borne! it is intolerable! - -RICH. Sir Richard, I prythee, have some patience. - -FAU. I'll to Blackheath, talk not of patience; -It is intolerable, not to be borne. - -JOHN. It is intolerable, not to be borne; -A warrant, brother; Fauconbridge, a warrant! - -FAU. I saw no warrant; I defy you all. - -JOHN. A slave, a pursuivant, one Winterborn. - -FAU. I care not for thee that, Winterborn. - -PUR. O, it is I, sir; that's my warrant. - -JOHN. Is't you? you rogue, you drunkard; ye are cheated, -And we are cheated of the prisoner. -Out, dog, dog. - -PUR. O, O, O, O my lord. - - [_Exit with_ DRAWER. - -SHER. Have patience, and we will have a privy search. - -JOHN. Go hang, ye blockheads, get ye from my sight! -O, would I were a basilisk, to kill -These glear-ey'd villains. - -SHER. Come away; let's leave him. -We have a warrant; let him do his worst. - - [_Exeunt_ SHERIFF _and_ OFFICERS. - -FAU. I'll to Blackheath, I'll to the holy hermit; -There shall I know not only these deceivers, -But how my wife plays fast and loose with Richard. -Ha! I shall fit them, I shall tickle them; -I'll do it, I'll hence, I'll to the heath amain. - [_Exit_. - -JOHN. There shall I know where this damned Gloster is, -I'll have the devils rous'd to find that devil, -O[r] else I'll conjure the old conjuror. -I'll to Blackheath, and there with friends conspire, -But I'll have Gloster's head, my heart's desire. - -RICH. Would mad Earl Robin saw these humourists: -'Twould feed him fit with laughter! O, 'twould fit him. -Wherever he is, I know the bare conceit -Is better to him than his daintiest food. -Well, and it fits me well, now I have time, -To court my Lady Fauconbridge at leisure. -Love, I implore thy aid; fair Cipria, -Thou sea-born mother at affection's ring, -Shine brightly in thy sphere, that art[505] my star, -My planet, thou of all lights most beauteous, -Be thou to my desires auspicious. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FOURTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _in the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE'S - _gown, night attire on his head_. - -ROB. O, for this lady! Was never poor gentleman troubled with -gentlewoman as I am with myself! My Lady Fauconbridge hath fitted me -a turn. Here I am, visited with sleeveless errands and with asking for -_This thing, Madam_, and _That thing, Madam_, that they make me almost -mad in earnest. Whoop, here's another client. - - _Enter a_ SERVING-MAN. - -SER. Here's my Lady Rawford's page attends to speak with your ladyship. - -ROB. I pray ye bid her lordship's page come into my Ladyship. - [_Exit_. SERVINGMAN.] -Well, Robin Hood, part with these petticoats, -And cast these loose devices from thy back, -I'll ne'er go more untruss'd, never be kerchief'd, -Never have this ado with _what do you lack_? - - _Enter_ PAGE. - -PAGE. Madam, my lady greets your honour kindly, -And sends you the first grapes of her young vine. - -ROB. I am much indebted to her honour, there's an angel for you to -drink; set them up till after supper. Humphrey, pray look about for -Block. Humphrey! trust me, I think the fool be lost. - -PAGE. No, forsooth, madam, he's upon the green, jesting with a -stammerer, one Redcap. - -ROB. It is a lewd fellow; pray, bid him come in, youth; I'll give him -his welcome at the door. Commend me to your lady, I pray ye, heartily. - [_Exit_ PAGE. -Humphrey, I marvel where Sir Richard is so late! Truly, truly, he does -not as beseems a gentleman of his calling; pray, let some go forth to -meet him on the green, and send in that blockhead Block. - [_Exit_ HUMPHREY. - - _Enter_ REDCAP, _and_ BLOCK _after him_. - -BLO. Will ye tell tales, ye ass, will ye? - -RED. I'll te-te-tell your la-la-lady, or I would to G-God we were -ha-hang'd else, as my fa-father should have been. - -ROB. Now, what's the matter there, I pray you? What company have you -there, a-God's name? where spend you the day, I pray? - -BLO. Why, where you gave me leave; at the gallows I was--no farther. - -RED. A-a-and you be his la-lady, you are the La-Lady Fau-Fauconbridge, -the Earl of Glo-Gloster's sister. - -ROB. I am so, fellow. - -RED. Y-y-your man B-B-Blocke here does no--nothing but f-f-flout m-me, -a-and cr-cries _r-run Re-Redcap and s-s-see you f-f-father ha-ha-hang'd_. -I sh-shall g-go-near to m-make m-murder, and he u-use it. - -ROB. Well, sirrah, leave your mocking, you were best, I'll bob your -beetle head, and if you mock him. - -BLO. He's _run Redcap_. - -RED. La-la-law, ma-madam. - -ROB. Away, ye saucy fool; go, wait within. - -BLO. _Run, Redcap; run, Redcap_. [_Exit_. - -ROB. Art thou the porter's son, that was condemned about my brother -Gloster? - -RED. Ay, G-G-God be with you, I am the p-p-porter's son, I m-must r-run -to s-s-seek your b-br-brother. - -ROB. Well, drink that, fellow; if thou find my brother, be not too -violent, and I'll reward thee. - -RED. I th-th-thank ye h-heartily; and I had not been cozened with -Sk-Skink, I had no nee-need of these ja-jaunts, for Gl-Gloster was -s-safe enough. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and the_ PORTER _with his cloak muffled_. - -BLO. Ah, farewell, Redcap. - -RED. Fa-fare we-well, and be ha-hang'd. [_Exit_. - -ROB. You'll never leave your knavery. Who's there more. - -BLO. One, madam, that hath commendations to you from your brother. - -ROB. Comest thou from Gloster? thou art welcome, friend. - -BLO. O, it's one of the kindest ladies (though she will now and then -have a bout with Block) that ever breath'd, and she had been in her mood -now, Redcap would have made her such sp-sp-sport as 't a' pa-pa-pass'd. - -ROB. Will you make sport, and see who knocks again? - -BLO. Our gates are like an anvil; from four to ten, nothing but -knick-a-knock upon't. - -ROB. Will you be gone, sir? [_Exit_ BLOCK.] -Honest friend, I am glad -My brother Gloster got thy liberty, -Whose flight was cause of thy captivity: -Nor shall there be in us such negligence, -Though thou have lost thy office and thy house, -But we will see thee better far provided -Than when thou wert [the] Porter in the Fleet. - - _Re-enter_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Madam, your old friend, Prince Richard, -All alone, -Making moan, -Fetching many a grievous groan. - -ROB. Prince Richard come so late? lights to his chamber; -Sirrah, in any case, say I am sick. - -BLO. Very sick, sick, and like to die! I'll sing it, and you will. - -ROB. Away, ye knave; tell him, in the morning -I'll humbly wait upon his excellence. - -BLO. That's all his desire to have ye lowly and humble, and 'tis a -courteous thing in a lady. - [_Exit_. - -ROB. Hence, or else I'll set you hence. Go in, good friend. -Come, Lady Fauconbridge; it's time to come; -Robin can hold out no longer, I see: -Hot wooers will be tempters presently. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FIFTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _like a Hermit_. - -SKINK. Now, holy Skink, in thy religious weed, -Look out for purchase or thy wonted clients. -Warrants, quoth you? I was fairly warranted; -Young Robin Hood, the Earl of Huntington, -Shall never fetch me more unto his prince. - - _Enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _in Merchant's Wife's attire_. - -But, _pauca verba_, Skink! a prize, a prize; -By th'mass, a pretty girl; close, hermit, close. -Overhear, if thou canst, what she desires, -For so my cunning and my credit spreads. - -LADY F. See, how affection arms my feeble strength, -To this so desperate journeying all alone, -While Robin Hood, young Earl of Huntington, -Plays Lady Fauconbridge for me at home. - -SKINK. What mystery is this? The Lady Fauconbridge! -It's she? Sweet fortune, thou hast sent her well; -I will entice this morsel to my cell. -Her husband's jealous; I will give him cause. -As he believes, I hope it shall succeed. -Nay, swounds, it shall; she's mine in scorn of speed. - -LADY F. By this broad beaten path, it should appear, -The holy hermit's cave cannot be far, -And if I err not, this is he himself. - -SKINK. What honour'd tongue enquireth for the hermit? - -LADY F. What honour'd tongue? - -SKINK. Ay, Lady Fauconbridge, -I know ye, and I know for what ye come, -For Gloster and your husband's jealousy. - -LADY F. O thou, whose eye of contemplation -Looks through the windows of the highest heavens, -Resolve thy handmaid, where Earl Gloster lives: -And whether he shall live, and 'scape the hate -Of proud young Henry and his brother John? - -SKINK. I'll have you first in; I'll tell you more anon. -Madam, they say bushes have ears and eyes; -And these are matters of great secrecy; -And you'll vouchsafe enter my holy cell, -There what you long to know I'll quickly tell. - - _Enter_ JOHN _and_ FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Stay, here are strangers. - -SKINK. A plague upon them, come they in the nick, -To hinder Reynard[506] of his fox's trick? - - [LADY FAUCONBRIDGE _retires a little_. - -JOHN. Good day, old hermit. - -FAU. So to you, fair dame. - -JOHN. By Elinor's grey eye, she's fair indeed. -Sweet heart, come ye for holy benisons? -Hermit, hast thou good custom with such clients? -I cannot blame your feats, your juggling tricks, -Plague juggle you! - -LADY F. Why curse ye sacred worth? - -FAU. Ill done, in sooth, my Lord, very ill done, -Wrong holiness! a very pretty woman! [_aside_.] -Mock gravity! by the mass a cherry lip! [_aside_.] -Ah, it's not well done [to] deride a holy hermit! - -JOHN. I have it in my purse shall make amends. - -SKINK. His purse and yours shall make me some amends -For hind'ring me this morning from the lady; -For scaring me at tavern yesternight: -For having back your chain, I'll fit you both. [_Aside_. - -JOHN. Hermit, a word. - -FAU. A word with you, fair mistress. - -JOHN. Where lie your devils, that tell all your news? -Would you would trouble them for half an hour, -To know what is become of traitor Gloster, -That in my clothes broke prison in the Fleet? - -SKINK. No, it was Skink. - -JOHN. Come, old fool, ye dote. - -SKINK. But hear me. - -FAU. Hear him, Prince. - -JOHN. 'Swounds, who hears you? -I'll make your lady graft ye for this work.-- [_Aside_.] ---But to your tale, sir. - -SKINK. Know, thrice-honoured Prince, -That Skink did cosen Redcap of his clothes, -Gloster did cosen Skink, and so escap'd. - -JOHN. Well done, Fauconbridge! - -FAU. My lord, he tells you true. - -JOHN. You find it on her lips: but, forward, sir. - -SKINK. 'Twas Skink in Gloster's gown, whom you did visit, -That play'd at bowls, and after stole your clothes, -While you went into the Lord Morton's chamber. - -JOHN. This savours of some truth. - -FAU. 'Tis very like. - -JOHN. Well, Fauconbridge, by heaven, I'll tell your wife. - -FAU. She'll much believe you! you will? Come, -Tell me not of my wife[507]: this evening fail me not. -My wife, quoth you: I'll send my wife from home. -Do tell my wife, Prince John, by my dear mother, -I love her too-too well to like another. - -LADY F. It seems so, fox; O, what a world is this! -There most sin reigns, where least suspicion is. - -FAU. You'll come? - -LADY F. I will not fail, I warrant you. - -JOHN. Hermit, is all this true? - -SKINK. Himself, -[If he] deliver not so much, before ye sleep, -Root me from out the borders of this realm. - - [JOHN _and_ FAUC. _retire a little_. - -JOHN. Well, by your leave, Sir Richard Fauconbridge, -Hence, free from fear; you'll melt, you'll melt, old man. - -FAU. Nay, take her to you; she's a shrew, I warrant. -I'll to the holy hermit, and inquire -About my chain, your sword, the pursuivant, -And other matters, that I have to ask. - - [_He returns_; JOHN _addresses the_ LADY. - -SKINK. You're welcome, good Sir Richard. - -JOHN. Nay, do not stand on terms; I am fire, all life, -Nor never tell me, that I have a wife. -I do not mean to marry; ye think so! -But to be merry you the manner know. -And you will have me, have me--'ppoint a meeting; -I'll be your true love, you shall be my sweeting. -If you deny to promise, this is plain -I'll have my will, ere you get home again. - -LADY F. Most gracious lord. - -JOHN. Tut, tell not me of grace: -I like no goodness but a beauteous face. -Be therefore brief; give me your hand and swear, -Or I'll away with you into the heath: -Neither shall Fauconbridge nor hermit help, -And what I do I'll answer well enough. - -LADY F. Why, then, my lord. - -JOHN. Nay, do not stand on them:[508] -But tell me, when my lord shall have you, Lady; -It's presently I venture for a baby. - -LADY F. This night at Stepney, by my summer-house, -There is a tavern which I sometimes use, -When we from London come a-gossiping; -It is the Hind. - -JOHN. Give me thy pretty hand: -Thou'lt meet me at the Hind? I'll be thy roe. - -LADY F. One word's enough. - -JOHN. Suffice; then be it so. - -LADY F. I'll fit my old adulterer and your grace, -I'll send the Princess thither in my place. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Prince John, Prince John, the hermit tells me wonders; -He says it was Skink that 'scap'd us at the tavern: -Skink had my chain--nay, sure, that Skink did all. - -SKINK. I say, go but to yonder corner, -And ere the sun be half an hour higher, -There will the thief attempt a robbery. - -JOHN. Who? Skink? - -FAU. Will Skink? - -SKINK. Ay, Skink, upon my word. - -FAU. Shall we go seize upon him, good Prince John? - -JOHN. Nay, we will have him, that's no question. -And yet not hurt the honest rogue. -He'll help us well in quest of changing Gloster. -Hermit, farewell; Lady, keep your hour. - -FAU. Adieu, old hermit: soon in the evening, lass. - -LADY F. I'll meet you both, and meet with[509] both of you. -Father, what answer do you give to me? - -SKINK. Lady, start down; I must into my cell, -Where I am curing of a man late hurt; -He dress'd, I must unto my orisons; -In half an hour all will be despatch'd, -And then I will attend your ladyship. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. At your best leisure, father. O, the life, -That this thrice-reverend hermit leadeth here. -How far remote from mortal vanities, -Baits to the soul, enticements to the eye! -How far is he unlike my lustful lord? -Who being given himself to be unchaste, -Thinks all men like himself in their effects, -And injures me, that never had a thought -To wrong the sacred rights of spotless faith. - - _Enter_ SKINK _with a patch on his face, and a - falconer's lure in his hand_.[510] - -SKINK. Hermit, farewell, I'll pay ye or speak with ye next time I see -ye. Sweet mouse, the hermit bids you stay here; he'll visit you anon. -Now, John and Fauconbridge, I'll match ye, and I do not say Skink's a -wretch, a wren, a worm. When I have trick'd them, madam, I will trim -you. Commodity is to be preferr'd before pleasure. About profit, Skink; -for crowns, for crowns, that make the kingly thoughts! - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. (_to the hermit supposed within_.) -I am assur'd that man's some murderer. -Good Father Hermit, speak and comfort me; -Are ye at prayers, good old man? I pray ye, speak. - [_Enters_. -What's here? a beard? a counterfeited hair? -The hermit's portesse,[511] garments, and his beads? -Jesus defend me! I will fly this den; -It's some thief's cave, no haunt for holy men. -What, if the murderer (as I guess him one) -Set on my husband! Tush, Prince John and he -Are able to defend their[512] noble selves. -Howe'er, I will not tarry, I'll away, -Lest unto theft and rape I prove a prey. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SIXTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _solus_. - -SKINK. Yonder they are; I'll fit them; here's my ground. -Wa-ha-how, wa-ha-how, wa-ha-how! - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE [_and_ JOHN.] - -FAU. I warrant ye, my lord, some man's distress'd. - -JOHN. Why, man, 'tis a falconer. - -FAU, Marry of me, good fellow, I did think thou had'st been robb'd. - -SKINK. Robb'd, sir? No, he that comes to rob me shall have a hard match -on't, yet two good fellows had like to have been robb'd by one tall -thief, had not I stepped in. A bots on him! I lost a hawk by him, and -yet I car'd not to send another after him, so I could find the thief; -and hereabout he is; I know he is squatted. - -FAU. Say'st thou me so? we'll find him, by St Mary, -An honest fellow, a good commonwealth's man. - -JOHN. There are caves hereabout, good fellow, are there not? - -SKINK. Yes, sir; tread the ground, sir, and you shall hear their -hollowness; this way, sir, this way. - -JOHN. Help, Fauconbridge. - -FAU. O, help me, good Prince John. - -SKINK. I'll help you both; deliver, sir, deliver! Swounds, linger not. -Prince John, put up your purse, or I'll throw poniards down upon your -pate. Quickly! when? I am Skink, that 'scap'd ye yesternight, and fled -the Fleet in your cloak, carrying me clean out of wind and rain. I broke -the bonds and links that fettered your chain amity; this cheat is mine. -Farewell, I cannot stay, -Sweet Prince, old Knight, I thank ye for this prey. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. God's marry mother, here's a jest indeed. -We came to take: a thief takes us! -Where are ye, good my lord? - -JOHN. No matter where; -I think I was fore-spoken at the teat, -This damn'd rogue serv'd me thus! Gloster and he, -Upon my life, conclude in villany. -He was not wont to plot these stratagems. -Lend me your hand a little; come away, -Let's to the cell again; perchance the hermit -Is Skink and thief, and hermit, all in one. - -FAU. Marry a God, then ten to one it's so; -Well thought on, Princely John; -He had my chain, no doubt he had your sword. - -JOHN. If there be now no hermit at the cell, -I'll swear by all the saints it's none but he. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _in the Hermit's gown, putting on the beard_. - -GLO. This accident hath hit thy humour, Gloster; -From pursuivant I'll turn a hermit now. -Sure, he that keeps this cell's a counterfeit, -Else what does he here with false hair and beard? -Well, howsoe'er it be, I'll seem to be -The holy hermit; for such fame there is, -Of one accounted reverend on this heath. - - _Enter_ SKINK. - -[SKINK.] I'll fain unto my cell, to my fair lady; -But John and Fauconbridge are at my heels; [_Sees John_. -And some odd mate is got into my gown, -And walks devoutly like my counterfeit. -I cannot stay to question with you now, -I have another gown and all things fit, -These guests once rid, new mate, I'll bum,[513] I'll mark you. - [_Exit_. - -GLOS. What's he, a God's name? he is quickly gone. -I am for him, were he Robin Goodfellow. -Who's yonder, the Prince John and Fauconbridge? -I think they haunt me like my genii, -One good, the other ill; by the mass, they pry, -And look upon me but suspiciously. - -JOHN. This is not Skink; the hermit is not Skink. -He is a learned, reverend, holy man; - -FAU. He is, he is a very godly man; -I warrant ye, he's at his book at's prayers. -We should have took you, by my halidom, -Even for a very thief. - -GLO. Now God forfend -Such noblemen as you should guess me so! -I never gave such cause, for ought I know. - -JOHN. Yet thou did'st tell us Skink should do a robbery, -Appointed us the place, and there we found him. - -FAU. And he felt us, for he hath robb'd us both. - -GLO. He's a lewd fellow; but he shall be taken. - -JOHN. I had rather hear of Gloster than of him. - -GLO. Gloster did cheat him of the same gold chain, -That deceiv'd Sir Richard Fauconbridge. -He got your sword, Prince John: 'twas he that sav'd -The porter, and beguil'd the pursuivant. - -JOHN. A vengeance on him! - -GLO. Do not curse, good prince; -He's bad enough, 'twere better pray for him. - -JOHN. I'll kill thee, and thou bid us pray for him, -I'll fell [the] woods, and ring thee round with fire, -Make thee an offering unto fierce revenge, -If thou have but a thought to pray for him. - -GLO. I am bound to pray for[514] all men, chiefly Christians. - -JOHN. Ha, ha, for Christians? think'st thou he is one? -For men? hast thou opinion he is a man? -He that changes himself to sundry shapes, -Is he a Christian? can he be a man? -O irreligious thoughts! - -GLO. Why, worthy prince, -I saw him christened, dipp'd into the font. - -JOHN. Then nine times, like the northern Laplanders, -He backward circled the sacred font, -And nine times backward said his orisons: -As often curs'd the glorious host of heaven, -As many times invok'd the fiends of hell, -And so turn'd witch; for Gloster is a witch. - -GLO. Have patience, gentle prince; he shall appear -Before your kingly father speedily. - -JOHN. Shall he indeed? sweet comfort, kiss thy cheek; -Peace circle in thy aged honoured head. -When he is taken, hermit, I protest -I'll build thee up a chapel and a shrine: -I'll have thee worshipp'd as a man divine, -Assure [ye] he shall come, and Skink shall come. - -FAU.[515] Aye, that same Skink; I prythee, send that Skink. - -JOHN. Send both; and both, as prisoners criminate. -Shall forfeit their lost[516] lives to England's state, -Which way will Fauconbridge? - -FAU. Over the water, and -So with all speed I may to Stepney. - -JOHN. I must to Stepney too, and revel, and be blithe, -Old [Knight], wink at my mirth; 't may make amends, -So thou and I, and our friends, may be friends. - -FAU. With all my heart, with all my heart, Prince [John], -Old Fauconbridge will wait upon your grace. -Be good to Gloster, for my Marian's sake, -And me and mine you shall your servants make. - -GLO. Of that anon: my pleasure being serv'd, -Gloster shall have what Gloster hath deserv'd. - -FAU. Why, that's well said; adieu, good honest hermit. - [_Exit_. - -JOHN. Hermit, farewell, if I had my desire, -I'll make the world thy wondrous deeds admire. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. Still good, still passing good; Gloster is still -Henry's true hate, foe to John's froward will, -No more of that: for them in better time. -If this same hermit be an honest man, -He will protect me by his[517] simple life; -If not, I care not; I'll be ever Gloster, -Make him my footstool, if he be a slave, -For baseness over worth can have no power. -Robin, bethink thee, thou art come from kings, -Then scorn to be [a] slave to underlings, -Look well about thee, lad, and thou shalt see -Them burst in envy, that would injure thee. -Hermit, I'll meet you in your hermit's gown, -Honest, I'll love you: worse, I'll knock you down. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-EIGHTH. - - - _Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, _with music_. - -P. RICH. Kind friends, we have troubled Lady Fauconbridge, -And either she's not willing to be seen, -Or else not well, or with our boldness griev'd, -To ease these, I have brought you to this window, -Knowing you are in music excellent. -I have penn'd a ditty here, and I desire -You would sing it for her love and my content. - -MUS. With all my heart, my lord. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, _like the_ LADY [FAUCONBRIDGE]. - -ROB. Your excellence forgets your princely worth; -If I may humbly crave it at your hands, -Let me desire this music be dismiss'd. - -RICH. Forbear, I pray, and withdraw yourselves; -Be not offended, gracious Marian. [_Exeunt music_. -Under the upper heaven nine goodly spheres -Turn with a motion ever, musical; -In palaces of kings melodious sounds -Offer pleasures to their sovereigns ears. -In temples, milk-white-clothed quiristers -Sing sacred anthems, bowing to the shrine; -And in the fields whole quires of winged clerks -Salute the[518] morning bright and crystalline. -Then blame not me; you are my heaven, my queen: -My saint, my comfort, brighter than the morn. -To you all music and all praise is due; -For your delight, for you,[519] delight was born. -The world would have no mirth, no joy, no day, -If from the world your beauty were away. - -ROB. Fie on love's blasphemy and forgery, -To call that joy[520] that's only misery! -I, that am wedded to suspicious age, -Solicited by your lascivious youth; -I, that have [only] one poor comfort living-- -Gloster my brother, my high-hearted brother-- -He flies for fear, lest he should faint, and fall -Into the hands of hate tyrannical. - -RICH. What would you I should do? - -ROB. I would full fain -My brother Gloster had his peace again. - -RICH. Shall love be my reward, if I do bring -A certain token of his good estate, -And after pacify my brother's wrath? -Say you will love, he[521] will be fortunate! - -ROB. I will. - -RICH. No more; I vow to die unblest -If I perform not this imposed quest. -But one word, madam; pray, can you tell -Where Huntington my ward is? - -ROB. I was bold -To send young Robin Hood, your noble ward, -Upon some business of import for me. - -RICH. I am glad he is employed in your affairs; -Farewell, kind fair; let [not] one cloudy frown -Shadow the bright sun of thy beauty's light: -Be confident in this--I'll find thy brother, -Raise power but he'll[522] have peace: only perform -Your gracious promise at my back-return. - -ROB. Well, here's my hand, Prince Richard; that same night, -Which secondeth the day of your return, -I'll be your bed-fellow, and from that hour -Forswear the loathed bed of Fauconbridge: -Be speedy, therefore, as you hope to speed. - -RICH. O that I were as large-winged as the wind, -Then should you see my expeditious will. -My most desire, adieu! guess by my haste -Of your sweet promise the delicious taste. - [_Exit_. - -ROB. Why so: I am rid of him by this device, -He would else have tired me with his songs and sighs.[523] - - _Enter_ BLOCK. - -But now I shall have ease; here comes the saint, -To whom such suit was made. - -BLO. My lady gentlewoman is even here in her privity-walk. Madam, -here's the merchant's wife was here yesterday would speak with ye. -O, I was somewhat bold to bring her in. - - _Enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _disguised as a merchant's wife_. - -ROB. Well, leave us, sir; y'are welcome, gentlewoman. - -BLO. These women have no liberality in the world in them; I never let -in man to my lady, but I am rewarded. - -ROB. Please ye to walk, sir! wherefore mumble ye? - - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -LADY F. Robin, what news? how hast thou done this night? - -ROB. My ladyship hath done my part, my task, -Lain all alone for lack of company, -I might have had Prince Richard. - -LADY F. Was he here! - -ROB. He went away but now; -I have been lov'd and woo'd too simply, -God rid me of the woman once again; -I'll not be tempted so for all the world. -Come, will you to your chamber, and uncase? - -LADY F. Nay, keep my habit yet a little while, -Old Fauconbridge is almost at the gate, -I met him at Blackheath just at the hermit's, -And, taking me to be a merchant's wife, -Fell mightily in love, gave me his ring, -Made me protest that I would meet him here. -I told him of his lady--O, tut, quoth he, -I'll shake her up, I'll pack her out of sight. -He comes; kind Robin Hood, hold up the jest. - - _Enter_ SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE _and_ BLOCK, _talking together_. - -FAU. God's marry, knave, how long hath she been here? - -BLO. Sir, she came but even in afore you. - -FAU. A cunning quean, a very cunning quean, -Go to your business, Block; I'll meet with her. - -BLO. Ah, old muttonmonger, I believe here's work towards. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. [_seeing the merchant's wife_]. -Do not believe her. Moll, do not believe her, -I only spake a word or two in jest, -But would not for the world have been so mad; -Do not believe her, Moll, do not believe her. - -ROB. What should I not believe? what do you mean? - -LADY F. Why, good Sir Richard, let me speak with you. -Alas, will you undo me? will you shame me? -Is this your promise? came I here for this? -To be a laughing-stock unto your lady? - -ROB. How now, Sir Richard, what's the matter there? - -FAU. I'll talk with you anon; come hither, woman. -Did'st [thou] not tell my wife what match we made? - -LADY F. I tell your wife? think ye I am such a beast? -Now God forgive ye; I am quite undone. - -FAU. Peace, duck; peace, duck; I warrant all is well. [_Aside_. - -Rob. What's the matter? I pray ye, Sir Richard, tell me! - -FAU. Marry, Moll, thus--about some twelve month since, -Your brother Gloster, that mad prodigal, -Caus'd me to pass my word unto her husband -For some two thousand pounds, or more perchance-- -No matter what it is, you shall not know, -Nay, ye shall never ask to know. - -ROB. And what of this? - -FAU. Many, the man's decayed, -And I believe a little thing would please her; -A very little thing, a thing of nothing. -Go in, good Moll, and leave us two alone, -I'll deal with ye as simply as I can. - -LADY F. Fox, look about ye, ye are caught, i'faith. - -ROB. Deal with her simply! O, O, what kind of dealing? -Can ye not deal with her, and I be by? - -FAU. Marry a God, what, are ye jealous? -Ye teach me what to do? in, get you in. -O, I have heard Prince Richard was your guest, -How dwelt you then? In, get you in, I say. -Must I take care about your brother's debts, -And you stand crossing me? In, or I'll send you in. [_Exit_ ROBIN. -Ha, sirrah; you'll be master, you'll wear the yellow,[524] -You'll be an over-seer? marry, shall ye! - -LADY F. Ye are too curst (methinks, sir) to your lady. - -FAU. Ah, wench, content thee, I must bear her hard, -Else she'll be prying[525] into my dalliance. -I am an old man, sweet girl; I must be merry: -All steel, all spright: keep in health by change; -Men may be wanton, women must not range. - -LADY F. You have given good counsel, sir; I'll repent me. -Here is your ring; I'll only love my husband. - -FAU. I mean not so, I think to-day thou told'st me -Thy husband was an unthrift and a bankrupt. -And he be so, tut, thou hast favour store; -Let the knave beg, beauty cannot be poor. - -LADY F. Indeed my husband is a bankrupt-- -Of faith, of love, of shame, of chastity, -Dotes upon other women more than me. - -FAU. Ha! do he so? then give him tit for tat, -Have one so young and fair, and loves another? -He's worthy to be cuckolded, by the mass! -What is he, old or young? - -LADY F. About your age. - -FAU. An old knave, -And cannot be content with such a peat! -Come to my closet, girl, make much of me; -We'll appoint a meeting-place some twice a week, -And I'll maintain thee like a lady, ha! - -LADY F. O, but you will forget me presently, -When you look well upon your lady's beauty. - -FAU. Who? upon her? why, she is a very dowdy, -A dishclout, a foul gipsy unto thee. -Come to my closet, lass, there take thy earnest -Of love, of pleasure, and good maintenance. - -LADY F. I am very fearful. - -FAU. Come, fool, never fear. -I am lord here, who shall disturb us then? -Nay, come, or, by the rood, I'll make you come. - -LADY F. Help, Madam Fauconbridge, for God's sake. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _as_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _and_ BLOCK. - -FAU. How now, what mean'st? - -LADY F. Help, gentle madam, help! - -ROB. How now, what ail'st thou? - -BLOCK. Nay, and't be a woman: ne'er fear my master, madam. - -ROB[526]. Why speak'st thou not, what ail'st thou? - -FAU. Why, nothing, by the rood, nothing she ails. - -LADY F. O madam, this vile man would have abused me, -And forc'd me to his closet. - -ROB. Ah, old Cole,[527] now look about: you are catcht! - -LADY F. Call in your fellows, Block. - -FAU. Do not, thou knave. - -LADY F. Do, or I'll crack your crown. - -BLO. Nay, I'll do't: I know she means to shame you. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. Why, Moll, wilt thou believe this paltry woman? -Huswife, I'll have you whipp'd for sland'ring me. - -ROB. What, lecher? no, she is an honest woman: -Her husband's well known; all the household knows. - -BLO. Here's some now to tell all the town your mind. - -LADY F. Before ye all I must [now] sure complain. -You see this wicked man, and ye all know -How oft he hath been jealous of my life: -Suspecting falsehood, being false himself. - -BLO. O master, O master. - -FAU. She slanders me; she is a cozening quean. -Fetch me the constable: I'll have her punish'd. - -LADY F. The constable for me? fie, fie upon ye. -Madam, do you know this ring? - -ROB. It is Sir Richard's. - -BLO. O, aye, that's my master's, too [--too] sure. - -FAU. Ay, marry, I did lend it to the false drab -To fetch some money for that bankrupt knave, -Her husband, that lies prisoner in the Fleet. - -LADY F. My husband bankrupt? my husband in the Fleet prisoner? -No, no, he is as good a man as you. - -ROB. Ay, that he is, and can spend pound for pound -With thee, i'faith, wert richer than thou art. -I know the gentleman. - -LADY F. Nay, madam, he is -Hard by: there must be revels at the Hind tonight; -Your copesmate's there--Prince John. - -ROB. There's a hot youth! - -BLO. O, a fierce gentleman! - -LADY F. He was fierce as you; but I have match'd him: -The princess shall be there in my attire. - -FAU. A plaguy, crafty quean, marry a God, -I see Prince John courted as well as I; -And since he shall be mock'd as well as I, -It's some contentment. - -BLO. Mass, he droops. -Fellow Humphrey, he is almost taken, -Look about ye, old Richard. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Hence, knaves; get in a little. Prythee, Moll, -Let thou and I, and she, shut up this matter. - -ROB. Away, sirs; get in. - -BLO. Come, come, -Let's go; he will be baited now. Farewell. - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -FAU. Marry, sweet Moll, I say, I met this woman; -Lik'd her, lov'd her; -For she is worthy love, I promise thee. -I say, I courted her: tut, make no brawl, -'Twixt thou and I we'll have amends for all. - -ROB. Had I done such a trick, what then? what then? - -FAU. Ah prythee, Moll, tut, bear with men. - -ROB. Aye, we must bear with you; you'll be excus'd, -When women undeserved are abus'd. - -FAU. Nay, do not weep: pardon me, gentle lady; -I know thee virtuous, and I do protest -Never to have an evil thought of thee. - -ROB. Aye, aye, ye swear; who's that that will believe ye? - -FAU. Now, by my halidom and honest faith, -This gentlewoman shall witness what I swear. -Sweet duck, a little help me. - -LADY F. Trust him, madam. - -FAU. I will be kind, credulous, constant ever, -Do what thou wilt, I'll be suspicious never. - -ROB. For which I thank [the] noble Fauconbridge. - [_Discovers himself_. - -FAU. Body of me, who's this? young Huntington? - -LADY F. And I your lady, whom you courted last, - [_Discovers herself_. -Ye looked about you ill, fox; we have caught ye; -I met ye at Blackheath, and ye were hot. - -FAU. I knew thee, Moll; now, by my sword, I knew thee. -I wink'd at all; I laughed at every jest. - -ROB. Aye, he did wink; the blind man had an eye.[528] - -FAU. Peace, Robin, thou't once be a man as I. - -LADY F. Well, I must bear it all. - -FAU. Come, and ye bear, -It's but your office; come, forget, sweet Moll. - -LADY. F. I do forgive it, and forget it, sir. - -FAU. Why, that's well said; that's done like a good girl. -Ha, sirrah, ha, you match'd me, pretty earl. - -ROB. I have, ye see, sir; I must unto Blackheath -In quest of Richard, whom I sent to seek -Earl Gloster out. I know he's at the hermit's. -Lend me your coach; I'll shift me, as I ride; -Farewell, Sir Richard. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. Farewell, England's pride. -By the matins, Moll, it is a pretty child; -Shall we go meet John? shall we go mock the prince? - -LADY F. We will. - -FAU. O, then we shall have sport anon. -Never wear yellow, Moll; 'twas but a trick; -Old Fauconbridge will still be a mad Dick. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-NINTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP _and_ GLOSTER. - -RED. Do ye s-s-say, fa-fa-father hermit, th-that Gl-Gloster is about -this heath? - -GLO. He is upon this heath, son; look about it. -Run but the compass, thou shalt find him out. - -RED. R-r-run? I'll r-run the co-compass of all K-Kent but I'll f-find -him out; my f-f-father (where'er he lays his head) dare ne-never come -home, I know, t-t-till he be fo-fo-found. - -GLO. Well, thou shalt find him. Know'st thou who's a-hunting? - -RED. M-m-marry, 'tis the Earls of La-La-Lancaster and Le-Leicester, -Fa-fa-farewell, f-father; and I find Skink or Glo-Gloster, I'll -g-g-give thee the pr-price of a penny p-p-pudding for thy p-pains. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. Adieu, good friend: this is sure the fellow -I sent on message from the Parl'ament-- -The porter's son--he's still in quest of me, -And Skink, that cosen'd him of his red cap! - - _Enter_ RICHARD, _like a Serving-man_. - -But look about thee, Gloster; who comes yonder? -O, a plain serving-man, and yet perhaps -His bags are lin'd, -And my purse now grows thin: -If he have any, I must share with him. - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like a Hermit_. - -And who's on yond side? O, it is my hermit; -Hath got his other suit, since I went forth. - -SKINK. Sblood, yonder's company; I'll back again, -Else I would be with you counterfeit; -I'll leave the rogue till opportunity, -But never eat, till I have quit my wrong. [_Exit_. - -RICH. I saw two men attend like holy hermits; -One's slipp'd away, the other's at his beads. -Now, Richard, for the love of Marian, -Make thy inquire, where mad Gloster lives. -If England or the verge of Scotland hold him, -I'll seek him thus disguis'd. If he be pass'd -To any foreign part, I'll follow him. -Love, thou art Lord of hearts; thy laws are sweet; -In every troubled way thou guid'st our feet. -Lovers, enjoin'd to pass the dangerous sea -Of big-swoll'n sorrow in the bark Affection, -The winds and waves of woe need never fear, -While Love the helm doth, like a pilot, steer. - -GLO. Here's some lover come, a mischief on him! -I know not how to answer these mad fools; -But I'll be brief; I'll mar the hermit's tale. -Off, gown; hold, buckler; slice it, Bilbo' blade. - -RICH. What's this? what should this mean? old man, good friend. - -GLO. Young fool, deliver; else see your end. - -RICH. I thought thou hadst been holy and a hermit. - -GLO. Whate'er you thought, your purse! come, quickly, sir; -Cast that upon the ground, and then confer. - -RICH. There it is. - -GLO. Falls it so heavy? then my heart is light. - -RICH. Thou'lt have a heavy heart before thou touch it. -Theft shrin'd in holy weeds, stand to't, y'are best. - -GLO. And if I do not, seeing such a prey, -Let this be to me a disaster day. - -RICH. Art thou content to breathe? - - [_Fight and part once or twice_. - -GLO. With all my heart. -Take half thy money, and we'll friendly part. - -RICH. I will not cherish theft. - -GLO. Then I defy thee. - - [_Fight again and breathe_. - -RICH. Alas for pity, that so stout a man, -So reverend in aspect, should take this course. - -GLO. This is no common man with whom I fight, -And if he be, he is of wond'rous spright. [_Aside_. -Shall we part stakes? - -RICH. Fellow, take -The purse upon condition thou wilt follow me. - -GLO. What, wait on you? wear a turn'd livery, -Whose man's your master? If I be your man, -My man's man's office will be excellent! -There lies your purse again; win it and wear it. - [_Fight_. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD. _They breathe, offer again_. - -ROB. Clashing of weapons at my welcome hither? -Bick'ring upon Blackheath. Well-said, old man; -I'll take thy side, the younger hath the odds. -Stay, end your quarrel, or I promise ye -I'll take the old man's part. - -RICH. You were not wont. -Young Huntington; [be] still on Richard's side. - -ROB. Pardon, gracious prince; I knew ye not. - -GLO. Prince Richard? then lie, envy, at his foot. -Pardon thy cousin Gloster, valiant lord. -I knew no common force confronted mine. - -RICH[529]. O heaven, I had the like conceit of thine, -I tell thee, Robin, Gloster, thou art met, -Bringing such comfort unto Richard's heart: -As in the foil of war, when dust and sweat, -The thirst of wreak[530], and the sun's fiery heat, -Have seized upon the soul of valiance, -And he must faint, except he be refresh'd. -To me thou com'st, as if to him should come -A perry[531] from the north, whose frosty breath -Might fan him coolness in that doubt[532] of death. -With me then meet'st, as he a spring might meet, -Cooling the earth under his toil-parch'd feet, -Whose crystal moisture, in his helmet ta'en, -Comforts his spirits, makes him strong again. - -GLO. Prince, in short terms, if you have brought me comfort, -Know, if I had my pardon in this hand, -That smit base Skink in open Parl'ament, -I would not come to Court, till the high feast -Of your proud brother's birthday be expired, -For as the old king--as he made a vow -At his unlucky coronation, [that I] -Must wait upon the boy and fill his cup, -And all the peers must kneel, while Henry kneels, -Unto his cradle--he shall hang me up, -Ere I commit that vile idolatry. -But when the feast is pass'd, if you'll befriend me, -I'll come and brave my proud foes to their teeth. - -RICH. Come, Robin; and if my brother's grace deny, -I'll take thy part, them and their threats defy. - -GLO. Gramercy, princely Dick. - -ROB. I have some pow'r: -I can raise two thousand soldiers in an hour. - -GLO. Gramercy, Robin; gramercy, little wag, -Prince Richard, pray let Huntington -Carry my sister Fauconbridge this ring. - -RICH. I'll carry it myself; but I had rather -Had thy kind company; thou might'st have mov'd -Thy sister, whom I long have vainly lov'd. - -GLO. I like her that she shuns temptation, -Prince Richard; but I bear with doting lovers. -I should not take it well, that you urge me -To such an office: but I bear with you. -Love's blind and mad. Hie to her boldly: try her; -But if I know she yield, faith, I'll defy her. - -RICH. I like thy honourable resolution; -Gloster, I pray thee pardon my intreat. - -GLO. It is men's custom: part, part, gentle prince, -Farewell, good Robin, this gold I will borrow; -Meet you at Stepney, pay you all to-morrow. - -ROB. Adieu, Gloster. - [_Exit_ ROBIN. - -GLO. Farewell, be short. -You gone, I hope to have a little sport. - -RICH. Take heed, mad coz. - -GLO. Tut, tell not me of heed: [_Exit_ RICHARD. -He that's too wary[533] never hath good speed. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTIETH. - - - _Hollooing within; enter_ LANCASTER _with a broken - staff in his hand_. - -[GLO.] Who's this? old Lancaster, my honour'd friend? - -LAN. These knaves have serv'd me well, left me alone, -I have hunted fairly, lost my purse, my chain, -My jewels, and been bang'd by a bold knave, -Clad in a hermit's gown, like an old man-- -O what a world is this? - -GLO. It's ill, my lord. - -LAN. He's come again! O knave, 'tis the worse for thee: - [_Mistakes_ GLOSTER _for the_ HERMIT. -Keep from me: be content with that thou hast, -And see thou fly this heath, for, if I take thee, -I'll make thee to all thieves a spectacle. -Had my staff held, thou hadst not 'scap'd me so. -But come not near me, fellow, thou art not[534] best, -Holla, Earl Leicester! holla, huntsmen, ho! - -GLO. Upon my life, old Lancaster, a-hunting, -Hath met my fellow-hermit. Could I meet him, -I'd play [at] rob-thief, at least part stakes with him. - - _Enter_ SKINK _as a hermit_. - -SKINK. Zounds, he is yonder alone. - - _Enter_ REDCAP _with a cudgel_. - -SKINK. Now revenge thyself on yonder slave[535], -'Snails, still prevented? this same Redcap rogue -Runs like hob goblin up and down the heath. - -RED. Wh-wh-wh-whoop, he-hermit, ye ha-ha-ma-ma-made Re-Redcap run a -fine co-co-compass, ha-have you not? - -SKINK. I made thee run? - -GLO. Yonder's my evil angel. -Were Redcap gone, Gloster would conjure him. - -RED. Je-Je-Jesus bl-bless me, whoop! t-t-two hermits? I'll -ca-ca-caperclaw t-t-t'one of ye, for mo-mo-mocking me, and I d-d-do -not ha-ha-hang me. Wh-wh-which is the fa-fa-false k-k-k-knave? for I -am s-s-sure the old he-he-hermit wo-would never mo-mock an honest man. - -GLO. He is the counterfeit; he mock'd thee, fellow. -I did not see thee in my life before, -He wears my garments, and has cosened me. - -RED. Have you co-co-cosened the he-he-hermit and m-made Redcap run to -no pu-pu-purpose? - -SKINK. No, he's [a] counterfeit; I will tell no lies, -As sure as Skink deceiv'd thee of thy clothes, -Sent thee to Kent, gave thee thy fare by water, -So sure, he's false, and I the perfect hermit. - -GLO. This villain is a conjuror, I doubt, -Were he the devil, yet I would not budge. - -RED. Si-si-sirrah, you are the co-counterfeit. O, this is the tr-tr-true -he-hermit. Sta-sta-stand still, g-good man, at that, I'll bu-bumbast you -i'faith, I'll make you g-give the old m-m-man his gown. - - [_Offers to strike_; GLOSTER _trips up his heels; - shifts_ SKINK _into his place_. - -G-G-God's lid, are ye go-good at that? I'll cu-cudgel ye f-f-for the -tr-tr-trick. - -SKINK. It was not I; 'twas he, that cast thee down. - -RED. You li-li-li-lie, you ra-ra-rascal, you; I le-left ye st-standing -he-here. - -SKINK. Zounds, hold, you stammerer, or I'll cut your stumps. - -GLO. He is for me; he's weapon'd--I like that! - -RED. O, here's a ro-ro-rogue in-ca-ca-carnate, help, mu-murder, murder. - - _Enter_ LANCASTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at one door_, - LEICESTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at another_. - -LAN. Lay hold upon that thievish counterfeit. - -LEI. Why, here's another hermit, Lancaster: - -GLO. I am the hermit, sir; that wretched man -Doth many a robbery in my disguise: - -SKINK. It's he that robs; he slanders me; he lies. - -LAN. Which set on thee? - -RED. Th-this f-f-fellow has a s-s-sword and a buckler. - -LAN. Search him; this is the thief; O, here's my purse, -My chain, my jewels! O thou wicked wretch, -How dar'st thou, under show of holiness, -Commit such actions of impiety? -Bind him, I'll have him made a public scorn. - -SKINK. Lay hold upon that other hermit; -He is a counterfeit as well as I. -He stole those clothes from me; for I am Skink. -Search him, I know him not, he is some slave. - -GLO. Thou liest, base varlet. - -RED. O G-God, he has a sword too. Skink, are you ca-catcht? - -LAN. Villain, thou shalt with me unto the Court. - -LEI. And this with me; this is the traitor Gloster. - -GLO. Thou liest, proud Leicester; I am no traitor, - -RED. G-Gloster? O b-brave, now m-my father sh-shall be f-free. - -LAN. Earl Gloster, I am sorry thou art taken. - -GLO. I am not taken yet, nor will I yield -To any here but noble Lancaster. -Let Skink be Leicester's prisoner; I'll be thine. - -LEI. Thou shalt be mine. - -GLO. First, through a crimson sluice, -I'll send thy hated soul to those black fiends, -That long have hovered gaping for their part, -When tyrant life should leave thy traitor heart! -Come, Lancaster, keep Skink; I'll go with thee. -Let loose the mad knave, for I praise his shifts. -He shall not start away; I'll be his guide, -And with proud looks outface young Henry's pride. - -LEI. Look to them, Lancaster, upon thy life. - -RED. Well, I'll r-run and get a p-pardon of the k-k-k-king, Gl-Gloster -and Skink ta-ta-taken! O b-b-brave, r-r-r-run, Re-Re-Redca-cap, a-and -ca-ca-carry the first n-n-news to Co-Co-Court. - -LEI. Lancaster, I'll help to guard them to the Court. - -LAN. Do as you please. - -GLO. Leicester, do not come near me; -For, if thou do, thou shalt buy it dearly. - -LEI. I'll have thy hand for this. - -GLO. Not for thy heart. - -SKINK. Brave Earl, had Skink known thou hadst been the noble Gloster -(whose mad tricks have made me love thee), I would have dyed Blackheath -red with the blood of millions, ere we would have been taken; but what -remedy? we are fast, and must answer it like gentlemen, like soldiers, -like resolutes. - -GLO. Aye, ye are a gallant. Come, old Lancaster. -For thy sake will I go, or else, by heaven, -I'd send some dozen of these slaves to hell. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-FIRST. - - - _Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, ROBIN HOOD, _and_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Your travail and your comfortable news: -This ring, the certain sign you met with him: -Binds me in duteous love unto your grace; -But on my knees I fall, and humbly crave -Importune that no more you ne'er can have. - -RICH. Nay, then, ye wrong me, Lady Fauconbridge, -Did you not join your fair white hands, -Swore that ye would forswear your husband's bed, -[And] if I could but find out Gloster? - -LADY F. I swear so! - -RICH. [Yes,] by heaven. - -ROB. Take heed; it's an high oath, my lord. - -RICH. What meanest thou, Huntington? - -ROB. To save your soul; -I do not love to have my friends forsworn, -She never promis'd, that you urge her with. - -RICH. Go to; provoke me not. - -ROB. I tell you true; -'Twas I in her attire that promis'd you. -She was gone unto the wizard at Blackheath, -And there had suitors more than a good many. - -RICH. Was I deluded then? - -LADY F. No, not deluded; -But hind'red from desire unchaste and rude. -O, let me woo ye with the tongue of ruth, -Dewing your princely hand with pity's tears, -That you would leave this most unlawful suit, -If e'er we live, till Fauconbridge be dead, -(As God defend his death I should desire). -Then, if your highness deign so base a match, -And holy laws admit a marriage, -Considering our affinity in blood, -I will become your handmaid, not your harlot-- -That shame shall never dwell upon my brow. - -ROB. I'faith, my lord, she's honourably resolv'd, -For shame, no more; importune her no more. - -RICH. Marian, I see thy virtue, and commend it; -I know my error, seeking thy dishonour, -But the respectless, reasonless command -Of my inflamed love, bids me still try, -And trample under foot all piety; -Yet, for I will not seem too impious, -Too inconsiderate of thy seeming grief, -Vouchsafe to be my mistress: use me kindly. -And I protest I'll strive with all my power, -That lust himself may in his heat devour. - -LADY F. You are my servant, then. - -RICH. Thanks, sacred mistress. - -ROB. What am I? - -LADY F. You are my fellow Robert. - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _in his hose and doublet_. - -FAU. What, Prince Richard? noble Huntington? -Welcome, i'faith, welcome! by the morrow mass! -You are come as fitly as my heart can wish. -Prince John this night will be a reveller, -He hath invited me and Marian, -God's marry mother, go along with us, -It's but hard by, close by--at our town-tavern. - -RICH. Your tavern? - -FAU. O, aye, aye, aye; 'tis his own made match, -I'll make you laugh, I'll make you laugh, i'faith; -Come, come; he's ready. O, come, come away. - -LADY F. But where's the princess? - -FAU. She is[536] ready too; -Block, Block, my man, must be her waiting-man. -Nay, will ye go? for God's sake, let us go. - -RICH. Is the jest so? nay, then, let us away. - -ROB. O, 'twill allay his heat, make dead his fire. - -FAU. Ye bobb'd me first; ye first gave me my hire, -But come, a God's name, Prince John stays for us. - - [_Exeunt_. - -ROB. This is the word ever at spendthrifts' feasts, -They are gull'd themselves, and scoff'd at by their guests. - - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-SECOND. - - - _A tavern. Enter_ JOHN, FAUCONBRIDGE, ROBIN - HOOD, RICHARD, _and the others_[537]. - -JOHN. Baffled and scoff'd! Skink, Gloster, women, -Fools and boys abuse me. I'll be reveng'd. - -RICH. Reveng'd? and why, good child? -Old Fauconbridge hath had a worser basting. - -FAU. Aye, they have banded [me] from chase to chase; -I have been their tennis-ball, since I did court. - -RICH. Come, John, take hand with virtuous Isabel, -And let's unto the court, like loving friends. -Our kingly brother's birth-day's festival -Is forthwith to be kept; thither we'll hie, -And grace with pomp that great solemnity. - -JOHN. Whither ye will; I care not, where I go. -If grief will grace it, I'll adorn the show. - -FAU. Come, madam; we must thither; we are bound. - -LADY.[538] I'm loth to see the court, Gloster being from thence, -Or kneel to him that gave us this offence. - -FAU. Body of me, peace, woman, I prythee, peace. - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -RED. Go-Go-God [speed] ye, Go-God s-speed ye! - -JOHN. Whither run you, sir knave? - -RED. R-r-run ye, sir knave? why, I r-run to my La-Lady Fa-Fauconbridge, -to te-te-tell her Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster is taken, and are g-g-gone to -the c-c-court with L-Lord Leicester and L-Lord La-La-Lancaster. - -JOHN. Is Gloster taken? thither will I fly -Upon wrath's wings; not quiet till he die. - - [_Exit with_ PRINCESS. - -RICH. Is Gloster taken? - -RED. Aye, he is ta-taken, I wa-warrant ye, with a wi-witness. - -RICH. Then will I to court, -And either set him free, or die the death. -Follow me, Fauconbridge; fear not, fair madam: -You said you had the porter in your house? -Some of your servants bring him; on my life, -One hair shall not be taken from his head, -Nor he, nor you, nor Gloster, injured. - -FAU. Come, Moll, and Richard say the word, ne'er fear. - -ROB. Madam, we have twenty thousand at our call, -The most young Henry dares is but to brawl. - -LADY F. Pray God, it prove so. - -RICH. Follow, Huntington: -Sir Richard, do not fail to send the porter. - -FAU. Block, bring the porter of the Fleet to court. - -BLO. I will, sir. - -RED. The p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet to court? -What p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet? - -BLO. What, Redcap? Run, Redcap, wilt thou see thy father? - -RED. My fa-father? Aye, that I w-would s-see my f-father, and there be -A p-porter in your ho-house, it is my fa-father. - -BLO. Follow me, Redcap, then. - [_Exit_. - -RED. And you were tw-tw-twenty B-Blocks, I'd f-f-follow ye, s-so I would, -and r-run to the co-co-court too, and k-kneel before the k-k-king f-f-for -his pa-pardon. - -BLO. [Within.] Come away, Redcap; run, Redcap. - -RED. I-I-I r-r-run as f-f-fast as I-I ca-ca-can run, I wa-warrant ye. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-THIRD. - - - _Enter a Signet,[539] first two Heralds, after them_ - LEICESTER, _with a sceptre,_ LANCASTER, _with a - crown imperial on a cushion: after them_ HENRY THE ELDER, - _bare-headed, bearing a sword and a globe: after him_ - YOUNG HENRY, _crowned_: ELINOR, _the Mother-Queen, - crowned_: YOUNG QUEEN _crowned_: HENRY THE ELDER - _places his son, the two Queens on either hand, himself - at his feet_, LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER _below him_. - -HEN. Herald, fetch Lancaster and Leicester coronets, -Suffer no marquis, earl, nor countess enter, -Except their temples circled are in gold. - [_He delivers coronets to_ LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER. -Shew them our viceroys: by our will controll'd, -As at a coronation, every peer -Appears in all his pomp; so at this feast, -Held for our birthright, let them be adorn'd, -Let Gloster be brought in, crowned like an earl. [_Exit_ HERALD. -This day we'll have no parley of his death, -But talk of jouissance and gleeful mirth. -Let Skink come in; give him a baron's seat. -High is his spirit, his deserts are great. - -KING. You wrong the honour of nobility -To place a robber in a baron's stead. - -QUEEN. It's well ye term him not a murderer. - -KING. Had I misterm'd him? - -QUEEN. Ay, that had you, Henry. -He did a piece of justice at my bidding. - -KING. Who made you a justice? - -HEN. I, that had the power. - -KING. You had none then. - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _and_ SKINK. - -LEI. Yes, he was crown'd before. - -HEN. Why does not Gloster wear a coronet? - -GLO. Because his sovereign doth not wear a crown. - -HEN. By heaven, put on thy coronet, or that heaven, -Which now with a clear [arch] lends us this light, -Shall not be curtain'd with the veil of night, -Ere on thy head I clap a burning crown -Of red-hot iron, that shall sear thy brains. - -RICH. Good Gloster, crown thee with thy coronet. - -LAN. Do, gentle earl. - -SKINK. Swounds, do; would I had one. [_Aside_. - -QUEEN. Do not, I prythee, keep thy proud heart still. - -GLO. I'll wear it but to cross thy froward will. - -HEN. Sit down, and take thy place. - -GLO. It's the low earth; -To her I must, from her I had my birth.[540] - -HEN. We are pleas'd thou shalt sit there. -Skink, take thy place among my nobles. - - _Enter_ JOHN _and_ ISABEL, _with coronets_. - -SKINK. Thanks to King Henry's grace. - -JOHN. John, Earl of Morton and of Nottingham, -With Isabel his countess, bow themselves -Before their brother Henry's royal throne! - -HEN. Ascend your seats; live in our daily love. - - _Enter_ RICHARD _and_ ROBERT, _with coronets_. - -RICH. Richard, the Prince of England, with his ward, -The noble Robert Hood, Earl Huntington, -Present their service to your majesty. - -HEN. Y'are welcome, too, though little be your love. [_Aside_.] - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _with his_ LADY, _she a coronet_. - -FAU. Old Richard Fauconbridge, Knight of the Cross, -Lord of the Cinque Ports, with his noble wife, -Dame Marian, Countess of West-Hereford,[541] -Offer their duties at this royal meeting. - -HEN. Sit down, thou art a neuter, she a foe. -Thy love we doubt; her heart too well we know. [_Aside_. -What suitors are without? let them come in. - -GLO. And have no justice, where contempt is king. - -HEN. Madman, I give no ear to thy loose words. - -JOHN. O sir, y'are welcome; you have your old seat. - -GLO. Though thou sit higher, yet my heart's as great. - -QUEEN. Great heart, we'll make you lesser by the head. - -GLO. Ill comes not ever to the threatened[542]. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and_ REDCAP. - -HEN. What are you two? - -RED. M-ma-marry, and't please you, I am Re-Re-Redcap. - -HEN. And what's your mate? - -BLO. A poor porter, sir. - -JOHN. The porter of the Fleet, that was condemned? - -BLO. No, truly, sir; I was porter last, when I left the door open -at the tavern. - -JOHN. O, is't you, sir? - -LEI. And what would you two have? - -RED. I co-co-come to re-re-re-qui-quire the young k-k-king of his -go-goo-goodness, since Glo-Gloster is t-taken, that he wo-wo-would -let my fa-fa-father have his pa-pa-pardon. - -HEN. Sirrah, your father has his pardon sign'd. -Go to the office, it shall be delivered. - -RED. And shall he be p-p-porter a-ga-gain? - -HEN. Aye, that he shall; but let him be advis'd, -Hereafter how [he] lets out prisoners. - -RED. I wa-warrant ye, my lord. - -HEN. What hast thou more to say? - -RED. Marry, I wo-would have Skink pu-punish'd -For co-co-coney-catching me. - -LEI. Is that your business? - -RED, Aye, by my t-t-troth is it. - -HEN. Then get away. - -GLO. Against Skink (poor knave) thou gett'st no right this day. - -BLO. O, but run back, Redcap, for the pursuivant! -O L-Lord, s-sir, I have another s-suit for the p-p-pursuivant, -That has l-l-lost his b-b-box and his wa-wa-warrant. - -HEN. What means the fellow? - -RED. Why, the pu-pu-pursuivant, sir, and the po-po-porter. - -GLO. The box, that I had from him--there it is. - -FAU. Marry a me, and I was charg'd with it. -Had you it, brother Gloster? God's good mercy! - -HEN. And what have you to say? - -BLO. Nothing, sir, -But God bless you! you are a goodly company! -Except Sir Richard[543] or my lady will command me -Any more service. - -FAU. Away, you prating knave! hence, varlet, hence. - - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -LEI. Put forth them fellows there. - -RED. Af-fo-fore I g-go, -I b-b-be-s-s-seech you, let Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster be lo-lo-looked to; -For they have p-p-play'd the k-k-knaves too-too-too b-b-bad. - -HEN. Take hence that stuttering fellow; shut him[544] forth. - -RED. Nay, I'll ru-ru-run; faith, you shall not n-n-need to b-b-b-bid -him ta-t-take m-me away; for Re-Re-Redcap will r-ru-run rarely. - [_Exit_ REDCAP. - -HEN. The sundry misdemeanors late committed, -As thefts and shifts in other men's disguise, -We now must (knave Skink) freely tell thy faults. - -SKINK. Sweet king, by these two terrors[545] to mine enemies, that lend -light to my body's darkness: Cavilero Skink being beleaguer'd with an -host of leaden heels, arm'd in ring Irish[546]: cheated my hammerer of -his _red cap_ and coat; was surpris'd, brought to the Fleet as a person -suspected, pass'd current, till Gloster stripped me from my counterfeit, -clad my back in silk and my heart in sorrow, and so left me to the mercy -of my mother-wit. How Prince John released me, he knows; how I got -Fauconbridge's chain, I know. But how he will get it again, I know not. - -FAU. Where is it, sirrah? tell me where it is? - -GLO. I got it from him, and I got John's sword. - -JOHN. I would 'twere to the hilt up in thy heart. - -RICH. O, be more charitable, brother John. - -LEI. My liege, you need not by particulars -Examine, what the world knows too plain; -If you will pardon Skink, his life is sav'd; -If not, he is convicted by the law. -For Gloster, as you worthily resolv'd, -First take his hand, and afterward his head. - -HEN. Skink, thou hast life, our pardon and our love. - -SKINK [_to_ JOHN.] And your forgiveness for my robbery? - -JOHN. Tut, never trouble me with such a toy; -Thou hind'rest me from hearing of my joy. - -HEN. Bring forth a block, wine, water, and towel; -Knives, and a surgeon to bind up the veins -Of Gloster's arm, when his right hand is off-- -His hand that struck Skink at the Parl'ament. - -SKINK. I shall bear his blows to my grave, my lord. - -KING. Son Henry, see thy father's palsy hands, -Join'd like two suppliants, pressing to thy throne. -Look, how the furrows of his aged cheek, -Fill'd with the rivulets of wet-ey'd moan, -Begs mercy for Earl Gloster? weigh his guilt. -Why for a slave should royal blood be spilt? - -SKINK. You wrong mine honour: Skink must[547] be reveng'd. - -HEN. Father, I do commend your humble course; -But quite dislike the project of your suit. -Good words in an ill cause makes the fact worse: -Of blood or baseness justice will dispute. -The greater man, the greater his transgression: -Where strength wrongs weakness, it is mere oppression. - -LADY F. O, but, King Henry, hear a sister speak. -Gloster was wrong'd, his lands were given away, -They are not justly said just laws to break, -That keep their own right with what power they may. -Think, then, thy royal self began the wrong, -In giving Skink what did to him[548] belong. - -QUEEN. Hear me, son Henry, while thou art a king, -Give, take, prison: thy subjects are thy slaves. -Life, need, thrones[549], proud hearts in dungeons fling, -Grace men to day, to-morrow give them graves. -A king must be, like Fortune, ever turning, -The world his football, all her glory spurning. - -GLO. Still your own counsel, beldam policy! -You're a fit tutress in a monarchy. - -RICH. Mother, you are unjust, savage, too cruel, -Unlike a woman. Gentleness guides their sex; -But you to fury's fire add more fuel. -The vexed spirit will you delight to vex? -O God, when I conceit what you have done, -I am asham'd to be esteem'd your son. - -JOHN. Base Richard, I disdain to call thee brother, -Tak'st thou a traitor's part in our disgrace? -For Gloster wilt thou wrong our sacred mother? -I scorn thee, and defy thee to thy face. -O, that we were in field! then should'st thou try. - -ROB. How fast Earl John would from Prince Richard fly! -Thou meet a lion in field? poor mouse, -All thy careers are in a brothel house. - -JOHN. 'Zounds, boy! - -RICH. Now, man! - -LEI. Richard, you wrong Prince John. - -RICH. Leicester, 'twere good you prov'd his champion. - -JOHN. Hasten the execution, royal lord[s], -Let deeds make answer for their worthless words. - -GLO. I know, if I respected hand or head, -I am encompassed with a world of friends, -And could from fury be delivered. -But then my freedom hazards many lives. -Henry, perform the utmost of thy hate, -Let my[550] hard-hearted mother have her will. -Give frantic John no longer cause to prate: -I am prepared for the worst of ill. -You see my knees kiss the cold pavement's face, -They are not bent to Henry nor his friends, -But to all you whose blood, fled to your hearts, -Shows your true sorrow in your ashy cheeks: -To you I bend my knees: you I entreat -To smile on Gloster's resolution. -Whoever loves me, will not shed a tear, -Nor breathe a sigh, nor show a cloudy frown. -Look, Henry, here's my hand; I lay it down, -And swear, as I have knighthood, here't shall lie -Till thou have used all thy tyranny. - -LADY F. Has no man heart to speak? - -GLO. Let all that love me keep silence, or, by heaven, -I'll hate them dying. - -QUEEN. Harry, off with his hand, then with his head. - -FAU. By the red rood, I cannot choose but weep, -Come love or hate, my tears I cannot keep. - -QUEEN. When comes this ling'ring executioner? - -JOHN. An executioner, an executioner! - -HEN. Call none, till we have drunk: father, fill wine; -To-day your office is to bear our cup. - -RICH. I'll fill it, Henry. [RICH. _kneels down_. - -HEN. Dick, you are too mean -To bow unto your sovereign. - -GLO. Kneel to his child? -O hell! O torture! Gloster, learn: -Who would love life to see this huge dishonour? - -HEN. Saturn kneeled to his son; the god was fain -To call young Jove his age's sovereign. -Take now your seat again, and wear your crown; -Now shineth Henry like the mid-day's sun, -Through his horizon darting all his beams, -Blinding with his bright splendour every eye, -That stares against his face of majesty. -The comets, whose malicious gleams -Threatened the ruin of our royalty, -Stand at our mercy, yet our wrath denies -All favour, but extreme extremities: -Gloster, have to thy sorrow, chafe thy arm, -That I may see thy blood (I long'd for oft) -Gush from thy veins, and stain this palace-roof. - -JOHN. 'Twould exceed gilding. - -QUEEN. Aye, as gold doth ochre. - -GLO. It's well ye count my blood so precious. - -HEN. Leicester, reach Gloster wine. - -LEI. I reach it him? - -HEN. Proud earl, I'll spurn thee; quickly go and bear it. - -GLO. I'll count it poison, if his hand come near it. - -HEN. Give it him, Leicester, upon our displeasure. - -GLO. Thus Gloster takes it: thus again he flings it, -In scorn of him that sent it, and of him that brought it. - -SKINK. O brave spirit! - -LADY F. Bravely resolv'd, brother; I honour thee. - -QUEEN. Hark, how his sister joys in his abuse. -Wilt thou endure it, Hal? - -FAU. Peace, good Marian. - -HEN. Avoid there every under-officer: -Leave but [with] us our peers and ladies here. -Richard, you love Earl Gloster: look about, -If you can spy one in this company -That hath but[551] done as great a sin as Gloster; -Choose him, let him be the executioner. - -RICH. Thou hast done worse then, like, rebellious head, -Hast arm'd ten thousand arms against his life, -That lov'd thee so, as thou wert made a king, -Being his child; now he's thy underling! -I have done worse: thrice I drew my sword, -In three set battles for thy false defence! -John hath done worse; he still hath took thy part. -All of us three have smit our father's heart, -Which made proud Leicester bold to strike his face, -To his eternal shame and our disgrace! - -HEN. Silence, I see thou mean'st to find none fit. -I am sure, nor Lancaster, nor Huntington, -Nor Fauconbridge, will lay a hand on him. -Mother, wife, brother, let's descend the throne, -Where Henry, as[552] the monarch of the west. -Hath sat[553] amongst his princes dignified. -Father, take you the place: see justice [done]. - -KING. It's unjust justice, I must tell thee, son. - -HEN. Mother, hold you the basin, you the towel: -I know your French hearts thirst for English blood; -John, take the mallet; I will hold the knife, -And when I bid thee smite, strike for thy life: -Make a mark, surgeon. Gloster, now prepare thee. - -GLO. Tut. I am ready; to thy worst I dare thee. - -HEN. Then have I done my worst, thrice-honour'd earl, -I do embrace thee in affection's arms. - -QUEEN. What mean'st thou, Henry? O, what means my son? - -HEN. I mean no longer to be lullabi'd -In your seditious arms. - -HEN. WIFE. _Mordieu_[554] Henry. - -HEN. _Mordieu_ nor devil, little tit of France, -I know your heart leaps at our heart's mischance. - -JOHN. 'Swounds, Henry, thou art mad! - -HEN. I have been mad: -What, stamp'st thou, John? know'st thou not who I am? -Come, stamp the devil out, suck'd from thy dam? - -QUEEN. I'll curse thee, Henry. - -HEN. You're best be quiet; -Lest, where we find you, to the Tower we bear you; -For, being abroad, England hath cause to fear you.[555] - -KING. I am struck dumb with wonder. - -GLO. I amaz'd, imagine that I see a vision. - -HEN. Gloster, I gave thee first this Skink, this slave; -It's in thy power his life to spill or save. - -SKINK. He's a noble gentleman, I do not doubt his usage. - -HEN. Stand not thus wond'ring; princes, kneel all down, -And cast your coronets before his crown. -Down, stubborn Queen, kneel to your wronged king, -Down, mammet! Leicester, I'll cut off thy legs, -If thou delay thy duty! when, proud John? - -JOHN. Nay, if all kneel of force, I must be one. - -FAU. Now, by my halidom, a virtuous deed! - -HEN. Father, you see your most rebellious son, -Stricken with horror of his horrid guilt, -Requesting sentence fitting his desert: -O, tread upon his head, that trod [upon] -Your heart: I do deliver up all dignity, -Crown, sceptre, sword, unto your majesty. - -KING. My heart surfeits with joy in hearing this, -And, dear[est] son, I'll bless thee with a kiss. - -HEN. I will not rise; I will not leave this ground -Till all these voices, joined in one sound, -Cry: God save Henry, second of that name, -Let his friends live, his foes see death with shame! - -ALL. God save Henry, second of that name, -Let his friends live, his foes see death with shame! - -HEN. Amen, amen, amen! - -JOHN. Hark! mother, hark! -My brother is already turned clerk. - -QUEEN. He is a recreant; I am mad with rage. - -HEN. Be angry at your envy, gracious mother, -Learn patience and true humility -Of your worst-tutor'd son; for I am he. -Hence, hence that Frenchwoman; give her her dowry, -Let her not speak, to trouble my mild soul, -Which of this world hath taken her last leave: -And by her power will my proud flesh control. -Off with these silks; my garments shall be grey, -My shirt hard hair; my bed the ashy dust; -My pillow but a lump of hard'ned clay: -For clay I am, and with clay I must. -O, I beseech ye, let me go alone, -To live, where my loose life I may bemoan. - -KING. Son! - -QUEEN. Son! - -RICH. Brother! - -JOHN. Brother! - -HEN. Let none call me their son; I'm no man's brother, -My kindred is in heav'n, I know no other. -Farewell, farewell; the world is your's; pray take it, -I'll leave vexation, and with joy forsake it. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Wondrous conversion! - -FAU. Admirable good: -Now, by my halidom, Moll, passing good. - -RICH. H'hath fir'd my soul; I will to Palestine. -And pay my vows before the Sepulchre. -Among the multitude of misbelief, -I'll show myself the soldier of Christ: -Spend blood, sweat tears, for satisfaction -Of many--many sins, which I lament; -And never think to have them pardoned, -Till I have part of Syria conquered. - -GLO. He makes me wonder, and inflames my spirits, -With an exceeding zeal to Portingale, -Which kingdom the unchris'ned Saracens[556], -The black-fac'd Africans, and tawny Moors, -Have got unjustly in possession: -Whence I will fire them with the help of heaven. - -SKINK. Skink will scorch them, brave Gloster; -Make carbonadoes of their bacon-flitches; -Deserve to be counted valiant by his valour, -And Rivo[557] will he cry, and Castile too, -And wonders in the land of Seville do. - -ROB. O, that I were a man to see these fights: -To spend my blood amongst these worthy knights. - -FAU. Marry, aye me, were I a boy again, -I'd either to Jerusalem or Spain. - -JOHN. Faith, I'll keep England; mother, you and I -Will live from[558] all this fight and foolery. - -KING. Peace to us all, let's all for peace give praise, -Unlook'd-for peace, unlook'd-for happy days! -Love Henry's birth-day; he hath been new-born; -I am new-crowned, new-settled in my seat. -Let's all to th'chapel, there give thanks and praise, -Beseeching grace from Heaven's eternal throne, -That England never know more prince than one. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - - -[1] He is mentioned by Webbe, in his "Discourse of English Poetrie," -1586, Sign. C 4, with other poets of that time, as Whetstone, Munday, -Grange, Knight, _Wilmot_, Darrell, F.C. F.K., G.B., and others, whose -names he could not remember. - -[2] Robert Wilmot, A.M., was presented to the rectory of North Okenham, -in Essex, the 28th of November 1582, by Gabriel Poyntz: and to the -vicarage of Horndon on the Hill, in the same county, the 2d December -1585, by the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's.--Newcourt's "Repertorium." ---_Steevens_. - -[3] The same person, who was the author of "A Discourse of English -Poetrie: together with the Authors judgment, touching the reformation of -our English Verse." B.L. 4to, 1586. [This "Discourse" is reprinted in -Haslewood'a "Ancient Critical Essays," 1811-15.] - -[4] [An English translation was published in 1577.] - -[5] These three sonnets following occur both in Lansdowne MS. (786) and -Hargrave MS. (205), but the first was not included in the printed copy -of 1591. - -[6] _Pheer_ signifies a husband, a friend, or a companion, and in -all these senses it is used in our ancient writers. It here means -_a husband_. So in Lyly's "Euphues," 1581, p. 29: "If he be young, he -is the more fitter to be thy _pheere_. If he bee olde, the lyker to -thine aged father." It occurs again in act ii. sc. 3, and act iv. sc. 3. - -[7] _Prevent_, or _forbid_. So in "Euphues and his England," 1582, -p. 40: "For never shall it be said that Iffida was false to Thirsus, -though Thirsus be faithlesse (which the gods _forefend_) unto Iffida." - -[8] _Command_. So in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," p. 78: "For this -I sweare by her whose lightes canne never die, Vesta, and by her _whose -heasts_ are not to be broken, Diana," &c. - -Again, in Shakespeare's "Tempest," act iii. sc. 1-- - - "O my father, - I have broke _your hest_ to say so!" - -And in the prologue to [Peele's] "Araygnement of Paris," 1584-- - - "Done by the pleasure of the powers above, - Whose _hestes_ men must obey." - -The word occurs again in act iv. sc. 2, act iv. sc. 4, and act v. sc. 1. - -[9] The second and third sonnets are now given (_verbatim et literatim_) -in a note, as they stand in Lansdowne MS. 786. They will serve to show -how slight were Wilmot's improvements, and will leave it perhaps open to -doubt whether the changes made in 1591 were always changes for the -better. - - _An other to the same_. - - Flowers of prime, pearles couched in gold, - sonne of our day that gladdeneth the hart - of them that shall yo'r shining beames behold, - salue of eche sore, recure of euery smart, - in whome vertue and beautie striueth soe - that neither yeldes: loe here for you againe - Gismondes vnlucky loue, her fault, her woe, - and death at last, here fere and father slayen - through her missehap. And though ye could not see, - yet rede and rue their woefull destinie. - So Joue, as your hye vertues doen deserue, - geue you such feres as may yo'r vertues serue - w'th like vertues: and blissfull Venus send - Vnto your happy loue an happy end. - - _An other to the same_. - - Gismond, that whilom liued her fathers ioy, - and dyed his death, now dead doeth (as she may) - by vs pray you to pitie her anoye; - and, to reacquite the same, doeth humbly pray - Joue shield yo'r vertuous loues from like decay. - The faithfull earle, byside the like request, - doeth wish those wealfull wightes, whom ye embrace. - the constant truthe that liued within his brest; - his hearty loue, not his unhappy case - to fall to such as standen in your grace. - The king, prayes pardon of his cruel hest: - and for amendes desireth it may suffise, - that w'th his blood he teacheth now the rest - of fond fathers, that they in kinder wise - entreat the iewelles where their comfort lyes. - And we their messagers beseche ye all - on their behalfes, to pitie all their smartes: - and on our own, although the worth be small, - we pray ye to accept our simple hartes - auowed to serue, w'th prayer and w'th praise - your honors, as vnable otherwayes. - -[10] The play, as written in 1568, and as altered by Wilmot in 1591, -differs so much throughout, that it has been found impracticable, -without giving the earlier production entire, to notice all the changes. -Certain of the variations, however, and specialities in the Lansdowne -MS., as far as the first and second scenes of the first act, will be -printed (as a specimen) in the notes. - -[11] In the Lansdowne MS. another person of the drama is mentioned: -"Claudia, a woman of Gismunda's privie chamber;" and for _Choruses_ we -have: "Chorus, four gentlewomen of Salerne." - -[12] Not in the MSS. - -[13] The County Palurin, a few lines lower, is called Earl. Mr Tyrwhitt -says that _County_ signified _noblemen_ in general; and the examples -which might be quoted from this play would sufficiently prove the truth -of the observation. See "Shakespeare," vol. x., p. 39. [_County_ for -_Count_ is not very unusual; but it may be doubted if, as Tyrwhitt -thought, _County_ signified _noblemen in general_.] - -[14] This is in the two MSS., but varies in many verbal particulars. - -[15] Not in the copy of 1591. - -[16] Presented to Gismond. She filled up the cup wherein the heart was -brought with her tears and with certain poisonous water, by her -distilled for that purpose, and drank out this deadly drink. ---Copy of 1568. - -[17] The story of this tragedy is taken from Boccaccio's "Decameron," -day 4th, novel first. [It was turned into verse] by William Walter, a -retainer to Sir Henry Marney, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, [and -printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1532. A different version appeared in] -1597, under the title of "The Statly Tragedy of Guistard and Sismond, in -two Bookes," in a volume entitled, "Certaine Worthye Manuscript Poems of -great Antiquitie, reserved long in the Studie of a Northfolke Gent., and -now first published by J.S." Mr Dryden also versified it a second time. -See his works, vol. iii., 8vo edition, p. 245. Oldys, in his MSS. Notes -on Langbaine, says the same story is in Painter's Palace of Pleasure, -vol. i., and a French novel called "Guiscard et Sigismonde fille de -Tancredus Prince de Salerne mis en Latin. Par Leon Arretin, et traduit -in vers Francois, par Jean Fleury." [See Brunet, dern. edit. v. -_Aretinus_, Hazlitt's edit. of Warton, 1871, and "Popular Poetry," -ii. 66.] - -[18] [This line is not in the MSS.] - -[19] [Lo I in shape that seem unto your sight.--_Lansdowme MS_.] - -[20] [Do rule the world, and every living thing.--Ibid.] - -[21] This word seems anciently to have been pronounced as two syllables. -See "Cornelia," act iv., Chorus. - -[22] [And eat the living heart.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[23] An epithet adopted from Virgil's "Aeneid," lib. vi, line 729-- - - "Et quae _marmoreo_ fert monstra sub aequore pontus." - -Ibid. lib. vii. v. 28-- - - "Lento luctantur _marmore_ tonsae." - -Again, "Georg. I.," v. 254-- - - "Infidum remis impellere _marmor_." - ---_Steevens_. - -[24] [What secret hollow doth the huge seas hide, - When blasting fame mine acts hath not forth blown.] ---_Lansdowne MS_. - -[25] Io. - -[26] [Grazing in.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[27] Like to Amphitrio [when he presented himself] to Alcmena. - -[28] [Me.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[29] [The bloody Mars hath felt my.--_Do_.] - -[30] [Evened.--_Do_.] - -[31] Hercules. - -[32] Alexander. - -[33] [Won the famous golden fleece.--_M.S_.] - -[34] [What nature's bond or law's restraint avails, - To conquer and deface me every hour.--MS.] - -[35] Myrrha. - -[36] i.e., For pity. So, act ii. sc. 2-- - - "As easily befalls that age which asketh _ruth_." - -Act v. sc. 1-- - - "That hath the tyrant king - Withouten _ruth_ commanded us to do." - -Again, in Milton's "Lycidas," i. 163-- - - "Look homeward, angel, now and melt with _ruth_, - And, O ye Dolphins, waft the helpless youth." - -And in Churchyard's "Worthiness of Wales," 1587-- - - "Great _ruth_, to let so trim a seate goe downe, - The countries strength, and beautie of the towne." - -[37] [Mine almighty.--MS.] - -[38] [This, and the three following lines, are not in the MSS.] - -[39] [In creeping thorough all her veins within, - That she thereby shall raise much ruth and woe.--MS.] - -[40] [This, and the five preceding lines, are not in the MSS.] - -[41] [Lo, this before your eyes so will I show, - That ye shall justly say with one accord - We must relent and yield; for now we know - Love rules the world, love only is the lord.--MS.] - -[42] [Hath taught me plain to know our state's unrest.--MS.] - -[43] [O mighty Jove, O heavens and heavenly powers.--MS.] - -[44] [This, and the next line, do not occur in the MSS.] - -[45] [Thy sprite, I know, doth linger hereabout - And looks that I, poor wretch, should after come; - I would, God wot, my lord, if so I mought: - But yet abide, I may perhaps devise - Some way to be unburdened of my life, - And with my ghost approach thee in some wise - To do therein the duty of a wife.--MS.] - -[46] These omissions are frequent in our old plays. See note on "Love's -Labour Lost," edit. of Shakspeare, 1778, vol. ii. p. 410.--_Steevens_. - -[47] In this manner the word was formerly accented. See Dr Farmer's -"Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare." - -[48] Go. So in Epilogue-- - - "With violent hands he that his life doth end, - His damned soul to endless night doth _wend_." - -Again, in the "Return from Parnassus," 1600, act v. sc. 4-- - - "These my companions still with me must _wend_." - -In "George a Green Pinner of Wakefield," [Dyce's "Greene and Peele," -1861, p. 259, &c.]-- - - "Wilt thou leave Wakefield and _wend_ with me ... - So will I _wend_ with Robin all along ... - For you are wrong, and may not _wend_ this way." - -And in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," Prologue, line 19-- - - "Byfel, that, on that sesoun on a day, - In Southwerk at the Tabbard as I lay, - Redy to _wenden_ on my pilgrimage, - To Canturbury with ful devout corage." - -[49] Alexander. - -[50] Hector. - -[51] _Euripus Euboicus_, or _Chalcidicus_, is a narrow passage of sea -dividing _Attica_ and the Island of _Euboea_, now called the _Gulf of -Negropont_. It ebbs and flows seven times every day: the reason of -which, it is said, when Aristotle could not find, he threw himself into -the sea with these words: _Quia ego non capio te, tu capias me_. Sir -Thomas Brown, in his "Enquiries into Vulgar Errors," b. vii. c. 14, -appears to have been not satisfied with this account of Aristotle's -death, which he has taken some pains to render doubtful. - -[52] [Go]. So act ii. sc. 3-- - - "Therefore my counsel is you shall not stir, - Nor farther _wade_ in such a case as this," - -And in Turbervile's "Tragical Tales," 1587-- - - "Eare thou doe _wade_ so farre, revoke to minde the bedlam boy. - That in his forged wings of waxe reposed too great a joy." - -[53] _Sadly_, in most of our ancient writers, is used as here for -_seriously_. So in Nash's "Lenten Stuff," 1599: "Nay, I will lay no -wagers, for, now I perponder more _sadly_ upon it, I think I am out -indeed." - -Again, in Hall's "Chronicle," 1550, fo. 2: "His cosyn germaine was nowe -brought to that trade of livynge, that he litle or nothynge regarded the -counsaill of his uncles, nor of other grave and _sadde_ persones, but -did all thynge at his pleasure." - -In Ascham's "Toxophilus," 1571: "And when I sawe not you amonges them, -but at the last espyed you lookinge on your booke here so _sadlye_, I -thought to come and hold you with some communication." - -And in Warton's "Life of Sir Thomas Pope," p. 30: "Wherein is an abbes -namyd Dame Alice Fitzherbert, of the age LX yeares, a very _sadde_, -discreate, and relegyous woman." - -[54] Formerly this diversion was as much followed in the evening, as it -was at an earlier hour in the day. In "Laneham's Account of the -Entertainment at Kenelworth Castle," we find that Queen Elizabeth -always, while there, hunted in the afternoon. "Monday was hot, and -therefore her highness kept in till _five a clok in the eeveing; what -time it pleaz'd to ryde forth into the chase too hunt the hart of fors: -which found anon, and after sore chased," &c. Again, "Munday the 18 of -this July, the weather being hot, her highness kept the castle for -coolness, till about _five a clok_, her majesty in the chase, hunted the -hart (as before) of forz" &c. - -[55] That is, _proceed no further_. - -[56] i.e., Of nature. - -[57] Acquaint her with my resolution. _To resolve_, however, was -sometimes used for _convince_, or _satisfy_. It may therefore mean, -_convince her of the propriety of my command_. So in Middleton's "More -Dissemblers besides Women," act i. sc. 3-- - - "The blessing of perfection to your thoughts, lady, - For I'm _resolv'd_ they are good ones." - -Reed is right in his first explanation; it is so used in Chapman's -"May Day," act i. sc. 1. - - "Tell her such a man will _resolve_ her naming me." - ---"Anc. Dram.," vol. vi. p. 6.--_Gilchrist_. - -[A few lines further on in the text, however,] _resolve_ has the same -meaning as _dissolve_; and so in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," -p. 38: "I could be content to _resolve_ myselfe into teares to rid thee -of trouble." - -Marlowe, as quoted in "England's Parnassus," 1600, p. 480 [see Dyce's -"Marlowe," iii., 301], uses it in the same way-- - - "No molten Christall but a Richer mine, - Euen natures rarest alchumie ran there, - Diamonds _resolu'd_, and substance more diuine. - Through whose bright gliding current might appeare - A thousand naked Nymphes, whose yuorie shine, - Enameling the bankes, made them more deare - Then euer was that glorious Pallas gate. - Where the day-shining sunne in triumph sate." - -See also Shakespeare's "Hamlet," act i. sc. 2, and Mr Steevens's note -on it. - -[58] _To quail_, is to _languish, to sink into dejection_. So in -Churchyard's "Challenge," 24-- - - "Where malice sowes, the seedes of wicked waies, - Both honor _quailes_, and credit crackes with all: - Of noblest men, and such as fears no fall." - -See also Mr Steevens's notes on the "First Part of Henry IV.," act iv. -sc. 2, and "Cymbeline," act v. sc. 5. - -[Had the writer this passage in his mind when he wrote the well-known -lines on Shakespeare, "What need my Shakespeare," &c., which occur in -the folio of 1632?] - -[59] [The second Chorus to leave off abruptly with this word, the third -Chorus taking up the narrative.] - -[60] A compliment to Queen Elizabeth.--_S.P_. - -It was, as Mr Steevens observes, no uncommon thing to introduce a -compliment to Queen Elizabeth in the body of a play. See "Midsummer's -Night's Dream," act ii. sc. 2. See also "Locrine," act v. sc. last. - -[61] Probably Henry Noel, younger brother to Sir Andrew Noel, and one of -the gentlemen pensioners to Queen Elizabeth; a man, says Wood, of -excellent parts, and well skilled in music. See "Fasti," p. 145. A poem, -entitled, "Of disdainful Daphne," by M[aster] H. Nowell, is printed in -"England's Helicon," 1600, 4to. The name of Mr Henry Nowell also appears -in the list of those lords and gentlemen that ran at a tilting before -Queen Elizabeth. See Peele's "Polyhymnia," 1590. - -"I cannot here let pass unremembered a worthy gentleman, Master Henry -Noel, brother to the said Sir Andrew Noel, one of the gentlemen -pensioners [see Peck's "Life of Milton," p. 225, for the Gentlemen -Pensioners.] to Queen Elizabeth; a man for personage, parentage, grace, -gesture, valour, and many excellent parts, inferior to none of his rank -in the court; who, though his lands and livelihoods were but small, -having nothing known certain but his annuity and his pension, yet in -state, pomp, magnificence and expenses, did equalise barons of great -worth. If any shall demand whence this proceeded, I must make answer -with that Spanish proverb-- - - '_Aquello qual vienne de arriba ninguno lo pregunta_.' - 'That which cometh from above let no one question.' - -"This is the man of whom Queen Elizabeth made this enigmatical distich-- - - 'The word of denial, and letter of fifty, - Is that gentleman's name that will never be thrifty.' - -He, being challenged (as I have heard) by an Italian gentleman at the -_baloune_ (a kind of play with a great ball tossed with wooden braces -upon the arm), used therein such violent motion, and did so overheat his -blood, that he fell into a calenture, or burning fever, and thereof -died, Feb. 26, 1596, and was by her majesty's appointment buried in the -abbey church of Westminster, in the chapel of St Andrew."--_Benton in -Nichols's "Leicestershire_," vol. iii. p. 249. - -Henry Noel was the second son of Sir Edward Noel, of Dalby, by his -second wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William Hopton, of ----, -Shropshire, relict of Sir John Peryent, Knt.--Ibid. 254.--_Gilchrist_. - -[62] In the former edition, the word _denay'd_ was altered to the more -modern one of _deny'd_. _Denay'd_, however, was the ancient manner of -spelling it. So in the "Second Part of Henry VI.," act i. sc. 3-- - - "Then let him be _denay'd_ the regentship." - -Again, in the "First Part of Jeronimo," 1605-- - - "And let not wonted fealty be _denayed_." - -And in "Gammer Gurton's Needle"-- - - "Loke, as I have promised, I will not _denay_ it." - ---_Collier_. - -[63] _Prease_ signifies _a crowd or multitude, or any assemblage of a -number of persons_. So in "Damon and Pithias," vol. iv., pp. 49, 53-- - - "The King is at hand, stand close in _the prease_, beware," &c. - -And ibid.-- - - "Away from the prisoner, what a _prease_ have we here!" - -Again, in the "History of Euordanus Prince of Denmark," 1605, sig. H: -"The Prince passing forwards sorely shaken, having lost both his -stirrups: at length recovering himselfe, entred _the prease_, where on -all sides he beate downe knights, and unbarred helms." - -[It must be repeated, once for all, that such totally unnecessary notes -as this have been retained only from a reluctance to impart to these -volumes the character of an abridged or mutilated republication.] - -[64] [Draweth.] - -[65] _Raught_ is the ancient preterite of the word _reach_. It is -frequently used by Spenser, Shakespeare, and other ancient writers. - -[66] [Old copy, _where her_.] - -[67] [Reward.] - -[68] Alluding to the vulture that gnawed the liver of Titius. In "Ferrex -and Porrex," act ii. sc. 1, is this line-- - - "Or cruell gripe to gnaw my groaning hart." - ---_Reed_. The allusion is rather to the vulture of Prometheus. ---Steevens. - -[69] _Vipeream inspirans animam_. The image is from Virgil. Rowe -likewise adopts it in his "Ambitious Stepmother"-- - - "And send a _snake_ to every vulgar breast."--_Steevens_. - -[70] i.e., The wretch. The word _miser_ was anciently used without -comprehending any idea of avarice. See note on "King Henry VI, Part I.," -edit. of Shakespeare, 1778, vol. vi. p. 279.--_Steevens_. - -[71] "A _stoop_, or _stowp_; a post fastened in the earth, from the -Latin _stupa_."--Ray's "North Country Words," p. 58, edit. 1742. - -[72] Not that she is careful or anxious about, or regrets the loss of -this life. So in Milton's "Paradise Lost," Bk. ix. line 171-- - - "Revenge at first though sweet, - Bitter ere long back on itself recoils; - Let it; _I reck not_, so it light well aim'd." - -And again, in the "History of Sir John Oldcastle," 1600-- - - "I _reck_ of death the less in that I die, - Not by the sentence of that envious priest." - -[73] Petrarch and Laura. - -[74] These initials were almost unquestionably intended for Christopher -Hatton, afterwards knighted and created Lord Chancellor of England. In -the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth, 1562, about six years before this -play is supposed to have been written, we learn from Dugdale's "Origines -Juridiciales," p. 150, a magnificent Christmas was kept in the Inner -Temple, at which her majesty was present, and Mr Hatton was appointed -Master of the Game. Historians say he owed his rise, not so much to his -mental abilities, as to the graces of his person and his excellence in -dancing, which captivated the Queen to such a degree, that he arose -gradually from one of her Gentlemen Pensioners to the highest employment -in the law, which he, however, filled without censure, supplying his own -defects by the assistance of the ablest men in the profession. _The -grave Lord Keeper_, after his promotion, still retained his fondness for -that accomplishment to which he was indebted for his rise, _and led the -Brawls_ almost until his death. In 1589, on the marriage of his heir -with Judge Gawdy's daughter, "the Lord Chancellor danced the measures at -the solemnity, and left his gown on the chair, saying _Lie there, -Chancellor_." His death, which happened two years after, was hastened by -an unexpected demand of money from the Queen, urged in so severe a -manner, that all the kindness she afterwards showed to him was -insufficient to remove the impression it had made on him. See Birch's -"Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth." vol. i. pp. 8, 56, [and Nicolas's "Life of -Hatton," p. 478.] - -[75] Dryden's translation of Boccaccio's "Description of the Cave" is as -follows:-- - - "Next the proud palace of Salerno stood - A Mount of rough ascent, and thick with wood. - Through this a cave was dug with vast expence: - The work it seem'd of some suspicious prince, - Who, when abusing power with lawless might, - From public justice would secure his flight. - The passage made by many a winding way, - Reach'd even the room in which the tyrant lay. - Fit for his purpose on a lower floor, - He lodged, whose issue was an iron door; - From whence by stairs descending to the ground. - In the blind grot a safe retreat he found. - Its outlet ended in a brake o'ergrown - With brambles, choak'd by time, and now unknown. - A rift there was, which from the mountain's height - Convey'd a glimm'ring and malignant light, - A breathing place to draw the damps away, - A twilight of an intercepted day." - ---"Sigismonda and Guiscardo." Dryden's Works, vol. iii. p. 251. - -[76] See Milton's "Paradise Lost," Bk. i. l. 60. - -[77] _Fetters_ or _chains_. So in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Beggar's -Bush," act iii. sc. 4-- - - "_Gyves_ I must wear, and cold must be my comfort." - -Marston's "What You Will," act ii. sc. 1-- - - "Think'st thou a libertine, _an ungiv'd_ beast, - Scornes not the shackles of thy envious clogs?" - -Milton's "Samson Agonistes," l. 1092-- - - "Dost thou already single me? I thought - _Gyves_ and the mill had tam'd thee." - -See Dr Newton's note on the last passage; and Mr Steevens's note on -"First Part of Henry IV.," act iv. sc. 3. - -[78] _Amate_ is to daunt or confound. Skinner, in his "Etymologicon," -explains it thus: "Perterrefacere, Attonitum reddere, Obstupefacere, -mente consternare, Consilii inopem reddere." So in "Thule or Vertue's -Historic," by Francis Rous, 1598, sig. B-- - - "At last with violence and open force. - They brake the posternes of the Castle gate, - And entred spoyling all without remorce, - Nor could old Sobrin now resist his fate, - But stiffe with feare ev'n like a senceles corse - Whom grisly terror doth so much _amate_, - He lyes supine upon his fatall bed. - Expecting ev'ry minute to be dead." - -Again, Ibid., sig. D-- - - "He would forsake his choyse, and change his fate, - And leave her quite, and so procure her woe, - Faines that a sudden grief doth her _amate_, - Wounded with piercing sicknes' Ebon bow." - -[79] Astonished. So in "Euphues and his England," p. 102--"Philautus, -_astonied_ at this speech," &c. And again, in the "Fable of Jeronimi," -by G. Gascoigne, p. 209: "When Ferdinando (somewhat _astonied_ with hir -strange speech) thus answered." And in "Thieves Falling Out," &c., 1615, -by Rob. Greene: "The gentleman, _astonied_ at this strange metamorphosis -of his mistress." - -[80] _Sprent_ is sprinkled. So in Spenser's "Shepherd's Calendar," -December-- - - "My head _besprent_ with hoary frost I find." - -And Fairfax's "Tasso," cant. xii. st. 101-- - - "His silver locks with dust he foul _besprent_." - -Again in Milton's "Comus," l. 542-- - - "Of knot grass dew _besprent_." - -[81] Harbour. - -[82] Old copy, _hasteth_. - -[83] Habiliments, _S.P_. - -[84] Unrevenged. [The more correct form would be _unwroken_.] So in Ben -Jonson's "Every Man out of his Humour," act ii. sc. 4-- - - "Would to heaven, - In _wreak_ of my misfortunes, I were turn'd - To some fair water nymph." - -In "Sejanus his Fall," act iv.-- - - "Made to speak - What they will have to fit their tyrannous _wreak_." - -In Massinger's "Fatal Dowry," act iv. sc. 4-- - - "But there's a heaven above, from whose just _wreak_ - No mists of policy can hide offenders." - -In his "Very Woman," act i. - - "And our just _wreak_, by force or cunning practice - With scorn prevented." - -See also Mr Steevens's note on "Coriolanus," act iv. sc. 5. "Moriamur -_in ultae_?"--Virgil's "Aeneid," lib. iv.--_Steevens_. - -[85] Sorrow. Again, act v. sc. 3-- - - "His death, her woe, and her avenging _teen_." - -And in Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis"-- - - "More I could tell, but more I dare not say, - The text is old, the orator too green. - Therefore in sadness now I will away, - My face is full of shame, my heart of _teen_." - -[86] Old copy, _but hell_. - -[87] _Untrimmed locks_ are locks dishevelled or undressed. _Trim_, in -the language of the times, was frequently used for dress. So in -Massinger's "Emperor of the East," act ii. sc. 1-- - - "Our Eastern queens, at their full height bow to thee, - And are, in their best _trim_, thy foils and shadows." - -See also Mr Steevens's note on "King John," act iii. sc. 3. - -[88] Alluding to a custom of which mention is made in Genesis, chap. -xxiv. 9--"And the servant put his _hand_ under the _thigh_ of Abraham -his master, and _sware_ to him concerning that matter." The same form -was likewise observed by Jacob and Joseph when they were dying. Some -mystery is supposed to be couched under this practice. The most -probable, at least the most decent, supposition is, that it was a token -of subjection or homage from a servant to his lord, when the former -solemnly promised to perform whatever should be commanded by the -latter.--_Steevens_. - -[89] The following account of Lodge and his works is very imperfect. -See the Shakespeare Society volume, 1853, containing much fuller -particulars. - -[90] In the "Epistle of England to her Three Daughters," in Clarke's -"Polimanteia," 1595, Lodge is spoken of as belonging to Oxford. ---_Collier_. - -[91] Mr Malone ("Shakespeare," by Boswell, iii. 40, note 9) says that it -was printed about 1580; but Lodge himself, writing in 1584, speaks of -Gosson's "Plays Confuted," as written "about two years since." - -[92] "Scilla's Metamorphosis," 1589; "Diogenes in his Singularity," -1591; and "A Fig for Momus," 1595, are all stated to be by T.L., or -Thomas Lodge, of Lincoln's Inn, Gentleman. - -[93] A French sonnet by Thomas Lodge is prefixed to Robert Greene's -"Spanish Masquerado." He has also some French verses in "Rosalynde." - -[94] The lines upon Lodge in "The Return from Parnassus," 1606, would -show that it did occur:-- - - "He that turns over Galen every day, - To sit and simper 'Euphues' Legacy,'" &c. - ---_Collier_. - -[95] Afterwards purchased by Mr Collier. - -[96] [This does not appear quite to follow. In a poem, "Upon London -Physicians," written about 1620, and quoted in "Inedited Poetical -Miscellanies," edit. Hazlitt, 1870, sig. Ff 5, he is mentioned in the -same way, without any reference to his literary repute or performances.] -It is to be observed in the list of Lodge's productions, that there is -an interval between 1596, when "Wit's Misery and the World's Madness" -appeared, and 1603, when the "Treatise of the Plague" was published. - -[97] Others have been attributed to him in conjunction with Greene, but -on no sufficient evidence--viz., "Lady Alimony," not printed until 1659; -"The Laws of Nature," and "The Contention between Liberality and -Prodigality," 1602. - -[98] [Reprinted in Mr Dyce's editions of Greene's Works, 1831 and 1861.] -Henslowe probably alludes to this play in his MSS., and if so, it was -acted as early as 1591. The following is the entry: "R. (i.e., received) -at _the Looking Glasse_, the 8th of Marche, 1591, vij s." [See Mr -Collier's edit. 1845, pp. 23-8.] - -[99] [Here follows in the former edition a list of Lodge's works, which -will be found more fully and correctly given in Hazlitt's "Handbook," -in _v_.] - -[100] In the course of the incidents of this historical tragedy, Lodge -has very much followed the lives of Marius and Sylla, as given by -Plutarch: he was a scholar, and it was not necessary therefore for him -to resort to Sir Thomaa North's translation from the French, of which -Shakespeare availed himself, and of which there were many editions -subsequent to its first appearance in 1579. It is pretty evident, -however, from a comparison of a few passages quoted in the notes in the -progress of the play, that Lodge did employ this popular work, although -he has varied some of the events, and especially the death of Sylla. - -It is not, perhaps, possible now to settle the point when this tragedy -was first represented on the stage, but it was most likely some time -before its publication in 1594. We know that Lodge had written in -defence of the stage before 1582, and it is not unlikely that he did so, -because he had already written for it. Robert Greene, in his "Groat's -worth of Wit," speaks of Lodge as a dramatic poet in 1592; and the -comedy which they wrote together, it is ascertained, was acted in March -1591, if not earlier, although it was not printed until three years -afterwards. The versification of "The Wounds of Civil War" certainly -affords evidence that it was penned even before Marlowe had improved the -measure of dramatic blank verse, which Shakespeare perfected: it is -heavy, monotonous, and without the pauses subsequently introduced; if -therefore Lodge produced it after Marlowe's "Edward II." was brought -out, he did not at least profit by the example. All the unities are set -at defiance. - -[101] The "consul's pall" is the consul's robe. Thus Milton in -"Il Penseroso"-- - - "Let gorgeous Tragedy - In scepter'd _pall_ come sweeping by." - -Purple _pall_ is very commonly met with in our old writers. - -[102] "Sylla _nill_ brook" is "Sylla _ne will_, or will not brook." -Shakespeare uses the word. See Mr Steevens's note, "Taming of the -Shrew," act ii. sc. 1. - -[103] "But specially one day above the rest, having made him sup with -him at his table, some one after supper falling in talke of Captaines -that were in Rome at that time, one that stood by Scipio asked him -(either because he stood in doubt, or else for that he would curry -favour with Scipio), what other Captaine the Romanes should have after -his death, like unto him? Scipio having Marius by him, gently clapped -him upon the shoulders and said, Peradventure this shall be he." ---_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[104] [Old copy, _into_.] - -[105] [Old copy, _shall_, and so in the next line.] - -[106] It is doubtful whether we ought to read _impale_ or _impall_. -If the latter, it means to enfold with a _pall_; but Cleveland uses -_impale_ in the same sense-- - - "I now _impale_ her in my arms." - -This, however, is rather a forced construction. - -[107] [Old copy, _spence_.] This may mean "the _expense_ of years that -Marius hath o'erpast," or it may be an easy misprint for "space of -years." Either may be right. - -[108] [Old copy, _mate_.] - -[109] [Old copy, _conservatives_.] - -[110] "To _bandy_ a ball" Coles defines _clava pilam torquere_; "to -bandy at tennis," "Dict." 1679. See Mr Malone's note on "Lear," act i. -sc. 4. - -[111] _Prest_ for Asia, is ready for Asia. It is almost unnecessary to -multiply instances, but the following is very apposite:-- - - "Dispisde, disdainde, starvde, whipt and scornd, - _Prest_ through dispaire myself to quell." - ---R. Wilson's "Cobbler's Prophecy," 1594, sig. C4. - -[112] Lodge and other writers not unfrequently use the adjective for the -substantive: thus, in "The Discontented Satyre:"-- - - "Blush, daies eternal lampe, to see thy lot, - Since that thy _cleere_ with cloudy _darkes_ is scar'd." - -[113] The quarto has the passage thus-- - - "These peers of Rome have mark'd - A rash revenging _hammer_ in thy brain;" - -which seemed so decidedly wrong as to warrant the change that, without -much violence, has been made. - -[114] _Guerdon_ is synonymous with _reward_. It is scarcely yet -obsolete. - -[115] Old copy, _hammer_. - -[116] Vengeance. - -[117] Scarce. It is found in Spenser. Robert Greene also uses it-- - - "It was frosty winter season, - And fair Flora's wealth was _geason_." - ---"Philomela," 1592. Again, we find it in the tragical comedy of "Appius -and Virginia," 1575--"Let my counsel at no time lie with you _geason,_" -sig. D. [vol. iv. p. 138]. - -[118] Open them. - -[119] Old copy, _what_. - -[120] The meaning of "would _amate_ me so," is, would daunt or confound -me so. See note to "Tancred and Gismunda" [_supra_, p. 79], where -instances are given. - -[121] Mr Steevens, in a note on the "Comedy of Errors," act ii. sc. 1, -has collected a number of quotations to show the meaning of the word -_stale_, and to them the reader is referred. In this place it signifies -a false allurement, bait, or deception on the part of fortune. - -[122] The barbarous jargon put into the mouth of this Frenchman is given -in the orthography of the old copy, since it was vain to attempt -correction. - -[123] "Now when they were agreed upon it, they could not find a man in -the city that durst take upon him to kill him; but a man of armes of the -Gaules, or one of the Cimbres (for we find both the one and the other in -writing) that went thither with his sword drawn in his hand. Now that -place of the chamber where Marius lay was very dark, and, as it is -reported, the man of armes thought he saw two burning flames come out of -Marius's eyes, and heard a voice out of that dark corner, saying unto -him: O fellow, thou, darest thou come to kill Caius Marius? The -barbarous Gaule, hearing these words, ran out of the chamber presently." ---_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[124] "For when he was but very young, and dwelling in the country, he -gathered up in the lap of his gowne the ayrie of an eagle, in the which -were seven young eagles; whereat his father and mother much wondering, -asked the soothsayers what that meant? They answered that their sonne -should one day be one of the greatest men in the world, and that out of -doubt he should obtain seven times in his life the chiefest office of -dignity in his country."--_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[125] The old quarto divides the play very irregularly; for according to -it there are two Acts iii. and two Acts iv. One of the Acts iii. was -made to commence here. - -[126] Necessarily or unavoidably. - -[127] Old copy, _Picaeo_. - -[128] Old copy, metals. - -[129] An early instance of an echo of this kind upon the stage is to be -found in Peele's "Arraignment of Paris," 1584. Mr D'Israeli has an -entertaining essay upon them in his "Curiosities of Literature," second -series. They were carried to a most ridiculous excess afterwards. - -[130] The old spelling of _than_ was _then_, and this must be observed -here. The echo is supposed to encourage Marius again to take up arms-- - - "Nought better fits old Marius' mind than war." - -And the reply of the echo is, "Then war," or then go to war. - -[131] This passage is quoted by Mr Steevens in a note on "Hamlet," -act v. sc. 1, to show that "the winter's _flaw_" there spoken of means -"the winter's _blast_." - -[132] Old copy, Distia. - -[133] _Dreariment_ is not so frequently met in any of our old writers -as Spenser: I do not recollect it in any play before. It requires no -explanation. - -[134] Old copy, _coffer_. - -[135] Old copy, _Marius live_. - -[136] _Lozel_ is always used as a term of contempt, and means a -worthless fellow. - -[137] Old copy, _have_. - -[138] Old copy, _And_. - -[139] Old copy, _consist_. - -[140] We have before had Pedro the Frenchman, or rather the _Gaul_, -according to Plutarch (though why he is called by the Spanish name of -Pedro, we know not), employed to murder Marius, swearing _Par le sang de -Dieu, Notre Dame_, and _Jesu_: and towards the close of the play, where -a couple of ludicrous characters are introduced, "to mollify the -vulgar," the "_Paul's steeple_ of honour" is talked of. Such -anachronisms, however gross, are common to all the dramatists of that -day. Shakespeare is notoriously full of them; and all must remember the -discussion between Hamlet and his friend regarding the children of -Paul's and of the Queen's chapel. - -[141] Shakespeare and many other writers of the time use this form of -_fetch_: thus in "Henry V." act iii. sc. 1-- - - "On, on, you noble English, - Whose blood is _fet_ from fathers of war-proof." - -[142] _Glozing_ and _flattering_ are synonymous: perhaps to _gloze_, or, -as it is sometimes spelt, to _glose_, is the same word as to _gloss_. It -is common in Milton in the sense that it bears in the text. - -[143] [i.e., Pinky eyne or pink (small) eyes.] See Mr Steevens's note -on the song in "Anthony and Cleopatra," beginning-- - - "Come, thou monarch of the vine, - Plumpy Bacchus, with _pink_ eyne." - -[144] This incident is founded upon a passage in Plutarch's "Life of -Caius Marius," only in that author the man with the wine discloses where -Anthony is concealed to the drawer, of whom he gets the wine, and not to -the soldiers. - -[145] The meaning of to _assoil_ is to absolve (see note 4 to "The -Adventurers of Five Hours"), from the Latin _absolvere_; but here it -signifies to _resolve_ or _remove_ doubts. Thus in a passage quoted by -Mr Todd-- - -"For the _assoiling_ of this difficulty, I lay down these three -propositions."--Mede, _Rev. of God's House_. - -The word is frequently to be met with in Spenser in the sense of to -discharge, or set free. - -[146] In _doly_ season is in melancholy or wintry season: an adjective -formed from _dole_, and with the same meaning as _doleful_. - -[147] The death of Anthony is thus related in North's Plutarch, "Life of -Marius"-- - -"But he (Marius) sent Annius one of his captaines thither ... and when -they were come to the house which the drawer had brought them to, Annius -taried beneath at the doore, and the souldiers went up the staiers into -the chamber, and finding Anthonie there, they began to encourage one -another to kill him, not one of them having the heart to lay hands upon -him. For Anthonies tongue was as sweet as a Syrene, and had such an -excellent grace in speaking, that when he began to speake unto the -souldiers and to pray them to save his life, there was not one of them -so hard-hearted as once to touch him, no not onely to looke him in the -face, but looking downewards fell a weeping. Annius perceiving they -taried long and came not downe, went himself up into the chamber and -found Anthonie talking to his souldiers, and them weeping, his sweete -eloquent tongue had so melted their hearts: but he, rating them, ran -furiously upon him and strake off his head with his owne hands." - -[148] Shakespeare's commentators might have added this passage to the -long list of others they have brought forward (see note on "Othello," -act i. sc. 3), to show that _intention_ and _attention_, and _intentive_ -and _attentive_, were once, synonymous. - -[149] This expression is also introduced by Lodge into his "Rosalynde," -1590, though probably this play was written first-- - - "With sad and sorry cheer - About her wond'ring stood - The _citizens of the wood_." - -Shakespeare calls deer in "As You Like It" citizens, and elsewhere, -"native burghers of this desert city." - -The author of "Fuimus Troes" goes farther, and calls the blessed souls -in heaven _citizens_-- - - "Then shall I - Envy no more those _citizens_ above - The ambrosian juncates of the Olympian hall." - -[150] Old copy, _arm_. - -[151] The name of _Carbo_ is accidently omitted before this reply in -the quarto. - -[152] Old copy misplaces the words _break_ and _bend_; the alteration -here made was suggested by Mr Collier. - -[153] i.e., With a _withy_, or twig of willow. - -[154] Old copy, _the ravens_. - -[155] The quarto reads: "Enter Scipio and Norbanus, Publius Lentulus," -but the latter has nothing to do with the scene, while Carinna is -omitted. - -[156] Old copy, _heedless_. - -[157] It is very common for Shakespeare and his contemporaries to use -the word _pretend_ for intend. See notes to "The Two Gentlemen of -Verona," act ii. sc. 6. - -[158] In his "Life of Marius," Plutarch states that this event occurred -at Perusia, and that Young Marius was besieged there by Sylla; but in -his "Life of Sylla" he corrects the error, and informs us that Young -Marius was besieged by Lucretius, and that he slew himself at Praeneste. - -[159] _Jest_ was used by our ancestors in various senses, but here it -means a deed or action only; thus Sir T. Elyot, as Mr Todd notes, speaks -of "the _jests_ or acts of princes and captains." In fact, this is the -general signification of the term, though it has sometimes a more -particular application. _Gest_ and _jest_ are the same word, though now -and then distinguished. - -[160] Old copy, _floats_. - -[161] Old copy, _lo_. - -[162] Old copy, _yea_. By _She_ Sylla must be understood to refer to -Fate, whom he has just mentioned. - -[163] [Old copy, _while_.] - -[164] i.e., _Verse_. - -[165] See vol. iv. p. 80, respecting the _razors of Palermo.--Collier_. -[Mr Collier's suggested retention of _shave_, the reading of the old -copy, I cannot support.] - -[166] "_Phlegon's_ hot breath" is mentioned in "Fuimus Troes;" one of -the horses of the sun was so named. - -[167] [Old copy, _fairs_.] - -[168] From the edition of 1610. It is not in the first 4to. - -[169] In the edition of 1610 the number of performers is raised to ten. -The two additional characters are the _King of Valentia_ and _Anselmo_. - -[170] Perhaps the earliest instance of the use of this expression, as to -which see "Old English Jest-Books," 1864, iii.; "Pleasant Conceits of -Old Hobson," Introd. - -[171] [The 4to of 1610 makes Tremelio enter here; but he does not appear -to come on till afterwards.] - -[172] [Old copies, _Catalone, a_.] - -[173] [Old copies, _Oh_.] - -[174] Old copies, hardly I did oft. - -[175] Old copies, _on_. - -[176] Edit. 1598, _Therefore to_. Edit. 1610, _There for to_. - -[177] Edit. 1598 and 1610, _hath forget_. - -[178] Edits, transpose the two commencing words of this line, and the -first word of the preceding one. - -[179] Edits., _say_. - -[180] Anticipated. Old copies read _we_ for _me_. - -[181] Old copy, _are_ - -[182] Old copies, _her_. - -[183] Edit. 1610, _attend_. - -[184] Edit. 1610, _axe_. - -[185] Old copies, _his_. - -[186] Edit. 1598, _Wily_; edit. 1610, _wilde_. - -[187] Old copies, _his Bremo_. - -[188] Edits., _ah, hermit_! - -[189] Edits., _fair lady_. - -[190] Edits., _this is_. - -[191] In the old copies there is here a direction, _He disguiseth -himself_, which appears wrong, as Mucedorus is already disguised, and -what he next does is, in fact, to discover himself. - -[192] Edits., _none, none, no_. - -[193] Edit. 1620, _sacred_. - -[194] Old copies, _look_. - -[195] Edit. 1598, _paled_; 1106, _pallade_. - -[196] Edit. 1610, _strike_. - -[197] After this line, in the edition of 1610, occurs the following -substitution for the lines in edit. 1598, beginning "Ho, lords," and -concluding with "Exeunt omnes:"-- - - Were but thy father, the Valentia lord, - Present in view of this combining knot. - - _A shout within. Enter a_ MESSENGER. - - What shout was that? - - MESSENGER. My lord, the great Valentia king, - Newly arrived, entreats your presence. - - MUCEDORUS. My father? - - KING OF ARRAGON. Prepared welcomes; give him entertainment. - A happier planet never reigned than that, - Which governs at this hour. - - [_Sound_. - - _Enter the_ KING OF VALENTIA, ANSELMO, RODRIGO, BARCHEUS, - _with others_; _the_ KING _runs and embraces his son_. - - KING OF VALENTIA. Rise, honour of my age, food to my rest: - Condemn not (mighty King of Arragon) - My rude behaviour, so compell'd by Nature, - That manner stood unknowledged. - - KING OF ARRAGON. What we have to recite would tedious prove - By declaration; therefore in and feast. - To-morrow the performance shall explain, - What words conceal; till then, drums, speak, bells, ring: - Give plausive welcomes to our brother king. - - [_Sound drums and trumpets. Exeunt omnes_. - -[198] [In the edition of 1610, the conclusion, from this line, is so -different, that the best mode appeared to be to give it at the foot of -the page:-- - - COMEDY. Envy, spit thy gall; - Plot, work, contrive; create new fallacies; - Team from thy womb each minute a black traitor, - Whose blood and thoughts have twin conception: - Study to act deeds yet unchronicled; - Cast native monsters in the moulds of men; - Case vicious devils under sancted rochets; - Unhasp the wicket, where all perjureds roost, - And swarm this ball with treasons. Do thy worst; - Thou canst not (hell-hound) cross my star[A] to-night. - [A] [Old copy, _steare_.] - Nor blind that glory, where I wish delight. - - ENVY. I can. I will. - - COMEDY. Nefarious hag, begin; - And let us tug, till one the mast'ry win. - - ENVY. Comedy, thou art a shallow goose; - I'll overthrow thee in thine own intent, - And make thy fall my comic merriment. - - COMEDY. Thy policy wants gravity; thou art too weak. - Speak, fiend. As how? - - ENVY. Why thus; - From my foul study will I hoist a wretch, - A lean and hungry negro [Old copy, _neagre_.] cannibal: - Whose jaws swell to his eyes with chawing malice, - And him I'll make a poet. - - COMEDY. What's that to th'purpose? - - ENVY. This scrambling raven, with his needy beard, - Will I whet on to write a comedy, - Wherein shall be compos'd dark sentences, - Pleasing to factious brains: - And every other where place me a jest. - Whose high abuse shall more torment than blows. - Then I myself (quicker than lightning), - Will fly me to a puissant magistrate, - And waiting with a trencher at his back, - In midst of jollity rehearse those galls [Old copy, _gaules_.] - (With some additions) so lately vented in your theatre: - He upon this cannot but make complaint, - To your great danger, or at least restraint. - - COMEDY. Ha, ha, ha! I laugh to hear thy folly; - This is a trap for boys, not men, nor such, - Especially desertful in their doings, - Whose staid discretion rules their purposes. - I and my faction do eschew those vices. - But see, O see, the weary sun for rest - Hath lain his golden compass to the west, - Where he perpetual bide and ever shine, - As David's offspring in his happy clime. - Stoop, Envy, stoop, bow to the earth with me, - Let's beg our pardons on our bended knee. [_They kneel_. - - ENVY. My power has lost her might; Envy's date's expired, - Yon splendant majesty hath fell'd my sting, - And I amazed am. [_Fall down and quake_. - - COMEDY. Glorious and wise Arch-Caesar on this earth, - At whose appearance Envy's stroken dumb, - And all bad things cease operation, - Vouchsafe to pardon our unwilling error, - So late presented to your gracious view, - And we'll endeavour with excess of pain - To please your senses in a choicer strain, - Thus we commit you to the arms of night, - Whose spangled carcase would (for your delight) - Strive to excel the day. Be blessed then: - Who other wishes, let him never speak. - - ENVY. Amen! - To Fame and Honour we commend your rest; - Live still more happy, every hour more blest. - - FINIS.] - -[199] To the edition printed in the Percy Society's Series. - -[200] The old spelling has now been abandoned. - -[201] For these I am indebted to the kindness of Mr J.P. Collier, who is -now editing "Henslowe's Diary" for the Shakespeare Society. The portions -of it which were published by Malone are very incorrectly given. - -[202] _Book_ in these entries means play. - -[203] This entry is struck through, the money having been repaid. - -[204] This entry is in Porter's own handwriting. - -[205] "Spec. of Engl. Dram. Poets," ii. 185, edit. 1835. - -[206] See Hazlitt's "Popular Poetry," iv, 38-40. - -[207] Second edit., _Welcome then_. - -[208] From the second edit. Not in first edit. - -[209] Prospects, views, scenes in sight; a meaning of the word which is -found in much later writers. - -[210] So second edit. First edit. _he_. - -[211] Absolute, perfect, [or rather, perhaps, pure.] - -[212] Read, for the metre, _He will_. - -[213] So second edit. First edit., _to_. - -[214] The audience were to suppose that the stage now represented an -orchard; for be it remembered that there was no movable painted scenery -in the theatres at the time when this play was produced. - -[215] Second edit., _rubber_, but the other form is common in our old -writers. - -[216] [So second edit.] Equivalent to be hanged. - -[217] Second edit., _woman_, which is probably right; see two passages -farther on, in one of which both editions have _woman_. - -[218] Gold coins. The words give occasion to innumerable puns in our -early dramas. - -[219] Read, for the metre, _here is_ - -[220] Second edit., _woman_: see note [217]. - -[221] A term of the game. - -[222] Edits., _better_,--the eye of the original compositor having -caught the word above. - -[223] A term of the game. - -[224] i.e. _Hit_. - -[225] Here, probably, Mistress Goursey should make her exit. - -[226] i.e., We cannot help it. - -[227] So second edit. First edit., _Afford_. - -[228] The author probably wrote, "_I_ do _impart_:" compare the next -line. - -[229] [Old copies, _tick_.] - -[230] i.e., Taught her to tread the ring,--to perform various movements -in different directions within a ring marked out on a piece of ground: -see Markham's "Cheap and Good Husbandry," &c. p. 18, sqq. edit. 1631. - -[231] [_Campagne_.] A form of _campaign_ common in our early writers. - -[232] i.e., Wilt thou wear, &c.: _point_ means one of the tagged laces -which were used in dress to attach the hose or breeches to the doublet, -&c. - -[233] So second edit. First edit., _th'art_. - -[234] [Old copies read _when_.] - -[235] So second edit. First edit., _in the_. - -[236] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[237] [Meaning a tavern of that name.] - -[238] Sheathe your sword. - -[239] Edits., _me_. - -[240] [Old copy, _He's_.] Read, for the metre, _He is_. - -[241] i.e., Quality, disposition. - -[242] [Old copies, _he'll_.] Read, for the metre, _he will_. - -[243] [Fine worsted.] - -[244] [Old copies, _his hat, and all green hat_.] - -[245] [Old copies, _indirect_.] - -[246] Edits., _vassailes_. - -[247] So second edit. First edit., _women's_. - -[248] Qy. _for an_? - -[249] [Old copies, _She's_.] Read, for the metre, _She is_. - -[250] A corruption of God's. - -[251] [Old copies, _pale_.] - -[252] Edits., _apprehend_, but certainly Mall had spoken with sufficient -plainness. - -[253] i.e., Nature. - -[254] So second edit. First edit., _nay_. - -[255] The common dress of a serving-man. - -[256] Edits., _you_, which, perhaps, is the right reading, some word -having dropp'd out after it. Qy. thus-- - - 'MRS BAR. Mistresse flurt, you _mean_, - Foule strumpet, light a loue, short heeles! Mistresse Goursey - Call her,' &c. - ---_Dyce_. [But _yea_ seems to be the more likely word.] - -[257] So second edit. First edit., _tell_. - -[258] i.e., Vile. - -[259] Edits., _forlorn_. - -[260] Qy., _Mother, he loves_? - -[261] So second edit. First edit., _the_. - -[262] So second edit. First edit., _Thaust_. - -[263] i.e., Refuse. - -[264] So second edit. First edit., _Gads_. - -[265] Edits., _His_. - -[266] Qy., _Franke_ he is _young_? Compare the preceding line but one. - -[267] i.e., By our lady. - -[268] i.e., Miserly persons. - -[269] The author probably wrote _neuer was_. - -[270] i.e., Honest men. - -[271] So second edit. First edit., _ma_. - -[272] [See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 128.] - -[273] So second edit. First edit., _faith in_. - -[274] Edits., _some_. - -[275] Edits., _treason_. - -[276] i.e., Vomits: a common pun in old dramas. - -[277] i.e., Easily. - -[278] Edits., _But_. - -[279] So second edit., First edit., _cehape_. - -[280] Read, for the metre, _He is_. - -[281] Equivalent to--poor, contemptible fellow: but I must leave the -reader to determine the exact meaning of this term of reproach. As -_pingle_ signifies a small croft, Nares (citing a passage from Lyly's -"Euphues") says that _pingler_ is "probably a labouring horse, kept by a -farmer in his homestead." "Gloss." in v.--In Brockett's "Gloss, of North -Country Words" is "_Pingle_, to work assiduously but inefficiently,--to -labour until you are almost blind." In Forby's "Vocab. of East Anglia" -we find, "_Pingle_, to pick one's food, to eat squeamishly:" and in -Moor's "Suffolk Words" is a similar explanation. See also Jamieson's -"Et. Dict. of Scott. Lang." - -[282] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[283] So second edit. First edit., _drinke_. - -[284] So second edit. First edit., _Nich_. - -[285] [This is probably intended to run into verse-- - - "For when a man doth to Rome come, - He must do as there is done."] - -[286] [Old copies, _crush_.] - -[287] A form of _digest_, common in our early writers. - -[288] [This emendation was suggested by Dyce.] - -[289] [Old copies, _shape_.] - -[290] So second edit. First edit., _fathers_. - -[291] So second edit. First edit., _than_. - -[292] Edits., _Franke_. - -[293] [Old copies, _boye yee_.] - -[294] [Old copies, _love capable to_.] - -[295] So second edit. First edit., _Maister_. - -[296] Some word most probably has dropped out from the line. -[Perhaps _not_.] - -[297] So second edit. First edit., _craft_. - -[298] A familiar term for the old English broadsword. - -[299] The sharp point in the centre of the buckler. - -[300] So second edit. First edit., _and_. - -[301] [Dyce proposed to read _ont_.] - -[302] i.e., Brave. - -[303] [Old copies, _strukst_.] - -[304] i.e., Manlike, masculine. - -[305] See note [218]. - -[306] i.e., The parson: _Sir_ was a title applied to clergymen. - -[307] See note [255]. - -[308] [A line appears to be lost here, probably ending with _selves_, as -the whole dialogue is in rhyme.] - -[309] i.e., Forester. - -[310] Seems to be used here for herd; an unusual meaning of the word. -[See Halliwell's "Diet." _v. Berry_, No. 3.] - -[311] So second edit. First edit. _me_. - -[312] So second edit. First edit. _th'_. - -[313] Edits. _he_. - -[314] So second edit. First edit. _thee_. - -[315] So second edit. First edit. _thorowly_. - -[316] See note [218]. - -[317] Swoon. - -[318] Read, for the metre, _she is_. - -[319] Edits., _wone_. - -[320] i.e., An _I_ of the Christ-cross row or alphabet. - -[321] A term of endearment, formed, perhaps, from _pink_, to wink, to -contract the eyelids. - -[322] Edits., _sower_. - -[323] i.e., A good whip (_whipstock_ is properly the stock or handle -of a whip). - -[324] A term of endearment, which often occurs in our early dramatists. - -[325] Edits., _patient_. - -[326] [Old copies, _thy_.] - -[327] So second edit. First edit., _cheesse_. - -[328] So second edit. First edit., _to_. - -[329] Read, for the metre, _Shee is_. - -[330] A recollection perhaps of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," -act iii. sc. 5-- - - "If I would the fool were married to her grave!" - -[331] i.e., Honest. - -[332] i.e., Deny. - -[333] Read, for the metre, _is it_. - -[334] So second edit. First edit., _mistrurst_. - -[335] Qy., _now I swear_: - -[336] Edits., _confederates_. - -[337] Occurs somewhat earlier in edits. (to warn the actors to be in -readiness for coming on the stage). - -[338] A well-known part of Oxford. "The principal street is the High -Street, running from Magdalen Bridge to Carfax Church," &c ---New Oxford Guide, p. 3, 8th edit. - -[339] i.e., Fine. - -[340] A common proverbial expression: "Beggars'-bush being a tree -notoriously known, on the left-hand of the London road, from Huntingdon -to Caxton." [Hazlitt'a "Proverbs," 1869, p. 401. See also pp. 82, 199.] - -[341] i.e., Refuse. - -[342] Is a common term for a small dagger, but here it seems to be used -in contempt; see the next speech of Coomes. - -[343] The origin of this corrupted oath is, I believe, unknown. - -[344] i.e., Rabbit-burrow. - -[345] i.e., Call me horse. - -[346] A not uncommon proverbial expression. Nares ("Gloss." in _v_.) -mentions three places which still retain the name--one between Oxford -and Banbury, another close to Stafford, the third near Shrewsbury. - -[347] i.e., Counsel, advice. - -[348] i.e., Vile. - -[349] So second edit. First edit., _upon_. - -[350] i.e., Till. - -[351] i.e., A kind of net for catching rabbits,--usually stretched -before their holes. - -[352] [The name of a popular game.] - -[353] So second edit. First edit., _do_. - -[354] i.e., A sucking, or young rabbit. - -[355] Vile. - -[356] So second edit. First edit., _you'r_. - -[357] Second edit., _wilt not_. - -[358] i.e., Honest. - -[359] Edits. _glimpes_ (the two last letters transposed by mistake.) - -[360] i.e., Gave notice of, discovered. - -[361] So second edit. First edit. _metamorphesie_. - -[362] So second edit. First edit. _these_. - -[363] So second edit. First edit. _'Sbloud_. - -[364] i.e., Nearer. - -[365] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[366] Qy. "_Sir Ralph Smith_, I know." - -[367] So second edit. These words are wanting in first edit. - -[368] This stage direction occurs somewhat earlier in edits. - -[369] I am not sure that this stage direction, which I have added, is -the right one. It would seem, however, that Sir Ralph Smith remains on -the stage, and is supposed not to overhear the dialogue which ensues -between Francis and Will. - -[370] Edits., _Sbloud_. - -[371] So second edit. First edit., _whench_. - -[372] Edits., _ask't_ and _aske_. - -[373] Read, for the metre, _It is_. - -[374] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[375] Qy., _order here_? - -[376] i.e., Nearer. - -[377] Perhaps he ought only to retire. - -[378] So second edit. First edit., _asgoe_. - -[379] [Old copies, _boye_.] - -[380] It would seem that something is wanting after this speech, unless -we are to suppose that here the Boy lies down and falls asleep, and that -he wakens on the second entrance of Hodge,--where, however, the edits. -distinctly mark "Enter Hodge _and Boy_"; see later: _Enter [severally]_ -HODGE _and_ BOY. - -[381] i.e., Excels. - -[382] So second edit. First edit. _clowdes_. - -[383] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[384] Second edit. _ye_. - -[385] Qy. Is this a stage direction crept into the text? - -[386] Second edit. _grope_. - -[387] Second edit. _so_. - -[388] [Old copies, _paint_.] - -[389] So second edit. First edit. _buze_. - -[390] Second edit. _lips_. - -[391] So second edit. First edit. _I have had a Pumpe set up, as good_. - -[392] i.e., (Perhaps) swore by our Lady of Walsingham, in Norfolk. - -[393] [The name of a game, though here used as a bye-word. See "Popular -Antiquities of Gr. Britain," ii. 341.] - -[394] So second edit. First edit., _Tripe-cheeke_. - -[395] i.e., Had I known the consequences; a common proverbial expression -of repentance. - -[396] See note [16]. - -[397] So second edit. First edit., _his_. - -[398] [Edits., _me_.] - -[399] Qy. a proverbial allusion to the famous Brazen-head? - -[400] So second edit. First edit., _breath_. - -[401] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[402] The hero of a popular German jest-book ("Eulenspiegel,") which was -translated into English at a very early period: see Gifford's note on -Jonson's "Works," iv. 60, and Nares' Gloss. in v. - -[403] [First 4to, _silly_.] - -[404] So second edit. First edit., _shew_. - -[405] i.e., Bauble. - -[406] Random. - -[407] [i.e., Coomes and Nicholas both retire to the back of the stage.] - -[408] Edits., _hap_. - -[409] i.e., Ill-will. - -[410] Second edit., _he a_; but _a_ is a common contraction for _he_. - -[411] So second edit. First edit., _tell_, - -[412] i.e., Blind-man's-buff. - -[413] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[414] [Old copy, _thief_.] - -[415] i.e., (I suppose) Buoys. - -[416] [Old copy, _not envies fellon, not_.] - -[417] [Old copies, _what_.] - -[418] i.e., A dear lean and out of season. - -[419] i.e., The alphabet. - -[420] So second edit. First edit. _wandring_. - -[421] i.e., suffer, endure. Edits. _stole_. - -[422] So second edit. First edit. _Being_. - -[423] Read, for the metre, _it is_. - -[424] So second edit. First edit. _enforc'st_. - -[425] Read, for the metre, _wife is_. - -[426] So second edit. First edit. _same_. - -[427] Second edit. _you_. - -[428] So second edit. First edit. _weere_. - -[429] [Old edits., _carerie_.] - -[430] So second edit. First edit., _shrowdly_. - -[431] Second edit., _me_--wrongly, as appears from what follows. - -[432] Edits., _be_. - -[433] i.e., Ill-will. - -[434] i.e., Satisfy, convince. - -[435] Edits., _mindes_. - -[436] Qy., _you, mother_? - -[437] Read, for the metre, _she is_. - -[438] Something has dropt out here. - -[439] [Edits., _A little_.] - -[440] i.e., Vile. - -[441] i.e., The one. - -[442] [Old copies, _yond may help that come both together_.] - -[443] So second edit. First edit., _fileds_. - -[444] A common, familiar contraction of _mine uncle_. - -[445] Second edit., _fie_. - -[446] So second edit. First edit., _brings_. - -[447] i.e., _Traitor_ or _felon_. - -[448] i.e., Swoon. - -[449] Second edit., _fauours_. - -[450] So read for the metre. Old copies, _here's_. - -[451] See also Collier's "Hist. of Eng. Dramatic Poetry," i. 3. - -[452] See Dyce's "Shakespeare," 1868, ii. 2. - -[453] Not in the old copy. - -[454] [i.e., to Tyburn.] - -[455] [Old copy, _thee_.] - -[456] Old copy, _well a neere_. Well-a-year is an unusual phrase, _well_ -being corrupted from _wail_. "Well-a-day" in the same sense is common -enough. - -[457] Old copy, _otimie_, I conjecture _otomy_ for anatomy, a common -form of _anatomy_. - -[458] Halliwell mentions the words _pubble_ and _puble_ in different -senses, and the old copy reads puble; but here the context seems to -require _bubble_. He has immediately before used the term _froth_. - -[459] Fear. - -[460] Divisions, conflicts. - -[461] Old copy, _Henry_. - -[462] Old copy, _Aveney_. - -[463] But see Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 23. - -[464] Old copy, _where stands in_. - -[465] i.e., Mary, God's mother. - -[466] See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 289. - -[467] Possibly in reference to a tract, so called, printed by Wynkyn de -Worde, and (after him) by others. - -[468] He means the stammer of Redcap, which he intends to imitate. - -[469] Compare "Damon and Pithias," vol. iv., pp. 67-8. - -[470] Old copy, _excepts_. - -[471] He does not appear, however, to make himself visible, but stands -aside, listening. - -[472] Old copy, _times_. See Halliwell, v. _tine_, where the word is -said to mean "the prong of a fork (second explanation)," thence, as in -the text, a horn. - -[473] [Old copy, _attempt_.] - -[474] Block seems to refer jocularly to Sir Richard's long aside, under -a sort of invisible cap. - -[475] Old copy, _solicitie_. - -[476] Old copy, _say_. - -[477] Old copy, _you_. - -[478] Old copy, _Richard's_. - -[479] [Old copy, _us_.] - -[480] Succeed. - -[481] Perhaps the dance so called is meant. - -[482] [Old copy, _them_.] - -[483] [Old. copy, _ye spoke_.] - -[484] Old copy, _rove_. - -[485] i.e., From the time of the Confessor. - -[486] i.e., Spain; old copy, _Gads_. - -[487] A word or words left blank in the old copy. - -[488] His gown. - -[489] Old copy, _Levarnian_. - -[490] Old copy, _It_. - -[491] Old copy, _ane_. - -[492] The word _search_ is here, and again a little further on used in -the sense of _searchers_. - -[493] Old copy, _another_; but Redcap is evidently accompanied by two -assistants. - -[494] This appears to stand for officers of the peace, as the _watch_ -and the _search_. - -[495] Old copy, _King_. - -[496] A brothel. - -[497] [Old copy, _age_.] - -[498] [Old copy, _Fau_, for _Fauconbridge_.] - -[499] [This might appear to be a corruption of _go out_, or of _God's -gut (God's guts_ is an ejaculation found elsewhere); but from a -subsequent passage we can but conclude that the disease so called is -intended.] - -[500] Old copy, _fill'd_, the compositor's eye, perhaps, having strayed -to the next line. - -[501] Strong. See a long note in Nares, edit. 1859, p. 606. - -[502] Old copy; _here_. - -[503] A room in the Salutation so called. - -[504] Guests. - -[505] Old copy, _at_. - -[506] Old copy, _Raynald_. - -[507] [Old copy, _me of_.] - -[508] i.e., Terms, as mentioned before. Old copy, _then_. - -[509] To _meet with_ is a very common phrase for to _serve_ out, -_requite_. - -[510] Skink issues from the hermit's house in the disguise of the man -whom he is supposed to have cured, and as he leaves, addresses parting -words to the hermit within. - -[511] Breviary. - -[512] Old copy, _them_. - -[513] Brand. - -[514] Old copy, _of_. - -[515] Old copy, _Glo_. - -[516] [Old copy, _last_.] - -[517] [Old copy, _this_.] - -[518] Old copy, _salutes he_. - -[519] Old copy, _you for_. - -[520] Old copy, _in_. - -[521] [Old copy, _we_.] - -[522] [Old copy, _we'll_.] - -[523] [Old copy, _sighs and songs_.] - -[524] In this passage the phrase, _to wear the yellow_, seems hardly to -bear the ordinary construction of, _to be jealous_. - -[525] Old copy, _pining_. - -[526] Old copy gives this line to the lady, i.e., the merchant's wife. - -[527] This seems to be some popular and well-understood allusion--well -understood then, but now obscure enough; nor does Steevens's explanation -help us much. See "Pop. Antiq. of Gr. Britain," 1870, iii. 322. - -[528] An allusion to an old proverb. - -[529] Old copy gives this line to Gloster. - -[530] Old copy, _weak_. - -[531] Halliwell says, "a squall." - -[532] Fear. - -[533] Old copy, _wray_. - -[534] Old copy, _not thou art_. - -[535] i.e., Gloster, disguised also as a hermit. - -[536] Old copy, _he's_. - -[537] Old copy gives as the stage-direction here merely, _Enter John_. - -[538] Old copy, _Lan_. - -[539] Compare "First Part of Jeronimo," vol. iv., p. 349, and the note. - -[540] [Old copy, _breath_.] - -[541] [Compare Courthope's "Historic Peerage," 1857, _v_. Hereford.] - -[542] [In allusion to the proverb, _Threatened men live long_.] - -[543] [Old copy, _William_.] - -[544] Old copy, _them_. - -[545] Something seems to have dropped out of the text. - -[546] I do not find this phrase anywhere. - -[547] Old copy, _may_. - -[548] i.e., Gloster. - -[549] There is an evident corruption here. Query, _Life kneels to -thrones_. - -[550] Old copy, _thy_. - -[551] Old copy, _not_. - -[552] Old copy, _is_. - -[553] Old copy, _set_. - -[554] i.e., _Mort de Dieu_. - -[555] Old copy, _ye_. - -[556] Old copy, _Sarasons_. - -[557] An exclamation of doubtful meaning and origin. See a long note in -Nares, edit. 1859, _v. Rivo_. - -[558] Old copy, _for_. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH -PLAYS, VOL. 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For -example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: - -https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 - -or filename 24689 would be found at: -https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 - -An alternative method of locating eBooks: -https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL - -*** END: FULL LICENSE *** diff --git a/old/10336.zip b/old/10336.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 15b202a..0000000 --- a/old/10336.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/old-2025-01-29/10336-0.txt b/old/old-2025-01-29/10336-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 70dfd14..0000000 --- a/old/old-2025-01-29/10336-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,20046 +0,0 @@ -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10336 *** - -A SELECT COLLECTION OF OLD ENGLISH PLAYS, VOL. VII - -Fourth Edition - -Originally published by Robert Dodsley in the Year 1744. - -Now first chronologically arranged, revised and enlarged -with the Notes of all the Commentators, and new Notes. - -1876. - - - -CONTENTS: - -Tancred And Gismunda -The Wounds Of Civil War -Mucedorus -The Two Angry Women Of Abington -Look About You - - - - - - -EDITION - -The Tragedie of Tancred and Gismund. Compiled by the Gentlemen of the -Inner Temple, and by them presented before her Maiestie. Newly reuiued -and polished according to the decorum of these daies. By R.W. London, -Printed by Thomas Scarlet, and are to be solde by R. Robinson, 1591, -4to. - -[Some copies are dated 1592; but there was only a single edition. Of the -original text, as written in 1568, there is no printed copy; but MSS. of -it are in MS. Lansdowne 786, and Hargrave MS. 205, neither of which -appears to present any evidence of identity with the copy mentioned by -Isaac Reed below as then in private hands. Both these MSS. have now been -collated with the text of 1591, and the conclusion must be, that Wilmot, -though he unquestionably revived, did not do so much, as he might wish -to have it inferred, in _polishing_ the play. The production was formed -on a classical model, and bears marks of resemblance in tone and style -to the "Jocasta" of Euripides, as paraphrased by Gascoigne in 1566. The -Lansdowne MS. of "Tancred and Gismunda" was written, about 1568-70, -while the Hargrave is much more modern.] - - - -INTRODUCTION. - -It appears from William Webbe's Epistle prefixed to this piece, that -after its first exhibition it was laid aside, and at some distance of -time was new-written by R. Wilmot. The reader, therefore, may not be -displeased with a specimen of it in its original dress. It is here given -from the fragment of an ancient MS. taken out of a chest of papers -formerly belonging to Mr Powell, father-in-law to the author of -"Paradise Lost," at Forest Hill, about four miles from Oxford, where in -all probability some curiosities of the same kind may remain, the -contents of these chests (for I think there are more than one) having -never yet been properly examined. The following extract is from the -conclusion of the piece.--_Reed_. [Reed's extract has been collated with -the two MSS. before-mentioned; where the Powell MS. may now be, the -editor cannot say. The differences, on the whole, are not material; -but the Lansdowne MS. 786 has supplied a few superior readings and -corrections.] - - But in thy brest if eny spark remaine - Of thy dere love. If ever yet I coulde - So moche of thee deserve, or at the least - If with my last desire I may obtaine - This at thy handes, geve me this one request - And let me not spend my last breath in vaine. - My life desire I not, which neither is - In thee to geve nor in my self to save, - Althoughe I wolde. Nor yet I aske not this - As mercye for myne Erle in ought to crave, - Whom I to well do knowe howe thou hast slayen. - No, no, father, thy hard and cruell wronge - With pacience as I may I will sustaine - In woefull life which now shall not be longe. - But this one suite, father, if unto me - Thou graunt, though I cannot the same reacquite - Th'immortall goddes shall render unto thee - Thy due reward and largely guerdon it, - That sins it pleased thee not thus secretly - I might enjoy my love, his corps and myne - May nathelesse together graved be - And in one tombe our bodies both to shrine - With which this small request eke do I praie - That on the same graven in brasse thou place - This woefull epitaphe which I shall saye, - That all lovers may rue this mornefull case; - Loe here within one tombe where harbor twaine - Gismonda Quene and Countie Pallurine! - She loved him, he for her love was slayen, - For whoes revenge eke lyes she here in shrine. - [GISMONDA _dieth_ - - TANCRED. O me alas, nowe do the cruell paines - Of cursed death my dere daughter bereave. - Alas whie bide I here? the sight constraines - Me woefull man this woefull place to leaue. - - - - SCENE III. - - - TANCRED _cometh out of_ GISMOND'S _Chamber_. - - TANCRED. O dolorous happe, ruthefull and all of woe - Alas I carefull wretche what resteth me? - Shall I now live that with these eyes did soe - Beholde my daughter die? what, shall I see - Her death before my face that was my lyfe - And I to lyve that was her lyves decay? - Shall not this hand reache to this hart the knife - That maye bereve bothe sight and life away, - And in the shadowes darke to seke her ghoste - And wander there with her? shall not, alas, - This spedy death be wrought, sithe I have lost - My dearest ioy of all? what, shall I passe - My later dayes in paine, and spende myne age - In teres and plaint! shall I now leade my life - All solitarie as doeth bird in cage, - And fede my woefull yeres with waillfull grefe? - No, no, so will not I my dayes prolonge - To seke to live one houre sith she is gone: - This brest so can not bende to suche a wronge, - That she shold dye and I to live alone. - No, this will I: she shall have her request - And in most royall sorte her funerall - Will I performe. Within one tombe shall rest - Her earle and she, her epitaph withall - Graved thereon shal be. This will I doe - And when these eyes some aged teres have shed - The tomb my self then will I crepe into - And with my blood all bayne their bodies dead. - This heart there will I perce, and reve this brest - The irksome life, and wreke my wrathful ire - Upon my self. She shall have her request, - And I by death will purchace my desyre. - - FINIS. - - - - EPILOGUS. - - If now perhappes ye either loke to see - Th'unhappie lovers, or the cruell sire - Here to be buried as fittes their degree - Or as the dyeng ladie did require - Or as the ruthefull kinge in deepe despaire - Behight of late (who nowe himself hath slayen) - Or if perchaunse you stand in doutfull fere - Sithe mad Megera is not returnde againe - Least wandring in the world she so bestowe - The snakes that crall about her furious face - As they may raise new ruthes, new kindes of woe - Bothe so and there, and such as you percase - Wold be full lothe so great so nere to see - I am come forth to do you all to wete - Through grefe wherin the lordes of Salerne be - The buriall pompe is not prepared yet: - And for the furie, you shall onderstand - That neither doeth the litle greatest god - Finde such rebelling here in Britain land - Against his royall power as asketh rod - Of ruth from hell to wreke his names decaie - Nor Pluto heareth English ghostes complaine - Our dames disteyned lyves. Therfore ye maye - Be free from feare, sufficeth to maintaine - The vertues which we honor in you all, - So as our Britain ghostes when life is past - Maie praise in heven, not plaine in Plutoes hall - Our dames, but hold them vertuous and chast, - Worthie to live where furie never came, - Where love can see, and beares no deadly bowe, - Whoes lyves eternall tromp of glorious fame - With joyfull sounde to honest eares shall blowe. - - FINIS. - - The Tragedie of Gismonde of Salerne. - -Such is a specimen of the play as it was originally acted before Queen -Elizabeth, at the Inner Temple, in the year 1568. It was the production -of five gentlemen, who were probably students of that society; and by -one of them, Robert Wilmot, afterwards much altered and published in the -year 1591.[1] [Wilmot had meanwhile become rector of North Okenham, in -Essex];[2] and in his Dedication to the Societies of the Inner and -Middle Temples, he speaks of the censure which might be cast upon him -from the indecorum of publishing a dramatic work arising from his -calling. When he died, or whether he left any other works, are points -equally uncertain. - -"Nearly a century after the date of that play," observes Lamb, in his -'Extracts from the Garrick Plays,' "Dryden produced his admirable -version of the same story from Boccaccio. The speech here extracted -(the scene between the messengers and Gismunda) may be compared with -the corresponding passage in the 'Sigismunda and Guiscardo' with no -disadvantage to the older performance. It is quite as weighty, as -pointed, and as passionate." - - - - To the Right Worshipful and Virtuous Ladies, the Lady MARY PETER - and the Lady ANNE GRAY, long health of body, with quiet of mind, - in the favour of God and men for ever. - -It is most certain (right virtuous and worshipful) that of all human -learning, poetry (how contemptible soever it is in these days) is the -most ancient; and, in poetry, there is no argument of more antiquity and -elegancy than is the matter of love; for it seems to be as old as the -world, and to bear date from the first time that man and woman was: -therefore in this, as in the finest metal, the freshest wits have in all -ages shown their best workmanship. So amongst others these gentlemen, -which with what sweetness of voice and liveliness of action they then -expressed it, they which were of her Majesty's right Honourable maidens -can testify. - -Which being a discourse of two lovers, perhaps it may seem a thing -neither fit to be offered unto your ladyships, nor worthy me to busy -myself withal: yet can I tell you, madames, it differeth so far from the -ordinary amorous discourses of our days, as the manners of our time do -from the modesty and innocency of that age. - -And now for that weary winter is come upon us, which bringeth with him -drooping days and tedious nights, if it be true, that the motions of our -minds follow the temperature of the air wherein we live, then I think -the perusing of some mournful matter, tending to the view of a notable -example, will refresh your wits in a gloomy day, and ease your weariness -of the louring night. Which if it please you, may serve ye also for a -solemn revel against this festival time, for _Gismund's_ bloody shadow, -with a little cost, may be entreated in her self-like person to speak -to ye. - -Having therefore a desire to be known to your W., I devised this way -with myself to procure the same, persuading myself, there is nothing -more welcome to your wisdoms than the knowledge of wise, grave, and -worthy matters, tending to the good instructions of youths, of whom you -are mothers. - -In this respect, therefore, I shall humbly desire ye to bestow a -favourable countenance upon this little labour, which when ye have -graced it withal, I must and will acknowledge myself greatly indebted -unto your ladyships in this behalf: neither shall I amongst the rest, -that admire your rare virtues (which are not a few in Essex), cease to -commend this undeserved gentleness. - -Thus desiring the king of heaven to increase his graces in ye both, -granting that your ends may be as honourable as your lives are -virtuous, I leave with a vain babble of many needless words to trouble -you longer. - - Your Worships' most dutiful - and humble Orator, - ROBERT WILMOT. - - - -TO HIS FRIEND R.W. - -Master R.W., look not now for the terms of an intreater: I will beg no -longer; and for your promises, I will refuse them as bad payment: -neither can I be satisfied with anything but a peremptory performance of -an old intention of yours, the publishing I mean of those waste papers -(as it pleaseth you to call them, but, as I esteem them, a most -exquisite invention) of Gismund's tragedy. Think not to shift me off -with longer delays, nor allege more excuses to get further respite, lest -I arrest you with my _actum est_, and commence such a suit of unkindness -against you, as when the case shall be scann'd before the judges of -courtesy, the court will cry out of your immoderate modesty. And thus -much I tell you before: you shall not be able to wage against me in the -charges growing upon this action, especially if the worshipful company -of the Inner-Temple gentlemen patronise my cause, as undoubtedly they -will, yea, and rather plead partially for me, than let my cause -miscarry, because themselves are parties. The tragedy was by them most -pithily framed, and no less curiously acted in view of her Majesty, by -whom it was then as princely accepted, as of the whole honourable -audience notably applauded: yea, and of all men generally desired, as a -work, either in stateliness of show, depth of conceit, or true ornaments -of poetical art, inferior to none of the best in that kind: no, were the -Roman Seneca the censurer. The brave youths that then (to their high -praises) so feelingly performed the same in action, did shortly after -lay up the book unregarded, or perhaps let it run abroad (as many -parents do their children once past dandling) not respecting so much -what hard fortune might befall it being out of their fingers, as how -their heroical wits might again be quickly conceived have been ever -since wonderful fertile. But this orphan of theirs (for he wand'reth as -it were fatherless) hath notwithstanding, by the rare and beautiful -perfections appearing in him, hitherto never wanted great favourers and -loving preservers. Among whom I cannot sufficiently commend your -charitable zeal and scholarly compassion towards him, that have not only -rescued and defended him from the devouring jaws of oblivion, but -vouchsafed also to apparel him in a new suit at your own charges, -wherein he may again more boldly come abroad, and by your permission -return to his old parents, clothed perhaps not in richer or more costly -furniture than it went from them, but in handsomeness and fashion more -answerable to these times, wherein fashions are so often altered. Let -one word suffice for your encouragement herein; namely, that your -commendable pains in disrobing him of his antique curiosity, and -adorning him with the approved guise of our stateliest English terms -(not diminishing, but more augmenting his artificial colours of absolute -poesy, derived from his first parents) cannot but be grateful to most -men's appetites, who upon our experience we know highly to esteem such -lofty measures of sententiously composed tragedies. - -How much you shall make me and the rest of your private friends beholden -to you, I list not to discourse: and therefore grounding upon these -alleged reasons; that the suppressing of this tragedy, so worthy for the -press, were no other thing than wilfully to defraud yourself of an -universal thank, your friends of their expectations, and sweet Gismund -of a famous eternity, I will cease to doubt of any other pretence to -cloak your bashfulness, hoping to read it in print (which lately lay -neglected amongst your papers) at our next appointed meeting. - -I bid you heartily farewell. From Pyrgo in Essex, August the eighth, -1591. - - _Tuus fide & facultate_ - - GUIL. WEBBE.[3] - - - - To the Worshipful and Learned Society, the GENTLEMEN STUDENTS of - the Inner Temple, with the rest of his singular good Friends, the - GENTLEMEN of the Middle Temple, and to all other courteous Readers, - R.W. wisheth increase of all health, worship, and learning, with - the immortal glory of the graces adorning the same. - -Ye may perceive (right Worshipful) in perusing the former epistle sent -to me, how sore I am beset with the importunities of my friends to -publish this pamphlet: truly I am and have been (if there be in me any -soundness of judgment) of this opinion, that whatsoever is committed to -the press is commended to eternity, and it shall stand a lively witness -with our conscience, to our comfort or confusion, in the reckoning of -that great day. - -Advisedly, therefore, was that proverb used of our elder philosophers, -_Manum a tabula_: withhold thy hand from the paper, and thy papers from -the print or light of the world: for a lewd word escaped is irrevocable, -but a bad or base discourse published in print is intolerable. - -Hereupon I have endured some conflicts between reason and judgment, -whether it were convenient for the commonwealth, with the _indecorum_ of -my calling (as some think it) that the memory of Tancred's tragedy -should be again by my means revived, which the oftener I read over, and -the more I considered thereon, the sooner I was won to consent -thereunto: calling to mind that neither the thrice reverend and learned -father, M. Beza, was ashamed in his younger years to send abroad, in his -own name, his tragedy of "Abraham,"[4] nor that rare Scot (the scholar -of our age) Buchanan, his most pathetical Jephtha. - -Indeed I must willingly confess this work simple, and not worth -comparison to any of theirs: for the writers of them were grave men; of -this, young heads: in them is shown the perfection of their studies; in -this, the imperfection of their wits. Nevertheless herein they all -agree, commending virtue, detesting vice, and lively deciphering their -overthrow that suppress not their unruly affections. These things noted -herein, how simple soever the verse be, I hope the matter will be -acceptable to the wise. - -Wherefore I am now bold to present Gismund to your sights, and unto -yours only, for therefore have I conjured her, by the love that hath -been these twenty-four years betwixt us, that she wax not so proud of -her fresh painting, to straggle in her plumes abroad, but to contain -herself within the walls of your house; so am I sure she shall be safe -from the _tragedian tyrants_ of our time, who are not ashamed to affirm -that there can no amorous poem savour of any sharpness of wit, unless it -be seasoned with scurrilous words. - -But leaving them to their lewdness, I hope you, and all discreet -readers, will thankfully receive my pains, the fruits of my first -harvest: the rather, perceiving that my purpose in this tragedy tendeth -only to the exaltation of virtue and suppression of vice, with pleasure -to profit and help all men, but to offend or hurt no man. As for such as -have neither the grace, nor the good gift, to do well themselves, nor -the common honesty to speak well of others, I must (as I may) hear and -bear their baitings with patience. - - Yours devoted in his ability, - - R. WILMOT. - - - -A PREFACE TO THE QUEEN'S MAIDENS OF HONOUR.[5] - - -1. A SONNET OF THE QUEEN'S MAIDS. - -They which tofore thought that the heaven's throne -Is placed above the skies, and there do feign -The gods and all the heavenly powers to reign, -They err, and but deceive themselves alone. -Heaven (unless you think mo be than one) -Is here in earth, and by the pleasant side -Of famous Thames at Greenwich court doth 'bide. -And as for other heaven is there none. -There are the goddesses we honour so: -There Pallas sits: there shineth Venus' face: -Bright beauty there possesseth all the place: -Virtue and honour there do live and grow: -There reigneth she such heaven that doth deserve, -Worthy whom so fair goddesses should serve. - - -2. ANOTHER TO THE SAME. - -Flowers of prime, pearls couched all in gold, -Light of our days, that glads the fainting hearts -Of them that shall your shining gleams behold, -Salve of each sore, recure of inward smarts, -In whom virtue and beauty striveth so -As neither yields: behold here, for your gain, -Gismund's unlucky love, her fault, her woe, -And death; at last her cruel father slain -Through his mishap; and though you do not see, -Yet read and rue their woful tragedy. -So Jove, as your high virtues done deserve, -Grant you such pheers[6] as may your virtues serve -With like virtues; and blissful Venus send -Unto your happy loves an happy end. - - -3. ANOTHER TO THE SAME. - -Gismund, that whilome liv'd her father's joy -And died his death, now dead, doth (as she may) -By us pray you to pity her annoy. -And, to requite the same, doth humbly pray, -Heavens to forefend[7] your loves from like decay. -The faithful earl doth also make request, -Wishing those worthy knights whom ye embrace, -The constant truth that lodged in his breast. -His hearty love, not his unhappy case, -Befall to such as triumph in your grace. -The king prays pardon of his cruel hest,[8] -And for amends desires it may suffice. -That by his blood he warneth all the rest -Of fond fathers, that they in kinder wise -Intreat the jewels where their comfort lies. -We, as their messengers, beseech ye all -On their behalfs to pity all their smarts. -And for ourselves (although the worth be small) -We pray ye to accept our humble hearts, -Avow'd to serve with prayer and with praise -Your honours, all unworthy other ways.[9] - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE.[10] - - -CUPID. -TANCRED, _the King_. -GISMUNDA, _the King's Daughter_. -LUCRECE, _her Aunt_. -GUISCARD, _Count Palurin_. -RENUCHIO, _Captain of the Guard_. -JULIO, _Lord Chamberlain_. -MEGAERA. -CHORUSES.[11] - - - -ARGUMENT OF THE TRAGEDY.[12] - -Tancred, the Prince of Salerne, overloves -His only daughter (wonder of that age) -Gismund, who loves the County[13] Palurin -Guiscard, who quites her likings with his love: -A letter in a cane describes the means -Of their two meetings in a secret cave. -Unconstant fortune leadeth forth the king -To this unhappy sight, wherewith in rage -The gentle earl he doometh to his death, -And greets his daughter with her lover's heart. -Gismunda fills the goblet with her tears, -And drinks a poison which she had distill'd, -Whereof she dies, whose deadly countenance -So grieves her father, that he slew himself. - - -ANOTHER OF THE SAME, MORE AT LARGE, IN PROSE.[14] - -Tancred, King of Naples and Prince of Salerne, gave his only daughter -Gismund (whom he most dearly loved) in marriage to a foreign prince, -after whose death she returned home to her father, who having felt great -grief of her absence whilst her husband lived, immeasurably esteeming -her, determined never to suffer any second marriage to bereave him of -her. She, on the other side, waxing weary of that her father's purpose, -bent her mind to the secret love of the County Palurin: to whom (he -being likewise inflamed with love of her) by a letter subtly enclosed in -a cloven cane, she gave to understand a convenient way for their desired -meetings, through an old ruinous vault, whose mouth opened directly -under her chamber floor. Into this vault when she was one day descended -(for the conveyance of her lover), her father in the mean season (whose -only joy was in his daughter) came to her chamber, and not finding her -there, supposing her to have been walked abroad for her[15] disport, he -threw him down on her bed, and covered his head with a curtain, minding -to abide and rest there till her return. She, nothing suspecting this -her father's unseasonable coming, brought up her lover out of the cave -into her chamber, where her father espied their secret love: and he (not -espied of them) was upon this sight stricken with marvellous grief; but -either for that the sudden despite had amazed him, and taken from him -all use of speech, or for that he resolved himself to a more convenient -revenge, he then spake nothing, but noted their return into the vault, -and secretly departed. Afterward, bewailing his mishap, he commanded the -earl to be attached, imprisoned, strangled, unbowelled, and his heart in -a cup of gold to be presented to his daughter:[16] she thankfully -receiveth the present, filling the cup (wherein the heart was) with her -tears, with a venomous potion (by her distilled for that purpose) she -drank to her earl. Which her father hearing of, came too late to comfort -his dying daughter, who for her last request besought him that her lover -and herself might in one tomb be together buried for a perpetual memory -of their faithful loves; which request he granted, adding to the burial -himself, slain with his own hands, to his own reproach, and the terror -of all other hard-hearted fathers. - - -Introductio in Actum Secundum. - -Before the second act there was heard a sweet noise of still pipes, -which sounding, Lucrece entered, attended by a maiden of honour with a -covered goddard of gold, and, drawing the curtains, she offereth unto -Gismunda to taste thereof; which when she had done, the maid returned, -and Lucrece raiseth up Gismunda from her bed, and then it followeth _ut_ -in act ii. sc. 1. - - -Introductio in Actum Tertium. - -Before this act the hautboys sounded a lofty almain, and Cupid ushereth -after him Guiscard and Gismunda, hand in hand; Julio and Lucrece, -Renuchio and another maiden of honour. The measures trod, Gismunda gives -a cane into Guiscard's hand, and they are all led forth again by Cupid, -_ut sequitur_. - - -Introductio in Actum Quartum. - -Before this act there was heard a consort of sweet music, which playing, -Tancred cometh forth, and draweth Gismunda's curtains, and lies down -upon her bed; then from under the stage ascendeth Guiscard, and he -helpeth up Gismunda: they amorously embrace and depart. The king ariseth -enraged. Then was heard and seen a storm of thunder and lightning, in -which the furies rise up, _ut sequitur_. - - -Introductio in Actum Quintum. - -Before this act was a dead march played, during which entered on the -stage Renuchio, Captain of the Guard, attended upon by the guard. They -took up Guiscard from under the stage; then after Guiscard had kindly -taken leave of them all, a strangling-cord was fastened about his neck, -and he haled forth by them. Renuchio bewaileth it; and then, entering -in, bringeth forth a standing cup of gold, with a bloody heart reeking -hot in it, and then saith, _ut sequitur_. - - - - -TANCRED AND GISMUNDA.[17] - - - -ACT I., SCENE 1. - - - CUPID _cometh out of the heavens in a cradle of flowers, - drawing forth upon the stage, in a blue twist of silk, - from his left hand, Vain Hope, Brittle Joy: and with a - carnation twist of silk from his right hand, Fair - Resemblance, Late Repentance_. - -CUPID. There rest my chariot on the mountaintops.[18] -I, that in shape appear unto your sight[19] -A naked boy, not cloth'd but with my wings, -And that great God of Love, who with his might -Ruleth the vast wide world and living things.[20] -This left hand bears Vain Hope, short joyful state, -With Fair Resemblance, lovers to allure: -This right hand holds Repentance all too late, -War, fire,[21] blood, and pains without recure. -On sweet ambrosia is not my food, -Nectar is not my drink: as to the rest -Of all the gods: I drink the lover's blood. -And feed upon the heart[22] within his breast. -Well hath my power in heaven and earth been try'd, -And deepest hell my piercing force hath known. -The marble seas[23] my wonders hath descry'd, -Which elder age throughout the world hath blown.[24] -To me the king of gods and men doth yield, -As witness can the Greekish maid,[25] whom I -Made like a cow go glowing through[26] the field, -Lest jealous Juno should the 'scape espy. -The doubled night, the sun's restrained course, -His secret stealths, the slander to eschew, -In shape transform'd,[27] we[28] list not to discourse. -All that and more we forced him to do. -The warlike Mars hath not subdu'd our[29] might, -We fear'd him not, his fury nor disdain, -That can the gods record, before whose sight -He lay fast wrapp'd in Vulcan's subtle chain. -He that on earth yet hath not felt our power, -Let him behold the fall and cruel spoil -Of thee, fair Troy, of Asia the flower, -So foul defac'd, and levell'd[30] with the soil -Who forc'd Leander with his naked breast -So many nights to cut the frothy waves, -But Hero's love, that lay inclos'd in Sest? -The stoutest hearts to me shall yield them slaves. -Who could have match'd the huge Alcides'[31] strength? -Great Macedon[32] what force might have subdu'd? -Wise Scipio who overcame at length, -But we, that are with greater force endu'd? -Who could have conquered the golden fleece[33] -But Jason, aided by Medea's art? -Who durst have stol'n fair Helen out of Greece -But I, with love that bold'ned Paris' heart? -What bond of nature, what restraint avails[34] -Against our power? I vouch to witness truth. -The myrrh tree,[35] that with shamefast tears bewails -Her father's love, still weepeth yet for ruth,[36] -But now, this world not seeing in these days -Such present proofs of our all-daring[37] power, -Disdains our name, and seeketh sundry ways -To scorn and scoff, and shame us every hour. -A brat, a bastard, and an idle boy: -A[38] rod, a staff, a whip to beat him out! -And to be sick of love, a childish toy: -These are mine honours now the world about, -My name disgrac'd to raise again therefore, -And in this age mine ancient renown -By mighty acts intending to restore, -Down to the earth in wrath now am I come; -And in this place such wonders shall ye hear, -As these your stubborn and disdainful hearts -In melting tears and humble yielding fear -Shall soon relent by sight of others' smarts. -This princely palace will I enter in, -And there inflame the fair Gismunda so, -Enraging all her secret veins within, -Through fiery love that she shall feel much woe.[39] -Too-late-Repentance, thou shalt bend my bow; -Vain Hope, take out my pale, dead, heavy shaft, -Thou, Fair Resemblance, foremost forth shalt go, -With Brittle Joy: myself will not be least, -But after me comes Death and deadly Pain. -Thus shall ye march, till we return again.[40] -Meanwhile, sit still, and here I shall you show -Such wonders, that at last with one accord -Ye shall relent, and say that now you know -Love rules the world, Love it a mighty lord.[41] - - [CUPID _with his train entereth into_ KING TANCRED'S _palace_. - - - -ACT I., SCENE 2. - - - GISMUNDA _in purple cometh out of her chamber, - attended by four maids that are the Chorus_. - -GISMUNDA. "O vain, unsteadfast state of mortal things! -Who trust this world, leans to a brittle stay: -Such fickle fruit his flattering bloom forth brings, -Ere it be ripe, it falleth to decay." -The joy and bliss that late I did possess, -In weal at will, with one I loved best, -Is turned now into so deep distress, -As teacheth me to know the world's unrest.[42] -For neither wit nor princely stomachs serve -Against his force, that slays without respect -The noble and the wretch: ne doth reserve -So much as one for worthiness elect. -Ah me, dear lord! what well of tears may serve -To feed the streams of my foredulled eyes, -To weep thy death, as thy death doth deserve, -And wail thy want in full sufficing wise? -Ye lamps of heaven, and all ye heavenly powers,[43] -Wherein did he procure your high disdain? -He never sought with vast huge mountain towers -To reach aloft, and over-view your reign: -Or what offence of mine was it unwares, -That thus your fury should on me be thrown, -To plague a woman with such endless cares? -I fear that envy hath the heavens this shown: -The sun his glorious virtues did disdain; -Mars at his manhood mightily repin'd; -Yea, all the gods no longer could sustain, -Each one to be excelled in his kind. -For he my lord surpass'd them every one;[44] -Such was his honour all the world throughout. -But now, my love, oh! whither art thou gone? -I know thy ghost doth hover hereabout, -Expecting me, thy heart, to follow thee: -And I, dear love, would fain dissolve this strife. -But stay awhile, I may perhaps foresee -Some means to be disburden'd of this life, -"And to discharge the duty of a wife,[45] -Which is, not only in this life to love, -But after death her fancy not remove." -Meanwhile accept of these our daily rites, -Which with my maidens I shall do to thee, -Which is in songs to cheer our dying sprites -With hymns of praises of thy memory. - - _Cantant. - - Quae mihi cantio nondum occurrit_.[46] - - - -ACT I, SCENE 3. - - - _The song ended_, TANCRED _the King cometh - out of his palace with his guard_. - -TANCRED. Fair daughter, I have sought thee out with grief, -To ease the sorrows of thy vexed heart. -How long wilt thou torment thy father thus, -Who daily dies to see thy needless tears? -Such bootless plaints, that know nor mean nor end, -Do but increase the floods of thy lament; -And since the world knows well there was no want -In thee of ought, that did to him belong, -Yet all, thou seest, could not his life prolong. -Why then dost thou provoke the heavens to wrath? -His doom of death was dated by his stars, -"And who is he that may withstand his fate?" -By these complaints small good to him thou dost, -Much grief to me, more hurt unto thyself, -And unto nature greatest wrong of all. - -GISMUNDA. Tell me not of the date of nature's days, -Then in the April of her springing age: -No, no, it was my cruel destiny, -That spited at the pleasance of my life. - -TANCRED. My daughter knows the proof of nature's course. -"For as the heavens do guide the lamp of life, -So can they reach no farther forth the flame, -Than whilst with oil they do maintain the same." - -GISMUNDA. Curst be the stars, and vanish may they curst, -Or fall from heaven, that in their dire aspèct[47] -Abridg'd the health and welfare of my love. - -TANCRED. Gismund, my joy, set all these griefs apart; -"The more thou art with hard mishap beset, -The more thy patience should procure thine ease." - -GISMUNDA. What hope of hap may cheer my hapless chance? -What sighs, what tears may countervail my cares? -What should I do, but still his death bewail, -That was the solace of my life and soul? -Now, now, I want the wonted guide and stay -Of my desires and of my wreakless thoughts. -My lord, my love, my life, my liking gone, -In whom was all the fulness of my joy, -To whom I gave the first-fruits of my love, -Who with the comfort of his only sight -All care and sorrows could from me remove. -But, father, now my joys forepast to tell, -Do but revive the horrors of my hell. -As she that seems in darkness to behold -The gladsome pleasures of the cheerful light. - -TANCRED. What then avails thee fruitless thus to rue -His absence, whom the heavens cannot return? -Impartial death thy husband did subdue, -Yet hath he spar'd thy kingly father's life: -Who during life to thee a double stay, -As father and as husband, will remain, -With double love to ease thy widow's want, -Of him whose want is cause of thy complaint. -Forbear thou therefore all these needless tears, -That nip the blossoms of thy beauty's pride. - -GISMUNDA. Father, these tears love challengeth of due. - -TANCRED. But reason saith thou shouldst the same subdue. - -GISMUNDA. His funerals are yet before my sight. - -TANCRED. In endless moans princes should not delight. - -GISMUNDA. The turtle pines in loss of her true mate. - -TANCRED. And so continues poor and desolate. - -GISMUNDA. Who can forget a jewel of such price? - -TANCRED. She that hath learn'd to master her desires. -"Let reason work, what time doth easily frame -In meanest wits, to bear the greatest ills." - -GISMUNDA. So plenteous are the springs -Of sorrows that increase my passions, -As neither reason can recure my smart, -Nor can your care nor fatherly comfort -Appease the stormy combats of my thoughts; -Such is the sweet remembrance of his life. -Then give me leave: of pity, pity me, -And as I can, I shall allay these griefs. - -TANCRED. These solitary walks thou dost frequent, -Yield fresh occasions to thy secret moans: -We will therefore thou keep us company, -Leaving thy maidens with their harmony. -Wend[48] thou with us. Virgins, withdraw yourselves. - - [TANCRED _and_ GISMUNDA, _with the guard, depart into the palace; - the four maidens stay behind, as Chorus to the Tragedy_. - -CHORUS 1. The diverse haps which always work our care, -Our joys so far, our woes so near at hand, -Have long ere this, and daily do declare -The fickle foot on which our state doth stand. -"Who plants his pleasures here to gather root, -And hopes his happy life will still endure, -Let him behold how death with stealing foot -Steps in when he shall think his joys most sure." -No ransom serveth to redeem our days -If prowess could preserve, or worthy deeds, -He had yet liv'd, whose twelve labours displays -His endless fame, and yet his honour spreads. -And that great king,[49] that with so small a power -Bereft the mighty Persian of his crown, -Doth witness well our life is but a flower, -Though it be deck'd with honour and renown. - -CHORUS 2. "What grows to-day in favour of the heaven, -Nurs'd with the sun and with the showers sweet, -Pluck'd with the hand, it withereth ere even. -So pass our days, even as the rivers fleet." -The valiant Greeks, that unto Troia gave -The ten years' siege, left but their names behind. -And he that did so long and only save -His father's walls,[50] found there at last his end. -Proud Rome herself, that whilome laid her yoke -On the wide world, and vanquish'd all with war, -Yet could she not remove the fatal stroke -Of death from them that stretch'd her pow'r so far. - -CHORUS 3. Look, what the cruel sisters once decree'd, -The Thunderer himself cannot remove: -They are the ladies of our destiny, -To work beneath what is conspir'd above. -But happy he that ends this mortal life -By speedy death: who is not forc'd to see -The many cares, nor feel the sundry griefs, -Which we sustain in woe and misery. -Here fortune rules who, when she list to play, -Whirleth her wheel, and brings the high full low: -To-morrow takes, what she hath given to-day, -To show she can advance and overthrow. -Not Euripus'[51] (unquiet flood) so oft -Ebbs in a day, and floweth to and fro, -As fortune's change plucks down that was aloft, -And mingleth joy with interchange of woe. - -CHORUS 4. "Who lives below, and feeleth not the strokes, -Which often-times on highest towers do fall, -Nor blustering winds, wherewith the strongest oaks -Are rent and torn, his life is sur'st of all:" -For he may fortune scorn, that hath no power -On him, that is well pleas'd with his estate: -He seeketh not her sweets, nor fears her sour, -But lives contented in his quiet rate, -And marking how these worldly things do vade,[52] -Rejoiceth to himself, and laughs to see -The folly of men, that in their wits have made -Fortune a goddess, placed in the sky. - - _Exegit_ ROD. STAF. - -FINIS ACTUS I. - - - - -ACT II, SCENE 1. - - - GISMUNDA AND LUCRECE. - -GISMUNDA. Dear aunt, my sole companion in distress, -And true copartner of my thoughtful cares: -When with myself I weigh my present state, -Comparing it with my forepassed days, -New heaps of cares afresh begin t'assay -My pensive heart, as when the glittering rays -Of bright Phoebus are suddenly o'erspread -With dusky clouds, that dim his golden light: -Namely, when I, laid in my widow's bed, -Amid the silence of the quiet night, -With curious thought the fleeting course observe -Of gladsome youth, how soon his flower decays, -"How time once past may never have recourse, -No more than may the running streams revert -To climb the hills, when they been rolled down -The hollow vales. There is no curious art, -Nor worldly power: no, not the gods can hold -The sway of flying time, nor him return, -When he is past: all things unto his might -Must bend, and yield unto the iron teeth -Of eating time." This in the shady night -When I record: how soon my youth withdraws -Itself away, how swift my pleasant spring -Runs out his race,--this, this, aunt, is the cause, -When I advise me sadly[53] on this thing, -That makes my heart in pensive dumps dismay'd. -For if I should my springing years neglect, -And suffer youth fruitless to fade away; -Whereto live I? or whereto was I born? -Wherefore hath nature deck'd me with her grace? -Why have I tasted these delights of love, -And felt the sweets of Hymeneus' bed? -But to say sooth, dear aunt, it is not I, -Sole and alone, can thus content to spend -My cheerful years: my father will not still -Prolong my mournings, which have griev'd him, -And pleased me too long. Then this I crave, -To be resolved of his princely mind. -For, stood it with the pleasure of his will -To marry me, my fortune is not such, -So hard, that I so long should still persist -Makeless alone in woful widowhood. -And shall I tell mine aunt? Come hither then, -Give me that hand: By thine own right hand, -I charge thy heart my counsels to conceal. -Late have I seen, and seeing took delight, -And with delight, I will not say, I love -A prince, an earl, a county in the court. -But love and duty force me to refrain, -And drive away these fond affections, -Submitting them unto my father's hest. -But this, good aunt, this is my chiefest pain, -Because I stand at such uncertain stay. -For, if my kingly father would decree -His final doom, that I must lead my life -Such as I do, I would content me then -To frame my fancies to his princely hest, -And as I might, endure the grief thereof. -But now his silence doubleth all my doubts, -Whilst my suspicious thoughts 'twixt hope and fear -Distract me into sundry passions: -Therefore, good aunt, this labour must be yours, -To understand my father's will herein, -For well I know your wisdom knows the means, -So shall you both allay my stormy thoughts, -And bring to quiet my unquiet mind. - -LUCRECE. Sufficeth this, good niece, that you have said; -For I perceive what sundry passions -Strive in your breast, which oftentimes ere this -Your countenance confused did bewray. -The ground whereof since I perceive to grow -On just respect of this your sole estate, -And skilful care of fleeting youth's decay, -Your wise foresight such sorrowing to eschew -I much commend, and promise as I may -To break this matter, and impart your mind -Unto your father, and to work it so, -As both your honour shall not be impeach'd, -Nor he unsatisfied of your desire. -Be you no farther grieved, but return -Into your chamber. I shall take this charge, -And you shall shortly truly understand -What I have wrought, and what the king affirms. - -GISMUNDA. I leave you to the fortune of my stars. - - [GISMUNDA _departeth into her chamber_, LUCRECE - _abiding on the stage_. - -LUCRECE. The heavens, I hope, will favour your request. -My niece shall not impute the cause to be -In my default, her will should want effect: -But in the king is all my doubt, lest he -My suit for her new marriage should reject. -Yet shall I prove him: and I heard it said, -He means this evening in the park to hunt.[54] -Here will I wait attending his approach. - - - -ACT II., SCENE 2. - - - TANCRED _cometh out of his palace with_ GUISCARD, - _the_ COUNTY PALURIN, JULIO, _the Lord Chamberlain_, - RENUCHIO, _captain of his guard, all ready to hunt_. - -TANCRED. Uncouple all our hounds; lords, to the chase-- -Fair sister Lucre[ce], what's the news with you? - -LUCRECE. Sir, as I always have employ'd my power -And faithful service, such as lay in me, -In my best wise to honour you and yours: -So now my bounden duty moveth me -Your majesty most humbly to entreat -With patient ears to understand the state -Of my poor niece, your daughter. - -TANCRED. What of her? -Is she not well? Enjoys she not her health? -Say, sister: ease me of this jealous fear? - -LUCRECE. She lives, my lord, and hath her outward health; -But all the danger of her sickness lies -In the disquiet of her princely mind. - -TANCRED. Resolve me; what afflicts my daughter so? - -LUCRECE. Since when the princess hath entomb'd her lord, -Her late deceased husband of renown; -Brother, I see, and very well perceive, -She hath not clos'd together in his grave -All sparks of nature, kindness, nor of love: -But as she lives, so living may she feel -Such passions as our tender hearts oppress, -Subject unto th'impressions of desire: -For well I wot my niece was never wrought -Of steel, nor carved from the stony rock: -Such stern hardness we ought not to expect -In her, whose princely heart and springing years -Yet flow'ring in the chiefest heat of youth, -Is led of force to feed on such conceits, -As easily befalls that age, which asketh ruth -Of them, whom nature bindeth by foresight -Of their grave years and careful love to reach -The things that are above their feeble force: -And for that cause, dread lord, although-- - -TANCRED. Sister, I say, -If you esteem or ought respect my life, -Her honour and the welfare of our house, -Forbear, and wade[55] no farther in this speech. -Your words are wounds. I very well perceive -The purpose of this smooth oration: -This I suspected, when you first began -This fair discourse with us. Is this the end -Of all our hopes, that we have promised -Unto ourself by this her widowhood? -Would our dear daughter, would our only joy, -Would she forsake us? would she leave us now, -Before she hath clos'd up our dying eyes, -And with her tears bewail'd our funeral? -No other solace doth her father crave; -But, whilst the fates maintain his dying life, -Her healthful presence gladsome to his soul, -Which rather than he willing would forego, -His heart desires the bitter taste of death. -Her late marriage hath taught us to our grief, -That in the fruits of her perpetual sight -Consists the only comfort and relief -Of our unwieldy age: for what delight, -What joy, what comfort, have we in this world; -Now grown in years, and overworn with cares, -Subject unto the sudden stroke of death, -Already falling, like the mellowed fruit, -And dropping by degrees into our grave? -But what revives us, what maintains our soul -Within the prison of our wither'd breast, -But our Gismunda and her cheerful sight? -O daughter, daughter! what desert of mine, -Wherein have I been so unkind to thee, -Thou shouldst desire to make my naked house -Yet once again stand desolate by thee? -O, let such fancies vanish with their thoughts: -Tell her I am her father, whose estate, -Wealth, honour, life, and all that we possess, -Wholly relies upon her presence here. -Tell her, I must account her all my joy, -Work as she will: but yet she were unjust -To haste his death, that liveth by her sight. - -LUCRECE. Her gentle heart abhors such ruthless thoughts. - -TANCRED. Then let her not give place to these desires. - -LUCRECE. She craves the right that nature challengeth. - -TANCRED. Tell her, the king commandeth otherwise. - -LUCRECE. The king's commandment always should be just. - -TANCRED. Whate'er it be, the king's command is just. - -LUCRECE. Just to command: but justly must he charge. - -TANCRED. He chargeth justly that commands as king. - -LUCRECE. The king's command concerns the body best. - -TANCRED. The king commands obedience of the mind. - -LUCRECE. That is exempted by the law of kind. - -TANCRED. That law of kind[56] to children doth belong. - -LUCRECE. In due obedience to their open wrong? - -TANCRED. I then, as king and father, will command. - -LUCRECE. No more than may with right of reason stand. - -TANCRED. Thou knowest our mind, resolve[57] her, depart-- -Return the chase, we have been chas'd enough. - - [TANCRED _returneth into his palace, and leaveth the hunt_. - -LUCRECE. He cannot hear, anger hath stopp'd his ears, -And over-love his judgment hath decay'd -Ah, my poor niece! I shrewdly fear thy cause, -Thy just complaint, shall never be reliev'd. - - - -ACT II., SCENE 3. - - - GISMUNDA _cometh alone out of her chamber_. - -GISMUNDA. By this I hope my aunt hath mov'd the king, -And knows his mind, and makes return to me -To end at once all this perplexity. -Lo, where she stands. O, how my trembling heart -In doubtful thoughts panteth within my breast. -For in her message doth rely my smart, -Or the sweet quiet of my troubled mind. - -LUCRECE. Niece, on the point you lately willed me -To treat of with the king on your behalf, -I brake even now with him so far, till he -In sudden rage of grief, ere I scarce had -My tale out-told, pray'd me to stint my suit, -As that from which his mind abhorred most. -And well I see his fancy to refute, -Is but displeasure gain'd and labour lost. -So firmly fixed stands his kingly will -That, till his body shall be laid in grave, -He will not part from the desired sight -Of your presence, which silder he should have, -If he had once allied you again -In marriage to any prince or peer-- -This is his final resolution. - -GISMUNDA. A resolution that resolves my blood -Into the icy drops of Lethe's flood. - -LUCRECE. Therefore my counsel is, you shall not stir, -Nor farther wade in such a case as this: -But since his will is grounded on your love, -And that it lies in you to save or spill -His old forewasted age, you ought t'eschew -The thing that grieves so much his crazed heart, -And in the state you stand content yourself: -And let this thought appease your troubled mind, -That in your hands relies your father's death -Or blissful life; and since without your sight -He cannot live, nor can his thoughts endure -Your hope of marriage, you must then relent, -And overrule these fond affections; -Lest it be said you wrought your father's end. - -GISMUNDA. Dear aunt, I have with patient ears endur'd -The hearing of my father's hard behest; -And since I see that neither I myself, -Nor your request, can so prevail with him, -Nor any sage advice persuade his mind -To grant me my desire, in willing wise -I must submit me unto his command, -And frame my heart to serve his majesty. -And (as I may) to drive away the thoughts -That diversely distract my passions, -Which as I can, I'll labour to subdue, -But sore I fear I shall but toil in vain, -Wherein, good aunt, I must desire your pain. - -LUCRECE. What lies in me by comfort or advice, -I shall discharge with all humility. - - [GISMUNDA _and_ LUCRECE _depart into_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber_. - -CHORUS 1. Who marks our former times and present years, -What we are now, and looks what we have been, -He cannot but lament with bitter tears -The great decay and change of all women. -For as the world wore on, and waxed old, -So virtue quail'd,[58] and vice began to grow. -So that that age, that whilome was of gold, -Is worse than brass, more vile than iron now. -The times were such (that if we aught believe -Of elder days), women examples were -Of rare virtues: Lucrece disdain'd to live -Longer than chaste; and boldly without fear -Took sharp revenge on her enforced heart -With her own hands: for that it not withstood -The wanton will, but yielded to the force -Of proud Tarquin, who bought her fame with blood. - -CHORUS 2. Queen Artemisia thought an heap of stones -(Although they were the wonder of that age) -A worthless grave, wherein to rest the bones -Of her dear lord, but with bold courage -She drank his heart, and made her lovely breast -His tomb, and failed not of wifely faith, -Of promis'd love and of her bound behest, -Until she ended had her days by death. -Ulysses' wife (such was her steadfastness) -Abode his slow return whole twenty years: -And spent her youthful days in pensiveness, -Bathing her widow's bed with brinish tears.[59] - -CHORUS 3. The stout daughter of Cato, Brutus' wife, Portia, -When she had heard his death, did not desire -Longer to live: and lacking use of knife -(A most strange thing) ended her life by fire, -And ate whot-burning coals. O worthy dame! -O virtues worthy of eternal praise! -The flood of Lethe cannot wash out thy fame, -To others' great reproach, shame, and dispraise. - -CHORUS 4. Rare are those virtues now in women's mind! -Where shall we seek such jewels passing strange? -Scarce can you now among a thousand find -One woman stedfast: all delight in change. -Mark but this princess, that lamented here -Of late so sore her noble husband's death, -And thought to live alone without a pheer; -Behold how soon she changed hath that breath! -I think those ladies that have lived 'tofore, -A mirror and a glass to womenkind; -By those their virtues they did set such store, -That unto us they none bequeath'd behind; -Else in so many years we might have seen -As virtuous as ever they have been. - -CHORUS 1. Yet let not us maidens condemn our kind, -Because our virtues are not all so rare: -For we may freshly yet record in mind, -There lives a virgin,[60] one without compare, -Who of all graces hath her heavenly share; -In whose renown, and for whose happy days, -Let us record this paean of her praise. - - _Cantant_. - -FINIS ACTUS II. _Per_ HEN. NO.[61] - - - - -ACT III., SCENE 1. - - -CUPID. So now they feel what lordly Love can do, - That proudly practise to deface his name; -In vain they wrastle with so fierce a foe; - Of little sparks arise a blazing flame. -"By small occasions love can kindle heat, - And waste the oaken breast to cinder dust." -Gismund I have enticed to forget - Her widow's weeds, and burn in raging lust: -'Twas I enforc'd her father to deny -Her second marriage to any peer; -'Twas I allur'd her once again to try -The sour sweets that lovers buy too dear. -The County Palurin, a man right wise, -A man of exquisite perfections, -I have like wounded with her piercing eyes, -And burnt her heart with his reflections. -These two shall joy in tasting of my sweet, -To make them prove more feelingly the grief -That bitter brings: for when their joys shall fleet, -Their dole shall be increas'd without relief. -Thus Love shall make worldlings to know his might; -Thus Love shall force great princes to obey; -Thus Love shall daunt each proud, rebelling spirit; -Thus Love shall wreak his wrath on their decay. -Their ghosts shall give black hell to understand, -How great and wonderful a god is Love: -And this shall learn the ladies of this land -With patient minds his mighty power to prove. -From whence I did descend, now will I mount -To Jove and all the gods in their delights: -In throne of triumph there will I recount, -How I by sharp revenge on mortal wights -Have taught the earth, and learned hellish sprites -To yield with fear their stubborn hearts to Love, -Lest their disdain his plagues and vengeance -prove. - [CUPID _remounteth into the heavens_. - - - -ACT III., SCENE 2. - - - LUCRECE _cometh out of_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber solitary_. - -LUCRECE. Pity, that moveth every gentle heart -To rue their griefs, that be distress'd in pain, -Enforceth me to wail my niece's smart, -Whose tender breast no long time may sustain -The restless toil, that her unquiet mind -Hath caus'd her feeble body to endure; -But why it is (alack!) I must not find, -Nor know the man, by whom I might procure -Her remedy, as I of duty ought, -As to the law of kinship doth belong. -With careful heart the secret means I sought, -Though small effect is of my travail sprung: -Full often as I durst I have assay'd -With humble words the princess to require -To name the man which she hath so denay'd,[62] -That it abash'd me further to desire, -Or ask from whence those cloudy thoughts proceed, -Whose stony force, that smoky sighs forth send, -Is lively witness how that careful dread -And hot desire within her do contend: -Yet she denies what she confess'd of yore, -And then conjoin'd me to conceal the same; -She loved once, she saith, but never more, -Nor ever will her fancy thereto frame. -Though daily I observed in my breast -What sharp conflicts disquiet her so sore, -That heavy sleep cannot procure her rest, -But fearful dreams present her evermore -Most hideous sights her quiet to molest; -That starting oft therewith, she doth awake, -To muse upon those fancies which torment -Her thoughtful heart with horror, that doth make -Her cold chill sweat break forth incontinent -From her weak limbs. And while the quiet night -Gives others rest, she, turning to and fro, -Doth wish for day: but when the day brings light, -She keeps her bed, there to record her woe. -As soon as when she riseth, flowing tears -Stream down her cheeks, immixed with deadly groans, -Whereby her inward sorrow so appears, -That as salt tears the cruel cause bemoans. -In case she be constrained to abide -In prease[63] of company, she scarcely may -Her trembling voice restrain it be not spy'd, -From careful plaints her sorrows to bewray. -By which restraint the force doth so increase, -When time and place give liberty to plain, -That as small streams from running never cease, -Till they return into the seas again; -So her laments, we fear, will not amend, -Before they bring her princely life to end. -To others' talk when as she should attend, -Her heaped cares her senses so oppress, -That what they speak, or whereto their words tend, -She knows not, as her answers do express. -Her chief delight is still to be alone, -Her pensive thoughts within themselves debate: -But whereupon this restless life is grown, -Since I know not, nor how the same t'abate; -I can no more but wish it as I may, -That he which knows it, would the same allay, -For which the Muses with my song shall pray. - - - -ACT III., SCENE 3. - - - _After the song, which was by report very sweetly repeated - by the Chorus_, LUCRECE _departeth into_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber, - and_ GUISCARD _cometh out of the palace with_ JULIO _and_ - RENUCHIO, _gentlemen, to whom he turneth, and saith_: - -GUISCARD. Leave me, my friends; this solitary walk -Enticeth me to break your company. -Leave me, my friends, I can endure no talk. -Let me entreat this common courtesy. [_The gentlemen depart_. -What grievous pain they 'dure, which neither may -Forget their loves, ne yet enjoy their love, -I know by proof, and daily make assay. -Though Love hath brought my lady's heart to love, -My faithful love with like love to requite; -This doth not quench, but rather cause to flame -The creeping fire which, spreading in my breast -With raging heat, grants me no time of rest. -If they bewail their cruel destiny, -Which spend their love, where they no love can find, -Well may I plain, since fortune haleth[64] me -To this torment of far more grievous kind; -Wherein I feel as much extremity, -As may be felt in body or in mind. -For by that sight, which should recure my pain, -My sorrows are redoubled all in vain. -Now I perceive that only I alone -Am her belov'd, her looks assure me so: -The thought thereof provokes me to bemoan -Her heavy plight that grieveth at my woe. -This intercourse of our affections-- -I her to serve, she thus to honour me-- -Bewrays the truth of our elections, -Delighting in this mutual sympathy. -Thus love for love entreat's the queen of love, -That with her help Love's solace we may prove. -I see my mistress seeks as well as I -To stay the strife of her perplexed mind: -Full fain she would our secret company, -If she the wished way thereof might find. -Heavens, have ye seen, or hath the age of man -Recorded such a miracle as this-- -In equal love two noble hearts to frame, -That never spake one with another's bliss? -I am assured that she doth assent -To my relief, that I should reap the same, -If she could frame the means of my content, -Keeping herself from danger of defame. -In happy hour right now I did receive -This cane from her; which gift though it be small, -Receiving it, what joys I did conceive -Within my fainting spirits therewithal! -Who knoweth love aright, may well conceive -By like adventures that to them befall. -"For needs the lover must esteem that well, -Which comes from her, with whom his heart doth dwell." -Assuredly it is not without cause -She gave me this; something she meant thereby: -For therewithal I might perceive her pause -Awhile, as though some weighty thing did lie -Upon her heart, which she concealed, because -The standers-by should not our loves descry: -This clift bewrays that it hath been disclos'd; -Perhaps herein she hath something inclos'd: [_He breaks it_. -O thou great thunderer! who would not serve, -Where wit with beauty chosen have their place? -Who could devise more wisely to conserve -Things from suspect? O Venus, for this grace -That deigns me, all unworthy, to deserve -So rare a love, in heaven I should thee place. -This sweet letter some joyful news contains, -1 hope it brings recure to both our pains. - [_He reads it_. - -_Mine own, as I am yours, whose heart, I know, -No less than mine, for lingering help of woe -Doth long too long: love, tendering your case -And mine, hath taught recure of both our pain. -My chamber-floor doth hide a cave, where was -An old vault's mouth: the other in the plain -Doth rise southward, a furlong from the wall. -Descend you there. This shall suffice. And so -I yield myself, mine honour, life, and all, -To you. Use you the same, as there may grow -Your bliss and mine, mine earl, and that the same -Free may abide from danger of defame. -Farewell; and fare so well, as that your joy, -Which only can, may comfort mine annoy. - Yours more than her own,_ - GISMUND. - -O blissful chance my sorrows to assuage! -Wonder of nature, marvel of our age! -Comes this from Gismund? did she thus enfold -This letter in the cane? may it be so? -It were too sweet a joy; I am deceiv'd. -Why shall I doubt, did she not give it me? -Therewith she smil'd, she joy'd, she raught[65] the cane, -And with her own sweet hand she gave it me: -And as we danc'd, she dallied with the cane, -And sweetly whisper'd I should be her king, -And with this cane, the sceptre of our rule, -Command the sweets of her surprised heart. -Therewith she raught from her alluring locks -This golden tress, the favour of her grace, -And with her own sweet hand she gave it me: -O peerless queen, my joy, my heart's decree! -And, thou fair letter, how shall I welcome thee? -Both hand and pen, wherewith thou written wert, -Blest may ye be, such solace that impart! -And blessed be this cane, and he that taught -Thee to descry the hidden entry thus: -Not only through a dark and dreadful vault, -But fire and sword, and through whatever be, -Mistress of my desires, I come to thee. - - [GISCARD _departeth in haste unto the palace_. - -CHORUS 1. Right mighty is thy power, O cruel Love, -High Jove himself cannot resist thy bow; -Thou sent'st him down, e'en from the heavens above, -In sundry shapes here to the earth below: -Then how shall mortal men escape thy dart, -The fervent flame and burning of thy fire; -Since that thy might is such, and since thou art -Both of the seas and land the lord and sire? - -CHORUS 2. But why doth she that sprang from Jove's high head, -And Phoebus's sister sheen, despise thy power, -Ne fear thy bow? Why have they always led -A maiden life, and kept untouch'd the flower? -Why doth Aegistus love, and to obtain -His wicked will, conspire his uncle's death? -Or why doth Phaedra burn, from whom is slain -Theseus' chaste son, or Helen, false of faith? -"For love assaults not but the idle heart, -And such as live in pleasure and delight; -He turneth oft their gladsome joys to smart, -Their play to plaint, their sport into despite." - -CHORUS 3. 'Tis true, that Dian chaseth with her bow -The flying hart, the goat, and foamy boar: -By hill, by dale: in heat, in frost, in snow: -She recketh not, but laboureth evermore; -Love seeks not her, ne knoweth where[66] to find. -Whilst Paris kept his herd on Ida down, -Cupid ne'er sought him out, for he is blind; -But when he left the field to live in town, -He fell into his snare, and brought that brand -From Greece to Troy, which after set on fire -Strong Ilium, and all the Phryges land: -"Such are the fruits of love, such is his hire."[67] - -CHORUS 4. Who yieldeth unto him his captive heart, -Ere he resist, and holds his open breast -Withouten war to take his bloody dart, -Let him not think to shake off, when him list, -His heavy yoke. "Resist his first assault; -Weak is his bow, his quenched brand is cold; -Cupid is but a child, and cannot daunt -The mind that bears him, or his virtues bold." -But he gives poison so to drink in gold, -And hideth under pleasant baits his hook; -But ye beware, it will be hard to hold -Your greedy minds, but if ye wisely look -What sly snake lurks under those flowers gay. -But ye mistrust some cloudy smokes, and fear -A stormy shower after so fair a day: -Ye may repent, and buy your pleasure dear; -For seldom-times is Cupid wont to send -"Unto an idle love a joyful end." - -FINIS ACTUS. _G. Al_. - - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 1. - - - _Before this act_ MEGAERA _riseth out of hell, with the - other furies_, ALECTO _and_ TYSIPHONE _dancing an hellish - round; which done, she saith_: - -MEGAERA. Sisters, begone, bequeath the rest to me, -That yet belongs unto this tragedy. - [_The two furies depart down_. -Vengeance and death from forth the deepest hell -I bring the cursed house, where Gismund dwells. -Sent from the grisly god, that holds his reign -In Tartar's ugly realm, where Pelops' sire -(Who with his own son's flesh, whom he had slain, -Did feast the gods) with famine hath his hire; -To gape and catch at flying fruits in vain, -And yielding waters to his gasping throat; -Where stormy Aeol's son with endless pain -Rolls up the rock; where Tytius hath his lot -To feed the gripe that gnaws his growing heart;[68] -Where proud Ixion, whirled on the wheel, -Pursues himself; where due deserved smart -The damned ghosts in burning flame do feel-- -From thence I mount: thither the winged god, -Nephew to Atlas that upholds the sky, -Of late down from the earth with golden rod -To Stygian ferry Salerne souls did guide, -And made report how Love, that lordly boy, -Highly disdaining his renown's decay, -Slipp'd down from heaven, and filled with fickle joy -Gismunda's heart, and made her throw away -Chasteness of life to her immortal shame: -Minding to show, by proof of her foul end, -Some terror unto those that scorn his name. -Black Pluto (that once found Cupid his friend -In winning Ceres' daughter, queen of hells;) -And Parthie, moved by the grieved ghost -Of her late husband, that in Tartar dwells, -Who pray'd due pains for her, that thus hath lost -All care of him and of her chastity. -The senate then of hell, by grave advice -Of Minos, Aeac, and of Radamant, -Commands me draw this hateful air, and rise -Above the earth, with dole and death to daunt -The pride and present joys, wherewith these two -Feed their disdained hearts; which now to do, -Behold I come with instruments of death. -This stinging snake, which is of hate and wrath, -I'll fix upon her father's heart full fast, -And into hers this other will I cast, -Whose rankling venom shall infect them so -With envious wrath and with recureless woe, -Each shall be other's plague and overthrow. -"Furies must aid, when men surcease to know -Their gods: and hell sends forth revenging pain -On those whom shame from sin cannot restrain." - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 2. - - - MEGAERA _entereth into the palace, and meeteth with_ - TANCRED _coming out of_ GISMUNDA'S _chamber with_ - RENUCHIO _and_ JULIO, _upon whom she throweth her - snake_.[69] - -TANCRED. Gods! are ye guides of justice and revenge? -O thou great Thunderer! dost thou behold -With watchful eyes the subtle 'scapes of men -Harden'd in shame, sear'd up in the desire -Of their own lusts? why then dost thou withhold -The blast of thy revenge? why dost thou grant -Such liberty, such lewd occasion -To execute their shameless villainy? -Thou, thou art cause of all this open wrong, -Thou, that forbear'st thy vengeance all too long. -If thou spare them, rain then upon my head -The fulness of thy plagues with deadly ire, -To reave this ruthful soul, who all too sore -Burns in the wrathful torments of revenge. -O earth, the mother of each living wight, -Open thy womb, devour this wither'd corpse. -And thou, O hell (if other hell there be -Than that I feel), receive my soul to thee. -O daughter, daughter (wherefore do I grace -Her with so kind a name?) O thou fond girl, -The shameful ruin of thy father's house, -Is this my hoped joy? Is this the stay -Must glad my grief-ful years that waste away? -For life, which first thou didst receive from me, -Ten thousand deaths shall I receive by thee. -For all the joys I did repose in thee. -Which I, fond man, did settle in thy sight, -Is this thy recompense--that I must see -The thing so shameful and so villanous: -That would to God this earth had swallowed -This worthless burthen into lowest deeps, -Rather than I, accursed, had beheld -The sight that hourly massacres my life? -O whither, whither fly'st thou forth, my soul? -O whither wand'reth my tormented mind? -Those pains, that make the miser[70] glad of death, -Have seiz'd on me, and yet I cannot have -What villains may command--a speedy death. -Whom shall I first accuse for this outrage? -That God that guideth all, and guideth so -This damned deed? Shall I blaspheme their names-- -The gods, the authors of this spectacle? -Or shall I justly curse that cruel star, -Whose influence assign'd this destiny? -But may that traitor, shall that vile wretch live, -By whom I have receiv'd this injury? -Or shall I longer make account of her, -That fondly prostitutes her widow's shame?-- -I have bethought me what I shall request. [_He kneels_. -On bended knees, with hands heav'd up to heaven, -This, sacred senate of the gods, I crave: -First on the traitor your consuming ire; -Next on the cursed strumpet dire revenge; -Last on myself, the wretched father, shame. [_He riseth_. -O! could I stamp, and therewithal command -Armies of furies to assist my heart, -To prosecute due vengeance on their souls! -Hear me, my friends; but as ye love your lives, -Reply not to me; hearken and stand amaz'd. -When I, as is my wont, O fond delight! -Went forth to seek my daughter, now my death-- -Within her chamber, as I thought, she was; -But there I found her not--I deemed then -For her disport she and her maidens were -Down to the garden walk'd to comfort them; -And thinking thus, it came into my mind -There all alone to tarry her return: -And thereupon I, weary, threw myself -Upon her widow's bed, for so I thought, -And in the curtain wrapp'd my cursed head. -Thus as I lay, anon I might behold -Out of the vault, up through her chamber floor, -My daughter Gismund bringing hand in hand -The County Palurin. Alas! it is too true; -At her bed's feet this traitor made me see -Her shame, his treason, and my deadly grief-- -Her princely body yielded to this thief; -The high despite whereof so wounded me -That, trance-like, as a senseless stone I lay; -For neither wit nor tongue could use the mean -T'express the passions of my pained heart. -Forceless, perforce, I sank down to this pain, -As greedy famine doth constrain the hawk -Piecemeal to rend and tear the yielding prey: -So far'd it with me in that heavy stound. -But now what shall I do? how may I seek -To ease my mind, that burneth with desire -Of dire revenge? For never shall my thoughts -Grant ease unto my heart, till I have found -A mean of vengeance to requite his pains, -That first convey'd this sight unto my soul.-- -Renuchio! - -RENUCHIO. What is your highness' will? - -TANCRED. Call my daughter: my heart boils, till I see -Her in my sight, to whom I may discharge -All the unrest that thus distempereth me. [_Exit_ RENUCHIO. -Should I destroy them both? O gods, ye know -How near and dear our daughter is to us. -And yet my rage persuades me to imbrue -My thirsty hands in both their trembling bloods, -Therewith to cool my wrathful fury's heat. -But, Nature, why repin'st thou at this thought? -Why should I think upon a father's debt -To her that thought not on a daughter's due? -But still, methinks, if I should see her die, -And therewithal reflex her dying eyes -Upon mine eyes, that sight would slit my heart: -Not much unlike the cockatrice, that slays -The object of his foul infections, -O, what a conflict doth my mind endure! -Now fight my thoughts against my passions: -Now strive my passions against my thoughts: -Now sweats my heart, now chill cold falls it dead. -Help, heavens, and succour, ye celestial powers! -Infuse your secret virtue on my soul. -Shall nature win? shall justice not prevail? -Shall I, a king, be proved partial? -"How shall our subjects then insult on us, -When our examples, that are light to them, -Shall be eclipsed with our proper deeds?" -And may the arms be rented from the tree, -The members from the body be dissever'd? -And can the heart endure no violence? -My daughter is to me mine only heart, -My life, my comfort, my continuance; -Shall I be then not only so unkind -To pass all nature's strength, and cut her off? -But therewithal so cruel to myself, -Against all law of kind to shred in twain -The golden thread that doth us both maintain? -But were it that my rage should so command, -And I consent to her untimely death, -Were this an end to all our miseries? -No, no, her ghost will still pursue our life, -And from the deep her bloodless, ghastful spirit -Will, as my shadow in the shining day, -Follow my footsteps, till she take revenge. -I will do thus: therefore the traitor dies, -Because he scorned the favour of his king, -And our displeasure wilfully incurr'd: -His slaughter, with her sorrow for his blood, -Shall to our rage supply delightful food. -Julio-- - -JULIO. What is't your majesty commands? - -TANCRED. Julio, if we have not our hope in vain, -Nor all the trust we do repose in thee, -Now must we try, if thou approve the same. -Herein thy force and wisdom we must see, -For our command requires them both of thee. - -JULIO. How by your grace's bounty I am bound -Beyond the common bond, wherein each man -Stands bound unto his king: how I have found -Honour and wealth by favour in your sight, -I do acknowledge with most thankful mind. -My truth (with other means to serve your grace, -Whatever you in honour shall assign) -Hath sworn her power true vassal to your hest: -For proof let but your majesty command, -I shall unlock the prison of my soul; -Although unkindly horror would gainsay, -Yet in obedience to your highness' will, -By whom I hold the tenor of this life, -This hand and blade will be the instruments -To make pale death to grapple with my heart. - -TANCRED. Well, to be short, for I am griev'd too long -By wrath without revenge, I think you know -Whilom there was a palace builded strong -For war within our court, where dreadless peace -Hath planted now a weaker entrance. -But of that palace yet one vault remains -Within our court, the secret way whereof -Is to our daughter Gismund's chamber laid: -There is also another mouth hereof -Without our wall, which now is overgrown; -But you may find it out, for yet it lies -Directly south a furlong from our palace! -It may be known--hard-by an ancient stoop,[71] -Where grew an oak in elder days decay'd; -There will we that you watch; there shall you see -A villain traitor mount out of a vault. -Bring him to us; it is th'Earl Palurin. -What is his fault, neither shall you inquire, -Nor list we to disclose. These cursed eyes -Have seen the flame, this heart hath felt the fire -That cannot else be quench'd but with his blood. -This must be done: this will we have you do. - -JULIO. Both this, and else whatever you think good. - - [JULIO _departeth into the palace_. - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 3. - - - RENUCHIO _bringeth_ GISMUND _out of her chamber, to - whom_ TANCRED _saith_. - -TANCRED. Renuchio, depart: leave us alone. [_Exit_ RENUCHIO. -Gismund, if either I could cast aside -All care of thee! or if thou wouldst have had -Some care of me, it would not now betide, -That either thorough thy fault my joy should fade, -Or by thy folly I should bear the pain -Thou hast procur'd: but now 'tis neither I -Can shun the grief, whom thou hast more than slain: -Nor may'st thou heal or ease the grievous wound -Which thou hast given me. That unstained life, -Wherein I joy'd, and thought it thy delight, -Why hast thou lost it? Can it be restor'd? -Where is thy widowhood, there is thy shame. -Gismund, it is no man's nor men's report, -That have by likely proofs inform'd me thus. -Thou know'st how hardly I could be induc'd -To vex myself, and be displeas'd with thee, -With flying tales of flattering sycophants. -No, no, there was in us such settled trust -Of thy chaste life and uncorrupted mind -That if these eyes had not beheld thy shame. -In vain ten thousand censures could have told -That thou didst once unprincelike make agree -With that vile traitor County Palurin: -Without regard had to thyself or me, -Unshamefastly to stain thy state and mine. -But I, unhappiest, have beheld the same, -And, seeing it, yet feel th'exceeding grief -That slays my heart with horror of that thought: -Which grief commands me to obey my rage, -And justice urgeth some extreme revenge, -To wreak the wrongs that have been offer'd us. -But nature, that hath lock'd within thy breast -Two lives, the same inclineth me to spare -Thy blood, and so to keep mine own unspilt. -This is that overweening love I bear -To thee undutiful, and undeserved. -But for that traitor, he shall surely die; -For neither right nor nature doth entreat -For him, that wilfully, without all awe -Of gods or men, or of our deadly hate, -Incurr'd the just displeasure of his king; -And to be brief, I am content to know -What for thyself thou canst object to us, -Why thou should'st not together with him die. -So to assuage the griefs that overthrow -Thy father's heart. - -GISMUND. O king and father, humbly give her leave -To plead for grace, that stands in your disgrace. -Not that she recks this life,[72] for I confess -I have deserv'd, when so it pleaseth you, -To die the death, mine honour and my name, -As you suppose, distained with reproach: -And well contented shall I meet the stroke -That must dissever this detested head -From these lewd limbs. But this I wish were known, -That now I live not for myself alone. -For when I saw that neither my request, -Nor the entreaty of my careful aunt, -Could win your highness' pleasure to our will; -"Then love, heat of the heart, life of the soul, -Fed by desire, increasing by restraint," -Would not endure controlment any more, -But violently enforc'd my feeble heart -(For who am I, alas! still to resist -Such endless conflicts?) to relent and yield: -Therewith I chose him for my lord and pheer, -Guiscard mine Earl, that holds my love full dear. -Then if it be so settled in your mind, -He shall not live, because he dar'd to love -Your daughter: thus I give your grace to know. -Within his heart there is inclos'd my life. -Therefore, O father, if that name may be -Sweet to your ears, and that we may prevail -By name of father, that you favour us: -But otherwise, if now we cannot find -That which our falsed hope did promise us; -Why then proceed, and rid our trembling hearts -Of these suspicions; since neither in this case -His good deserts in service to your grace, -Which always have been just, nor my desires, -May mitigate the cruel rage of grief -That strains your heart, but that mine Earl must die; -Then all in vain you ask, what I can say, -Why I should live. Sufficeth for my part -To say I will not live, and so resolve. - -TANCRED. Dar'st thou so desperate decree thy death? - -GISMUND. A dreadless heart delights in such decrees. - -TANCRED. Thy kind abhorreth such unkindly thoughts. - -GISMUND. Unkindly thoughts they are to them that live -In kindly love. - -TANCRED. As I do unto thee. - -GISMUND. To take his life who is my love from me? - -TANCRED. Have I then lost thy love? - -GISMUND. If he shall lose -His life, that is my love. - -TANCRED. - Thy love? Begone. -Return into thy chamber. - -GISMUND. - I will go. - - [GISMUND _departeth to her chamber_. - - - - -ACT IV., SCENE 4. - - - JULIO _with his guard bringeth in the_ COUNTY PALURIN _prisoner_. - -JULIO. If it please your highness, hither have we brought -This captive Earl, as you commanded us. -Whom, as we were foretold, even there we found. -Where by your majesty we were enjoin'd -To watch for him. What more your highness wills. -This heart and hand shall execute your best. - -TANCRED. Julio, we thank your pains. Ah, Palurin! -Have we deserved in such traitorous sort -Thou shouldst abuse our kingly courtesies, -Which we too long in favour have bestow'd -Upon thy false, dissembling heart with us? -What grief thou therewithal hast thrown on us, -What shame upon our house, what dire distress -Our soul endures, cannot be uttered. -And durst thou, villain, dare to undermine -Our daughter's chamber? durst thy shameless face -Be bold to kiss her? th'rest we will conceal. -Sufficeth that thou know'st I too well know -All thy proceedings in thy private shames. -Herein what hast thou won? thine own content, -With the displeasure of thy lord and king; -The thought whereof if thou hadst had in mind -The least remorse of love and loyalty -Might have restrain'd thee from so foul an act. -But, Palurin, what may I deem of thee, -Whom neither fear of gods, nor love of him, -Whose princely favour hath been thine uprear, -Could quench the fuel of thy lewd desires? -Wherefore content thee, that we are resolv'd -(And therefore laid to snare thee with this bait) -That thy just death, with thine effused blood, -Shall cool the heat and choler of our mood. - -GUISCARD. My lord the king, neither do I mislike -Your sentence, nor do your smoking sighs, -Reach'd from the entrails of your boiling heart, -Disturb the quiet of my calmed thoughts: -For this I feel, and by experience prove, -Such is the force and endless might of love, -As never shall the dread of carrion death, -That hath envy'd our joys, invade my breast. -For if it may be found a fault in me, -That evermore hath lov'd your majesty, -Likewise to honour and to love your child; -If love unto you both may be a fault-- -But unto her my love exceeds compare-- -Then this hath been my fault, for which I joy, -That in the greatest lust of all my life, -I shall submit for her sake to endure -The pangs of death. O mighty lord of Love, -Strengthen thy vassal boldly to receive -Large wounds into this body for her sake! -Then use my life or death, my lord and king, -For your relief to ease your grieved soul: -For whether I live, or else that I must die -To end your pains, I am content to bear; -Knowing by death I shall bewray the truth -Of that sound heart, which living was her own, -And died alive for her, that lived mine. - -TANCRED. Thine, Palurin? What! lives my daughter thine? -Traitor, thou wrong'st me, for she liveth mine. -Rather I wish ten thousand sundry deaths, -Than I to live, and see my daughter thine. -Thine that is dearer than my life to me? -Thine whom I hope to see an emp[e]ress? -Thine whom I cannot pardon from my sight? -Thine unto whom we have bequeath'd our crown?-- -Julio, we will that thou inform from us -Renuchio the captain of our guard, -That we command this traitor be convey'd -Into the dungeon underneath our tower; -There let him rest, until he be resolv'd -What farther we intend; which to understand -We will Renuchio repair to us. - -JULIO. O, that I might your majesty entreat -With clemency to beautify your seat -Toward this prince, distress'd by his desires, -Too many, all too strong to captivate. - -TANCRED. "This is the soundest safety for a king, -To cut them off, that vex or hinder him." - -JULIO. "This have I found the safety of a king, -To spare the subjects that do honour him." - -TANCRED. Have we been honour'd by this lecher's lust? - -JULIO. No, but by his devout submission. - -TANCRED. Our fortune says we must do what we may. - -JULIO. "This is praise-worth, not to do what you may." - -TANCRED. And may the subject countermand the king? - -JULIO. No, but entreat him. - -TANCRED. What he shall decree? - -JULIO. What wisdom shall discern. - -TANCRED. Nay, what our word -Shall best determine. We will not reply. -Thou know'st our mind: our heart cannot be eas'd, -But with the slaughter of this Palurin. - [The KING hasteth into his palace. - -GUISCARD. O thou great god, who from thy highest throne -Hast stooped down, and felt the force of love, -Bend gentle ears unto the woful moan -Of me poor wretch, to grant that I require! -Help to persuade the same great god, that he -So far remit his might, and slack his fire -From my dear lady's kindled heart, that she -May hear my death without her hurt. Let not -Her face, wherein there is as clear a light -As in the rising moon: let not her cheeks, -As red as is the party-colour'd rose, -Be paled with the news hereof: and so -I yield myself, my seely soul and all, -To him, for her, for whom my death shall show -I liv'd; and as I liv'd, I died her thrall. -Grant this, thou Thunderer: this shall suffice, -My breath to vanish in the liquid skies. - - [GUISCARD _is led to prison_. - -CHORUS 1. Who doth not know the fruits of Paris' love, -Nor understand the end of Helen's joy? -He may behold the fatal overthrow -Of Priam's house and of the town of Troy-- -His death at last and her eternal shame; -For whom so many noble knights were slain. -So many a duke, so many a prince of fame -Bereft his life, and left there in the plain. -Medea's armed hand, Eliza's sword, -Wretched Leander drenched in the flood. -Phillis, so long that waited for her lord: -All these too dearly bought their loves with blood. - -CHORUS 2. But he in virtue that his lady serves. -Ne wills but what unto her honour 'longs, -He never from the rule of reason swerves; -He feeleth not the pangs ne raging throngs -Of blind Cupid: he lives not in despair, -As done his servants; neither spends his days -In joy and care, vain hope and throbbing fear: -But seeks alway what may his sovereign please -In honour: he that thus serves, reaps the fruit -Of his sweet service; and no jealous dread, -Nor base suspect of aught to let his suit, -Which causeth oft the lover's heart to bleed, -Doth fret his mind, or burneth in his breast: -He waileth not by day, nor wakes by night, -When every other living thing doth rest; -Nor finds his life or death within her sight. - -CHORUS 3. Remember thou in virtue serve therefore -Thy chaste lady: beware thou do not love, -As whilom Venus did the fair Adone, -But as Diana lov'd th'Amazon's son; -Through whose request the gods to him alone -Restor'd new life. The twine that was undone, -Was by the sisters twisted up again. -The love of virtue in thy lady's looks, -The love of virtue in her learned talk; -This love yields matter for eternal books. -This love enticeth him abroad to walk, -There to invent and write new roundelays -Of learn'd conceit, her fancies to allure -To vain delights: such humours he allays, -And sings of virtue and her garments pure. - -CHORUS 4. Desire not of thy sovereign the thing -Whereof shame may ensue by any mean; -Nor wish thou aught that may dishonour bring. -So whilom did the learned Tuscan[73] serve -His fair lady; and glory was their end. -Such are the praises lovers done deserve, -Whose service doth to virtue and honour tend. - -FINIS ACTUS IV. COMPOSUIT CH. HAT.[74] - - - - -ACT V., SCENE 1. - - - RENUCHIO _cometh out of the palace_. - -RENUCHIO. O cruel fate! O miserable chance! -O dire aspect of hateful destinies! -O woe may not be told! Suffic'd it not -That I should see, and with these eyes behold -So foul, so bloody, and so base a deed: -But more to aggravate the heavy cares -Of my perplexed mind, must only I, -Must I alone be made the messenger, -That must deliver to her princely ears -Such dismal news, as when I shall disclose, -I know it cannot but abridge her days? -As when the thunder and three-forked fire, -Rent through the clouds by Jove's almighty power, -Breaks up the bosom of our mother earth, -And burns her heart, before the heat be felt. -In this distress, whom should I most bewail, -My woe, that must be made the messenger -Of these unworthy and unwelcome news? -Or shall I moan thy death, O noble Earl? -Or shall I still lament the heavy hap, -That yet, O Queen, attends thy funeral? - -CHORUS 1. What moans be these? -Renuchio, is this Salerne I see? -Doth here King Tancred hold the awful crown? -Is this the place where civil people be? -Or do the savage Scythians here abound? - -CHORUS 2. What mean these questions? whither tend these words? -Resolve us maidens, and release our fears. -Whatever news thou bring'st, discover them. -Detain us not in this suspicious dread! -"The thought whereof is greater than the woe." - -RENUCHIO. O, whither may I cast my looks? to heaven? -Black pitchy clouds from thence rain down revenge. -The earth shall I behold, stain'd with the gore -Of his heart-blood, that died most innocent? -Which way soe'er I turn mine eyes, methinks -His butcher'd corpse stands staring in my face. - -CHORUS 3. We humbly pray thee to forbear these words, -So full of terror to our maiden hearts: -"The dread of things unknown breeds the suspect -Of greater dread, until the worst be known." -Tell therefore what hath chanc'd, and whereunto -This bloody cup thou holdest in thy hand. - -RENUCHIO. Since so is your request, that I shall do, -Although my mind so sorrowful a thing -Repines to tell, and though my voice eschews -To say what I have seen; yet since your will -So fixed stands to hear for what I rue, -Your great desires I shall herein fulfil. -Fast by Salerne city, amids the plain, -There stands a hill whose bottom, huge and round. -Thrown out in breadth, a large space doth contain: -And gathering up in height, small from the ground, -Still less and less it mounts: there sometime was -A goodly tower uprear'd, that flower'd in fame -While fate and fortune serv'd; but time doth pass, -And with his sway suppresseth all the same: -For now the walls be even'd with the plain, -And all the rest so foully lies defac'd, -As but the only shade doth there remain -Of that, which there was built in time forepass'd: -And yet that shows what worthy work tofore -Hath there been rear'd. One parcel of that tower[75] -Yet stands, which eating time could not devour: -A strong turret, compact of stone and rock, -Hugy without, but horrible within: -To pass to which, by force of handy stroke, -A crooked strait is made, that enters in, -And leads into this ugly loathsome place. -Within the which, carved into the ground, -A deep dungeon[76] there runs of narrow space. -Dreadful and dark, where never light is found: -Into this hollow cave, by cruel hest -Of King Tancred, were divers servants sent -To work the horror of his furious breast, -Erst nourish'd in his rage, and now stern bent -To have the same perform'd. I woful man, -Amongst the rest, was one to do the thing. -That to our charge so straitly did belong, -In sort as was commanded by the king. -Within which dreadful prison when we came, -The noble County Palurin, that there -Lay chain'd in gyves,[77] fast fetter'd in his bolts, -Out of the dark dungeon we did uprear, -And hal'd him thence into a brighter place, -That gave us light to work our tyranny. -But when I once beheld his manly face, -And saw his cheer, no more appall'd with fear -Of present death, than he whom never dread -Did once amate:[78] my heart abhorred then -To give consent unto so foul a deed: -That wretched death should reave so worthy a man. -On false fortune I cried with loud complaint, -That in such sort o'erwhelms nobility. -But he, whom never grief ne fear could taint, -With smiling cheer himself oft willeth me -To leave to plain his case, or sorrow make -For him; for he was far more glad apaid -Death to embrace thus for his lady's sake, -Than life or all the joys of life, he said. -For loss of life, quoth he, grieves me no more -Than loss of that which I esteemed least: -My lady's grief, lest she should rue therefore, -Is all the cause of grief within my breast. -He pray'd therefore, that we would make report -To her of those his last words he would say: -That, though he never could in any sort -Her gentleness requite, nor never lay -Within his power to serve her as he would; -Yet she possess'd his heart with hand and might, -To do her all the honour that he could. -This was to him, of all the joys that might -Revive his heart, the chiefest joy of all, -That to declare the faithful heart which he -Did bear to her, fortune so well did fall, -That in her love he should both live and die. -After these words he stay'd, and spake no more, -But joyfully beholding us each one, -His words and cheer amazed us so sore, -That still we stood; when forthwith thereupon: -But, why slack you, quoth he, to do the thing -For which you come? make speed, and stay no more: -Perform your master's will. Now tell the king -He hath his life, for which he long'd so sore: -And with those words himself with his own hand -Fast'ned the bands about his neck. The rest -Wond'ring at his stout heart, astonied[79] stand -To see him offer thus himself to death. -What stony breast, or what hard heart of flint -Would not relent to see this dreary sight? -So goodly a man, whom death nor fortune's dint -Could once disarm, murder'd with such despite; -And in such sort bereft, amidst the flowers -Of his fresh years, that ruthful was to seen: -"For violent is death, when he devours -Young men or virgins, while their years be green." -Lo! now our servants seeing him take the bands, -And on his neck himself to make them fast; -Without delay set to their cruel hands, -And sought to work their fierce intent with haste. -They stretch the bloody bands; and when the breath -Began to fail his breast, they slack'd again: -Thrice did they pull, and thrice they loosed him, -So did their hands repine against their hearts: -And ofttimes loosed to his greater pain. -"But date of death, that fixed is so fast, -Beyond his course there may no wight extend;" -For strangled is this noble Earl at last, -Bereft of life, unworthy such an end. - -CHORUS. O damned deed! - -RENUCHIO. What, deem you this to be -All the sad news that I have to unfold? -Is here, think you, end of the cruelty -That I have seen? - -CHORUS. Could any heavier woe -Be wrought to him, than to destroy him so? - -RENUCHIO. What, think you this outrage did end so well? -The horror of the fact, the greatest grief, -The massacre, the terror is to tell. - -CHORUS. Alack! what could be more? they threw percase -The dead body to be devour'd and torn -Of the wild beasts. - -RENUCHIO. Would God it had been cast a savage prey -To beasts and birds: but lo, that dreadful thing -Which e'en the tiger would not work, but to -Suffice his hunger, that hath the tyrant king -Withouten ruth commanded us to do, -Only to please his wrathful heart withal. -Happy had been his chance, too happy, alas! -If birds or beasts had eaten up his corpse, -Yea, heart and all within this cup I bring, -And am constrained now unto the face -Of his dear lady to present the same. - -CHORUS. What kind of cruelty is this you name? -Declare forthwith, and whereunto doth tend -This farther plaint. - -RENUCHIO. After his breath was gone, -Forced perforce thus from his panting breast, -Straight they despoiled him; and not alone -Contented with his death, on the dead corpse, -Which ravenous beasts forbear to lacerate, -Even upon this our villains fresh begun -To show new cruelty; forthwith they pierce -His naked belly, and unripp'd it so, -That out the bowels gush'd. Who can rehearse -Their tyranny, wherewith my heart yet bleeds? -The warm entrails were torn out of his breast, -Within their hands trembling, not fully dead; -His veins smok'd, his bowels all-to reeked, -Ruthless were rent, and thrown about the place: -All clottered lay the blood in lumps of gore, -Sprent[80] on his corpse, and on his paled face; -His trembling heart, yet leaping, out they tore, -And cruelly upon a rapier -They fix'd the same, and in this hateful wise -Unto the king this heart they do present: -A sight long'd for to feed his ireful eyes. -The king perceiving each thing to be wrought -As he had will'd, rejoicing to behold -Upon the bloody sword the pierced heart, -He calls then for this massy cup of gold, -Into the which the woful heart he cast; -And reaching me the same: now go, quoth he, -Unto my daughter, and with speedy haste -Present her this, and say to her from me, -Thy father hath here in this cup thee sent -That thing to joy and comfort thee withal, -Which thou lovedst best, even as thou wert content -To comfort him with his chief joy of all. - -CHORUS. O hateful fact! O passing cruelty! -O murder wrought with too much hard despite! -O heinous deed, which no posterity -Will once believe! - -RENUCHIO. Thus was Earl Palurin -Strangled unto the death, yea, after death -His heart and blood disbowell'd from his breast. -But what availeth plaint? It is but breath -Forewasted all in vain. Why do I rest -Here in this place? Why go I not, and do -The hateful message to my charge committed? -O, were it not that I am forced thereto -By a king's will, here would I stay my feet, -Ne one whit farther wade in this intent! -But I must yield me to my prince's hest; -Yet doth this somewhat comfort mine unrest, -I am resolv'd her grief not to behold, -But get me gone, my message being told. -Where is the princess' chamber? - -CHORUS. Lo, where she comes. - - - -ACT V., SCENE 2. - - - GISMUND _cometh out of her chamber, to whom_ - RENUCHIO _delivereth his cup, saying_: - -RENUCHIO. Thy father, O queen, here in this cup hath sent -The thing to joy and comfort thee withal -Which thou lovedst best, even as thou wast content -To comfort him with his chief joy of all. - -GISMUNDA. I thank my father, and thee, gentle squire, -For this thy travail; take thou, for thy pains, -This bracelet, and commend me to the king. [RENUCHIO _departeth_. -So, now is come the long-expected hour, -The fatal hour I have so looked for; -Now hath my father satisfied his thirst -With guiltless blood, which he so coveted. -What brings this cup? Ah me! I thought no less, -It is mine Earl's, my County's pierced heart. -Dear heart, too dearly hast thou bought my love; -Extremely rated at too high a price! -Ah, my sweet heart, sweet wast thou in thy life, -But in thy death thou provest passing sweet. -A fitter hearse than this of beaten gold -Could not be 'lotted to so good an heart: -My father therefore well provided thus -To close and wrap thee up in massy gold, -And therewithal to send thee unto me, -To whom of duty thou dost best belong. -My father hath in all his life bewray'd -A princely care and tender love to me; -But this surpasseth--in his later days -To send me this, mine own dear heart, to me. -Wert thou not mine, dear heart, whilst that my love -Danced and play'd upon thy golden strings? -Art thou not mine, dear heart, now that my love -Is fled to heaven, and got him golden wings? -Thou art mine own, and still mine own shalt be, -Therefore my father sendeth thee to me. -Ah, pleasant harborough[81] of my heart's thought! -Ah, sweet delight, the quickener of my soul! -Seven times accursed be the hand that wrought -Thee this despite, to mangle thee so foul: -Yet in this wound I see mine own true love, -And in this wound thy magnanimity, -And in this wound I see thy constancy. -Go, gentle heart, go rest thee in thy tomb, -Receive this token at thy last farewell. [_She kisseth it_. -Thine own true heart anon will follow thee, -Which panting lusteth[82] for thy company. -Thus hast thou run, poor heart! thy mortal race, -And rid thy life from fickle fortune's snares; -Thus hast thou lost this world and worldly cares, -And of thy foe, to honour thee withal, -Receiv'd a golden grave to thy desert. -Nothing doth want to thy just funeral, -But my salt tears to wash thy bloody wound: -Which to the end thou might'st receive, behold -My father sends thee in this cup of gold; -And thou shalt have them, though I was resolv'd -To shed no tears, but with a cheerful face -Once did I think to wet thy funeral -Only with blood and with no weeping eye. -This done, forthwith my soul shall fly to thee; -For therefore did my father send thee me. -Ah, my pure heart! with sweeter company -Or more content, how safer may I prove -To pass to places all unknown with thee! -Why die I not therefore? why do I stay? -Why do I not this woful life forego, -And with these hands enforce this breath away? -What means this gorgeous glittering head-attire? -How ill beseem these billaments[83] of gold -Thy mournful widowhood? away with them-- - [_She undresseth her hair_. -So let thy tresses, flaring in the wind, -Untrimmed hang about thy bared neck. -Now, hellish furies, set my heart on fire, -Bolden my courage, strengthen ye my hands, -Against their kind, to do a kindly deed. -But shall I then unwreaken[84] down descend? -Shall I not work some just revenge on him -That thus hath slain my love? shall not these hands -Fire his gates, and make the flame to climb -Up to the pinnacles with burning brands, -And on his cinders wreak my cruel teen[85]? -Be still, fond girl; content thee first to die, -This venom'd water shall abridge thy life: - [_She taketh a vial of poison out of her pocket_. -This for the same intent provided I, -Which can both ease and end this raging strife. -Thy father by thy death shall have more woe, -Than fire or flames within his gates can bring: -Content thee then in patience hence to go, -Thy death his blood shall wreak upon the king. -Now not alone (a grief to die alone) -"The only mirror of extreme annoy;" -But not alone thou diest, my love, for I -Will be copartner of thy destiny. -Be merry then, my soul; can'st thou refuse -To die with him, that death for thee did choose? - -CHORUS 1. What damned fury hath possessed our Queen? -Why sit we still beholding her distress? -Madam, forbear, suppress this headstrong rage. - -GISMUNDA. Maidens, forbear your comfortable words. - -CHORUS 2. O worthy Queen, rashness doth overthrow -The author of his resolution. - -GISMUNDA. Where hope of help is lost, what booteth fear? - -CHORUS 3. Fear will avoid the sting of infamy. - -GISMUNDA. May good or bad reports delight the dead? - -CHORUS 4. If of the living yet the dead have care. - -GISMUNDA. An easy grief by counsel may be cur'd. - -CHORUS 1. But headstrong mischiefs princes should avoid. - -GISMUNDA. In headlong griefs and cases desperate? - -CHORUS 2. Call to your mind, Gismund, you are the Queen. - -GISMUNDA. Unhappy widow, wife, and paramour. - -CHORUS 3. Think on the king. - -GISMUNDA. The king, the tyrant king? - -CHORUS 4. Your father. - -GISMUNDA. Yes, the murtherer of my love. - -CHORUS 4. His force. - -GISMUNDA. The dead fear not the force of men. - -CHORUS 1. His care and grief. - -GISMUNDA. That neither car'd for me, -Nor grieved at the murther of my love. -My mind is settled; you with these vain words -Withhold me but too long from my desire. -Depart ye to my chamber. - -CHORUS. We will haste -To tell the king hereof. - [CHORUS _depart into the palace_. - -GISMUNDA. I will prevent -Both you and him. Lo, here this hearty draught, -The last that in this world I mean to taste, -Dreadless of death, mine Earl, I drink to thee. -So now work on; now doth my soul begin -To hate this light, wherein there is no love; -No love of parents to their children; -No love of princes to their subjects true; -No love of ladies to their dearest loves: -Now pass I to the pleasant land of love, -Where heavenly love immortal flourisheth. -The gods abhor the company of men; -Hell is on earth; yea, hell itself is heaven -Compar'd with earth. I call to witness heaven; -Heaven, said I? No; hell[86] record I call, -And thou, stern goddess of revenging wrongs, -Witness with me, I die for his pure love. -That lived mine. - - [_She lieth down, and covereth her face - with her hair_. - - - -ACT V., SCENE 3. - - - TANCRED _in haste cometh out of his palace with_ JULIO. - -TANCRED. Where is my daughter? - -JULIO. Behold, here, woful king! - -TANCRED. Ah me! break, heart; and thou, fly forth, my soul. -What, doth my daughter Gismund take it so? -What hast thou done? O, let me see thine eyes! -O, let me dress up those untrimmed locks![87] -Look up, sweet child, look up, mine only joy, -'Tis I, thy father, that beseecheth thee: -Rear up thy body, strain thy dying voice -To speak to him; sweet Gismund, speak to me. - -GISMUNDA. Who stays my soul? who thus disquiets me? - -TANCRED. 'Tis I, thy father; ah! behold my tears, -Like pearled dew, that trickle down my cheeks, -To wash my silver hairs. - -GISMUNDA. O father king, -Forbear your tears, your plaint will not avail. - -TANCRED. O my sweet heart, hast thou receiv'd thy life -From me, and wilt thou, to requite the same, -Yield me my death? yea, death, and greater grief-- -To see thee die for him, that did defame -Thine honour thus, my kingdom, and thy name? - -GISMUNDA. Yea, therefore, father, gave you life to me, -That I should die, and now my date is done. -As for your kingdom and mine own renown, -Which you affirm dishonoured to be, -That fault impute it where it is; for he, -That slew mine Earl, and sent his heart to me, -His hands have brought this shame and grief on us. -But, father, yet if any spark remain -Of your dear love; if ever yet I could -So much deserve, or at your hands desire, -Grant that I may obtain this last request. - -TANCRED. Say, lovely child, say on, whate'er it be, -Thy father grants it willingly to thee. - -GISMUNDA. My life I crave not, for it is not now -In you to give, nor in myself to save; -Nor crave I mercy for mine Earl and me, -Who hath been slain with too much cruelty. -With patience I must a while abide -Within this life, which now will not be long. -But this is my request--father, I pray -That, since it pleased so your majesty, -I should enjoy my love alive no more, -Yet ne'ertheless let us not parted be, -Whom cruel death could never separate: -But as we liv'd and died together here, -So let our bodies be together tomb'd: -Let him with me, and I with him, be laid -Within one shrine, wherever you appoint. -This if you grant me, as I trust you will, -Although I live not to requite this grace, -Th'immortal gods due recompense shall give -To you for this: and so, vain world, farewell-- -My speech is painful, and mine eyesight fails. - -TANCRED. My daughter dies--see how the bitter pangs -Of tyrannous death torments her princely heart! -She looks on me, at me she shakes her head; -For me she groans; by me my daughter dies; -I, I the author of this tragedy.-- -On me, on me, ye heavens, throw down your ire! -Now dies my daughter! [_she dies_] hence with -princely robes! [_He throws aside his robes_. -O fair in life! thrice fairer in thy death! -Dear to thy father in thy life thou wert, -But in thy death dearest unto his heart; -I kiss thy paled cheeks, and close thine eyes. -This duty once I promis'd to myself -Thou shouldst perform to me; but ah! false hope, -Now ruthful, wretched king, what resteth thee? -Wilt thou now live wasted with misery? -Wilt thou now live, that with these eyes didst see -Thy daughter dead? wilt thou now live to see -Her funerals, that of thy life was stay? -Wilt thou now live that wast her life's decay? -Shall not this hand reach to this heart the stroke? -Mine arms are not so weak, nor are my limbs -So feebled with mine age, nor is my heart -So daunted with the dread of cowardice, -But I can wreak due vengeance on that head, -That wrought the means these lovers now be dead. -Julio, come near, and lay thine own right hand -Upon my thigh[88]--now take thine oath of me. - -JULIO. I swear to thee, my liege lord, to discharge -Whatever thou enjoinest Julio. - -TANCRED. First, then, I charge thee that my daughter have -Her last request: thou shalt within one tomb -Inter her Earl and her, and thereupon -Engrave some royal epitaph of love. -That done, I swear thee thou shalt take my corpse -Which thou shalt find by that time done to death, -And lay my body by my daughter's side-- -Swear this, swear this, I say. - -JULIO. I swear. -But will the king do so unkingly now? - -TANCRED. A kingly deed the king resolves to do. - -JULIO. To kill himself? - -TANCRED. To send his soul to ease. - -JULIO. Doth Jove command it? - -TANCRED. Our stars compel it. - -JULIO. The wise man overrules his stars. - -TANCRED. So we. - -JULIO. Undaunted should the minds of kings endure. - -TANCRED. So shall it in this resolution. -Julio, forbear: and as thou lov'st the king, -When thou shalt see him welt'ring in his gore. -Stretching his limbs, and gasping in his groans, -Then, Julio, set to thy helping hand, -Redouble stroke on stroke, and drive the stab -Down deeper to his heart, to rid his soul. -Now stand aside, stir not a foot, lest thou -Make up the fourth to fill this tragedy. -These eyes that first beheld my daughter's shame; -These eyes that longed for the ruthful sight -Of her Earl's heart; these eyes that now have seen -His death, her woe, and her avenging teen; -Upon these eyes we must be first aveng'd. -Unworthy lamps of this accursed lump, -Out of your dwellings! [_Puts out his eyes_] So; it fits us thus -In blood and blindness to go seek the path -That leadeth down to everlasting night. -Why fright'st thou, dastard? be thou desperate; -One mischief brings another on his neck, -As mighty billows tumble in the seas, -Now, daughter, seest thou not how I amerce -My wrath, that thus bereft thee of thy love, -Upon my head? Now, fathers, learn by me, -Be wise, be warn'd to use more tenderly -The jewels of your joys. Daughter, I come. - - [_Kills himself_. - - -FINIS. - - - -EPILOGUE. - -SPOKEN BY JULIO. - -Lo here the sweets of grisly pale despair! -These are the blossoms of this cursed tree, -Such are the fruits of too much love and care, -O'erwhelmed in the sense of misery. -With violent hands he that his life doth end, -His damned soul to endless night doth wend. -Now resteth it that I discharge mine oath, -To see th'unhappy lovers and the king -Laid in one tomb. I would be very loth -You should wait here to see this mournful thing: -For I am sure, and do ye all to wit, -Through grief wherein the lords of Salerne be, -These funerals are not prepared yet: -Nor do they think on that solemnity. -As for the fury, ye must understand, -Now she hath seen th'effect of her desire, -She is departed, and hath left our land. -Granting this end unto her hellish ire. -Now humbly pray we, that our English dames -May never lead their loves into mistrust; -But that their honours may avoid the shames, -That follow such as live in wanton lust. -We know they bear them on their virtues bold, -With blissful chastity so well content -That, when their lives and loves abroad are told, -All men admire their virtuous government; -Worthy to live where fury never came, -Worthy to live where love doth always see, -Worthy to live in golden trump of fame, -Worthy to live and honoured still to be. -Thus end our sorrows with the setting sun: -Now draw the curtains, for our scene is done. - - R.W. - - - - - - -THE WOUNDS OF CIVIL WAR. - - - -_EDITION. - -The Wounds of Civill War. Lively set forth in the true Tragedies of -Marius and Scilla. As it hath beene publiquely plaide in London, by the -Right Honourable the Lord high Admirall his Servants. Written by Thomas -Lodge, Gent_. O vita! misero longa, faelici brevis. _London, Printed by -John Danter, and are to be sold at the signe of the Sunne in Paules -Church-yarde_. 1594. 4to. - - - - -MR. COLLIER'S PREFACE.[89] - - -Thomas Lodge, in his "Alarum against Usurers," 1584, speaks of his -"birth," and of "the offspring from whence he came," as if he were at -least respectably descended; and on the authority of Anthony Wood, it -has been asserted by all subsequent biographers that he was of a -Lincolnshire family. [The fact is, that Lodge was the second son of Sir -Thomas Lodge, Lord Mayor of London, who died in 1584, by his wife, the -daughter of Sir William Laxton.] Thomas Salter, about the year 1580, -dedicated his "Mirror of Modesty" to [the poet's mother, Lady Anne -Lodge]. - -Langbaine seems to be under a mistake when he states that Lodge was of -Cambridge. Wood claims him for the University of Oxford,[90] where he -traces him as early as 1573, when he must have been about seventeen -years old, if he were born, as is generally supposed, in 1556. We are -told by himself that he was a Servitor of Trinity College, and that he -was educated under Sir Edward Hoby. At what time and for what cause -Lodge left Oxford is not known; but Stephen Gosson, in the dedication of -his "Plays Confuted in Five Actions," printed about 1582,[91] accuses -him of having become "a vagrant person, visited by the heavy hand of -God," as if he had taken to the stage, and thereby had incurred the -vengeance of heaven. In 1584, when Lodge answered Gosson, he was a -student of Lincoln's Inn;[92] and to "his courteous friends, the -Gentlemen of the Inns of Court," he dedicated his "Alarum against -Usurers." He afterwards, as he informs Lord Hunsdon, in the epistle -before his "Rosalynde," 1590, "fell from books to arms;" and he calls it -"the work of a soldier and a scholar," adding that he had sailed with -Captain Clarke to the islands of Terceras and the Canaries. In 1596, he -published his "Margarite of America," and he mentions that it was -written in the Straits of Magellan, on a voyage with Cavendish. To this -species of vagrancy, however, Gosson did not refer. - -That Lodge was vagrant in his pursuits we have sufficient evidence; for, -after having perhaps been upon the stage, having entered himself at -Lincoln's Inn, having become a soldier, and having sailed with Clarke -and Cavendish, he went, according to Wood, to study medicine at -Avignon.[93] This change, if it took place at all, which may admit of -doubt,[94] did not occur until after 1596. In 1595 his "Fig for Momus" -appeared. Besides Satires, it contains Epistles and Eclogues; and in one -of the latter Lodge speaks in his own person, under the character of -"Golde" (the same letters that compose his name), and there states his -determination no longer to pursue ill-rewarded poetry-- - - "Which sound rewards, since this neglected time, - Repines to yield to men of high desert, - I'll cease to ravel out my wits in rhyme, - For such who make so base account of art; - And since by wit there is no means to climb, - I'll hold the plough awhile, and ply the cart; - And if my muse to wonted course return, - I'll write and judge, peruse, commend and burn." - -The dedication of his "Wit's Misery, and the World's Madness," is dated -"from my house, at Low Layton, 5th November 1596." - -The principal reasons for supposing that Lodge studied medicine are the -existence of a "Treatise of the Plague," published by "Thomas Lodge, -Doctor in Physic," in 1603, and of a collection of medical recipes in -MS., called "The Poor Man's Legacy," addressed to the Countess of -Arundel, and sold among the books of the Duke of Norfolk.[95] [There can -be little or no question that the physician and poet were one and the -same. In "England's Parnassus," 1600, he is called indifferently Thomas -Lodge and Doctor Lodge.] The author of the "Treatise of the Plague" -expressly tells the Lord Mayor of London, in the dedication, that he was -"bred and brought up" in the city. Thomas Heywood, in his "Troja -Britannica," 1609, enumerates the celebrated physicians then living-- - - "As famous Butler, Pedy, Turner, Poe, - Atkinson, Lyster, _Lodge_, who still survive."--C. 3. - -It hardly deserves remark that Lodge is placed last in this list; but -had he been the same individual who had written for the stage, was the -friend of so many dramatists, and was so well known as a lyric poet, it -seems likely that Heywood would have said more about him.[96] It is a -singular coincidence, that having written how to prevent and cure the -plague, he should die of that disease during the great mortality of -1625. Wood's expressions on this point, however, are not decisive: "He -made his last _exit_ (of the plague, I think) in September 1625, leaving -then behind him a widow called Joan." It has been conjectured [rather -foolishly] that he was a Roman Catholic, from a statement made by one of -his biographers that, while he practised medicine in London, he was much -patronised by persons of that persuasion. - -There are but two existing dramatic productions on the title-pages of -which the name of Lodge is found:[97] the one he wrote alone, and the -other in partnership with Robert Greene:-- - -(1.) The Wounds of Civill War. Lively set forth in the true Tragedies of -Marius and Scilla, &c. Written by Thomas Lodge, Gent. 1594, 4to. - -(2.) A Looking Glasse for London and Englande. Made by Thomas Lodge, -Gentleman, and Robert Greene, _in Artibus Magister_. 1594, 1598, 1602, -1617, all in 4to.[98] - -The most remarkable [of his works], and that which has been most often -reprinted, is his "Rosalynde" which, as is well known, Shakespeare -closely followed in "As You Like It."[99] - -Anterior to the date of any of his other pieces must have been Lodge's -defence of stage-plays, because Stephen Gosson replied to it about 1582. -It was long thought, on the authority of Prynne, that Lodge's tract was -called "The Play of Plays," but Mr Malone ascertained that to be a -different production. The only copy of Lodge's pamphlet seen by Mr -Malone was without a title, and it was probably the same that was sold -among the books of Topham Beauclerc in 1781. It is spoken of in "The -French Academy" [1589] as having "lately passed the press;" but Lodge -himself, in his "Alarum against Usurers," very clearly accounts for its -extreme rarity: he says, "by reason of the slenderness of the subject -(because it was in defence of plaies and play-makers) the godly and -reverent that had to deal in the cause, misliking it, forbad the -publishing;" and he charges Gosson with "comming by a private unperfect -coppye," on which he framed his answer, entitled, "Plays confuted in -Five Actions." - -Mr Malone ("Shakespeare," by Boswell, ii. 250) contends that Spenser -alludes to Lodge, in his "Tears of the Muses," under the name of Alcon, -in the following lines:-- - - "And there is pleasing Alcon, could he raise - His tunes from lays to matters of more skill;" - -and he adds that Spenser calls Lodge Alcon, from one of the characters -in "A Looking Glasse for London and Englande;" but this argument would -apply just as much to Lodge's coadjutor Greene. Mr Malone further argues -that Lodge, roused by this applause (which he repaid in his "Phillis"), -produced not long afterwards a "matter of more skill," in "The Wounds of -Civil War." - - - - -THE MOST LAMENTABLE AND TRUE - - TRAGEDIES OF - -MARIUS AND SYLLA.[100] - - - - _Enter on the Capitol_ SULPITIUS, _Tribune_, CAIUS MARIUS, - Q. POMPEY, _Consul_, JUNIUS BRUTUS, LUCRETIUS, CAIUS GRANIUS, - LECTORIUS, LUCIUS MERULA, _Jupiter's Priest, and_ CINNA; - _whom placed, and their Lictors before them with their rods - and axes_, SULPITIUS _beginneth_. - -SULPITIUS. Grave senators, and fathers of this state, -Our strange protractions and unkind delays -Where weighty wars doth call us out to fight, -Our factious wits, to please aspiring lords, -(You see) have added power unto our foes, -And hazarded rich Phrygia and Bithinia, -With all our Asian holds and cities too. -Thus Sylla seeking to be general, -Who is invested in our consul's pall,[101] -Hath forced murders in a quiet state; -The cause whereof even Pompey may complain, -Who, seeking to advance a climbing friend, -Hath lost by death a sweet and courteous son. -Who now in Asia but Mithridates -Laughs at these fond dissensions I complain? -While we, in wrangling for a general, -Forsake our friends, forestal our forward war, -And leave our legions full of dalliance: -Waiting our idle wills at Capua. -Fie, Romans! shall the glories of your names, -The wondrous beauty of this capitol, -Perish through Sylla's insolence and pride; -As if that Rome were robb'd of true renown, -And destitute of warlike champions now? -Lo, here the man, the rumour of whose fame, -Hath made Iberia tremble and submit: -See Marius, that in managing estate, -Though many cares and troubles he hath pass'd, -And spent his youth, upon whose reverend head -The milk-white pledge of wisdom sweetly spreads. -He, six times consul, fit for peace or war, -Sits drooping here, content to brook disgrace, -Who glad to fight through follies of his foes -Sighs for your shame, whilst you abide secure. -And I that see and should recure these wrongs, -Through Pompey's late vacation and delay, -Have left to publish him for general, -That merits better titles far than these. -But, nobles, now the final day is come, -When I, your tribune, studying for renown, -Pronounce and publish Marius general, -To lead our legions against Mithridates, -And crave, grave fathers, signs of your content. - -Q. POMPEY. Believe me, noble Romans and grave senators, -This strange election, and this new-made law -Will witness our unstable government, -And dispossess Rome of her empery: -For although Marius be renown'd in arms, -Famous for prowess, and grave in warlike drifts, -Yet may the sunshine of his former deeds -Nothing eclipse our Sylla's dignity. -By lot and by election he was made -Chief general against Mithridates, -And shall we then abridge him of that rule? -'Twere injury to Sylla and to Rome: -Nor would the height of his all-daring mind -Brook to the death so vile and foul disgrace. - -J. BRUTUS. Why, Pompey, as if the senate had not power -To appoint, dispose, and change their generals! -Rome shall belike be bound to Sylla's rule, -Whose haughty pride and swelling thoughts puff'd-up -Foreshows the reaching to proud Tarquin's state. -Is not his ling'ring to our Roman loss -At Capua, where he braves it out with feasts, -Made known, think you, unto the senate here? -Yes, Pompey, yes; and hereof are we sure, -If Romans' state on Sylla's pride should lie, -Rome's conquests would to Pontus' regions fly; -Therefore, grave and renowned senators, -(Pillars that bear and hold our rule aloft, -You stately, true, and rich pyramids) -Descend into the depth of your estates; -Then shall you find that Sylla is more fit -To rule in Rome domestical affairs, -Than have the conquest of Bithinia, -Which, if once got, he'll but by death forego: -Therefore I say [let] Marius [be] our general. - -LUCRETIUS. So thus we strive abroad to win renown, -And nought regard at home our waning states. -Brutus, I say, the many brave exploits, -The warlike acts that Sylla has achiev'd -Show him a soldier and a Roman too, -Whose care is more for country than himself. -Sylla nill brook[102], that in so many wars, -So hard adventures and so strange extremes, -Hath borne the palm and prize of victory, -Thus with dishonour to give up his charge. -Sylla hath friends and soldiers at command, -That first will make the towers of Rome to shake, -And force the stately capitol to dance, -Ere any rob him of his just renown. -Then we that through the Caspian shores have run, -And spread with ships the Oriental sea, -At home shall make a murder of our friends, -And massacre our dearest countrymen. - -LECTORIUS. The power of Sylla nought will 'vail 'gainst Rome; -And let me die, Lucretius, ere I see -Our senate dread for any private man. Therefore, -Renown'd Sulpitius, send for Sylla back: -Let Marius lead our men in Asia. - -L. MERULA. The law the senate wholly doth affirm: -Let Marius lead our men in Asia. - -ClNNA. Cinna affirms the senate's censure just, -And saith let Marius lead the legions forth. - -C. GRANIUS. Honour and victory follow Marius' steps! -For him doth Granius wish to fight for Rome. - -SULPITIUS. Why then, you sage and ancient sires of Rome, -Sulpitius here again doth publish forth, -That Marius by the senate here is made -Chief general to lead the legions out -Against Mithridates and his competitors. -Now victory, for honour of Rome, follow Marius! - - [_Here let_ MARIUS _rouse himself_. - -MARIUS. Sage and imperial senators of Rome, -Not without good advisement have you seen -Old Marius silent during your discourse: -Yet not for that he fear'd to plead his cause, -Or raise his honour trodden down by age, -But that his words should not allure his friends -To stand on stricter terms for his behoof. -Six times the senate by election hath -Made Marius consul over warlike Rome, -And in that space nor Rome nor all the world -Could ever say that Marius was untrue. -These silver hairs, that hang upon my face, -Are witnesses of my unfeigned zeal. -The Cymbrians, that erewhile invaded France, -And held the Roman empire in disdain, -Lay all confounded under Marius' sword: -Fierce Scipio, the mirror once of Rome, -Whose loss as yet my inward soul bewails, -Being ask'd who should succeed and bear his rule, -Even this, quoth he, shall Scipio's armour bear; -And therewithal clapp'd me upon the back.[103] -If then, grave lords, my former-passed youth -Was spent in bringing honours unto[104] Rome, -Let then my age and latter date of years, -Be sealed up for honour unto Rome. - - _Here enter_ SYLLA, _with Captains and Soldiers_. - -SULPITIUS. Sylla, what mean these arms and warlike troops? -These glorious ensigns and these fierce alarm[s] -'Tis proudly done to brave the capitol! - -SYLLA. These arms, Sulpitius, are not borne for hate, -But maintenance of my confirmed state: -I come to Rome with no seditious thoughts, -Except I find too froward injuries. - -SULPITIUS. But wisdom would you did forbear -To yield these slight suspicions of contempt, -Where as the senate studieth high affairs. - -SYLLA. What serious matters have these lords in hand? - -SULPITIUS. The senators with full decree appoint -Old Marius for their captain-general, -To lead thy legions into Asia, -And fight against the fierce Mithridates. - -SYLLA. To Marius? Jolly stuff! Why then I see -Your lordships mean to make a babe of me. - -J. BRUTUS. 'Tis true, Sylla, the senate hath agreed -That Marius shall those bands and legions bear, -Which you now hold, against Mithridates. - -SYLLA. Marius should[105] lead them then, if Sylla said not no; -And I should be a consul's shadow then. -Trustless senators and ungrateful Romans, -For all the honours I have done to Rome, -For all the spoils I brought within her walls, -Thereby for to enrich and raise her pride, -Repay you me with this ingratitude? -You know, unkind, that Sylla's wounded helm -Was ne'er hung up once, or distain'd with rust: -The Marcians that before me fell amain, -And like to winter-hail on every side, -Unto the city Nuba I pursued, -And for your sakes were thirty thousand slain. -The Hippinians and the Samnites Sylla brought -As tributaries unto famous Rome: -Ay, where did Sylla ever draw his sword, -Or lift his warlike hand above his head -For Romans' cause, but he was conqueror? -And now, unthankful, seek you to disgrade -And tear the plumes that Sylla's sword hath won? -Marius, I tell thee Sylla is the man -Disdains to stoop or vail his pride to thee. -Marius, I say thou may'st nor shalt not have -The charge that unto Sylla doth belong, -Unless thy sword could tear it from my heart, -Which in a thousand folds impales[106] the same. - -MARIUS. And, Sylla, hereof be thou full assur'd: -The honour, whereto mine undaunted mind -And this grave senate hath enhanced me, -Thou nor thy followers shall derogate. -The space[107] of years that Marius hath o'erpass'd -In foreign broils and civil mutinies, -Hath taught him this: that one unbridled foe -My former fortunes never shall o'ergo. - -SYLLA. Marius, I smile at these thy foolish words; -And credit me, should laugh outright, I fear, -If that I knew not how thy froward age -Doth make thy sense as feeble as thy joints. - -MARIUS. Sylla, Sylla, Marius' years have taught -Him how to pluck so proud a younker's plumes; -And know, these hairs, that dangle down my face, -In brightness like the silver Rhodope, -Shall add so haughty courage to my mind, -And rest such piercing objects 'gainst thine eyes, -That mask'd in folly age shall force thee stoop. - -SYLLA. And by my hand I swear, ere thou shalt 'maze me so, -My soul shall perish but I'll have thy beard. -Say, grave senators, shall Sylla be your general? - -SULPITIUS. No: the senate, I, and Rome herself agrees -There's none but Marius shall be general. -Therefore, Sylla, these daring terms unfit -Beseem not thee before the capitol. - -SYLLA. Beseem not me? Senators, advise you. -Sylla hath vowed, whose vows the heavens record, -Whose oaths have pierc'd and search'd the deepest vast, -Ay, and whose protestations reign on earth: -This capitol, wherein your glories shine, -Was ne'er so press'd and throng'd with scarlet gowns -As Rome shall be with heaps of slaughtered souls, -Before that Sylla yield his titles up. -I'll make[108] her streets, that peer into the clouds, -Burnish'd with gold and ivory pillars fair, -Shining with jasper, jet, and ebony, -All like the palace of the morning sun, -To swim within a sea of purple blood, -Before I lose the name of general. - -MARIUS. These threats against thy country and these lords, -Sylla, proceed from forth a traitor's heart; -Whose head I trust to see advanced up -On highest top of all this capitol, -As erst was many of thy progeny, -Before thou vaunt thy victories in Rome. - -SYLLA. Greybeard, if so thy heart and tongue agree, -Draw forth thy legions and thy men at arms; -Rear up thy standard and thy steeled crest, -And meet with Sylla in the fields of Mars, -And try whose fortune makes him general. - -MARIUS. I take thy word: Marius will meet thee there, -And prove thee, Sylla, traitor unto Rome, -And all that march under thy trait'rous wings. -Therefore they that love the Senate and Marius, -Now follow him. - -SYLLA. And all that love Sylla come down to him: -For the rest, let them follow Marius, -And the devil himself be their captain. - - [_Here let the Senate rise and cast away their gowns, - having their swords by their sides. Exit_ MARIUS, _and - with him_ SULPITIUS, JUNIUS, BRUTUS, LECTORIUS. - -Q. POMPEY. Sylla, I come to thee. - -LUCRETIUS. Sylla, Lucretius will die with thee. - -SYLLA. Thanks, my noble lords of Rome. - - [_Here let them go down, and_ SYLLA _offers to go - forth, and_ ANTHONY _calls him back_: - -ANTHONY. Stay, Sylla; hear Anthony breathe forth -The pleading plaints of sad declining Rome. - -SYLLA. Anthony, thou know'st thy honey words do pierce -And move the mind of Sylla to remorse: -Yet neither words nor pleadings now must serve: -When as mine honour calls me forth to fight: -Therefore, sweet Anthony, be short for Sylla's haste. - -ANTHONY. For Sylla's haste! O, whither wilt thou fly? -Tell me, my Sylla, what dost thou take in hand? -What wars are these thou stirrest up in Rome? -What fire is this is kindled by thy wrath? -A fire that must be quench'd by Romans' blood. -A war that will confound our empery; -And last, an act of foul impiety. -Brute beasts nill break the mutual law of love, -And birds affection will not violate: -The senseless trees have concord 'mongst themselves, -And stones agree in links of amity. -If they, my Sylla, brook not to have jar, -What then are men, that 'gainst themselves do war? -Thou'lt say, my Sylla, honour stirs thee up; -Is't honour to infringe the laws of Rome? -Thou'lt say, perhaps, the titles thou hast won -It were dishonour for thee to forego; -O, is there any height above the highest, -Or any better than the best of all? -Art thou not consul? art thou not lord of Rome? -What greater titles should our Sylla have? -But thou wilt hence, thou'lt fight with Marius, -The man the senate, ay, and Rome hath chose. -Think this, before thou never lift'st aloft, -And lettest fall thy warlike hand adown, -But thou dost raze and wound thy city Rome: -And look, how many slaughter'd souls lie slain -Under thy ensigns and thy conquering lance, -So many murders mak'st thou of thyself. - -SYLLA. Enough, my Anthony, for thy honey'd tongue -Washed in a syrup of sweet conserves[109], -Driveth confused thoughts through Sylla's mind: -Therefore suffice thee, I may nor will not hear. -So farewell, Anthony; honour calls me hence: -Sylla will fight for glory and for Rome. - - [_Exit_ SYLLA _and his followers_. - -L. MERULA. See, noble Anthony, the trustless state of rule, -The stayless hold of matchless sovereignty: -Now fortune beareth Rome into the clouds, -To throw her down into the lowest hells; -For they that spread her glory through the world, -Are they that tear her proud, triumphant plumes: -The heart-burning pride of proud Tarquinius -Rooted from Rome the sway of kingly mace, -And now this discord, newly set abroach, -Shall raze our consuls and our senates down. - -ANTHONY. Unhappy Rome, and Romans thrice accurs'd! -That oft with triumphs fill'd your city walls -With kings and conquering rulers of the world, -Now to eclipse, in top of all thy pride, -Through civil discords and domestic broils. -O Romans, weep the tears of sad lament, -And rend your sacred robes at this exchange, -For fortune makes our Rome a banding ball[110], -Toss'd from her hand to take the greater fall. - -GRANIUS. O, whence proceed these foul, ambitious thoughts, -That fire men's hearts and make them thirst for rule? -Hath sovereignty so much bewitch'd the minds -Of Romans, that their former busied cares, -Which erst did tire in seeking city's good, -Must now be chang'd to ruin of her walls? -Must they, that rear'd her stately temples up, -Deface the sacred places of their gods? -Then may we wail, and wring our wretched hands, -Sith both our gods, our temples, and our walls, -Ambition makes fell fortune's spiteful thralls. - - [_Exeunt all_. - - [_A great alarum. Let young_ MARIUS _chase_ POMPEY - over the stage, and old_ MARIUS _chase_ LUCRETIUS. - _Then let enter three or four Soldiers, and his - ancient with his colours, and_ SYLLA _after them - with his hat in his hand: they offer to fly away_. - -SYLLA. Why, whither fly you, Romans, -What mischief makes this flight? -Stay, good my friends: stay, dearest countrymen! - -1ST SOLDIER. Stay, let us hear what our Lord Sylla say'th. - -SYLLA. What, will you leave your chieftains, Romans, then, -And lose your honours in the gates of Rome? -What, shall our country see, and Sylla rue, -These coward thoughts so fix'd and firm'd in you? -What, are you come from Capua to proclaim -Your heartless treasons in this happy town? -What, will you stand and gaze with shameless looks, -Whilst Marius' butchering knife assails our throats? -Are you the men, the hopes, the stays of state? -Are you the soldiers prest[111] for Asia? -Are you the wondered legions of the world, -And will you fly these shadows of resist? -Well, Romans, I will perish through your pride, -That thought by you to have return'd in pomp; -And, at the least, your general shall prove, -Even in his death, your treasons and his love. -Lo, this the wreath that shall my body bind, -Whilst Sylla sleeps with honour in the field: -And I alone, within these colours shut, -Will blush your dastard follies in my death. -So, farewell, heartless soldiers and untrue, -That leave your Sylla, who hath loved you. [_Exit_. - -1ST SOLDIER. Why, fellow-soldiers, shall we fly the field, -And carelessly forsake our general? -What, shall our vows conclude with no avail? -First die, sweet friends, and shed your purple blood, -Before you lose the man that wills you good. -Then to it, brave Italians, out of hand! -Sylla, we come with fierce and deadly blows -To venge thy wrongs and vanquish all thy foes. - - [_Exeunt to the alarum_. - - - - -ACTUS SECUNDUS, SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ SYLLA _triumphant_; LUCRETIUS, POMPEY, - _with Soldiers_. - -SYLLA. You, Roman soldiers, fellow-mates in arms, -The blindfold mistress of uncertain chance -Hath turn'd these traitorous climbers from the top, -And seated Sylla in the chiefest place-- -The place beseeming Sylla and his mind. -For, were the throne, where matchless glory sits -Empal'd with furies, threatening blood and death, -Begirt with famine and those fatal fears, -That dwell below amidst the dreadful vast, -Tut, Sylla's sparkling eyes should dim with clear[112] -The burning brands of their consuming light, -And master fancy with a forward mind, -And mask repining fear with awful power: -For men of baser metal and conceit -Cannot conceive the beauty of my thought. -I, crowned with a wreath of warlike state, -Imagine thoughts more greater than a crown, -And yet befitting well a Roman mind. -Then, gentle ministers of all my hopes, -That with your swords made way unto my wish, -Hearken the fruits of your courageous fight. -In spite of all these Roman basilisks, -That seek to quell us with their currish looks, -We will to Pontus: we'll have gold, my hearts; -Those oriental pearls shall deck our brows. -And you, my gentle friends, you Roman peers: -Kind Pompey, worthy of a consul's name, -You shall abide the father of the state, -Whilst these brave lads, Lucretius, and I, -In spite of all these brawling senators, -Will, shall, and dare attempt on Asia, -And drive Mithridates from out his doors. - -POMPEY. Ay, Sylla, these are words of mickle worth, -Fit for the master of so great a mind. -Now Rome must stoop, for Marius and his friends -Have left their arms, and trust unto their heels. - -SYLLA. But, Pompey, if our Spanish jennets' feet -Have learnt to post it of their mother-wind, -I hope to trip upon the greybeard's heels, -Till I have cropp'd his shoulders from his head. -And for his son, the proud, aspiring boy, -His beardless face and wanton, smiling brows, -Shall, if I catch him, deck yond' capitol. -The father, son, the friends and soldiers all, -That fawn on Marius, shall with fury fall. - -LUCRETIUS. And what event shall all these troubles bring? - -SYLLA. This--Sylla in fortune will exceed a king. -But, friends and soldiers, with dispersed bands -Go seek out Marius' fond confederates: -Some post along those unfrequented paths, -That track by nooks unto the neighbouring sea: -Murder me Marius, and maintain my life. -And that his favourites in Rome may learn -The difference betwixt my fawn and frown, -Go cut them short, and shed their hateful blood, -To quench these furies of my froward mood. - - [_Exit Soldiers_. - -LUCRETIUS. Lo, Sylla, where our senators approach; -Perhaps to 'gratulate thy good success. - - _Enter_ ANTHONY, GRANIUS, LEPIDUS. - -SYLLA. Ay, that _perhaps_ was fitly placed there: -But, my Lucretius, these are cunning lords, -Whose tongues are tipp'd with honey to deceive. -As for their hearts, if outward eyes may see them, -The devil scarce with mischief might agree them. - -LEPIDUS. Good fortune to our consul, worthy Sylla. - -SYLLA. And why not general 'gainst the King of Pontus? - -GRANIUS. And general against the King of -Pontus. - -SYLLA. Sirrah, your words are good, your thoughts are ill. -Each milkwhite hair amid this mincing beard, -Compar'd with millions of thy treacherous thoughts, -Would change their hue through vigour of thy hate. -But, did not pity make my fury thrall, -This sword should finish hate, thy life, and all. -I prythee, Granius, how doth Marius? - -GRANIUS. As he that bides a thrall to thee and fate: -Living in hope, as I and others do, -To catch good fortune, and to cross thee too. - -SYLLA. Both blunt and bold, but too much mother-wit. -To play with fire, where fury streams about: -Curtail your tale, fond man, cut off the rest; -But here I will dissemble for the best. - -GRANIUS. Sylla, my years have taught me to discern -Betwixt ambitious pride and princely zeal; -And from thy youth these peers of Home have mark'd -A rash revenging humour[113] in thy brain. -Thy tongue adorn'd with flowing eloquence, -And yet I see imprinted in thy brows -A fortunate but froward governance. -And though thy rival Marius, mated late -By backward working of his wretched fate, -Is fall'n; yet, Sylla, mark what I have seen -Even here in Rome. The fencer Spectacus -Hath been as fortunate as thou thyself; -But when that Crassus' sword assayed his crest, -The fear of death did make him droop for woe. - -SYLLA. You saw in Rome this brawling fencer die, -When Spectacus by Crassus was subdued. -Why so? but, sir, I hope you will apply, -And say like Spectacus that I shall die. -Thus peevish eld, discoursing by a fire, -Amidst their cups will prate how men aspire. -Is this the greeting, Romans, that you give -Unto the patron of your monarchy? -Lucretius, shall I play a pretty jest? - -LUCRETIUS. What Sylla will, what Roman dare withstand? - -SYLLA. A brief and pleasing answer, by my head. -Why, tell me, Granius, dost thou talk in sport? - -GRANIUS. No, Sylla, my discourse is resolute. -Not coin'd to please thy fond and cursed thoughts: -For were my tongue betray'd with pleasing words -To feed the humours of thy haughty mind, -I rather wish the rot should root it out. - -SYLLA. The bravest brawler that I ever heard. -But, soldiers, since I see he is oppress'd -With crooked choler, and our artists teach -That fretting blood will press through open'd veins, -Let him that has the keenest sword arrest -The greybeard, and cut off his head in jest. -Soldiers, lay hands on Granius. - -GRANIUS. Is this the guerdon[114] then of good advice? - -SYLLA. No, but the means to make fond men more wise. -Tut, I have wit, and carry warlike tools, -To charm the scolding prate of wanton fools. -Tell me of fencers and a tale of fate! -No, Sylla thinks of nothing but a state. - -GRANIUS. Why, Sylla, I am arm'd the worst to try. - -SYLLA, I pray thee then, Lucretius, let him die. - - [_Exeunt with_ GRANIUS. - -Beshrew me, lords, but in this jolly vein -'Twere pity but the prating fool were slain. -I fear me Pluto will be wrath with me, -For to detain so grave a man as he. - -ANTHONY. But seek not, Sylla, in this quiet state -To work revenge upon an aged man, -A senator, a sovereign of this town. - -SYLLA. The more the cedar climbs, the sooner down: -And, did I think the proudest man in Rome -Would wince at that which I have wrought or done, -I would and can control his insolence. -Why, senators, is this the true reward, -Wherewith you answer princes for their pain, -As when this sword hath made our city free, -A braving mate should thus distemper me? -But, Lepidus and fellow-senators, -I am resolved, and will not brook your taunts: -Who wrongeth Sylla, let him look for stripes. - -ANTHONY. Ay, but the milder passions show the man; -For as the leaf doth beautify the tree, -The pleasant flow'rs bedeck the painted spring, -Even so in men of greatest reach and power -A mild and piteous thought augments renown. -Old Anthony did never see, my lord, -A swelling show'r, that did continue long: -A climbing tower that did not taste the wind: -A wrathful man not wasted with repent. -I speak of love, my Sylla, and of joy, -To see how fortune lends a pleasant gale -Unto the spreading sails of thy desires; -And, loving thee, must counsel thee withal: -For, as by cutting fruitful vines increase, -So faithful counsels work a prince's peace. - -SYLLA. Thou honey-talking father, speak thy mind. - -ANTHONY. My Sylla, scarce those tears are dried up, -That Roman matrons wept to see this war: -Along the holy streets the hideous groans -Of murdered men infect the weeping air: -Thy foes are fled, not overtaken yet, -And doubtful is the hazard of this war: -Yea, doubtful is the hazard of this war, -For now our legions draw their wasteful swords -To murder whom? Even Roman citizens! -To conquer whom? Even Roman citizens! -Then, if that Sylla love these citizens, -If care of Rome, if threat of foreign foes, -If fruitful counsels of thy forward friends, -May take effect, go fortunate, and drive -The King of Pontus out of Asia; -Lest, while we dream on civil mutinies, -Our wary foes assail our city walls. - -POMPEY. My long-concealed thoughts, Mark Anthony, -Must seek discovery through thy pliant words. -Believe me, Sylla, civil mutinies -Must not obscure thy glories and our names. -Then, sith that factious Marius is suppress'd, -Go spread thy colours 'midst the Asian fields; -Meanwhile myself will watch this city's weal. - -SYLLA. Pompey, I know thy love, I mark thy words, -And, Anthony, thou hast a pleasing vein; -But, senators, I harbour[115] in my head -With every thought of honour some revenge. - - _Enter LUCRETIUS with the head_. - -Speak, what, shall Sylla be your general? - -LEPIDUS. We do decree that Sylla shall be general? - -SYLLA. And wish you Sylla's weal and honour too? - -ANTHONY. We wish both Sylla's weal and honour too. - -SYLLA. Then take away the scandal of this state, -Banish the name of tribune out of town; -Proclaim false Marius and his other friends -Foemen and traitors to the state of Rome, -And I will wend and work so much by force, -As I will master false Mithridates. - -LEPIDUS. The name of tribune hath continued long. - -SYLLA. So shall not Lepidus, if he withstand me. -Sirrah, you see the head of Granius: -Watch you his hap, unless you change your words. -Pompey, now please me: Pompey, grant my suit. - -POMPEY. Lictors, proclaim this our undaunted doom. -We will that Marius and his wretched sons: -His friends Sulpitius, Claudius, and the rest -Be held for traitors, and acquit the men, -That shall endanger their unlucky lives; -And henceforth tribune's name and state shall cease. -Grave senators, how like you this decree? - -LEPIDUS. Even as our consuls wish, so let it be. - -SYLLA. Then, Lepidus, all friends in faith for me, -So leave I Rome to Pompey and my friends, -Resolv'd to manage those our Asian wars. -Frolic, brave soldiers, we must foot it now: -Lucretius, you shall bide the brunt with me. -Pompey, farewell, and farewell, Lepidus. -Mark Anthony, I leave thee to thy books; -Study for Rome and Sylla's royalty. -But, by my sword, I wrong this greybeard's head; -Go, sirrah, place it on the capitol: -A just promotion fit for Sylla's foe. -Lordings, farewell: come, soldiers, let us go. - - [_Exit_. - -POMPEY. Sylla, farewell, and happy be thy chance, -Whose war both Rome and Romans must advance. - - [_Exeunt Senators_. - - _Enter the Magistrates of Minturnum with_ MARIUS - _very melancholy_: LUCIUS FAVORINUS, PAUSANIUS, - _with some attendants_. - -PAUSANIUS. My lord, the course of your unstayed fate, -Made weak through that your late unhappy fight, -Withdraws our wills that fain would work your weal: -For long experience and the change of times, -The innocent suppressions of the just, -In leaning to forsaken men's relief, -Doth make us fear, lest our unhappy town -Should perish through the angry Roman's sword. - -MARIUS. Lords of Minturnum, when I shap'd my course, -To fly the danger of pursuing death, -I left my friends, and all alone attain'd, -In hope of succours, to this little town, -Relying on your courtesies and truth. -What foolish fear doth then amaze you thus? - -FAVORINUS. O Marius, thou thyself, thy son, thy friends, -Are banished, and exiles out of Rome, -Proclaim'd for traitors, reft of your estates, -Adjudg'd to death with certain warrantise: -Should then so small a town, my lord, as this -Hazard their fortunes to supply your wants? - -MARIUS. Why, citizens, and what is Marius? -I tell you, not so base as to despair, -Yea, able to withstand ingratitudes. -Tell me of foolish laws, decreed at Rome -To please the angry humours of my foe! -Believe me, lords, I know and am assur'd, -That magnanimity can never fear, -And fortitude so conquer silly fate, -As Sylla, when he hopes to have my head, -May hap ere long on sudden lose his own. - -PAUSANIUS. A hope beseeming Marius; but, I fear, -Too strange to have a short and good event. - -MARIUS. Why, Sir Pausanius, have you not beheld -Campania plains fulfill'd with greater foes, -Than is that wanton milk-sop, nature's scorn. -Base-minded men to live in perfect hope, -Whose thoughts are shut within your cottage eaves, -Refuse not Marius, that must favour you: -For these are parts of unadvised men, -With present fear to lose a perfect friend, -That can, will, may control, command, subdue, -That braving boy, that thus bewitcheth you. - -FAVORINUS. How gladly would we succour you, my lord, -But that we fear-- - -MARIUS. What? the moonshine in the water! -Thou wretched stepdame of my fickle state, -Are these the guerdons of the greatest minds? -To make them hope and yet betray their hap, -To make them climb to overthrow them straight? -Accurs'd thy wreak[116], thy wrath, thy bale, thy weal, -That mak'st me sigh the sorrows that I feel! -Untrodden paths my feet shall rather trace, -Than wrest my succours from inconstant hands: -Rebounding rocks shall rather ring my ruth, -Than these Campanian piles, where terrors bide: -And nature, that hath lift my throne so high, -Shall witness Marius' triumphs, if he die. -But she, that gave the lictor's rod and axe -To wait my six times consulship in Rome, -Will not pursue where erst she flattered so. -Minturnum then, farewell, for I must go; -But think for to repent you of your no. - -PAUSANIUS. Nay stay, my lord, and deign in private here -To wait a message of more better worth: -Your age and travels must have some relief; -And be not wrath, for greater men than we -Have feared Rome and Roman tyranny. - -MARIUS. You talk it now like men confirmed in faith. -Well, let me try the fruits of your discourse, -For care my mind and pain my body wrongs. - -PAUSANIUS. Then, Favorinus, shut his lordship up -Within some secret chamber in the state. -Meanwhile, we will consult to keep him safe, -And work some secret means for his supply. - -MARIUS. Be trusty, lords; if not, I can but die. - [_Exit_ MARIUS. - -PAUSANIUS. Poor, hapless Roman, little wottest thou -The weary end of thine oppressed life. - -LUCIUS. Why, my Pausanius, what imports these words? - -PAUSANIUS. O Lucius, age hath printed in my thoughts -A memory of many troubles pass'd. -The greatest towns and lords of Asia -Have stood on tickle terms through simple truth: -The Rhodian records well can witness this. -Then, to prevent our means of overthrow, -Find out some stranger, that may suddenly -Enter the chamber, where as Marius lies, -And cut him short; the present of whose head -Shall make the Romans praise us for our truth, -And Sylla prest to grant us privilege. - -LUCIUS. A barbarous act to wrong the men that trust. - -PAUSANIUS. In country's cause injustice proveth just. -Come, Lucius, let not silly thought of right -Subject our city to the Roman's might: -For why you know in Marius only end -Rome will reward, and Sylla will befriend. - -LUCIUS. Yet all successions will us discommend. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MARIUS _the younger_; CETHEGUS, LECTORIUS, - _with Roman Lords and Soldiers_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. The wayward lady of this wicked world, -That leads in luckless triumph wretched men, -My Roman friends, hath forced our desires, -And fram'd our minds to brook too base relief. -What land or Lybian desert is unsought -To find my father Marius and your friend? -Yea, they whom true relent could never touch-- -These fierce Numidians, hearing our mishaps, -Weep floods of moan to wail our wretched fates. -Thus we, that erst with terrors did attaint -The Bactrian bounds, and in our Roman wars -Enforc'd the barbarous borderers of the Alps -To tremble with the terrors of our looks, -Now fly, poor men, affrighted without harms: -Seeking amidst the desert rocks and dens -For him, that whilom in our capitol -Even with a beck commanded Asia. -Thou woful son of such a famous man, -Unsheathe thy sword, conduct these warlike men -To Rome, unhappy mistress of our harms: -And there, since tyrants' power hath thee oppress'd, -And robb'd thee of thy father, friends, and all, -So die undaunted, killing of thy foes, -That were the offspring of these wretched woes. - -LECTORIUS. Why, how now, Marius, will you mate us thus, -That with content adventure for your love? -Why, noble youth, resolve yourself on this, -That son and father both have friends in Rome, -That seek old Marius' rest and your relief. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lectorius, friends are geason[117] now-a-days, -And grow to fume, before they taste the fire. -Adversities bereaving man's avails, -They fly like feathers dallying in the wind: -They rise like bubbles in a stormy rain, -Swelling in words, and flying faith and deeds. - -CETHEGUS. How fortunate art thou, my lovely lord, -That in thy youth may'st reap the fruits of age; -And having lost occasion's holdfast now, -May'st learn hereafter how to entertain her well. -But sudden hopes do swarm about my heart: -Be merry, Romans; see, where from the coast -A weary messenger doth post him fast. - - _Enter_ CINNA'S SLAVE, _with a letter enclosed, - posting in haste_. - -LECTORIUS. It should be Cinna's slave, or else I err, -For in his forehead I behold the scar, -Wherewith he marketh still his barbarous swains. - -YOUNG MARIUS. O, stay him, good Lectorius, for me-seems -His great post-haste some pleasure should present. - -LECTORIUS. Sirrah, art thou of Rome? - -SLAVE. Perhaps, sir, no. - -LECTORIUS. Without perhaps, say, sirrah, is it so? - -SLAVE. This is Lectorius, Marius' friend, I trow; -Yet were I best to learn the certainty, -Lest some dissembling foes should me descry. [_Aside_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Sirrah, leave off this foolish dalliance, -Lest with my sword I wake you from your trance. - -SLAVE. O happy man, O labours well-achiev'd! -How hath this chance my weary limbs revived: -O noble Marius! O princely Marius! - -YOUNG MARIUS. What means this peasant by his great rejoice? - -SLAVE. O worthy Roman, many months have past -Since Cinna, now the consul and my lord, -Hath sent me forth to seek thy friends and thee. -All Lybia, with our Roman presidents, -Numidia, full of unfrequented ways, -These weary limbs have trod to seek you out, -And now, occasion pitying of my pains, -I late arriv'd upon this wished shore, -Found out a sailor born in Capua, -That told me how your lordship pass'd this way. - -YOUNG MARIUS. A happy labour, worthy some reward. -How fares thy master? What's the news at Rome? - -SLAVE. Pull out the pike from off this javelin-top, -And there are tidings for these lords and thee. - -YOUNG MARIUS. A policy beseeming Cinna well: -Lectorius, read, and break these letters up.[118] - - LETTER. - -To his Honourable friend Marius the younger, greeting. - -_Being consul (for the welfare both of father and son, with other thy -accomplices), I have, under an honest policy, since my instalment in the -consulship, caused all Sylla's friends that were indifferent, with the -other neighbouring cities, to revolt. Octavius, my fellow-consul, with -the rest of the senate, mistrusting me, and hearing how I sought to -unite the old citizens with the new, hath wrought much trouble, but to -no effect. I hope the soldiers of Capua shall follow our faction, for -Sylla, hearing of these hurly-burlies, is hasting homeward, very -fortunate in his wars against Mithridates. And it is to be feared that -some of his friends here have certified him of my proceedings, and -purpose to restore you. Cethegus and Lectorius I hear say are with you. -Censorinus and Albinovanus will shortly visit you. Therefore haste and -seek out your father, who is now, as I hear, about Minturnum. Levy what -power you can with all expedition, and stay not_. - -Rome, the 5 Kalends of December. - _Your unfeigned friend,_ - CINNA, _Consul_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Yea, fortune, shall young Marius climb aloft? -Then woe to my repining foes in Rome! -And if I live, sweet queen of change, thy shrines -Shall shine with beauty 'midst the capitol. -Lectorius, tell me what were best be done? - -LECTORIUS. To sea, my lord; seek your warlike sire: -Send back this peasant with your full pretence, -And think already that our pains have end, -Since Cinna, with his followers, is your friend. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Yea, Romans, we will furrow through the foam -Of swelling floods, and to the sacred twins -Make sacrifice, to shield our ships from storms. -Follow me, lords; come, gentle messenger, -Thou shalt have gold and glory for thy pains. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS TERTIUS. SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ CINNA, OCTAVIUS, ANTHONY, _Lictors, Citizens_. - -CINNA. Upbraiding senators, bewitch'd with wit, -That term true justice innovation; -You ministers of Sylla's mad conceits, -Will consuls, think you, stoop to your controls? -These younger citizens, my fellow-lords, -Bound to maintain both Marius and his son, -Crave but their due, and will be held as good -For privilege as those of elder age; -For they are men conform'd to feats of arms, -That have both wit and courage to command. -These favourites of Octavius, that[119] with age -And palsies shake their javelins in their hands, -Like heartless men attainted all with fear: -And should they then overtop the youth? -No, nor this consul, nor Mark Anthony, -Shall make my followers faint or lose their right; -But I will have them equal with the best. - -ANTHONY. Why then the senate's name, whose reverend rule -Hath blazed our virtues 'midst the western isle, -Must be obscur'd by Cinna's forced power. -O citizens! are laws of country left? -Is justice banish'd from this capitol? -Must we, poor fathers, see your drooping bands -Enter the sacred synod of this state? -O brutish fond presumptions of this age! -Rome! would the mischiefs might obscure my life, -So I might counsel consuls to be wise. -Why, countrymen, wherein consists this strife? -Forsooth the younger citizens will rule; -The old men's heads are dull and addle now; -And in elections youth will bear the sway. -O Cinna, see I not the woful fruits -Of these ambitious stratagems begun? -Each flattering tongue that dallieth pretty words -Shall change our fortunes and our states at once. -Had I ten thousand tongues to talk the care, -So many eyes to weep their woful miss, -So many pens to write these many wrongs, -My tongue your thoughts, my eyes your tears, should move, -My pen your pains by reason should approve. - -CINNA. Why, Anthony, seal up those sugar'd lips, -For I will bring my purpose to effect. - -ANTHONY. Doth Cinna like to interrupt me, then? - -CINNA. Ay, Cinna, sir, will interrupt you now. -I tell thee, Mark, old Marius is at hand, -The very patron of this happy law, -Who will revenge thy cunning eloquence. - -ANTHONY. I talk not, I, to please or him or thee, -But what I speak, I think and practise too: -'Twere better Sylla learnt to mend in Rome, -Than Marius come to tyrannise in Rome. - -OCTAVIUS. Nay, Marius shall not tyrannise in Rome, -Old citizens; as Sylla late ordain'd, -King Tullius' laws shall take their full effect: -The best and aged men shall in their choice, -Both bear the day, and firm [th'] election. - -CINNA. O brave! Octavius, you will beard me then, -The elder consul and old Marius' friend; -And these Italian freemen must be wrong'd. -First shall the fruit of all thine honours fail, -And this my poniard shall despatch thy life. - -LEPIDUS. Such insolence was never seen in Rome: -Nought wanteth here but name to make a king. - -OCTAVIUS. Strike, villain, if thou list, for I am prest -To make as deep a furrow in thy breast! - -YOUNG CITIZEN. The young men's voices shall prevail, my lords. - -OLD CITIZEN. And we will firm our honours by our bloods. - - [_Thunder_. - -ANTHONY. O false ambitious pride in young and old! -Hark, how the heavens our follies hath controll'd. - -OLD CITIZEN. What, shall we yield for this religious fear? - -ANTHONY. If not religious fear, what may repress -These wicked passions, wretched citizens? -O Rome, poor Rome, unmeet for these misdeeds, -I see contempt of heaven will breed a cross. -Sweet Cinna, govern rage with reverence. [_Thunder_. -O fellow-citizens, be more advis'd! - -LEPIDUS. We charge you, consuls, now dissolve the court; -The gods condemn this brawl and civil jars. - -OCTAVIUS. We will submit our honours to their wills: -You, ancient citizens, come follow me. - - [_Exit_ OCTAVIUS; _with him_ ANTHONY _and_ LEPIDUS. - -CINNA. High Jove himself hath done too much for thee, -Else should this blade abate thy royalty. -Well, young Italian citizens, take heart, -He is at hand that will maintain your right; -That, entering in these fatal gates of Rome, -Shall make them tremble that disturb you now. -You of Preneste and of Formiae, -With other neighbouring cities in Campania, -Prepare to entertain and succour Marius. - -YOUNG CITIZEN. For him we live, for him we mean to die. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ OLD MARIUS _with his_ KEEPER _and two_ SOLDIERS. - -MARIUS. Have these Minturnians, then, so cruelly -Presum'd so great injustice 'gainst their friends? - -JAILER. Ay, Marius, all our nobles have decreed -To send thy head a present unto Rome. - -MARIUS. A Tantal's present it will prove, my friend, -Which with a little smarting stress will end -Old Marius' life, when Rome itself at last -Shall rue my loss, and then revenge my death. -But tell me, jailer, could'st thou be content, -In being Marius, for to brook this wrong. - -JAILER. The high estate your lordship once did wield, -The many friends that fawn'd, when fortune smil'd, -Your great promotions and your mighty wealth, -These, were I Marius, would amate me so,[120] -As loss of them would vex me more than death. - -MARIUS. Is lordship then so great a bliss, my friend? - -JAILER. No title may compare with princely rule. - -MARIUS. Are friends so faithful pledges of delight? - -JAILER. What better comforts than are faithful friends? - -MARIUS. Is wealth a mean to lengthen life's content? - -JAILER. Where great possessions bide, what care can touch? - -MARIUS. These stales[121] of fortune are the common plagues, -That still mislead the thoughts of simple men. -The shepherd-swain that, 'midst his country-cot, -Deludes his broken slumbers by his toil, -Thinks lordship sweet, where care with lordship dwells. -The trustful man that builds on trothless vows, -Whose simple thoughts are cross'd with scornful nays, -Together weeps the loss of wealth and friend: -So lordship, friends, wealth spring and perish fast, -Where death alone yields happy life at last. -O gentle governor of my contents, -Thou sacred chieftain of our capitol, -Who in thy crystal orbs with glorious gleams -Lend'st looks of pity mix'd with majesty, -See woful Marius careful for his son, -Careless of lordship, wealth, or worldly means, -Content to live, yet living still to die: -Whose nerves and veins, whose sinews, by the sword -Must lose their workings through distempering stroke, -But yet whose mind, in spite of fate and all, -Shall live by fame, although the body fall. - -JAILER. Why mourneth Marius this recureless chance? - -MARIUS. I pray thee, jailer, would'st thou gladly die? - -JAILER. If needs, I would. - -MARIUS. Yet were you loth to try? - -JAILER. Why, noble lord, when goods, friends, fortune fail, -What more than death might woful man avail? - -MARIUS. Who calls for death, my friend, for all his scorns? -With Aesop's slave will leave his bush of thorns. -But since these trait'rous lords will have my head, -Their lordships here upon this homely bed -Shall find me sleeping, breathing forth my breath, -Till they their shame, and I my fame, attain by death. -Live, gentle Marius, to revenge my wrong! -And, sirrah, see they stay not over-long; -For he that erst hath conquer'd kingdoms many, -Disdains in death to be subdu'd by any. - [_He lies down_. - - _Enter_ LUCIUS FAVORINUS, PAUSANIUS, _with_ - PEDRO, _a Frenchman_. - -JAILER. The most undaunted words that ever were. -The mighty thoughts of his imperious mind, -Do wound my heart with terror and remorse. - -PAUSANIUS. 'Tis desperate, not perfect nobleness: -For to a man that is prepar'd to die, -The heart should rend, the sleep should leave the eye. -But say, Pedro, will you do the deed? - -PEDRO.[122] Mon monsieurs, per la sang Dieu, me will make a trou so -large in ce belly, dat he sal cry hough, come un porceau. Featre de -lay, il a tue me fadre, he kill my modre. Faith a my trote mon espee -fera le fay dun soldat, sau sau. Ieievera come il founta pary: me will -make a spitch-cock of his persona. - -L. FAVORINUS. If he have slain thy father and thy friends, -The greater honour shall betide the deed; -For to revenge on righteous estimate -Beseems the honour of a Frenchman's name. - -PEDRO. Mes messiers, de fault avoir argent; me no point de argent, no -point kill Marius. - -PAUSANIUS. Thou shalt have forty crowns; will that content thee? - -PEDRO. Quarante escus, per le pied de madam, me give more dan foure to -se prittie damosele, dat have le dulces tittinos, le levres Cymbrines. -O, they be fines! - -L. FAVORINUS. Great is the hire, and little is the pain; -Make therefore quick despatch, and look for gain. -See where he lies in drawing on his death, -Whose eyes, in gentle slumber sealed up, -Present no dreadful visions to his heart. - -PEDRO. Bien, monsieur, je demourera content: Marius, tu es mort. Speak -dy preres in dy sleepe, for me sal cut off your head from your epaules, -before you wake. Qui es stia? what kinde a man be dis? - -L. FAVORINUS. Why, what delays are these? why gaze ye thus? - -PEDRO. Nostre dame! Jesu! estiene! O my siniors, der be a great diable -in ce eyes, qui dart de flame, and with de voice d'un bear cries out, -Villain! dare you kill Marius? Je tremble: aida me, siniors, autrement -I shall be murdered. - -PAUSANIUS. What sudden madness daunts this stranger thus? - -PEDRO. O me, no can kill Marius; me no dare kill Marius! adieu, -messieurs, me be dead, si je touche Marius. Marius est un diable. -Jesu Maria, sava moy![123] - [_Exit fugiens_. - -PAUSANIUS. What fury haunts this wretch on sudden thus? - -L. FAVORINUS. Ah, my Pausanius, I have often heard, -That yonder Marius in his infancy -Was born to greater fortunes than we deem: -For, being scarce from out his cradle crept, -And sporting prettily with his compeers, -On sudden seven young eagles soar'd amain, -And kindly perch'd upon his tender lap. -His parents, wondering at this strange event, -Took counsel of the soothsayers in this; -Who told them that these sevenfold eagles' flight -Forefigured his seven times consulship:[124] -And we ourselves (except bewitch'd with pride) -Have seen him six times in the capitol, -Accompanied with rods and axes too. -And some divine instinct so presseth me, -That sore I tremble, till I set him free. - -PAUSANIUS. The like assaults attain my wand'ring mind, -Seeing our bootless war with matchless fate. -Let us entreat him to forsake our town; -So shall we gain a friend of Rome and him. - [MARIUS _awaketh_. -But mark how happily he doth awake. - -MARIUS. What, breathe I yet, poor man, with mounting sighs, -Choking the rivers of my restless eyes? -Or is their rage restrain'd with matchless ruth? -See how amaz'd these angry lords behold -The poor, confused looks of wretched Marius. -Minturnians, why delays your headsman thus -To finish up this ruthful tragedy? - -L. FAVORINUS. Far be it, Marius, from our thoughts or hands -To wrong the man protected by the gods: -Live happy, Marius, so thou leave our town. - -MARIUS. And must I wrestle once again with fate, -Or will these princes dally with mine age? - -PAUSANIUS. No, matchless Roman; thine approved mind, -That erst hath alter'd our ambitious wrong, -Must flourish still, and we thy servants live -To see thy glories, like the swelling tides, -Exceed the bounds of fate and Roman rule. -Yet leave us, lord, and seek some safer shed, -Where, more secure, thou may'st prevent mishaps; -For great pursuits and troubles thee await. - -MARIUS. Ye piteous powers, that with successful hopes -And gentle counsels thwart my deep despairs, -Old Marius to your mercies recommends -His hap, his life, his hazard, and his son. -Minturnians, I will hence, and you shall fly -Occasions of those troubles you expect. -Dream not on dangers, that have sav'd my life. -Lordings, adieu: from walls to woods I wend; -To hills, dales, rocks, my wrong for to commend. - [_Exit_. - -L. FAVORINUS. Fortune, vouchsafe his many woes to end. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ SYLLA[125] _in triumph in his chair triumphant of gold, - drawn by four Moors; before the chariot, his colours, his crest, - his captains, his prisoners_: ARCATHIUS, _Mithridates' son_; - ARISTION, ARCHELAUS, _bearing crowns of gold, and manacled. After - the chariot, his soldier's bands_; BASILLUS, LUCRETIUS, LUCULLUS, - _besides prisoners of divers nations and sundry disguises_. - -SYLLA. You men of Rome, my fellow-mates in arms, -Whose three years' prowess, policy, and war, -One hundred threescore thousand men at arms -Hath overthrown and murder'd in the field; -Whose valours to the empire have restor'd -All Grecia, Asia, and Ionia, -With Macedonia, subject to our foe, -You see the froward customs of our state -Who, measuring not our many toils abroad, -Sit in their cells, imagining our harms: -Replenishing our Roman friends with fear. -Yea, Sylla, worthy friends, whose fortunes, toils, -And stratagems these strangers may report, -Is by false Cinna and his factious friends -Revil'd, condemn'd, and cross'd without a cause: -Yea, Romans, Marius must return to Rome, -Of purpose to upbraid your general. -But this undaunted mind that never droop'd; -This forward body, form'd to suffer toil, -Shall haste to Rome, where every foe shall rue -The rash disgrace both of myself and you. - -LUCRETIUS. And may it be that those seditious brains -Imagine these presumptuous purposes? - -SYLLA. And may it be? Why, man, and wilt thou doubt, -Where Sylla deigns these dangers to aver? -Sirrah, except not so, misdoubt not so: -See here Aneparius' letters, read the lines, -And say, Lucretius, that I favour thee, -That darest but suspect thy general. - [_Read the letters and deliver them_. - -LUCRETIUS. The case conceal'd hath mov'd the more misdoubt; -Yet pardon my presumptions, worthy Sylla, -That to my grief have read these hideous harms. - -SYLLA. Tut, my Lucretius, fortune's ball is toss'd -To form the story of my fatal power: -Rome shall repent; babe, mother, shall repent: -Air, weeping cloudy sorrows, shall repent: -Wind, breathing many sorrows, shall repent-- -To see those storms, concealed in my breast, -Reflect the hideous flames of their unrest. -But words are vain, and cannot quell our wrongs: -Brief periods serve for them that needs must post it. -Lucullus, since occasion calls me hence, -And all our Roman senate think it meet, -That thou pursue the wars I have begun, -As by their letters I am certified, -I leave thee Cymbria's legions to conduct, -With this proviso that, in ruling still, -You think on Sylla and his courtesies. - -LUCULLUS. The weighty charge of this continued war, -Though strange it seem, and over-great to wield, -I will accept, if so the army please. - -SOLDIERS. Happy and fortunate be Lucullus our general. - -SYLLA. If he be Sylla's friend, else not at all: -For otherwise the man were ill-bested, -That gaining glories straight should lose his head. -But, soldiers, since I needly[126] must to Rome, -Basillus' virtues shall have recompense. -Lo, here the wreath, Valerius, for thy pains, -Who first didst enter Archilaus' trench: -This pledge of virtue, sirrah, shall approve -Thy virtues, and confirm me in thy love. - -BASILLUS. Happy be Sylla, if no foe to Rome. - -SYLLA. I like no ifs from such a simple groom. -I will be happy in despite of state. -And why? because I never feared fate. -But come, Arcathius, for your father's sake: -Enjoin your fellow-princes to their tasks, -And help to succour these my weary bones. -Tut, blush not, man, a greater state than thou -Shall pleasure Sylla in more baser sort. -Aristion is a jolly-timber'd man, -Fit to conduct the chariot of a king: -Why, be not squeamish, for it shall go hard, -But I will give you all a great reward. - -ARCATHIUS. Humbled by fate, like wretched men we yield. - -SYLLA. Arcathius, these are fortunes of the field. -Believe me, these brave captives draw by art, -And I will think upon their good desert. -But stay you, strangers, and respect my words. -Fond heartless men, what folly have I seen! -For fear of death can princes entertain -Such bastard thoughts, that now from glorious arms -Vouchsafe to draw like oxen in a plough? -Arcathius, I am sure Mithridates -Will hardly brook the scandal of his name: -'Twere better in Pisae[127] to have died, -Aristion, than amidst our legions thus to draw. - -ARISTION. I tell thee, Sylla, captives have no choice, -And death is dreadful to a captive man. - -SYLLA. In such imperfect mettles[128] as is yours: -But Romans, that are still allur'd by fame, -Choose rather death than blemish of their name. -But I have haste, and therefore will reward you. -Go, soldiers, with as quick despatch as may be, -Hasten their death, and bring them to their end, -And say in this that Sylla is your friend. - -ARCATHIUS. O, ransom thou our lives, sweet conqueror! - -SYLLA. Fie, foolish men, why fly you happiness? -Desire you still to lead a servile life? -Dare you not buy delights with little pains? -Well, for thy father's sake, Arcathius, -I will prefer thy triumphs with the rest. -Go, take them hence, and when we meet in hell, -Then tell me, princes, if I did not well. - [_Exeunt milites_. -Lucullus, thus these mighty foes are down, -Now strive thou for the King of Pontus' crown. -I will to Rome; go thou, and with thy train -Pursue Mithridates, till he be slain. - -LUCULLUS. With fortune's help: go calm thy country's woes, -Whilst I with these seek out our mighty foes. - - _Enter MARIUS solus, from the Numidian mountains, - feeding on roots_. - -MARIUS. Thou, that hast walk'd with troops of flocking friends, -Now wand'rest 'midst the labyrinth of woes; -Thy best repast with many sighing ends, -And none but fortune all these mischiefs knows. -Like to these stretching mountains, clad with snow, -No sunshine of content my thoughts approacheth: -High spire their tops, my hopes no height do know, -But mount so high as time their tract reproacheth. -They find their spring, where winter wrongs my mind, -They weep their brooks, I waste my cheeks with tears. -O foolish fate, too froward and unkind, -Mountains have peace, where mournful be my years. -Yet high as they my thoughts some hopes would borrow; -But when I count the evening end with sorrow. -Death in Minturnum threaten'd Marius' head, -Hunger in these Numidian mountains dwells: -Thus with prevention having mischief fled, -Old Marius finds a world of many hells, -Such as poor simple wits have oft repin'd; -But I will quell, by virtues of the mind, -Long years misspent in many luckless chances, -Thoughts full of wrath, yet little worth succeeding, -These are the means for those whom fate advances: -But I, whose wounds are fresh, my heart still bleeding, -Live to entreat this blessed boon from fate, -That I might die with grief to live in state. -Six hundred suns with solitary walks -I still have sought for to delude my pain, -And friendly echo, answering to my talks, -Rebounds the accent of my ruth again: -She, courteous nymph, the woful Roman pleaseth, -Else no consorts but beasts my pains appeaseth. -Each day she answers in yon neighbouring mountain, -I do expect, reporting of my sorrow, -Whilst lifting up her locks from out the fountain, -She answereth to my questions even and morrow: -Whose sweet rebounds, my sorrow to remove, -To please my thoughts I mean for to approve. -Sweet nymph, draw near, thou kind and gentle echo, - [_Echo_[129]. _I_. -What help to ease my weary pains have I? -What comfort in distress to calm my griefs? - _Griefs_. -Sweet nymph, these griefs are grown, before I thought so. - _I thought so_. -Thus Marius lives disdain'd of all the gods. - _Gods_. -With deep despair late overtaken wholly. - _O lie_. -And will the heavens be never well appeased? - _Appeased_. -What mean have they left me to cure my smart? - _Art_. -Nought better fits old Marius' mind than war. - _Then war_[130]. -Then full of hope, say, Echo, shall I go? - _Go_. -Is any better fortune then at hand? - _At hand_. -Then farewell, Echo, gentle nymph, farewell. - _Farewell_. -O pleasing folly to a pensive man! -Well, I will rest fast by this shady tree, -Waiting the end that fate allotteth me. - [_Sits down_. - - _Enter_ MARIUS _the son_, ALBINOVANUS, CETHEGUS, - LECTORIUS, _with Soldiers_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My countrymen, and favourites of Rome, -This melancholy desert where we meet, -Resembleth well young Marius' restless thoughts. -Here dreadful silence, solitary caves, -No chirping birds with solace singing sweetly, -Are harbour'd for delight; but from the oak, -Leafless and sapless through decaying age, -The screech-owl chants her fatal-boding lays. -Within my breast care, danger, sorrow dwell; -Hope and revenge sit hammering in my heart: -The baleful babes of angry Nemesis -Disperse their furious fires upon my soul. - -LECTORIUS. Fie, Marius, are you discontented still, -When as occasion favoureth your desire! -Are not these noble Romans come from Rome? -Hath not the state recall'd your father home? - -YOUNG MARIUS. And what of this? What profit may I reap, -That want my father to conduct us home? - -LECTORIUS. My lord, take heart; no doubt this stormy flaw[131], -That Neptune sent to cast us on this shore, -Shall end these discontentments at the last. - -MARIUS. Whom see mine eyes? What, is not yon my son? - -YOUNG MARIUS. What solitary father walketh there? - -MARIUS. It is my son! these are my friends I see. -What, have sore-pining cares so changed me? -Or are my looks distemper'd through the pains -And agonies that issue from my heart? -Fie, Marius! frolic, man! thou must to Rome, -There to revenge thy wrongs, and wait thy tomb. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Now, fortune, frown and palter if thou please. -Romans, behold my father and your friend. -O father! - -MARIUS. Marius, thou art fitly met. -Albinovanus, and my other friends, -What news at Rome? What fortune brought you hither? - -ALBINOVANUS. My lord, the Consul Cinna hath restor'd -The doubtful course of your betrayed state, -And waits your present swift approach to Rome, -Your foeman Sylla posteth very fast -With good success from Pontus, to prevent -Your speedy entrance into Italy. -The neighbouring cities are your very friends; -Nought rests, my lord, but you depart from hence. - -YOUNG MARIUS. How many desert ways hath Marius sought, -How many cities have I visited! -To find my father, and relieve his wants! - -MARIUS. My son, I 'quite thy travails with my love. -And, lords and citizens, we will to Rome, -And join with Cinna. Have you shipping here? -What, are these soldiers bent to die with me? - -SOLDIERS. Content to pledge our lives for Marius. - -LECTORIUS. My lord, here, in the next adjoining port, -Our ships are rigg'd, and ready for to sail. - -MARIUS. Then let us sail unto Etruria, -And cause our friends, the Germans, to revolt, -And get some Tuscans to increase our power. -Deserts, farewell! Come, Romans, let us go-- -A scourge for Rome, that hath depress'd us so. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS QUARTUS, SCENA PRIMA. - - - _Enter_ MARK ANTHONY, LEPIDUS, OCTAVIUS, FLACCUS, _Senators_. - -OCTAVIUS. What helps, my lords, to overhale these cares? -What means or motions may these mischiefs end? -You see how Cinna, that should succour Rome -Hath levied arms to bring a traitor in. -O worthless traitor, woe to thine and thee, -That thus disquieteth both Rome and us? - -ANTHONY. Octavius, these are scourges for our sins; -These are but ministers to heap our plague. -These mutinies are gentle means and ways, -Whereby the heavens our heavy errors charm. -Then with content and humbled eyes behold -The crystal shining globe of glorious Jove; -And, since we perish through our own misdeeds, -Go let us flourish in our fruitful prayers. - -LEPIDUS. 'Midst these confusions, mighty men of Rome, -Why waste we out these troubles all in words? -Weep not your harms, but wend we straight to arms, -Lo, Ostia[132] spoil'd, see Marius at our gate! -And shall we die like milksops, dreaming thus? - -OCTAVIUS. A bootless war to see our country spoil'd. - -LEPIDUS. Fruitless is dalliance, whereas dangers be. - -ANTHONY. My lord, may courage wait on conquer'd men? - -LEPIDUS. Ay, even in death most courage doth appear. - -OCTAVIUS. Then, waiting death, I mean to seat me here; -Hoping that consuls' name and fear of laws -Shall justify my conscience and my cause. - - _Enter a_ MESSENGER. - -Now, sirrah, what confused looks are these? -What tidings bringest thou of dreariment?[133] - -MESSENGER. My lords, the Consul Cinna, with his friends, -Have let in Marius by _Via Appia_, -Whose soldiers waste and murder all they meet; -Who, with the consul and his other friends, -With expedition hasteth to this place. - -ANTHONY. Then to the downfal of my happiness, -Then to the ruin of this city Rome. -But if mine inward ruth were laid in sight, -My streams of tears should drown my foes' despite. - -OCTAVIUS. Courage, Lord Anthony: if fortune please, -She will and can these troubles soon appease; -But if her backward frowns approach us nigh, -Resolve with us with honour for to die. - -LEPIDUS. No storm of fate shall bring my sorrows down; -But if that fortune list, why, let her frown. - -ANTHONY. Where states oppress'd by cruel tyrants be, -Old Anthony, there is no place for thee. - [_Drum strikes within_. -Hark, by this thundering noise of threatening drums, -Marius with all his faction hither comes. - -OCTAVIUS. Then like a traitor he shall know, ere long, -In levying arms he doth his country wrong. - - _Enter_ MARIUS, _his Son_, CINNA, CETHEGUS, LECTORIUS, _with - Soldiers: upon sight of whom_ MARK ANTHONY _presently flies_. - -MARIUS. And have we got the goal of honour now, -And in despite of consuls enter'd Rome? -Then rouse thee, Marius. leave thy ruthful thoughts; -And for thy many cares and toils sustain'd, -Afflict thy foes with quite as many pains. -Go, soldiers, seek out Bebius and his friends, -Attilius, Munitorius, with the rest; -Cut off their heads, for they did cross me once; -And if your care can compass my decree, -Remember that same fugitive Mark Anthony, -Whose fatal end shall be my fruitful peace. -I tell thee, Cinna, nature armeth beasts -With just revenge, and lendeth in their kinds -Sufficient warlike weapons of defence; -If then by nature beasts revenge their wrong, -Both heavens and nature grant me vengeance now. -Yet whilst I live and suck this subtle air, -That lendeth breathing coolness to my lights, -The register of all thy righteous acts, -Thy pains, thy toils, thy travails for my sake, -Shall dwell by kind impressions in my heart, -And I with links of true, unfeigned love -Will lock these Roman favourites in my breast, -And live to hazard life for their relief. - -CINNA. My lord, your safe and swift return to Rome -Makes Cinna fortunate and well a-paid; -Who, through the false suggestions of my foes, -Was made a cypher[134] of a consul here: -Lo, where he sits commanding in his throne, -That wronged Marius, me, and all these lords. - -YOUNG MARIUS. To 'quite his love, Cinna, let me alone. -How fare these lords that, lumping, pouting, proud, -Imagine now to quell me with their looks? -Now welcome, sirs, is Marius thought so base? -Why stand you looking babies in my face? -Who welcomes me, him Marius makes his friend; -Who lowers on me, him Marius means to end. - -FLACCUS. Happy and fortunate thy return to Rome. - -LEPIDUS. And long live Marius[135] with fame in Rome. - -MARIUS. I thank you, courteous lords, that are so kind. - -YOUNG MARIUS. But why endures your grace that braving mate, -To sit and face us in his robes of state? - -MARIUS. My son, he is a consul at the least, -And gravity becomes Octavius best, -But, Cinna, would in yonder empty seat -You would for Marius' freedom once entreat. - - _CINNA presseth up, and OCTAVIUS stayeth him_. - -OCTAVIUS. Avaunt, thou traitor, proud and insolent! -How dar'st thou press near civil government. - -MARIUS. Why, Master Consul, are you grown so hot? -I'll have a present cooling card for you. -Be therefore well advis'd, and move me not: -For though by you I was exil'd from Rome, -And in the desert from a prince's seat -Left to bewail ingratitudes of Rome; -Though I have known your thirsty throats have long'd -To bathe themselves in my distilling blood, -Yet Marius, sirs, hath pity join'd with power. -Lo, here the imperial ensign which I wield, -That waveth mercy to my wishers-well: -And more: see here the dangerous trote of war, -That at the point is steel'd with ghastly death. - -OCTAVIUS. Thou exile, threaten'st thou a consul then? -Lictors, go draw him hence! such braving mates -Are not to boast their arms in quiet states. - -MARIUS. Go draw me hence! What! no relent, Octavius? - -YOUNG MARIUS. My lord, what heart indurate with revenge -Could leave this lozel[136], threat'ning murder thus? -Vouchsafe me leave to taint that traitor seat -With flowing streams of his contagious blood. - -OCTAVIUS. The father's son, I know him by his talk, -That scolds in words, when fingers cannot walk. -But Jove, I hope, will one day send to Rome -The blessed patron of this monarchy, -Who will revenge injustice by his sword. - -CINNA. Such braving hopes, such cursed arguments: -So strict command, such arrogant controls! -Suffer me, Marius, that am consul now, -To do thee justice, and confound the wretch. - -MARIUS. Cinna, you know I am a private man, -That still submit my censures to your will. - -CINNA. Then, soldiers, draw this traitor from the throne, -And let him die, for Cinna wills it so. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Ay, now, my Cinna, noble consul, speaks. -Octavius, your checks shall cost you dear. - -OCTAVIUS. And let me die, for Cinna wills it so! -Is then the reverence of this robe contemn'd? -Are these associates of so small regard? -Why then, Octavius willingly consents -To entertain the sentence of his death. -But let the proudest traitor work his will; -I fear no strokes, but here will sit me still. -Since justice sleeps, since tyrants reign in Rome, -Octavius longs for death to die in Rome. - -CINNA. Then strike him where he sits; then hale him hence. - -OCTAVIUS. Heavens punish Cinna's pride and thy offence. - - [_A Soldier stabs him; he is carried away_. - -CINNA. Now is he fallen that threaten'd Marius; -Now will I sit and plead for Marius. - -MARIUS. Thou dost me justice, Cinna, for you see -These peers of Rome of[137] late exiled me. - -LEPIDUS. Your lordship doth injustice to accuse -Those, who in your behalf did not offend. - -FLACCUS. We grieve to see the aged Marius -Stand like a private man in view of Rome. - -CINNA. Then bid him sit; and lo, an empty place: -Revoke his exile from his government, -And so prevent your farther detriment. - -LEPIDUS. We will account both Marius and his friends, -His son and all his followers, free in Rome: -And since we see the dangerous times at hand, -And hear of Sylla's confidence and haste, -And know his hate and rancour to these lords, -We[138] him create for consul, to prevent -The policies of Sylla and his friends. - -CINNA. Then, both confirm'd by state and full consent, -The rods and axe to Marius I present, -And here invest thee with the consul's pall. - -FLACCUS. Long, fortunate, and happy life betide -Old Marius in his sevenfold consulship. - -YOUNG MARIUS. And so let Marius live and govern Rome, -As cursed Sylla never look on Rome. - -MARIUS. Then plac'd in consul's throne, you Roman states, - [_He takes his seat_. -Recall'd from banishment by your decrees, -Install'd in this imperial seat to rule, -Old Marius thanks his friends and favourites, -From whom this final favour he requires: -That, seeing Sylla by his murderous blade -Brought fierce seditions first to head in Rome, -And forced laws to banish innocents, -I crave by course of reason and desert, -That he may be proclaimed, as erst was I, -A traitor and an enemy of Rome. -Let all his friends be banish'd out of town; -Then, cutting off the branch where troubles spring, -Rome shall have peace and plenty in her walls. - -CINNA. In equity it needs must be, my friends, -That one be guilty of our common harms: -And since that Marius is accounted free, -Sylla with all his friends must traitors be. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My father's reasons, Romans, are of force; -For if you see, and live not to secure, -You know that, in so great a state as this, -Two mighty foes can never well agree. - -LEPIDUS. Then let us seek to please our consul first, -And then prepare to keep the exile out. -Cinna, as Marius and these lords agree, -Firm this edict, and let it pass for me. - -CINNA. Then, Romans, in the name of all this state, -I here proclaim and publish this decree; -That Sylla with his friends, allies, and all, -Are banish'd exiles, traitors unto Rome: -And to extinguish both his name and state, -We will his house be razed to the ground, -His goods confiscate: this our censure is. -Lictor, proclaim this in the market-place, -And see it executed out of hand. - [_Exit Lictor_. - -MARIUS. Now see I, senators, the thought, the care, -The virtuous zeal that leads your toward minds -To love your friends, and watch your common good: -And now, establish'd consul in this place, -Old Marius will foresee advenient harms. -Sylla, the scourge of Asia, as we hear, -Is press'd to enter Italy with sword. -He comes in pomp to triumph here in Rome: -But, senators, you know the wavering wills -Of foolish men--I mean the common sort-- -Who, through report of innovations, -Of flattering humours of well-temper'd tongues, -Will change, and draw a second mischief on. -I like your care, and will myself apply -To aim and level at my country's weal. -To intercept these errors by advice, -My son young Marius, Cethegus, and my friends, -Shall to Praeneste, to prevent and stop -The speedy purpose of our forward foe. -Meanwhile, ourselves will fortify this town, -This beauty of the world, this maiden-town; -Where streaming Tybris, with a pleasant tide, -Leads out the stately buildings of the world. -Marius, my hope, my son, you know your charge: -Take those Iberian legions in your train, -And we will spare some Cymbrians to your use. -Remember thou art Marius' son, and dream -On nought but honour and a happy death! - -YOUNG MARIUS. I go, my lord, in hope to make the world -Report my service and my duty too; -And that proud challenger of Asia -Shall find that Marius' son hath force and wit. - [_Exit cum_ CETHEGO. - -MARIUS. Go, thou, as fortunate as Greeks to Troy; -As glorious as Alcides in thy toils; -As happy as Sertorius in thy fight; -As valiant as Achilles in thy might: -Go, glorious, valiant, happy, fortunate, -As all those Greeks and him of Roman state! - - _Enter, led in with Soldiers_, CORNELIA and FULVIA. - -CORNELIA. Traitors! why drag you thus a prince's wife, -As if that beauty were a thrall to fate? -Are Romans grown more barbarous than Greeks, -That hate more greater than Cassandra now? -The Macedonian monarch was more kind, -That honour'd and reliev'd in warlike camp -Darius' mother, daughters, and his wife. -But you unkind to Roman ladies now, -Perhaps as constant as the ancient queens; -For they, subdu'd, had friendship in disgrace, -Where we, unconquer'd, live in woful case. - -MARIUS. What plaintive pleas presents that lady there? -Why, soldiers, make you prisoners here in Rome? - -1ST SOLDIER. Dread consul, we have found Cornelia here -And Sylla's daughter posting out of town. - -MARIUS. Ladies of worth, both beautiful and wise, -But near allied unto my greatest foe: -Yet Marius' mind, that never meant disgrace, -More likes their courage than their comely face. -Are you Cornelia, madam, Sylla's wife? - -CORNELIA. I am Cornelia, Sylla's wife; what then? - -MARIUS. And is this Fulvia, Sylla's daughter, too? - -FULVIA. And this is Fulvia, Sylla's daughter, too. - -MARIUS. Two welcome guests, in whom the majesty -Of my conceit and courage must consist. -What think you, senators and countrymen? -See, here are two, the fairest stars of Rome. -The dearest dainties of my warlike foe, -Whose lives upon your censures do subsist.[139] - -LEPIDUS. Dread consul, the continuance of their lives -Shall egg on Sylla to a greater haste; -And, in bereaving of their vital breath, -Your grace shall force more fury from your foe. -Of these extremes we leave the choice to you. - -MARIUS. Then think that some strange fortune shall ensue. - -FULVIA. Poor Fulvia, now thy happy days are done! -Instead of marriage pomp, the fatal lights -Of funerals must masque about thy bed: -Nor shall thy father's arms with kind embrace -Hem in thy shoulders, trembling now for fear. -I see in Marius' looks such tragedies, -As fear my heart; and fountains fill mine eyes. - -CORNELIA. Fie, Fulvia! shall thy father's daughter faint, -Before the threats of danger shall approach? -Dry up those tears, and like a Roman maid, -Be bold and silent, till our foe have said. - -MARIUS. Cornelia, wife unto my traitor-foe, -What gadding mood hath forc'd thy speedy flight -To leave thy country, and forsake thy friends? - -CORNELIA. Accursed Marius, offspring of my pains, -Whose furious wrath hath wrought thy country's woe, -What may remain for me or mine in Rome, -That see the tokens of thy tyrannies? -Vile monster, robb'd of virtue, what revenge -Is this, to wreak thine anger on the walls? -To raze our house, to banish all our friends, -To kill the rest, and captive us at last? -Think'st thou by barbarous deeds to boast thy state, -Or spoiling Sylla, to depress his hate? -No, Marius, but for every drop of blood -And inch of wrong he shall return thee two. - -FLACCUS. Madam, in danger wisdom doth advise -In humble terms to reconcile our foes. - -MARIUS. She is a woman, Flaccus; let her talk, -That breathes forth bitter words instead of blows. - -CORNELIA. And in regard of that, immodest man, -Thou shouldst desist from outrage and revenge. - -LECTORIUS. What, can your grace endure these cursed scoffs? - -MARIUS. Why, my Lectorius, I have ever learnt -That ladies cannot wrong me with upbraids; -Then let her talk, and my concealed hate -Shall heap revengement upon Sylla's pate. - -FULVIA. Let fevers first afflict thy feeble age; -Let palsies make thy stubborn fingers faint; -Let humours, streaming from thy moisten'd brains, -With clouds of dimness choke thy fretful eyes, -Before these monstrous harms assail my sire. - -MARIUS. By'r lady,[140] Fulvia, you are gaily read: -Your mother well may boast you for her own; -For both of you have words and scoffs at will. -And since I like the compass of your wit, -Myself will stand, and, ladies, you shall sit. -And, if you please to wade in farther words, -Let's see what brawls your memories affords. - -CORNELIA. Your lordship's passing mannerly in jest; -But that you may perceive we smell your drift, -We both will sit, and countenance your shift. - -MARIUS. Where constancy and beauty do consort, -There ladies' threatenings turn to merry sport. -How fare these beautiful? what, well at ease? - -FULVIA. As ready as at first for to displease; -For, full confirm'd that we shall surely die, -We wait our ends with Roman constancy. - -MARIUS. Why, think you Marius hath confirm'd your death? - -FULVIA. What other fruit may spring from tyrant's hands? - -MARIUS. In faith then, ladies, thus the matter stands: -Since you mistake my love and courtesy, -Prepare yourselves, for you shall surely die. - -CORNELIA. Ay, Marius, now I know thou dost not lie; -And that thou mayst, unto thy lasting blame, -Extinguish in our deaths thy wished fame, -Grant us this boon that, making choice of death, -We may be freed from fury of thine ire. - -MARIUS. An easy boon; ladies, I condescend. - -CORNELIA. Then suffer us in private chamber close -To meditate a day or two alone; -And, tyrant, if thou find us living then, -Commit us straight unto thy slaughtering-men. - -MARIUS. Ladies, I grant; for Marius nill deny -A suit so easy and of such import; -For pity 'twere that dames of constancy -Should not be agents of their misery. - [_Here he whispers_ LECTORIUS. -Lectorius, hark, despatch. - [_Exit_ LECTORIUS. - -CORNELIA. So, Fulvia, now the latest doom is fix'd, -And nought remains but constant Roman hearts -To bear the brunt of irksome fury's spite. -Rouse thee, my dear, and daunt those faint conceits, -That trembling stand aghast at bitter death. -Bethink thee now that Sylla was thy sire, -Whose courage heaven nor fortune could abate: -Then, like the offspring of fierce Sylla's house, -Pass with the thrice-renowned Phrygian dame, -As to thy marriage, so unto thy death: -For nought to wretches is more sweet than death. - -FULVIA. Madam, confirm'd as well to die as live, -Fulvia awaiteth nothing but her death. -Yet had my father known the course of change, -Or seen our loss by lucky augury, -This tyrant nor his followers had liv'd -To 'joy the ruin of fierce Sylla's house. - -MARIUS. But, lady, they that dwell on fortune's call -No sooner rise, but subject are to fall. - -FULVIA. Marius, I doubt not but our constant ends -Shall make thee wail thy tyrant's government. - -MARIUS. When tyrant's rule doth breed my care and woe, -Then will I say two ladies told me so. -But here comes Lectorius. Now, my lord. -Have you brought those things? - - _Enter_ LECTORIUS. - -LECTORIUS. I have, noble consul. - -MARIUS. Now, ladies, you are resolute to die? - -CORNELIA. Ay, Marius, for terror cannot daunt us. -Tortures were framed to dread the baser eye, -And not t'appal a princely majesty. - -MARIUS. And Marius lives to triumph o'er his foes, -That train their warlike troops amidst the plains, -And are enclos'd and hemm'd with shining arms, -Not to appal such princely majesty. -Virtue, sweet ladies, is of more regard -In Marius' mind, where honour is enthron'd, -Than Rome or rule of Roman empery. - [_Here he puts chains about their necks_. -The bands, that should combine your snow-white wrists, -Are these which shall adorn your milk-white necks. -The private cells, where you shall end your lives, -Is Italy, is Europe--nay the world. -Th'Euxinian Sea, the fierce Sicilian Gulf, -The river Ganges and Hydaspes' stream -Shall level lie, and smooth as crystal ice, -While Fulvia and Cornelia pass thereon. -The soldiers, that should guard you to your deaths, -Shall be five thousand gallant youths of Rome, -In purple robes cross-barr'd with pales of gold, -Mounted on warlike coursers for the field, -Fet[141] from the mountain-tops of Corsica, -Or bred in hills of bright Sardinia, -Who shall conduct and bring you to your lord. -Ay, unto Sylla, ladies, shall you go, -And tell him Marius holds within his hands -Honour for ladies, for ladies rich reward; -But as for Sylla and for his compeers, -Who dare 'gainst Marius vaunt their golden crests, -Tell him for them old Marius holds revenge, -And in his hands both triumphs life and death. - -CORNELIA. Doth Marius use with glorious words to jest, -And mock his captives with these glosing[142] terms? - -MARIUS. No, ladies; -Marius hath sought for honour with his sword, -And holds disdain to triumph in your falls. -Live, Cornelia: live, fair and fairest Fulvia! -If you have done or wrought me injury, -Sylla shall pay it through his misery. - -FULVIA. So gracious, famous consul, are thy words, -That Rome and we shall celebrate thy worth, -And Sylla shall confess himself o'ercome. - -CORNELIA. If ladies' prayers or tears may move the heavens, -Sylla shall vow himself old Marius' friend. - -MARIUS. Ladies, for that I nought at all regard: -Sylla's my foe, I'll triumph over him; -For other conquest glory doth not win. -Therefore come on, -That I may send you unto Sylla. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter a_ CLOWN, _drunk, with a pint of wine in his hand, - and two or three_ SOLDIERS. - -1ST SOLDIER. Sirrah, dally not with us; you know where he is. - -CLOWN. O, sir, a quart is a quart in any man's purse, and drink is -drink, and can my master live without his drink, I pray you? - -2D SOLDIER. You have a master then, sirrah? - -CLOWN. Have I a master, thou scoundrel? I have an orator to my master, -a wise man to my master. But, fellows, I must make a parenthesis of -this pint-pot, for words make men dry: now, by my troth, I drink to -Lord Anthony. - -3D SOLDIER. Fellow-soldiers, the weakness of his brain hath made his -tongue walk largely; we shall have some novelties by-and-by. - -CLOWN. O most surpassing wine, -Thou marrow of the vine! -More welcome unto me -Than whips to scholars be. -Thou art, and ever was, -A means to mend an ass; -Thou makest some to sleep, -And many mo to weep, -And some be glad and merry, -With heigh down derry, derry. -Thou makest some to stumble, -And many mo to fumble, -And me have pinky neyne.[143] -More brave and jolly wine! -What need I praise thee mo, -For thou art good, with heigh-ho! - -3D SOLDIER. If wine then be so good, I prithee, for thy part, -Tell us where Lord Anthony is, and thou shalt have a quart. - -CLOWN. First shall the snow be black, -And pepper lose his smack, -And stripes forsake my back: -First merry drunk with sack, -I will go boast and track, -And all your costards crack, -Before I do the knack -Shall make me sing alack. -Alack, the old man is weary, -For wine hath made him merry. -With a heigh-ho. - -1ST SOLDIER. I prythee leave these rhymes, and tell us where thy -master is? - -CLOWN. Faith, where you shall not be, -Unless ye go with me. -But shall I tell them so? -O, no, sir, no, no, no. -The man hath many a foe, -As far as I do know: -You do not flout me, I hope. -See how this liquor fumes, -And how my force presumes. -You would know where Lord Anthony is? I perceive you. -Shall I say he is in yond farmhouse? I deceive you. -Shall I tell you this wine is for him? The gods forfend, -And so I end. Go, fellow-fighters, there's a bob for ye. - -2D SOLDIER. My masters, let us follow this clown, for questionless this -grave orator is in yonder farmhouse[144]. But who cometh yonder? - - _Enter_ OLD ANTHONY. - -ANTHONY. I wonder why my peasant stays so long, -And with my wonder hasteth on my woe, -And with my woe I am assailed with fear, -And with my fear await with faintful breath -The final period of my pains by death. - -1ST SOLDIER. Yond's the man we seek for, soldiers. Unsheathe your -swords, and make a riddance of Marius' ancient enemy. - -CLOWN. Master, fly, fly, -Or else you shall die! -A plague on this wine, -Hath made me so fine! -And will you not be gone? -Then I'll leave you alone, -And sleep upon your woe, -With a lamentable heigh-ho. - [_Exit_. - -ANTHONY. Betrayed at last by witless oversight! -Now, Anthony, prepare thyself to die. -Lo, where the monstrous ministers of wrath -Menace thy murder with their naked swords. - -2D SOLDIER. Anthony, well-met: the consul Marius, with other confederate -senators, have adjudged thee death, therefore prepare thyself, and think -we favour thee in this little protraction. - -ANTHONY. Immortal powers, that know the painful cares -That wait upon my poor distressed heart, -O, bend your brows, and level all your looks -Of dreadful awe upon these daring men! -And thou, sweet niece of Atlas, on whose lips -And tender tongue the pliant muses sit, -Let gentle course of sweet aspiring speech, -Let honey-flowing terms of weary woe, -Let fruitful figures and delightful lines -Enforce a spring of pity from their eyes, -Amaze the murd'rous passions of their minds, -That they may favour woful Anthony. -O countrymen, what shall become of Rome, -When reverend duty droopeth through disgrace? -O countrymen, what shall become of Rome, -When woful nature, widow of her joys, -Weeps on our walls to see her laws depress'd? -O Romans, hath not Anthony's discourse -Seal'd up the mouths of false seditious men, -Assoil'd[145] the doubts and quaint controls of power, -Relieved the mournful matron with his pleas? -And will you seek to murder Anthony? -The lions brook with kindness their relief; -The sheep reward the shepherd with their fleece; -Yet Romans seek to murder Anthony. - -1ST SOLDIER. Why, what enchanting terms of art are these, -That force my heart to pity his distress? - -2D SOLDIER. His action, speech, his favour and his grace, -My rancour rage and rigour doth deface. - -3D SOLDIER. So sweet his words, that now of late, meseems, -His art doth draw my soul from out my lips. - -ANTHONY. What envious eyes, reflecting nought but rage, -What barbarous heart, refresh'd with nought but blood, -That rends not to behold the senseless trees -In doly[146] season drooping without leaves? -The shepherd sighs upon the barren hills, -To see his bleating lambs with faintful looks -Behold the valleys robb'd of springing flowers, -That whilom wont to yield them yearly food. -Even meanest things, exchang'd from former state, -The virtuous mind with some remorse doth mate. -Can then your eyes with thundering threats of rage -Cast furious gleams of anger upon age? -Can then your hearts with furies mount so high, -As they should harm the Roman Anthony? -I, far more kind than senseless tree, have lent -A kindly sap to our declining state, -And like a careful shepherd have foreseen -The heavy dangers of this city Rome; -And made the citizens the happy flock, -Whom I have fed with counsels and advice: -But now those locks that, for their reverend white, -Surpass the down on Aesculapius' chin: -But now that tongue, whose terms and fluent style -For number pass'd the hosts of heavenly fires: -But now that head, within whose subtle brains -The queen of flowing eloquence did dwell-- - - _Enter a_ CAPTAIN. - -These locks, this tongue, this head, this life, and all, -To please a tyrant, trait'rously must fall. - -CAPTAIN. Why, how now, soldiers, is he living yet? -And will you be bewitched with his words? -Then take this fee, false orator, from me: [_Stabs him_. -Elysium best beseems thy faintful limbs. - -ANTHONY. O blissful pains! now Anthony must die, -Which serv'd and lov'd Rome and her empery. - [_Moritur[147]. - -CAPTAIN. Go, curtal off that neck with present stroke, -And straight present it unto Marius. - -1ST SOLDIER. Even in this head did all the muses dwell: -The bees, that sat upon the Grecian's lips, -Distill'd their honey on his temper'd tongue. - -2D SOLDIER. The crystal dew of fair Castalian springs -With gentle floatings trickled on his brains: -The graces kissed his kind and courteous brows, -Apollo gave the beauties of his harp, - - _Enter_ LECTORIUS _pensive_. - -And melodies unto his pliant speech. - -CAPTAIN. Leave these presumptuous praises, countrymen: -And see Lectorius, pensive where he comes. -Lo, here, my lord, the head of Anthony; -See here the guerdon fit for Marius' foe, -Whom dread Apollo prosper in his rule. - -LECTORIUS. O Romans, Marius sleeps among the dead, -And Rome laments the loss of such a friend. - -CAPTAIN. A sudden and a woful chance, my lord, -Which we intentive[148] fain would understand. - -LECTORIUS. Though swoll'n with sighs, my heart for sorrow burst, -And tongue with tears and plaints be choked up, -Yet will I furrow forth with forced breath -A speedy passage to my pensive speech. -Our consul Marius, worthy soldiers, -Of late within a pleasant plot of ground -Sat down for pleasure near a crystal spring, -Accompanied with many lords of Rome. -Bright was the day, and on the spreading trees -The frolic citizens[149] of forest sung -Their lays and merry notes on perching boughs; -When suddenly appeared in the east -Seven mighty eagles with their talons fierce, -Who, waving oft about our consul's head, -At last with hideous cry did soar away. -When suddenly old Marius aghast, -With reverend smile, determin'd with a sigh -The doubtful silence of the standers-by. -Romans, said he, old Marius now must die: -These seven fair eagles, birds of mighty Jove, -That at my birthday on my cradle sat, -Now at my last day warn[150] me to my death, -And lo, I feel the deadly pangs approach. -What should I more? In brief, with many prayers -For Rome, his son--his goods and lands dispos'd-- -Our worthy consul to our wonder died. -The city is amaz'd, for Sylla hastes -To enter Rome with fury, sword and fire. -Go place that head upon the capitol, -And to your wards, for dangers are at hand. - [_Exit_. - -CAPTAIN. Had we foreseen this luckless chance before, -Old Anthony had liv'd and breathed yet. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - - -ACTUS QUINTUS. - - - _A great skirmish in Rome and long, some slain. At - last enter_ SYLLA _triumphant, with_ POMPEY, METELLUS, - _Citizens, Soldiers_. - -SYLLA. Now, Romans, after all these mutinies, -Seditions, murders and conspiracies, -Imagine with impartial hearts at last, -What fruits proceed from these contentious brawls. -Your streets, where erst the fathers of your state -In robes of purple walked up and down, -Are strewed with mangled members, streaming blood: -And why? the reasons of this ruthful wrack -Are your seditious innovations, -Your fickle minds inclin'd to foolish change. -Ungrateful men! whilst I with tedious pain -In Asia seal'd my duty with my blood, -Making the fierce Dardanians faint for fear, -Spreading my colours in Galatia, -Dipping my sword in the Enetans' blood, -And foraging the fields of Phocida, -You called my foe from exile with his friends; -You did proclaim me traitor here in Rome; -You raz'd my house, you did defame my friends. -But, brawling wolves, you cannot bite the moon, -For Sylla lives, so forward to revenge, -As woe to those that sought to do me wrong. -I now am entered Rome in spite of force, -And will so hamper all my cursed foes. -As be he tribune, consul, lord, or knight, -That hateth Sylla, let him look to die. -And first to make an entrance to mine ire, -Bring me that traitor Carbo out of hand. - -POMPEY. O Sylla, in revenging injuries, -Inflict the pain where first offence did spring, -And for my sake establish peace in Rome, -And pardon these repentant citizens. - -SYLLA. Pompey, I love thee, Pompey, and consent -To thy request; but, Romans, have regard, -Lest over-reaching in offence again, -I load your shoulders with a double pain. - - [_Exeunt citizens. - - Bring in_ CARBO _bound_. - -But, Pompey, see where jolly Carbo comes, -Footing it featly like a mighty man. -What, no obeisance, sirrah, to your lord? - -CARBO[151]. My lord? No, Sylla: he that thrice hath borne -The name of consul scorns to stoop to him, -Whose heart doth hammer nought but mutinies. - -POMPEY. And doth your lordship then disdain to stoop? - -CARBO. Ay, to mine equal, Pompey, as thou art. - -SYLLA. Thine equal, villain? no, he is my friend; -Thou, but a poor anatomy of bones, -Cas'd in a knavish tawny withered skin. -Wilt thou not stoop? art thou so stately then? - -CARBO. Sylla, I honour gods, not foolish men. - -SYLLA. Then break that wither'd bough, that will not bend[152], -And, soldiers, cast him down before my feet: [_They throw him down_. -Now, prating sir, my foot upon thy neck, -I'll be so bold to give your lordship check. -Believe me, soldiers, but I over-reach; -Old Carbo's neck at first was made to stretch. - -CARBO. Though body bend, thou tyrant most unkind, -Yet never shalt thou humble Carbo's mind. - -SYLLA. O sir, I know, for all your warlike pith -A man may mar your worship with a with.[153] -You, sirrah, levied arms to do me wrong; -You brought your legions to the gates of Rome; -You fought it out in hope that I would faint; -But, sirrah, now betake you to your books, -Entreat the gods to save your sinful soul: -For why this carcase must in my behalf -Go feast the ravens that serve our augurs' turn. -Methinks I see already, how they wish -To bait their beaks in such a jolly dish. - -CARBO. Sylla, thy threats and scoffs amate me not. -I prythee, let thy murderers hale me hence; -For Carbo rather likes to die by sword, -Than live to be a mocking-stock to thee. - -SYLLA. The man hath haste; good soldiers, take him hence: -It would be good to alter his pretence. -But be advis'd that, when the fool is slain, -You part the head and body both in twain. -I know that Carbo longs to know the cause, -And shall: thy body for the ravens[154], thy head for daws. - -CARBO. O matchless ruler of our capitol, -Behold poor Rome with grave and piteous eye -Fulfilled with wrong and wretched tyranny! - [_Exit_ CARBO _cum militibus. - - Enter_ SCIPIO, NORBANUS, _and_ CARINNA.[155] - -SYLLA. Tut, the proud man's prayer will never pierce the sky. -But whither press these mincing senators? - -NORBANUS. We press with prayers, we come with mournful tears, -Entreating Sylla by those holy bands, -That link fair Juno with her thundering Jove, -Even by the bonds of hospitality, -To pity Rome afflicted through thy wrath. -Thy soldiers (Sylla) murder innocents: -O, whither will thy lawless fury stretch, -If little ruth ensue thy country's harms? - -SYLLA. Gay words, Norbanus, full of eloquence, -Accompanied with action and conceit: -But I must teach thee judgment therewithal -Dar'st thou approach my presence, that hast borne -Thine arms in spite of Sylla and his friends? -I tell thee, foolish man, thy judgment wanted -In this presumptuous purpose that is pass'd: -And, loitering scholar, since you fail in art, -I'll learn you judgment shortly to your smart. -Despatch him, soldiers; I must see him die. -And you, Carinna, Carbo's ancient friend, -Shall follow straight your headless[156] general. -And, Scipio, were it not I lov'd thee well, -Thou should'st accompany these slaves to hell: -But get you gone, and if you love yourself. - - [_Exit_ SCIPIO. - -CARINNA. Pardon me, Sylla! pardon, gentle Sylla! - -SYLLA. Sirrah, this gentle name was coin'd too late, -And shadow'd in the shrouds of biting hate. -Despatch! [_Kill him_.] why so; good fortune to my friends-- -As for my foes, even such shall be their ends. -Convey them hence. Metellus, gentle Metellus, -Fetch me Sertorius from Iberia: -In doing so thou standest me in stead, -For sore I long to see the traitor's head. - -METELLUS. I go, confirm'd to conquer him by sword, -Or in th'exploit to hazard life and all. [_Exit_. - -SYLLA. Now, Pompey, let me see: those senators -Are dangerous stops of our pretended[157] state, -And must be curtail'd, lest they grow too proud. -I do proscribe just forty senators, -Which shall be leaders in my tragedy. -And for our gentlemen are over-proud, -Of them a thousand and six hundred die; -A goodly army, meet to conquer hell. -Soldiers, perform the course of my decree. -Their friends my foes, their foes shall be my friends. -Go sell their goods by trumpet at your wills: -Meanwhile Pompey shall see, and Rome shall rue, -The miseries that shortly shall ensue. - [_Exeunt_. - - _Alarum, skirmish, a retreat. Enter_ YOUNG MARIUS - _upon the walls of_ PRAENESTE _with some Soldiers, - all in black and wonderful melancholy_. - -YOUNG MARIUS. O endless course of needy man's avail! -What silly thoughts, what simple policies, -Make man presume upon this traitorous life! -Have I not seen the depth of sorrow once, -And then again have kiss'd the queen of chance. -O Marius, thou, Tillitius, and thy friends, -Hast seen thy foe discomfited in fight: -But now the stars have form'd my final harms. -My father Marius lately dead in Rome; -My foe with honour doth triumph in Rome, -My friends are dead and banished from Rome. -Ay, Marius, father, friends, more blest than thee! -They dead, I live; I thralled, they are free. -Here in Praeneste am I cooped up, -Amongst a troop of hunger-starved men, -Set to prevent false Sylla's fierce approach, -But now exempted both of life and all. -Well, fortune, since thy fleeting change hath cast -Poor Marius from his hopes and true desires, -My resolution shall exceed thy power. -Thy colour'd wings steeped in purple blood, -Thy blinding wreath distain'd in purple blood, -Thy royal robes wash'd in my purple blood, -Shall witness to the world thy thirst of blood; -And when the tyrant Sylla shall expect -To see the son of Marius stoop to fear, -Then, then, O, then, my mind shall well appear, -That scorn my life, and hold mine honour dear. - - [_Alarum. A retreat_. - -Hark how these murderous Romans, viper-like, -Seek to bewray their fellow-citizens. -O wretched world, from whence with speedy flight -True love, true zeal, true honour late is fled! - -SOLDIER. What makes my lord so careless and secure, -To leave the breach and here lament alone? - -YOUNG MARIUS. Not fear, my friend, for I could never fly; -But study how with honour for to die. -I pray thee, call the chiefest citizens; -I must advise them in a weighty cause: -Here shall they meet me; and, until they come, -I will go view the danger of the breach. - - [_Exit_ YOUNG MARIUS, _with the Soldiers_. - - _Enter, with drums and Soldiers_, LUCRETIUS, _with - other Romans, as_ TUDITANUS, &c. - -LUCRETIUS. Say, Tuditanus, didst thou ever see -So desperate defence as this hath been. - -TUDITANUS. As in Numidia, tigers wanting food, -Or, as in Lybia, lions full of ire, -So fare these Romans on Praeneste walls. - -LUCRETIUS. Their valour, Tuditanus, and resist, -The man-like fight of younger Marius, -Makes me amaz'd to see their miseries, -And pity them, although they be my foes. -What said I? Foes? O Rome, with ruth I see -Thy state consum'd through folly and dissension! -Well, sound a parley; I will see if words - - [_Sound a parley_--YOUNG MARIUS _appears - upon the walls with the Citizens_. - -Can make them yield, which will not fly for strokes. - -YOUNG MARIUS. What seeks this Roman warrior at our hands? - -LUCRETIUS. That seeks he, Marius, that he wisheth thee: -An humble heart and then a happy peace. -Thou see'st thy fortunes are depress'd and down; -Thy victuals spent; thy soldiers weak with want; -The breach laid open, ready to assault: -Now, since thy means and maintenance are done, -Yield, Marius, yield. Praenestians, be advis'd; -Lucretius is advis'd to favour you. -I pray thee, Marius, mark my last advice: -Relent in time; let Sylla be thy friend; -So thou in Rome may'st lead a happy life, -And those with thee shall pray for Marius still. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lucretius, I consider on thy words: -Stay there awhile; thou shalt have answer straight. - -LUCRETIUS. Apollo grant that my persuasions may -Preserve these Roman soldiers from the sword. - -YOUNG MARIUS. My friends and citizens of Praeneste town, -You see the wayward working of our stars; -Our hearts confirm'd to fight, our victuals spent. -If we submit, it's Sylla must remit; -A tyrant, traitor, enemy to Rome, -Whose heart is guarded still with bloody thoughts. -These flattering vows Lucretius here avows, -Are pleasing words to colour poison'd thoughts. -What, will you live with shame, or die with fame? - -1ST CITIZEN. A famous death, my lord, delights us most. - -2D CITIZEN. We of thy faction, Marius, are resolv'd -To follow thee in life and death together. - -YOUNG MARIUS. Words full of worth, beseeming noble minds: -The very balsamum to mend my woes. -O countrymen! you see Campania spoil'd; -A tyrant threat'ning mutinies in Rome; -A world despoil'd of virtue, faith, and trust. -If then, no peace, no liberty, no faith, -Conclude with me, and let it be no life! -Live not to see your tender infants slain; -These stately towers made level with the land; -This body mangled by our enemy's sword: -But full resolv'd to do as Marius doth, -Unsheathe your poniards, and let every friend -Bethink him of a soldier-like farewell. -Sirrah, display my standard on the walls, -And I will answer yond Lucretius: -Who loveth Marius, now must die with Marius! - -LUCRETIUS. What answer will your lordship then return us? - -YOUNG MARIUS. Lucretius, we that know what Sylla is-- -How dissolute, how trothless and corrupt, -In brief conclude to die, before we yield: -But so to die--Lucretius, mark me well-- -As loth to see the fury of our swords -Should murther friends and Roman citizens. -Fie, countrymen! what fury doth infect -Your warlike bosoms, that were wont to fight -With foreign foes, not with Campanian friends. -Now unadvised youth must counsel eld; -For governance is banish'd out of Rome. -Woe to that bough, from whence these blooms are sprung! -Woe to that Aetna, vomiting this fire! -Woe to that brand, consuming country's weal! -Woe to that Sylla, careless and secure, -That gapes with murder for a monarchy! -Go, second Brutus, with a Roman mind, -And kill that tyrant. And for Marius' sake, -Pity the guiltless wives of these your friends. -Preserve their weeping infants from the sword, -Whose fathers seal their honours with their bloods. -Farewell, Lucretius: first I press in place [_Stab_. -To let thee see a constant Roman die. -Praenestians, lo, a wound, a fatal wound! -The pain but small, the glory passing great! -Praenestians, see a second stroke! why so; [_Again_. -I feel the dreeping dimness of the night, -Closing the coverts of my careful eyes. -Follow me, friends; for Marius now must die -With fame, in spite of Sylla's tyranny.[158] - [_Moritur_. - -1ST CITIZEN. We follow thee our chieftain even in death. -Our town is thine, Lucretius; but we pray -For mercy for our children and our wives. - [_Moritur_. - -2D CITIZEN. O, save my son, Lucretius; let him live. - [_Moritur_. - -LUCRETIUS. A wondrous and bewitched constancy, -Beseeming Marius' pride and haughty mind. -Come, let us charge the breach; the town is ours. -Both male and female, put them to the sword: -So please you, Sylla, and fulfil his word. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _A little skirmish. A retreat. Enter in royally_ LUCRETIUS. - -LUCRETIUS. Now, Romans, we have brought Praeneste low, -And Marius sleeps amidst the dead at last: -So then to Rome, my countrymen, with joy, -Where Sylla waits the tidings of our fight. -Those prisoners that are taken, see forthwith -With warlike javelins you put them to death. -Come, let us march! See Rome in sight, my hearts, -Where Sylla waits the tidings of our war. - - _Enter_ SYLLA, VALERIUS FLACCUS, LEPIDUS, POMPEY, _Citizens' - Guard_: SYLLA, _seated in his robes of state, is saluted by - the Citizens, &c_. - -FLACCUS. Romans, you know, and to your griefs have seen -A world of troubles hatched here at home, -Which through prevention being well-nigh cross'd -By worthy Sylla and his warlike band, -I, consul, with these fathers think it meet -To fortify our peace and city's weal, -To name some man of worth that may supply -Dictator's power and place; whose majesty -Shall cross the courage of rebellious minds. -What think you, Romans, will you condescend? - -SYLLA. Nay, Flaccus, for their profits they must yield; -For men of mean condition and conceit -Must humble their opinions to their lords. -And if my friends and citizens consent, -Since I am born to manage mighty things, -I will, though loth, both rule and govern them. -I speak not this, as though I wish to reign, -But for to know my friends: and yet again -I merit, Romans, far more grace than this. - -FLACCUS. Ay, countrymen, if Sylla's power and mind, -If Sylla's virtue, courage, and device, -If Sylla's friends and fortunes merit fame, -None then but he should bear dictator's name. - -POMPEY. What think you, citizens, why stand ye mute? -Shall Sylla be dictator here in Rome? - -CITIZENS. By full consent Sylla shall be dictator. - -FLACCUS. Then in the name of Rome I here present -The rods and axes into Sylla's hand; -And fortunate prove Sylla, our dictator. - - [_Trumpets sound: cry within_, SYLLA _Dictator_. - -SYLLA. My fortunes, Flaccus, cannot be impeach'd. -For at my birth the planets passing kind -Could entertain no retrograde aspects: -And that I may with kindness 'quite their love, -My countrymen, I will prevent the cause -'Gainst all the false encounters of mishap. -You name me your dictator, but prefix -No time, no course, but give me leave to rule -And yet exempt me not from your revenge. -Thus by your pleasures being set aloft, -Straight by your furies I should quickly fall. -No, citizens, who readeth Sylla's mind, -Must form my titles in another kind: -Either let Sylla be dictator ever, -Or flatter Sylla with these titles never. - -CITIZENS. Perpetual be thy glory and renown: -Perpetual lord dictator shalt thou be. - -POMPEY. Hereto the senate frankly doth agree. - -SYLLA. Then so shall Sylla reign, you senators. -Then so shall Sylla rule, you citizens, -As senators and citizens that please me -Shall be my friends; the rest cannot disease me. - - _Enter_ LUCRETIUS, _with Soldiers_. - -But see, whereas Lucretius is return'd! -Welcome, brave Roman: where is Marius? -Are these Praenestians put unto the sword? - -LUCRETIUS. The city, noble Sylla, razed is, -And Marius dead--not by our swords, my lord, -But with more constancy than Cato died. - -SYLLA. What, constancy! and but a very boy? -Why then I see he was his father's son. -But let us have this constancy described. - -LUCRETIUS. After our fierce assaults and their resist, -Our siege, their sallying out to stop our trench, -Labour and hunger reigning in the town, -The younger Marius on the city's wall -Vouchsaf'd an inter-parley at the last; -Wherein with constancy and courage too -He boldly arm'd his friends, himself, to death; -And, spreading of his colours on the wall, -For answer said he could not brook to yield, -Or trust a tyrant such as Sylla was. - -SYLLA. What, did the brainsick boy upbraid me so? -But let us hear the rest, Lucretius. - -LUCRETIUS. And, after great persuasions to his friends -And worthy resolution of them all, -He first did sheathe his poniard in his breast, -And so in order died all the rest. - -SYLLA. Now, by my sword, this was a worthy jest.[159] -Yet, silly boy, I needs must pity thee, -Whose noble mind could never mated be. -Believe me, countrymen, a sudden thought, -A sudden change in Sylla now hath wrought. -Old Marius and his son were men of name, -Nor fortune's laughs nor low'rs their minds could tame, -And when I count their fortunes that are past, -I see that death confirm'd their fames at last. -Then he that strives to manage mighty things, -Amidst his triumphs gains a troubled mind. -The greatest hope, the greatest harm it brings, -And poor men in content their glory find. -If then content be such a pleasant thing, -Why leave I country life to live a king? -Yet kings are gods, and make the proudest stoop; -Yea, but themselves are still pursued with hate: -And men were made to mount and then to droop. -Such chances wait upon uncertain fate. -That where she kisseth once, she quelleth twice; -Then whoso lives content is happy, wise. -What motion moveth this philosophy? -O Sylla, see the ocean ebbs and flows;[160] -The spring-time wanes, when winter draweth nigh: -Ay, these are true and most assured notes. -Inconstant chance such tickle turns has lent. -As whoso fears no fall, must seek content. - -FLACCUS. Whilst graver thoughts of honour should allure thee, -What maketh Sylla muse and mutter thus? - -SYLLA. I, that have pass'd amidst the mighty troops -Of armed legions, through a world of war, -Do now bethink me, Flaccus, of my chance: -How I alone, where many men were slain, -In spite of fate am come to Rome again. -And though[161] I wield the reverend stiles of state; -She[162], Sylla, with a beck could break thy neck. -What lord of Rome hath dar'd as much as I? -Yet, Flaccus, know'st thou not that I must die? -The labouring sisters on the weary looms -Have drawn my web of life at length, I know; -And men of wit must think upon their tombs: -For beasts with careless steps to Lethe go -Where men, whose thoughts and honours climb on high, -Living with fame, must learn with fame to die. - -POMPEY. What lets, my lord, in governing this state, -To live in rest, and die with honour too? - -SYLLA. What lets me, Pompey? why, my courteous friend, -Can he remain secure that wields a charge, -Or think of wit when flatterers do commend, -Or be advis'd that careless runs at large? -No, Pompey: honey words make foolish minds, -And pow'r the greatest wit with error blinds. -Flaccus, I murder'd Anthony, thy friend; -Romans, some here have lost at my command -Their fathers, mothers, brothers, and allies; -And think you, Sylla, thinking these misdeeds, -Bethinks not on your grudges and mislike? -Yes, countrymen, I bear them still in mind: -Then, Pompey, were I not a silly man -To leave my rule, and trust these Romans then? - -POMPEY. Your grace hath small occasions of mistrust, -Nor seek these citizens for your disclaim. - -SYLLA. But, Pompey, now these reaching plumes of pride, -That mounted up my fortunes to the clouds, -By grave conceits shall straight be laid aside, -And Sylla thinks of far more simple shrouds. -For having tried occasion in the throne, -I'll see if she dare frown, when state is gone. -Lo, senators, the man that sat aloft, -Now deigns to give inferiors highest place. -Lo, here the man whom Rome repined oft, -A private man content to brook disgrace. -Romans, lo, here the axes, rods, and all: -I'll master fortune, lest she make me thrall. -Now whoso list accuse me, tell my wrongs, -Upbraid me in the presence of this state. -Is none these jolly citizens among, -That will accuse, or say I am ingrate? -Then will I say, and boldly boast my chances, -That nought may force the man whom fate advances. - -FLACCUS. What meaneth Sylla in this sullen mood, -To leave his titles on the sudden thus? - -SYLLA. Consul, I mean with calm and quiet mind -To pass my days, till[163] happy death I find. - -POMPEY. What greater wrong than leave thy country so? - -SYLLA. Both it and life must Sylla leave in time. - -CITIZEN. Yet during life have care of Rome and us. - -SYLLA. O wanton world, that flatter'st in thy prime, -And breathest balm and poison mixed in one! -See how these wavering Romans wish'd my reign, -That whilom fought and sought to have me slain. [_Aside_.] -My countrymen, this city wants no store -Of fathers, warriors, to supply my room; -So grant me peace, and I will die for Rome. - - _Enter two Burglars to them_, POPPEY _and_ CURTALL. - -CURTALL. These are very indiscreet counsels, neighbour Poppey, -and I will follow your misadvisement. - -POPPEY. I tell you, goodman Curtall, the wench hath wrong. O vain -world, O foolish men! Could a man in nature cast a wench down, and -disdain in nature to lift her up again? Could he take away her -dishonesty without bouncing up the banns of matrimony? O learned -poet, well didst thou write fustian verse. - - _These maids are daws - That go to the laws, - And a babe in the belly_. - -CURTALL. Tut, man, 'tis the way the world must follow, for - - _Maids must be kind, - Good husbands to find_. - -POPPEY. But mark the fierse[164], - - _If they swell before, - It will grieve them sore_. - -But see, yond's Master Sylla: faith, a pretty fellow is a. - -SYLLA. What seek my countrymen? what would my friends? - -CURTALL. Nay, sir, your kind words shall not serve the turn: why, think -you to thrust your soldiers into our kindred with your courtesies, sir? - -POPPEY. I tell you, Master Sylla, my neighbour will have the law: he had -the right, he will have the wrong; for therein dwells the law. - -CONSUL. What desire these men of Rome? - -CURTALL. Neighbour, sharpen the edge-tool of your wits upon the -whetstone of indiscretion, that your words may shine like the razors -of Palermo[165]: [_to_ POPPEY] you have learning with ignorance, -therefore speak my tale. - -POPPEY. Then, worshipful Master Sylla, be it known unto you, -That my neighbour's daughter Dority -Was a maid of restority; -Fair, fresh, and fine -As a merry cup of wine; -Her eyes like two potch'd eggs, -Great and goodly her legs; -But mark my doleful ditty, -Alas! for woe and pity! -A soldier of your's -Upon a bed of flowers -Gave her such a fall, -As she lost maidenhead and all. -And thus in very good time -I end my rudeful rhyme. - -SYLLA. And what of this, my friend? why seek you me, -Who have resign'd my titles and my state, -To live a private life, as you do now? -Go move the Consul Flaccus in this cause, -Who now hath power to execute the laws. - -CURTALL. And are you no more master dixcator, nor generality of the -soldiers? - -SYLLA. My powers do cease, my titles are resign'd. - -CURTALL. Have you signed your titles? O base mind, that being in the -Paul's steeple of honour, hast cast thyself into the sink of simplicity. -Fie, beast! -Were I a king, I would day by day -Suck up white bread and milk, -And go a-jetting in a jacket of silk; -My meat should be the curds, -My drink should be the whey, -And I would have a mincing lass to love me every day. - -POPPEY. Nay, goodman Curtall, your discretions are very simple; let -me cramp him with a reason. Sirrah, whether is better good ale or -small-beer? Alas! see his simplicity that cannot answer me: why, -I say ale. - -CURTALL. And so say I, neighbour. - -POPPEY. Thou hast reason; ergo, say I, 'tis better be a king than -a clown. Faith, Master Sylla, I hope a man may now call ye knave by -authority. - -SYLLA. With what impatience hear I these upbraids, -That whilom plagued the least offence with death. -O Sylla, these are stales of destiny -By some upbraids to try thy constancy. -My friends, these scorns of yours perhaps may move -The next dictator shun to yield his state, -For fear he find as much as Sylla doth. -But, Flaccus, to prevent their farther wrong, -Vouchsafe some lictor may attach the man, -And do them right that thus complain abuse. - -FLACCUS. Sirrah, go you and bring the soldier, -That hath so loosely lean'd to lawless lust: -We will have means sufficient, be assured, -To cool his heat, and make the wanton chaste. - -CURTALL. We thank your mastership. Come, neighbour, let us jog. -Faith, this news will set my daughter Dorothy agog. - - [_Exeunt cum Lictore_. - -SYLLA. Grave senators and Romans, now you see -The humble bent of Sylla's changed mind. -Now will I leave you, lords, from courtly train -To dwell content amidst my country cave, -Where no ambitious humours shall approach -The quiet silence of my happy sleep: -Where no delicious jouissance or toys -Shall tickle with delight my temper'd ears; -But wearying out the lingering day with toil, -Tiring my veins, and furrowing of my soul, -The silent night, with slumber stealing on, -Shall lock these careful closets of mine eyes. -O, had I known the height of happiness, -Or bent mine eyes upon my mother-earth, -Long since, O Rome, had Sylla with rejoice -Forsaken arms to lead a private life! - -FLACCUS. But in this humbleness of mind, my lord, -Whereas experience prov'd and art do meet, -How happy were these fair Italian fields, -If they were graced with so sweet a sun. -Then I for Rome, and Rome with me, requires -That Sylla will abide, and govern Rome. - -SYLLA. O Flaccus, if th'Arabian phoenix strive -By nature's warning to renew her kind, -When, soaring nigh the glorious eye of heaven, -She from her cinders doth revive her sex, -Why should not Sylla learn by her to die, -That erst have been the Phoenix of this land? -And drawing near the sunshine of content, -Perish obscure to make your glories grow. -For as the higher trees do shield the shrubs -From posting Phlegon's[166] warmth and breathing fire, -So mighty men obscure each other's fame, -And make the best deservers fortune's game. - - _Enter_ GENIUS. - -But ah, what sudden furies do affright? -What apparitious fantasies are these? -O, let me rest, sweet lords, for why methinks -Some fatal spells are sounded in mine ears. - -GENIUS. _Subsequitur tua mors: privari lumine Syllam, -Numina Parcarum jam fera precipiunt -Precipiunt fera jam Parcarum numina Syllam -Lumine privari: mors tua subsequitur. -Elysium petis, ô faelix! et fatidici astri -Praescius: Heroes, ô, petis innumeros! -Innumeros petis, ô, Heroes, praescius astri -Fatidici: et faelix, ô, petis Elysium_! - [Evanescit subitò. - -SYLLA. _Ergó-ne post dulces annos properantia fata? -Ergo-ne jam tenebrae praemia lucis erunt? -Attamen, ut vitae fortunam gloria mortis -Vincat, in extremo funere cantet olor_. - -POMPEY. How fares my lord? what dreadful thoughts are these? -What doubtful answers on a sudden thus? - -SYLLA. Pompey, the man that made the world to stoop, -And fetter'd fortune in the chains of power, -Must droop and draw the chariot of fate -Along the darksome banks of Acheron. -The heavens have warn'd me of my present fall. -O, call Cornelia forth: let Sylla see -His daughter Fulvia, ere his eyes be shut. - - [_Exit one for_ CORNELIA. - -FLACCUS. Why, Sylla, where is now thy wonted hope -In greatest hazard of unstayed chance. -What, shall a little biting blast of pain -Blemish the blossoms of thy wonted pride? - -SYLLA. My Flaccus, worldly joys and pleasures fade; -Inconstant time, like to the fleeting tide, -With endless course man's hopes doth overbear: -Nought now remains that Sylla fain would have, -But lasting fame, when body lies in grave. - - _Enter_ CORNELIA, FULVIA. - -CORNELIA. How fares my lord? How doth my gentle Sylla. - -SYLLA. Ah, my Cornelia! passing happy now: -Free from the world, allied unto the heavens: -Not curious of incertain chances now. - -CORNELIA. Words full of woe, still adding to my grief, -A cureless cross of many hundred harms. -O, let not Rome and poor Cornelia lose, -The one her friend, the other her delight. - -SYLLA. Cornelia, man hath power by some instinct -And gracious revolution of the stars, -To conquer kingdoms, not to master fate: -For when the course of mortal life is run, -Then Clotho ends the web her sister spun. -Pompey, Lord Flaccus, fellow-senators, -In that I feel the faintful dews of death -Steeping mine eyes within their chilly wet, -The care I have of wife and daughter both, -Must on your wisdom happily rely. -With equal distribution see you part -My lands and goods betwixt these lovely twain: -Only bestow a hundred thousand sesterces -Upon my friends and fellow-soldiers. -Thus, having made my final testament, -Come, Fulvia, let thy father lay his head -Upon thy lovely bosom, and entreat -A virtuous boon and favour at thy hands. -Fair Roman maid, see that thou wed thy fairness[167] -To modest, virtuous, and delightful thoughts: -Let Rome, in viewing thee, behold thy sire. -Honour Cornelia, from whose fruitful womb -Thy plenteous beauties sweetly did appear; -And with this lesson, lovely maid, farewell. - -FULVIA. O tedious and unhappy chance for me. - -SYLLA. Content thee, Fulvia, for it needs must be. -Cornelia, I must leave thee to the world; -And by those loves that I have lent thee oft, -In mutual wedlock-rites and happy war, -Remember Sylla in my Fulvia still. -Consul, farewell! my Pompey, I must hence: -And farewell, Rome: and, Fortune, now I bless thee, -That both in life and death would'st not oppress me! - [_Dies_. - -CORNELIA. O hideous storms of never-daunted fate! -Now are those eyes, whose sweet reflections cool'd -The smother'd rancours of rebellious thoughts, -Clad with the sable mantles of the night; -And like the tree that, robb'd of sun and showers, -Mourns desolate withouten leaf or sap, -So poor Cornelia, late bereft of love, -Sits sighing, hapless, joyless, and forlorn. - -FULVIA. Gone is the flow'r that did adorn our fields; -Fled are those sweet reflections of delight: -Dead is my father! Fulvia, dead is he -In whom thy life, for whom thy death, must be. - -FLACCUS. Ladies, to tire the time in restless moan -Were tedious unto friends and nature too. -Sufficeth you, that Sylla so is dead, -As fame shall sing his power, though life be fled. - -POMPEY. Then to conclude his happiness, my lords, -Determine where shall be his funeral. - -LEPIDUS. Even there where other nobles are interr'd. - -POMPEY. Why, Lepidus, what Roman ever was, -That merited so high a name as he? -Then why with simple pomp and funeral -Would you entomb so rare a paragon? - -CORNELIA. An urn of gold shall hem his ashes in: -The vestal virgins with their holy notes -Shall sing his famous, though too fatal, death. -I and my Fulvia with dispersed hair -Will wait upon this noble Roman's hearse. - -FULVIA. And Fulvia, clad in black and mournful pall, -Will wait upon her father's funeral. - -POMPEY. Come, bear we hence this trophy of renown, -Whose life, whose death, was far from fortune's frown. - - [_Exeunt omnes. - - The funerals of_ SYLLA _in great pomp. - - Deo juvante, nil nocet livor malus: - Et non juvante nil juvat labor gravis_. - - - FINIS. - - - - - - -MUCEDORUS. - - - -_EDITIONS. - -A Most pleasant Comedie of Mucedorus the kings sonne of Valentia and -Amadine the Kings daughter of Arragon, with the merie conceites of -Mouse. Newly set foorth, as it hath bin sundrie times plaide in the -honorable Cittie of London. Very delectable and full of mirth. London -Printed for William Iones, dwelling at Holborne conduit, at the signe of -the Gunne_. 1598. 4°. - -_A Most pleasant Comedie of Mucedorus the Kings sonne of Valentia, and -Amadine the Kings daughter of Aragon. With the merry conceites of Mouse. -Amplified with new additions, as it was acted before the Kings Maiestie -at White-hall on Shroue-Sunday night. By his Highnes Seruants vsually -playing at the Globe. Very delectable, and full of conceited Mirth. -Imprinted at London for William Iones, dwelling neare Holborne Conduit, -at the signe of the Gunne_. 1610. 4°. - -An edition of 1606 is mentioned in "Beauclerc's Catalogue," 1781, as -noticed by Hazlitt. There were others in 1613, 1615, 1619, 1668, and -without date, all in 4°. - -This drama, at one time conjecturally given to Shakespeare, is now first -reprinted from the original copy of 1598, collated with that of 1610; -and the additions are inserted between brackets. Whether the additions -and corrections were the work of the original writer, or of some one -else, is uncertain; but it does not appear improbable that they were the -author's. - -From the play of "Mucedorus" was formed a ballad entitled "The Wandering -Prince and Princess, or Mucedorus and Amadine." - - - -THE PROLOGUE.[168] - -Most sacred Majesty, whose great deserts -Thy subject England, nay, the world, admires: -Which heaven grant still increase! O, may your praise -Multiplying with your hours, your fame still raise. -Embrace your Council: love with faith them guide, -That both at one bench, by each other's side. -So may your life pass on, and run so even, -That your firm zeal plant you a throne in heaven, -Where smiling angels shall your guardians be -From blemish'd traitors, stain'd with perjury. -And, as the night's inferior to the day, -So be all earthly regions to your sway! -Be as the sun to day, the day to night, -For from your beams Europe shall borrow light. -Mirth drown your bosom, fair delight your mind, -And may our pastime your contentment find. - [_Exit_ Prologue. - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE. - - -_Eight[169] persons may easily play it. - -The_ KING _and_ RUMBELO. _For one_. -MUCEDORUS, _the Prince of Valencia. For one_. -AMADINE, _the_ KING'S _daughter of Arragon. For one_. -SEGASTO, _a Nobleman. For one_. -ENVY: TREMELIO, _a Captain. | For one_. -BREMO, _a wild man_. | -COMEDY, _a boy, an old woman. | For one_. -ARIENA, AMADINE'S _maid_. | -COLLEN, _a Councillor, a Messenger. For one_. -MOUSE, _the Clown. For one_. - - - - -MUCEDORUS. - - - _Enter_ COMEDY _joyfully, with a garland of bays on her head_. - -Why so; thus do I hope to please: -Music revives, and mirth is tolerable, -Comedy, play thy part, and please; -Make merry them that come to joy with thee. -Joy, then, good gentles; I hope to make you laugh. -Sound forth Bellona's silver-tuned strings. -Time fits us well, the day and place is ours. - - _Enter_ ENVY, _his arms naked, besmeared with blood_. - -ENVY. Nay, stay, minion; there lies a block! -What, all on mirth? I'll interrupt your tale, -And mix your music with a tragic end. - -COMEDY. What monstrous ugly hag is this, -That dares control the pleasures of our will? -Vaunt, churlish cur, besmear'd with gory blood, -That seem'st to check the blossoms of delight, -And stifle the sound of sweet Bellona's breath, -Blush, monster, blush, and post away with shame, -That seekest disturbance of a goddess' deeds. - -ENVY. Post hence thyself, thou counterchecking trull; -I will possess this habit, spite of thee, -And gain the glory of thy wished port. -I'll thunder music shall appal the nymphs, -And make them shiver their clattering strings: -Flying for succour to their Danish caves. - - _Sound drums within, and cry, Stab, stab_! - -Hearken, thou shalt hear a noise -Shall fill the air with a shrilling sound, -And thunder music to the gods above: -Mars shall himself breathe down -A peerless crown upon brave Envy's head, -And raise his chival with a lasting fame. -In this brave music Envy takes delight, -Where I may see them wallow in their blood, -To spurn at arms and legs quite shivered off, -And hear the cry of many thousand slain, -How lik'st thou this, my trull? this sport alone for me! - -COMEDY. Vaunt, bloody cur, nurs'd up with tigers' sap, -That so dost seek to quail a woman's mind. -Comedy is mild, gentle, willing for to please, -And seeks to gain the love of all estates. -Delighting in mirth, mix'd all with lovely tales, -And bringeth things with treble joy to pass. -Thou bloody envious disdainer of men's joys, -Whose name is fraught with bloody stratagems, -Delights in nothing but in spoil and death, -Where thou may'st trample in their lukewarm blood, -And grasp their hearts within thy cursed paws. -Yet veil thy mind; revenge thou not on me; -A silly woman begs it at thy hands. -Give me the leave to utter out my play; -Forbear this place; I humbly crave thee, hence! -And mix not death 'mongst pleasing comedies, -That treat nought else but pleasure and delight. -If any spark of human rests in thee, -Forbear; begone; tender the suit of me. - -ENVY. Why, so I will; forbearance shall be such, -As treble death shall cross thee with despite, -And make thee mourn, where most thou joyest, -Turning thy mirth into a deadly dole: -Whirling thy pleasures with a peal of death, -And drench thy methods in a sea of blood. -This will I do; thus shall I bear with thee; -And, more to vex thee with a deeper spite, -I will with threats of blood begin thy play: -Favouring thee with envy and with hate. - -COMEDY. Then, ugly monster, do thy worst; -I will defend them in despite of thee: -And though thou think'st with tragic fumes -To brave my play unto my deep disgrace, -I force it not, I scorn what thou canst do; -I'll grace it so, thyself shall it confess, -From tragic stuff to be a pleasant comedy. - -ENVY. Why then, Comedy, send thy actors forth, -And I will cross the first steps of their tread, -Making them fear the very dart of death. - -COMEDY. And I'll defend them, maugre all thy spite. -So, ugly fiend, farewell, till time shall serve, -That we may meet to parley for the best. - -ENVY. Content, Comedy; I'll go spread my branch -And scattered blossoms from mine envious tree, -Shall prove two monsters, spoiling of their joys. - [_Exit. - - [_Sound.] Enter_ MUCEDORUS _and_ ANSELMO, _his friend_. - -MUCEDORUS. Anselmo. - -ANSELMO. My lord and friend. - -MUCEDORUS. True, my Anselmo, both thy lord and friend, -Whose dear affections bosom with my heart, -And keep their domination in one orb. - -ANSELMO. Whence ne'er disloyalty shall root it forth, -But faith plant firmer in your choice respect. - -MUCEDORUS. Much blame were mine, if I should other deem, -Nor can coy Fortune contrary allow. -But, my Anselmo, loth I am to say, -I must estrange that friendship. -Misconstrue not; 'tis from the realm, not thee: -Though lands part bodies, hearts keep company. -Thou know'st that I imparted often have -Private relations with my royal sire, -Had as concerning beauteous Amadine, -Rich Arragon's blight jewel, whose face (some say) -That blooming lilies never shone so gay, -Excelling, not excell'd: yet, lest report -Does mangle verity, boasting of what is not, -Wing'd with desire, thither I'll straight repair, -And be my fortunes, as my thoughts are, fair! - -ANSELMO. Will you forsake Valencia, leave the court, -Absent you from the eye of sovereignty? -Do not, sweet prince, adventure on that task, -Since danger lurks each where; be won from it. - -MUCEDORUS. Desist dissuasion, -My resolution brooks no battery, -Therefore, if thou retain thy wonted form, -Assist what I intend. - -ANSELMO. Your miss will breed a blemish in the court, -And throw a frosty dew upon that beard, -Whose front Valencia stoops to. - -MUCEDORUS. If thou my welfare tender, then no more; -Let love's strong magic charm thy trivial phrase, -Wasted as vainly as to gripe the sun. -Augment not then more answers; lock thy lips, -Unless thy wisdom suit me with disguise, -According to my purpose. - -ANSELMO. That action craves no counsel, -Since what you rightly are, will more command, -Than best usurped shape. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou still art opposite in disposition; -A more obscure servile habiliment -Beseems this enterprise. - -ANSELMO. Then like a Florentine or mountebank! - -MUCEDORUS. 'Tis much too tedious; I dislike thy judgment, -My mind is grafted on an humbler stock. - -ANSELMO. Within my closet does there hang a cassock-- -Though base the weed is, 'twas a shepherd's-- -Which I presented in Lord Julio's masque. - -MUCEDORUS. That, my Anselmo, and none else but that, -Mask Mucedorus from the vulgar view. -That habit suits my mind; fetch me that weed. - [_Exit ANSELMO_. -Better than kings have not disdain'd that state, -And much inferior, to obtain their mate. - - _Re-enter_ ANSELMO _with a shepherd's coat, which he - gives to_ MUCEDORUS. - -MUCEDORUS. So let our respect command thy secrecy. -At once a brief farewell; -Delay to lovers is a second hell. - [_Exit MUCEDORUS_. - -ANSELMO. Prosperity forerun thee: awkward chance -Never be neighbour to thy wishes' venture: -Content and Fame advance thee: ever thrive, -And glory thy mortality survive! - - _Enter_ MOUSE _with a bottle of hay_. - -MOUSE. O, horrible, terrible! Was ever poor gentleman so scar'd out of -his seven senses? A bear? Nay, sure it cannot be a bear, but some devil -in a bear's doublet; for a bear could never have had that agility to -have frighted me. Well, I'll see my father hanged before I'll serve his -horse any more. Well, I'll carry home my bottle of hay, and for once -make my father's horse turn Puritan, and observe fasting-days, for he -gets not a bit. But soft! this way she followed me; therefore I'll take -the other path; and because I'll be sure to have an eye on him, I will -take hands with some foolish creditor, and make every step backward. - - [_As he goes backwards, the bear comes in, and - he tumbles over her, and runs away, and leaves - his bottle of hay behind him.] - - Enter_ SEGASTO _running, and_ AMADINE _after him, - being pursued with a bear_. - -SEGASTO. O, fly, madam, fly, or else we are but dead! - -AMADINE. Help, Segasto! help, help, sweet Segasto, or else I die! - - [SEGASTO _runs away_. - -SEGASTO. Alas, madam! there is no way but flight; -Then haste, and save yourself. - -AMADINE. Why then I die; ah! help me in distress. - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS _like a shepherd, with a sword - drawn and a bear's head in his hand_. - -MUCEDORUS. Stay, lady, stay; and be no more dismay'd; -That cruel beast, most merciless and fell, -Which hath bereaved thousands of their lives, -Affrighted many with his hard pursues, -Prying from place to place to find his prey, -Prolonging thus his life by others' death, -His carcase now lies headless, void of breath. - -AMADINE. That foul, deformed monster, is he dead? - -MUCEDORUS. Assure yourself thereof--behold his head; -Which, if it please you, lady, to accept, -With willing heart I yield it to your majesty. - -AMADINE. Thanks, worthy shepherd, thanks a thousand times; -This gift, assure thyself, contents me more -Than greatest bounty of a mighty prince, -Although he were the monarch of the world. - -MUCEDORUS. Most gracious goddess, more than mortal wight-- -Your heavenly hue of right imports no less-- -Most glad am I, in that it was my chance -To undertake this enterprise in hand, -Which doth so greatly glad your princely mind. - -AMADINE. No goddess, shepherd, but a mortal wight-- -A mortal wight distressed as thou seest: -My father here is King of Arragon: -I, Amadine, his only daughter am, -And after him sole heir unto the crown. -Now, whereas it is my father's will -To marry me unto Segasto, one, -Whose wealth through father's former usury -Is known to be no less than wonderful, -We both of custom oftentimes did use, -Leaving the court, to walk within the fields -For recreation, especially [in] the spring, -In that it yields great store of rare delights; -And, passing farther than our wonted walks, -Scarce ent'red were within these luckless woods. -But right before us down a steep-fall hill, -A monstrous ugly bear did hie him fast -To meet us both--I faint to tell the rest, -Good shepherd--but suppose the ghastly looks, -The hideous fears, the thousand hundred woes, -Which at this instant Amadine sustained. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet, worthy princess, let thy sorrow cease, -And let this sight your former joys revive. - -AMADINE. Believe me, shepherd, so it doth no less. - -MUCEDORUS. Long may they last unto your heart's content. -But tell me, lady, what is become of him, -Segasto call'd, what is become of him? - -AMADINE. I know not, I; that know the powers divine; -But God grant this, that sweet Segasto live! - -MUCEDORUS. Yet hard-hearted he, in such a case, -So cowardly to save himself by flight, -And leave so brave a princess to the spoil. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, for thy worthy valour tried, -Endangering thyself to set me free, -Unrecompensed, sure, thou shalt not be. -In court thy courage shall be plainly known; -Throughout the kingdom will I spread thy name. -To thy renown and never-dying fame; -And that thy courage may be better known, -Bear thou the head of this most monstrous beast -In open sight to every courtier's view. -So will the king, my father, thee reward: -Come, let's away and guard me to the court. - -[MUCEDORUS. With all my heart.] - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _solus_. - -SEGASTO. When heaps of harms do hover over-head, -'Tis time as then, some say, to look about, -And so [of] ensuing harms to choose the least. -But hard, yea hapless, is that wretch's chance, -Luckless his lot and caitiff-like accurs'd, -At whose proceedings fortune ever frowns-- -Myself, I mean, most subject unto thrall; -For I, the more I seek to shun the worst, -The more by proof I find myself accurs't. -Erewhiles assaulted with an ugly bear: -Fair Amadine in company all alone: -Forthwith by flight I thought to save myself, -Leaving my Amadine unto her shifts; -For death it was for to resist the bear, -And death no less of Amadine's harms to hear. -Accursed I in ling'ring life thus long -In living thus, each minute of an hour -Doth pierce my heart with darts of thousand deaths: -If she by flight her fury do escape, -What will she think? -Will she not say--yea, flatly to my face, -Accusing me of mere disloyalty-- -A trusty friend is tried in time of need; -But I, when she in danger was of death, -And needed me, and cried, Segasto, help! -I turn'd my back, and quickly ran away, -Unworthy I to bear this vital breath! -But what, what needs these plaints? -If Amadine do live, then happy I. -She will in time forgive, and so forget. -Amadine is merciful, not Juno-like, -In harmful heart to harbour hatred long. - - _Enter_ MOUSE _the Clown running, crying, Clubs_! - -MOUSE. Clubs, prongs, pitchforks, bills! O help! -A bear, a bear, a bear! - -SEGASTO. Still bears, and nothing else but bears? -Tell me, sirrah, where she is. - -CLOWN. O sir, she is run down the woods: -I see her white head and her white belly. - -SEGASTO. Thou talkest of wonders, to tell me of white bears; -But, sirrah, didst thou ever see any such? - -CLOWN. No, faith, I never saw any such; -But I remember my father's words, -He bad me take heed I was not caught with a white bear. - -SEGASTO. A lamentable tale, no doubt. - -CLOWN. I tell you what, sir; as I was going afield to serve my father's -great horse, and carried a bottle of hay upon my head--now, do you see, -sir?--I, fast hoodwinked, that I could see nothing, perceiving the bear -coming, I threw my hay into the hedge and ran away. - -SEGASTO. What, from nothing? - -CLOWN. I warrant you, yes; I saw something; for there was two load of -thorns besides my bottle of hay, and that made three. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, sirrah; the bear that thou didst see, -Did she not bear a bucket on her arm? - -CLOWN. Ha, ha, ha! I never saw bear go a-milking in all my life. -But hark you, sir, I did not look so high as her arm; -I saw nothing but her white head and her white belly. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, sirrah, where dost thou dwell? - -CLOWN. Why, do you not know me? - -SEGASTO. Why, no; how should I know thee? - -CLOWN. Why then you know nobody, and you know not me[170]. I tell you, -sir, I am the goodman Rat's son, of the next parish over the hill. - -SEGASTO. Goodman Rat's son; why, what's thy name? - -CLOWN. Why, I am very near kin unto him. - -SEGASTO. I think so; but what's thy name. - -CLOWN. My name? I have [a] very pretty name; I'll tell you what my name -is--my name is Mouse. - -SEGASTO. What, plain Mouse? - -CLOWN. Ay, plain Mouse, without either welt or gard. -But do you hear, sir, I am but a very young Mouse, -For my tail is scarce grown out yet. Look you here else. - -SEGASTO. But I pray thee, who gave thee that name? - -CLOWN. Faith, sir, I know not that; but if you would fain know, ask -my father's great horse, for he hath been half a year longer with my -father than I have. - -SEGASTO. This seems to be a merry fellow; -I care not if I take him home with me. -Mirth is a comfort to a troubled mind, -A merry man a merry master makes. [_Aside_. -How say'st thou, sirrah? wilt thou dwell with me? - -CLOWN. Nay, soft, sir, two words to a bargain; pray you, what -occupation are you? - -SEGASTO. No occupation; I live upon my lands. - -CLOWN. Your lands; away, you are no master for me. Why, do you think -that I am so mad, to go seek my living in the lands amongst the stones, -briars and bushes, and tear my holiday apparel? Not I, by your leave. - -SEGASTO. Why, I do not mean thou shalt. - -CLOWN. How then? - -SEGASTO. Why, thou shalt be my man, and wait upon me at the court. - -CLOWN. What's that? - -SEGASTO. Where the king lies. - -CLOWN. What's that same king--a man or a woman? - -SEGASTO. A man, as thou art. - -CLOWN. As I am? Hark you, sir; pray you, what kin is he to goodman King -of our parish, the churchwarden? - -SEGASTO. No kin to him; he is the king of the whole land. - -CLOWN. King of the land? I never see him. - -SEGASTO. If thou wilt dwell with me, thou shalt see him every day. - -CLOWN. Shall I go home again to be torn in pieces with bears? No, not I; -I will go home and put on a clean shirt, and then go drown myself. - -SEGASTO. Thou shalt not need, if thou wilt dwell with me; thou shalt -want nothing. - -CLOWN. Shall I not? Then here's my hand: I'll dwell with you. And hark -you, sir! now you have entertained me, I will tell you what I can do. -I can keep my tongue from picking and stealing, and my hands from lying -and slandering, I warrant you, as well as ever you had man, in all your -life. - -SEGASTO. Now will I to court with sorrowful heart, rounded with doubts. -If Amadine do live, then happy I: yea, happy I, if Amadine do live! - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter the_ KING, _with a young Prince prisoner_, - AMADINE[171], _with_ COLLEN _and Councillors_. - -KING. Now, brave lords, [that] our wars are brought to end; -Our foes [have had] the foil, and we in safety rest, -It us behoves to use such clemency -In peace, as valour in the wars. It is -As great honour to be bountiful -At home, as to be conquerors in the field. -Therefore, my lords, the more to my content, -Your liking, and your country's safeguard, -We are dispos'd in marriage for to give -Our daughter to Lord Segasto here, -Who shall succeed the diadem after me, -And reign hereafter as I tofore have done, -Your sole and lawful King of Arragon: -What say you, lordings, like you of my advice? - -COLLEN. An't please your majesty, we do not only allow of your -highness's pleasure, but also vow faithfully in what we may to -further it. - -KING. Thanks, good my lords, if long Adrostus live, -He will at full requite your courtesies. -Tremelio, in recompense of thy late valour done, -Take unto thee the Catalonian prince[172], -Lately our prisoner taken in the wars. -Be thou his keeper; his ransom shall be thine; -We'll think of it, when leisure shall afford. -Meanwhile, do use him well; his father is a king. - -TREMELIO. Thanks to your majesty, his usage shall be such -As he thereat shall think no cause to grutch. - - [_Exeunt_ TREMELIO _and Prince_. - -KING. Then march we on to court, and rest our wearied limbs. -But, Collen, I have a tale in secret kept for thee: -When thou shalt hear a watchword from thy king, -Think then some weighty matter is at hand, -That highly shall concern our state, -Then, Collen, look thou be not far from me: -And for thy service thou tofore hast done, -Thy truth and valour prov'd in every point, -I shall with bounties thee enlarge therefore: -So guard us to the court. - -COLLEN. What so my sovereign doth command me do, -With willing mind I gladly yield consent. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _and the_ CLOWN, _with weapons about him_. - -SEGASTO. Tell me, sirrah, how do you like your weapons? - -CLOWN. O, very well, very well; they keep my sides warm. - -SEGASTO. They keep the dogs from your shins very well, do they not? - -CLOWN. How, keep the dogs from my shins? I would scorn but my shins -could keep the dogs from them. - -SEGASTO. Well, sirrah, leaving idle talk, tell me, -Dost thou know Captain Tremelio's chamber? - -CLOWN. Ay, very well, it hath a door. - -SEGASTO. I think so; for so hath every chamber. -But dost thou know the man? - -CLOWN. Ay forsooth, he hath a nose on his face. - -SEGASTO. Why, so hath every one. - -CLOWN. That's more than I know. - -SEGASTO. But dost thou remember the Captain, that was here with the -King even now, that brought the young prince prisoner? - -CLOWN. O, very well. - -SEGASTO. Go unto him, and bid him come to me. Tell him I have a matter -in secret to impart to him. - -CLOWN. I will, master; master, what's his name? - -SEGASTO. Why, Captain Tremelio. - -CLOWN. O, the meal-man. I know him very well. He brings meal every -Saturday; but hark you, master, must I bid him come to you, or must -you come to him? - -SEGASTO. No, sirrah, he must come to me. - -CLOWN. Hark you, master; how, if he be not at home? -What shall I do then? - -SEGASTO. Why then, leave word with some of his folks. - -CLOWN. How,[173] master, if there be nobody within? -I will leave word with his dog. - -SEGASTO. Why, can his dog speak? - -CLOWN. I cannot tell; wherefore doth he keep his chamber else? - -SEGASTO. To keep out such knaves as thou art. - -CLOWN. Nay, by'r Lady, then go yourself. - -SEGASTO. You will go, sir, will ye not? - -CLOWN. Yes, marry, will I. O, 'tis come to my head; -And a' be not within, I'll bring his chamber to you. - -SEGASTO. What, wilt thou pluck down the King's house? - -CLOWN. Nay, by'r Lady, I'll know the price of it first. -Master, it is such a hard name, I have forgotten it again. I pray you, -tell me his name. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, Captain Tremelio. - -CLOWN. O, Captain Treble-knave, Captain Treble-knave. - - _Enter_ TREMELIO. - -TREMELIO. How now, sirrah, dost thou call me? - -CLOWN. You must come to my master, Captain Treble-knave. - -TREMELIO. My Lord Segasto, did you send for me? - -SEGASTO. I did, Tremelio. Sirrah, about your business. - -CLOWN. Ay, marry, what's that, can you tell? - -SEGASTO. No, not well. - -CLOWN. Marry, then, I can; straight to the kitchen-dresser, to John -the cook, and get me a good piece of beef and brewis; and then to the -buttery-hatch, to Thomas the butler for a jack of beer, and there for -an hour I'll so belabour myself; and therefore I pray you call me not -till you think I have done, I pray you, good master. - -SEGASTO. Well, sir, away. [_Exit_ MOUSE. -Tremelio, this it is. Thou knowest the valour of Segasto, -Spread through all the kingdom of Arragon, -And such as hath found triumph and favours, -Never daunted at any time? But now a shepherd -[Is] admired at in court for worthiness, -And Segasto's honour [is] laid aside. -My will therefore is this, that thou dost find -Some means to work the shepherd's death; I know -Thy strength sufficient to perform my desire, and thy love no otherwise - than to revenge my injuries. - -TREMELIO. It is not the frowns of a shepherd that Tremelio fears, -Therefore account it accomplished, what I take in hand. - -SEGASTO. Thanks, good Tremelio, and assure thyself, -What I promise that will I perform. - -TREMELIO. Thanks, my good lord, and in good time see where -He cometh. Stand by awhile, and you shall see -Me put in practice your intended drifts. -Have at thee, swain, if that I hit thee right! - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS. - -MUCEDORUS. Vile coward, so without cause to strike a man--Turn, -coward, turn; now strike, and do thy worst. - [MUCEDORUS _killeth him_. - -SEGASTO. Hold, shepherd, hold; spare him, kill him not. -Accursed villain, tell me, what hast thou done? -Ah, Tremelio, trusty Tremelio! -I sorrow for thy death, and since that thou -Living didst prove faithful to Segasto, -So Segasto now living shall honour the dead corpse -Of Tremelio with revenge. Bloodthirsty villain, -Born and bred to merciless murther, tell me -How durst thou be so bold, as once to lay -Thy hands upon the least of mine? Assure thyself -Thou shalt be us'd according to the law. - -MUCEDORUS. Segasto, cease; these threats are needless. -But in mine own defence accuse not me -Of murther that have done nothing. - -SEGASTO. Nay, shepherd, reason not with me; -I'll manifest the fact unto the King, -Whose doom will be thy death, as thou deserv'st. -What ho, Mouse, come away! - - _Enter_ MOUSE. - -CLOWN. Why, how now, what's the matter? -I thought you would be calling before I had done. - -SEGASTO. Come, help, away with my friend. - -CLOWN. Why, is he drunk? cannot he stand on his feet? - -SEGASTO. No, he is not drunk; he is slain. - -CLOWN. Flain! no, by['r] Lady, he is not flain. - -SEGASTO. He's killed, I tell thee. - -CLOWN. What, do you use to kill your friends? -I will serve you no longer. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee the shepherd kill'd him. - -CLOWN. O, did a so? -But, master, I will have all his apparel -If I carry him away. - -SEGASTO. Why, so thou shalt. - -CLOWN. Come, then, I will help; mass, master, I think -His mother sang _looby_ to him, he is so heavy. - - [_Exeunt_. - -MUCEDORUS. Behold the fickle state of man, always mutable; -Never at one. -Sometimes we feed on fancies -With the sweet of our desires: sometimes again -We feel the heat of extreme miseries. -Now am I in favour about the court and country, -To-morrow those favours will turn to frowns, -To-day I live revenged on my foe, -To-morrow I die, my foe revenged on me. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ BREMO, _a wild man_. - -BREMO. No passenger this morning? what, not one? -A chance that seldom doth befall. -What, not one? then lie thou there, -And rest thyself, till I have further need. - [_Lays down his club_. -Now, Bremo, sith thy leisure so affords, -An endless thing. Who knows not Bremo's strength, -Who like a king commands within these woods. -The bear, the boar, dares not abide my sight, -But hastes away to save themselves by flight. -The crystal waters in the bubbling brooks, -When I come by, doth swiftly slide away, -And claps themselves in closets under banks, -Afraid to look bold Bremo in the face: -The aged oaks at Bremo's breath do bow, -And all things else are still at my command, -Else what would I? -Rend them in pieces, and pluck them from the earth, -And each way else I would revenge myself. -Why, who comes here, with whom I dare not fight? -Who fights with me, and doth not die the death? -Not one. What favour shows this sturdy stick to those, that here -Within these woods are combatants with me? -Why, death, and nothing else but present death. -With restless rage I wander through these woods; -No creature here but feareth Bremo's force, -Man, woman, child; beast and bird, -And everything that doth approach my sight, -Are forc'd to fall, if Bremo once do frown. -Come, cudgel, come, my partner in my spoils, -For here I see this day it will not be. -But when it falls, that I encounter any, -One pat sufficeth for to work my will. -What, comes not one? Then let's begone; -A time will serve, when we shall better speed. - [_Exit. - - Enter the_ KING, SEGASTO, _the_ SHEPHERD, _and the_ - CLOWN, _with others_. - -KING. Shepherd, -Thou hast heard thine accusers. Murther -Is laid to thy charge; what canst thou say? -Thou hast deserved death. - -MUCEDORUS. Dread sovereign, I must needs confess -I slew this captain in mine own defence, -Not of any malice, but by chance; -But mine accuser hath a further meaning. - -SEGASTO. Words will not here prevail, -I seek for justice, and justice craves his death. - -KING. Shepherd, thine own confession hath condemned thee. -Sirrah, take him away, and do him to execution straight. - -CLOWN. So he shall, I warrant him. But do you hear, Master King, he is -kin to a monkey; his neck is bigger than his head. - -SEGASTO. Sirrah, away with him, and hang him about the middle. - -CLOWN. Yes, forsooth, I warrant you. Come on, sir, a so like a -sheep-biter a looks. - - _Enter_ AMADINE, _and a boy with a bear's head_. - -AMADINE. Dread sovereign and well-beloved sire, -On benden knees I crave the life of this -Condemn'd shepherd, which heretofore preserved -The life of thy sometime distressed daughter. - -KING. Preserved the life of my sometime distressed daughter? -How can that be? I never knew the time, -Wherein thou wast distress'd. I never knew the day -But that I have maintained thy estate, -As best beseem'd the daughter of a king: -I never saw the shepherd until now. -How comes it then, that he preserv'd thy life? - -AMADINE. Once walking with Segasto in the woods, -Further than our accustom'd manner was, -Right before us down a steep-fall hill, -A monstrous ugly bear did hie him fast -To meet us both--now whether this be true, -I refer it to the credit of Segasto. - -SEGASTO. Most true, an't like your majesty. - -KING. How then? - -AMADINE. The bear, being eager to obtain his prey, -Made forward to us with an open mouth, -As if he meant to swallow us both at once. -The sight whereof did make us both to dread, -But specially your daughter Amadine, -Who for I saw no succour incident, -But in Segasto's valour, I grew desperate, -And he most coward-like began to fly. -Left me distress'd to be devour'd of him-- -How say you, Segasto? is it not true? - -KING. His silence verifies it to be true. What then? - -AMADINE. Then I amaz'd, distressed, all alone, -Did hie me fast to 'scape that ugly bear. -But all in vain; for why he reached after me, -And oft I hardly did[174] escape his paws, -Till at the length this shepherd came, -And brought to me his head. -Come hither, boy; lo, here it is, -Which I present unto your majesty. - -KING. The slaughter of this bear deserves great fame. - -SEGASTO. The slaughter of a man deserves great blame. - -KING. Indeed occasion oftentimes so falls out. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio in the wars, O King, preserved thee. - -AMADINE. The shepherd in the woods, O King, preserved me. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio fought, when many men did yield. - -AMADINE. So would the shepherd, had he been in field. - -CLOWN. So would my master, had he not run away. [_Aside_. - -SEGASTO. Tremelio's force saved thousands from the foe. - -AMADINE. The shepherd's force hath saved thousands mo. - -CLOWN. Ay, shipsticks, nothing else. [_Aside_. - -KING. Segasto, cease to accuse the shepherd; -His worthiness deserves a recompense, -All we are bound to do the shepherd good. -Shepherd, whereas -It was my sentence thou should'st die, -So shall my sentence stand, for thou shalt die. - -SEGASTO. Thanks to your majesty. - -KING. But soft, Segasto, not for this offence. -Long may'st thou live; and when the Sisters shall decree -To cut in twain the twisted thread of life, -Then let him die: for this I set him free, -And for thy valour I will honour thee. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks to your majesty. - -KING. Come, daughter, let us now depart -To honour the worthy valour of the shepherd -With our rewards. - - [_Exeunt_. - -CLOWN. O master, hear you; you have made a fresh hand now; you would be -slow, you. Why, what will you do now? You have lost me a good occupation -by this means. Faith, master, now I cannot hang the shepherd. I pray you, -let me take the pains to hang you: it is but half an hour's exercise. - -SEGASTO. You are still in your knavery; but, sith I cannot have his life, -I will procure his banishment for ever. -Come on, sirrah. - -CLOWN. Yes, forsooth, I come. -Laugh at him, I pray you. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. From Amadine, and from her father's court, -With gold and silver, and with rich rewards -Flowing from the banks of golden treasuries. -More may I boast, and say, but I, -Was never shepherd in such dignity. - - _Enter the_ MESSENGER _and the_ CLOWN. - -MESSENGER. All hail, worthy shepherd! - -CLOWN. All rain, lousy shepherd! - -MUCEDORUS. Welcome, my friends, from whence come you? - -MESSENGER. The King and Amadine greet thee well, -And after greetings done, bids thee depart the court -Shepherd, begone. - -CLOWN. Shepherd, take law legs; fly away, shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. Whose words are these? Come these from Amadine? - -MESSENGER. Ay, from Amadine. - -CLOWN. Ay, from Amadine. - -MUCEDORUS. Ah! luckless fortune, worse than Phaeton's tale, -My former bliss is now become my bale. - -CLOWN. What, wilt thou poison thyself? - -MUCEDORUS. My former heaven is now become my hell. - -CLOWN. The worst alehouse -That I ever came in in all my life. - -MUCEDORUS. What shall I do? - -CLOWN. Even go hang thyself half an hour. - -MUCEDORUS. Can Amadine so churlishly command, -To banish the shepherd from her father's court? - -MESSENGER. What should shepherds do in the court? - -CLOWN. What should shepherds do among us? -Have we not lords enough o'er[175] us in the court? - -MUCEDORUS. Why, shepherds are men, and kings are no more. - -MESSENGER. Shepherds are men, and masters over their flock. - -CLOWN. That's a lie; who pays them their wages, then? - -MESSENGER. Well, you are always interrupting of me, -But you are best look to him, -Lest you hang for him, when he is gone. - [_Exit. - - The_ CLOWN _sings_. - -CLOWN. _And you shall hang for company, - For leaving me alone_. - -Shepherd, stand forth, and hear thy sentence. -Shepherd, begone within three days, in pain of -My displeasure; shepherd, begone; shepherd, begone, -Begone, begone, begone; shepherd, shepherd, shepherd. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. And must I go, and must I needs depart? -Ye goodly groves, partakers of my songs, -In time tofore, when fortune did not frown, -Pour forth your plaints, and wail awhile with me. -And thou bright sun, my comfort in the cold, -Hide, hide thy face, and leave me comfortless. -Ye wholesome herbs and sweet-smelling savours-- -Yea, each thing else prolonging life of man-- -Change, change your wonted course, that I, -Wanting your aid, in woful sort may die. - - _Enter_ AMADINE [_and_ ARIENA, _her maid_.] - -AMADINE. Ariena, if anybody ask for me, -Make some excuse, till I return. - -ARIENA. What, and Segasto call? - -AMADINE. Do thou the like to him? I mean not to stay long. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. This voice so sweet my pining spirits revives. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, well-met; tell me how thou doest. - -MUCEDORUS. I linger life, yet wish for speedy death. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, although thy banishment -Already be decreed, and all against my will, -Yet Amadine---- - -MUCEDORUS. Ah, Amadine! to hear -Of banishment is death--ay, double death to me; -But since I must depart, one thing I crave. - -AMADINE. Say on, with all my heart. - -MUCEDORUS. That in absence either far or near, -You honour me as servant with your name. - -AMADINE. Not so. - -MUCEDORUS. And why? - -AMADINE. I honour thee as sovereign of my heart. - -MUCEDORUS. A shepherd and a sovereign nothing like. - -AMADINE. Yet like enough, where there is no dislike. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet great dislike, or else no banishment. - -AMADINE. Shepherd, it is only Segasto that -Procures thy banishment. - -MUCEDORUS. Unworthy wights are most in jealousy. - -AMADINE. Would God they would -Free thee from banishment, or likewise banish me. - -MUCEDORUS. Amen say I, to have your company. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, sith thou sufferest -This for my sake, -With thee in exile also let me live, -On this condition, shepherd, thou canst love. - -MUCEDORUS. No longer love, no longer let me live. - -AMADINE. Of late I loved one indeed, now love -I none but only thee. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, worthy princess: -I burn likewise, yet smother up the blast, -I dare not promise what I may perform. - -AMADINE. Well, shepherd, hark what I shall say, -I will return unto my father's court, -There[176] to provide me of such necessaries -As for my journey I shall think most fit. -This being done, I will return to thee. Do thou -Therefore appoint the place, where we may meet. - -MUCEDORUS. Down in the valley where I slew the bear; -And there doth grow a fair broad branchèd beech, -That overshades a well: so who comes first, -Let them abide the happy meeting of -Us both. How like you this? - -AMADINE. I like it very well. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, if you please, you may appoint the time. - -AMADINE. Full three hours hence, God willing, I will return. - -MUCEDORUS. The thanks that Paris gave the Grecian queen, -The like doth Mucedorus yield. - -AMADINE. Then, Mucedorus, for three hours, farewell. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. Your departure, lady, breeds a privy pain. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ SEGASTO _solus_. - -SEGASTO. 'Tis well, Segasto, that thou hast thy will. -Should such a shepherd, such a simple swain, -As he eclipse thy credit, famous through -The court? No, ply, Segasto, ply; -Let it not in Arragon be said, -A shepherd hath Segasto's honour won. - - _Enter_ MOUSE, _the Clown, calling his master_. - -CLOWN. What ho! master, will you come away? - -SEGASTO. Will you come hither, I pray you, what's the matter? - -CLOWN. Why, is it not past eleven o'clock? - -SEGASTO. How then, sir? - -CLOWN. I pray you, come away to dinner. - -SEGASTO. I pray you, come hither. - -CLOWN. Here's such a-do with you, will you never come? - -SEGASTO. I pray you, sir, what news of the message I sent you about? - -CLOWN. I tell you, all the messes be on the table already-- -(There wants not so much as a mess of mustard) half an hour ago. - -SEGASTO. Come, sir, your mind is all upon your belly. -You have forgotten what I did bid you do. - -CLOWN. Faith, I know nothing, but you bad me go to breakfast. - -SEGASTO. Was that all? - -CLOWN. Faith, I have forgotten it, the very scent of the meat made -me forget[177] it quite. - -SEGASTO. You have forgotten the errand I bid you do? - -CLOWN. What arrant? an arrant knave or an arrant whore? - -SEGASTO. Why, thou knave, did I not bid thee banish the shepherd? - -CLOWN. O, the shepherd's bastard? - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, the shepherd's banishment. - -CLOWN. I tell you, the shepherd's bastard shall be well kept; I'll look -to it myself. But I pray you, come away to dinner. - -SEGASTO. Then you will not tell me whether you have banished him, or no? - -CLOWN. Why, I cannot say _banishment_, and you would give me a thousand -pounds to say so. - -SEGASTO. Why, you whoreson slave, have you forgotten that I sent you -and another to drive away the shepherd. - -CLOWN. What an ass are you; here's a stir indeed, here's message, -arrant, banishment, and I cannot tell what. - -SEGASTO. I pray you, sir, shall I know whether you have drove him away. - -CLOWN. Faith, I think I have; and you will not believe me, ask my staff. - -SEGASTO. Why, can thy staff tell? - -CLOWN. Why, he was with me too. - -SEGASTO. Then happy I, that have obtain'd my will. - -CLOWN. And happier I, if you would go to dinner. - -SEGASTO. Come, sirrah, follow me. - -CLOWN. I warrant you, I will not lose an inch of you now you are going -to dinner, I promise you. I thought [it] seven year, before I could get -him away. [_Aside.] - [Exeunt. - - Enter_ AMADINE _sola_ - -AMADINE. God grant my long delay procures no harm, -Nor this my tarrying frustrate my pretence. -My Mucedorus surely stays for me, -And thinks me over long. At length I come, -My present promise to perform. -Ah, what a thing is firm, unfeigned love! -What is it which true love dares not attempt? -My father he may make, but I must match; -Segasto loves; but Amadine must like, -Where likes her best; compulsion is a thrall. -No, no, the hearty choice is all in all, -The shepherd's virtue Amadine esteems. -But what, methinks my shepherd is not come; -I muse at that, the hour is sure at hand. -Well, here I'll rest, till Mucedorus come. - [_She sits her down. - - Enter_ BREMO, _looking about; hastily [he] taketh hold of her_. - -BREMO. A happy prey! now, Bremo, feed on flesh: -Dainties, Bremo, dainties, thy hungry paunch to fill: -Now glut thy greedy guts with lukewarm blood. -Come, fight with me; I long to see thee dead. - -AMADINE. How can she fight, that weapons cannot wield? - -BREMO. What, canst not fight? Then lie thou down and die. - -AMADINE. What, must I die? - -BREMO. What needs these words? I thirst to suck thy blood. - -AMADINE. Yet pity me, and let me live awhile. - -BREMO. No pity I; I'll feed upon thy flesh, -I'll tear thy body piecemeal joint from joint. - -AMADINE. Ah, how I want my shepherd's company! - -BREMO. I'll crush thy bones betwixt two oaken trees. - -AMADINE. Haste, shepherd, haste, or else thou com'st too late. - -BREMO. I'll suck the sweetness from thy marrow bones. - -AMADINE. Ah, spare, ah, spare to shed my guiltless blood! - -BREMO. With this my bat will I beat out -Thy brains. Down, down, I say: -Prostrate thyself upon the ground. - -AMADINE. Then, Mucedorus, farewell, my hoped joys, farewell! -Yea, farewell life, and welcome present death. [_She kneels_. -To thee, O God, I yield my dying ghost. - -BREMO. Now, Bremo, play thy part. -How now, what sudden chance is this? -My limbs do tremble, and my sinews shake; -My unweak'ned arms have lost their former force. -Ah, Bremo, Bremo! what a foil hast thou, -That yet at no time ever wast afraid -To dare the greatest gods to fight with thee, [_He strikes_. -And now want strength for one down-driving blow? -Ah, how my courage fails, when I should strike! -Some new-come spirit abiding in my breast, -Say'th, _Spare her, Bremo; spare her, do not kill_. -Shall I[178] spare her, which never spared any? -To it, Bremo, to it; essay[179] again. -I cannot wield my weapons in my hand; -Methinks I should not strike so fair a one, -I think her beauty hath bewitch'd my force, -Or else within me altered nature's course. -Ay, woman, wilt thou live in woods with me? - -AMADINE. Fain would I live, yet loth to live in woods. - -BREMO. Thon shalt not choose; it shall be as I say; -And therefore follow me. - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. It was my will an hour ago and more, -As was my promise, for to make return; -But other business hind'red my pretence. -It is a world to see, when man appoints, -And purposely one certain thing decrees, -How many things may hinder his intent. -What one would wish, the same is farthest off. -But yet th'appointed time cannot be past, -Nor hath her presence yet prevented[180] me. -Well, here I'll stay, and expect the coming. - - [_They cry within, Hold him, stay him, hold_! - -MUCEDORUS. Some one or other is pursued, no doubt; -Perhaps some search for me; 'tis good -To doubt the worst, therefore I will be gone. - [_Exit. - - Cry within, Hold him, hold him! Enter_ MOUSE, _the - Clown, with a pot_. - -CLOWN. Hold him, hold him, hold him! here's a stir indeed. Here came -hue after the crier, and I was set close at mother Nip's house, and -there I call'd for three pots of ale, as 'tis the manner of us courtiers. -Now, sirrah, I had taken the maidenhead of two of them--now, as I was -lifting up the third to my mouth, there came, Hold him, hold him! Now I -could not tell whom to catch hold on; but I am sure I caught one, -perchance a may be in this pot. Well, I'll see. Mass, I cannot see him -yet; well, I'll look a little further. Mass, he is a little slave, if a -be here; why here's nobody. All this goes well yet; but if the old trot -should come for her pot?--ay, marry, there's the matter. But I care not; -I'll face her out, and call her old rusty, dusty, musty, fusty, crusty -firebrand, and worse than all that, and so face her out of her pot. But -soft! here she comes. - - _Enter the_ OLD WOMAN. - -OLD WOMAN. Come on, you knave; where's my pot, you knave? - -CLOWN. Go, look your pot; come not to me for your pot, 'twere good -for you. - -OLD WOMAN. Thou liest, thou knave; thou hast my pot. - -CLOWN. You lie, and you say it. I, your pot? I know what I'll say. - -OLD WOMAN, Why, what wilt thou say? - -CLOWN. But say I have him, and thou dar'st. - -OLD WOMAN. Why, thou knave, thou hast not only my pot, but my drink -unpaid for. - -CLOWN. You lie like an old--I will not say whore. - -OLD WOMAN. Dost thou call me whore? I'll cap thee for my pot. - -CLOWN. Cap me, and thou darest; search me, whether I have it or no. - - [_She searcheth him, and he drinketh over her - head, and casts down the pot. She stumbleth - at it, then they fall together by the ears; - she takes her pot and goes out. - - Enter_ SEGASTO. - -SEGASTO. How now, sirrah, what's the matter? - -CLOWN. O, flies, master, flies. - -SEGASTO. Flies? where are they? - -CLOWN. O, here, master, all about your face. - -SEGASTO. Why, thou liest; I think thou art mad. - -CLOWN. Why, master, I have kill'd a dungcartful at the least. - -SEGASTO. Go to, sirrah. Leaving this idle talk, give ear to me. - -CLOWN. How, give you one of my ears? not, and you were ten masters. - -SEGASTO. Why, sir, I bad you give ear to my words. - -CLOWN. I tell you, I will not be made a curtal for no man's pleasure. - -SEGASTO. I tell thee, attend what I say. Go thy ways straight, and rear -the whole town. - -CLOWN. How, rear the town? even go yourself; it is more than I can do. -Why, do you think I can rear a town, that can scarce rear a pot of ale -to my head? I should rear a town, should I not! - -SEGASTO. Go to the constable, and make a privy search; for the shepherd -is run away with the King's daughter. - -CLOWN. How? is the shepherd run away with the King's daughter, or is the -King's daughter run away with the shepherd? - -SEGASTO. I cannot tell; but they are both gone together. - -CLOWN. What a fool she is to run away with the shepherd! Why, I think I -am a little handsomer man than the shepherd myself; but tell me, master, -must I make a privy search, or search in the privy? - -SEGASTO. Why, dost thou think they will be there? - -CLOWN. I cannot tell. - -SEGASTO. Well, then, search everywhere; leave no place unsearched -for them. - [_Exit_. - -CLOWN. O, now am I in office, now will I to that old firebrand's house, -and will not leave one place unsearched. Nay, I'll to her ale-stand, -and drink as long as I can stand; and when I have done, I'll let out -all the rest, to see if he be not hid in the barrel. And I find him not -there, I'll to the cupboard. I'll not leave one corner of her house -unsearched. I'faith, ye old crust, I will be with you now. - [_Exit. - - [Sound music.] - - Enter the_ KING OF VALENTIA, ANSELMO, RODERIGO, - LORD BORACHIUS, _with others_. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Enough of music; it but adds to torment. -Delights to vexed spirits are as dates -Set to a sickly man, which rather cloy than comfort: -Let me entreat you to entreat no more. - -RODERIGO. Let yon strings sleep; have done there. - - [_Let the music cease_. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Mirth to a soul disturb'd is[181] embers turn'd, -Which sudden gleam with molestation, -But sooner lose their sight for it. -'Tis gold bestow'd upon a rioter, -Which not relieves, but murders him: -'Tis a drug given to the healthful, -Which infects, not cures. -How can a father, that hath lost his son: -A prince both wise, virtuous, and valiant, -Take pleasure in the idle acts of time? -No, no; till Mucedorus I shall see again, -All joy is comfortless, all pleasure pain. - -ANSELMO. Your son, my lord, is well. - -KING OF VALENTIA. I prythee, speak that thrice. - -ANSELMO. The prince, your son, is safe. - -KING OF VALENTIA. O, where, Anselmo? surfeit me with that. - -ANSELMO. In Arragon, my liege; and at his 'parture, -[He] bound my secrecy by his affection's love, -Not to disclose it. -But care of him, and pity of your age, -Makes my tongue blab what my breast vow'd-- -Concealment. - -KING OF VALENTIA. Thou not deceiv'st me? I ever thought thee -What I find thee now, an upright, loyal man. -But what desire or young-fed humour, nurs'd -Within the brain, drew him so privately -To Arragon? - -ANSELMO. A forcing adamant: -Love, mix'd with fear and doubtful jealousy: -Whether report gilded a worthless trunk, -Or Amadine deserved her high extolment. - -KING OF VALENTIA. See our provision be in readiness, -Collect us followers of the comeliest hue, -For our chief guardians; we will thither wend. -The crystal eyes of heaven shall not thrice wink, -Nor the green flood six times his shoulders turn, -Till we salute the Arragonian king. -Music, speak loudly; now the season's apt, -For former dolors are in pleasure wrapt. - - [_Exeunt omnes] - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS, _to disguise himself_. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, Mucedorus, whither wilt thou go? -Home to thy father to thy native soil, -Or try some long abode within these woods? -Well, I will hence depart, and hie me home. -What, hie me home, said I? that may not be; -In Amadine rests my felicity. -Then, Mucedorus, do as thou didst decree: -Attire thee hermit-like within these groves; -Walk often to the beech, and view the well; -Make settles there, and seat thyself thereon; -And when thou feelest thyself to be athirst, -Then drink a hearty draught to Amadine. -No doubt, she thinks on thee, and will one day -Come pledge thee at this well. -Come, habit, thou art fit for me. [_He disguiseth himself_. -No shepherd now: a hermit I must be. -Methinks this fits me very well. -Now must I learn to bear a walking-staff, -And exercise some gravity withal. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN. - -CLOWN. Here's through the woods and through the woods, to look out a -shepherd and stray king's daughter. But soft! who have we here? what -art thou? - -MUCEDORUS. I am an hermit. - -CLOWN. An emmet? I never saw such a big emmet in all my life before. - -MUCEDORUS. I tell you, sir, I am an hermit: one that leads a solitary -life within these woods. - -CLOWN. O, I know thee now, thou art he[182] that eats up all the hips -and haws; we could not have one piece of fat bacon for thee all this -year. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou dost mistake me; but I pray thee, tell me what dost -thou seek in these woods? - -CLOWN. What do I seek? for a stray king's daughter run away with a -shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. A stray king's daughter run away with a shepherd. -Wherefore? canst thou tell? - -CLOWN. Yes, that I can; 'tis this. My master and Amadine walking one -day abroad, nearer to these woods than they were used (about what I -cannot tell); but toward them comes running a great bear. Now my master -he played the man, and ran away; and Amadine, crying after him;--now, -sir, comes me a shepherd, and he strikes off the bear's head. Now, -whether the bear were dead before or no, I cannot tell; for bring -twenty bears before me, and bind their hands and feet, and I'll kill -them all. Now, ever since, Amadine hath been in love with the shepherd; -and for goodwill she's even run away with the shepherd. - -MUCEDORUS. What manner of man was a? canst describe him unto me? - -CLOWN. Scribe him? ay, I warrant you, that I can. A was a little, low, -broad, tall, narrow, big, well-favoured fellow: a jerkin of white cloth, -and buttons of the same cloth. - -MUCEDORUS. Thou describest him well; but if I chance to see any such, -pray you, where shall I find you, or what's your name? - -CLOWN. My name is called Master Mouse. - -MUCEDORUS. O Master Mouse, I pray you, what office might you bear -in the court? - -CLOWN. Marry, sir, I am a rusher of the stable. - -MUCEDORUS. O, usher of the table. - -CLOWN. Nay, I say rusher, and I'll prove my office good. For look, sir, -when any comes from under the sea or so, and a dog chance to blow his -nose backward, then with a whip I give him the good time of the day, -and straw rushes presently. Therefore I am a rusher: a high office, -I promise ye. - -MUCEDORUS. But where shall I find you in the court? - -CLOWN. Why, where it is best being, either in the kitchen a eating, or -in the buttery drinking. But if you come, I will provide for thee a -piece of beef and brewis knuckle-deep in fat. Pray you, take pains; -remember Master Mouse. - [_Exit_. - -MUCEDORUS. Ay, sir, I warrant I will not forget you. -Ah, Amadine! what should become of thee? -Whither shouldst thou go so long unknown? -With watch and ward each passage is beset, -Doubtless she hath lost herself within these woods, -And wand'ring to and fro she seeks the well, -Which yet she cannot find; -Therefore will I seek her out. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ BREMO _and_ AMADINE. - -BREMO. Amadine! -How like you Bremo and his woods? - -AMADINE. As like the woods of Bremo's cruelty. -Though I were dumb, and could not answer him, -The beasts themselves would with relenting tears -Bewail thy savage and unhuman deeds. - -BREMO. My love, why dost thou murmur to thyself? -Speak louder, for thy Bremo hears thee not. - -AMADINE. My Bremo? no, the shepherd is my love. - -BREMO. Have I not saved thee from sudden death, -Giving thee leave to live, that thou might'st love? -And dost thou whet me on to cruelty? -Come, kiss me (sweet) for all my favours past. - -AMADINE. I may not, Bremo, and therefore pardon me. - -BREMO. See how she flings away from me; -I will follow and give a rend[183] to her. [_Aside_. -Deny my love; ah, worm of beauty! -I will chastise thee; come, come, -Prepare thy head upon the block. - -AMADINE. O, spare me, Bremo! love should limit life, -Not to be made a murderer of himself. -If thou wilt glut thy loving heart with blood, -Encounter with the lion or the bear, -And (like a wolf) prey not upon a lamb. - -BREMO. Why, then, dost thou repine at me? -If thou wilt love me, thou shalt be my queen; -I will crown thee with a complet made of ivory, -And make the rose and lily wait on thee. -I'll rend the burly branches from the oak,[184] -To shadow thee from burning sun: -The trees shall spread themselves where thou dost go; -And as they spread, I'll trace along with thee. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. Thou shalt be fed with quails and partridges, -With blackbirds, larks, thrushes, and nightingales. -Thy drink shall be goats' milk and crystal water, -Distill'd from the fountains and the clearest springs, -And all the dainties that the woods afford -I'll freely give thee to obtain thy love. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. The day I'll spend to recreate my love, -With all the pleasures that I can devise, -And in the night I'll be thy bed-fellow, -And lovingly embrace thee in mine arms. - -AMADINE. One may; so may not you. [_Aside_. - -BREMO. The satyrs and the wood-nymphs shall attend -On thee, and lull thee asleep with music's sound, -And in the morning, when thou dost awake, -The lark shall sing good morrow to my queen, -And whilst he sings, I'll kiss my Amadine. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? [_Aside_. - -BREMO. When thou art up, the wood-lanes shall be strawed -With violets, cowslips, and sweet marigolds, -For thee to trample and to trace upon; -And I will teach thee how to kill the deer, -To chase the hart, and how to rouse the roe, -If thou wilt live to love and honour me. - -AMADINE. You may; for who but you? - - _Enter_ MUCEDORUS. - -BREMO. Welcome, sir, an hour ago I look'd for such a guest. -Be merry, wench, we'll have a frolic feast, -Here's flesh enough for to suffice us both, -Say, sirrah, wilt thou fight, or dost thou yield to die? - -MUCEDORUS. I want a weapon; how can I fight? - -BREMO. Thou want'st a weapon? why, then thou yield'st to die. - -MUCEDORUS. I say not so; I do not yield to die. - -BREMO. Thou shalt not choose; I long to see thee dead. - -AMADINE. Yet spare him, Bremo, spare him. - -BREMO. Away, I say, I will not spare him. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet give me leave to speak. - -BREMO. Thou shalt not speak. - -AMADINE. Yet give him leave to speak for my sake. - -BREMO. Speak on; but be not over-long. - -MUCEDORUS. In time of yore, when men (like brutish beasts) -Did lead their lives in loathsome cells and woods, -And wholly gave themselves to witless will -(A rude, unruly rout), then man to man became -A present prey: then might prevailed: -The weakest went to wall, -Right was unknown; for wrong was all in all. -As men thus lived in this[185] great outrage, -Behold, one Orpheus came (as poets tell), -And them from rudeness unto reason brought: -Who led by reason, some forsook the woods; -Instead of caves, they built them castles strong; -Cities and towns were founded by them then. -Glad were they, [that] they found such ease, -And in the end they grew to perfect amity. -Weighing their former wickedness, -They term'd the time, wherein they lived then -A golden age, a goodly golden age. -Now, Bremo, for so I hear thee called, -If men which lived tofore, as thou dost now, -Wildly[186] in wood, addicted all to spoil, -Returned were by worthy Orpheus' means, -Let me (like Orpheus) cause thee to return -From murder, bloodshed, and like cruelty. -What, should we fight before we have a cause? -No, let us live and love together faithfully-- -I'll fight for thee-- - -BREMO. Fight for me or die? Or fight, or else thou diest? - -AMADINE. Hold, Bremo, hold! - -BREMO. Away, I say; thou troublest me. - -AMADINE. You promised me to make me your queen. - -BREMO. I did; I mean no less. - -AMADINE. You promised that I should have my will. - -BREMO. I did; I mean no less. - -AMADINE. Then save this hermit's life; for he may save us both. - -BREMO. At thy request I'll spare him, -But never any after him. Say, hermit, -What canst thou do? - -MUCEDORUS. I'll wait on thee; sometime upon thy queen. -Such service shalt thou shortly have as Bremo never had. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SEGASTO, _the_ CLOWN, _and_ RUMBELO. - -SEGASTO. Come, sirs; what, shall I never have you -Find out Amadine and the shepherd. - -CLOWN. And I have been through the woods, and through the woods, -And could see nothing but an emmet. - -RUMBELO. Why, I see a thousand emmets; thou meanest a little one? - -CLOWN. Nay, that emmet that I saw was bigger than thou art. - -RUMBELO. Bigger than I? what a fool have you to your man? I pray you, -master, turn him away. - -SEGASTO. But dost thou hear, was he not a man? - -CLOWN. I think he was, for he said he did lead a salt-seller's life -about the woods. - -SEGASTO. Thou wouldest say, a solitary life about the woods? - -CLOWN. I think it was so indeed. - -RUMBELO. I thought what a fool thou art. - -CLOWN. Thou art a wise man; why, he did nothing but sleep since he went. - -SEGASTO. But tell me, Mouse, how did he go? - -CLOWN. In a white gown, and a white hat on his head, and a staff -in his hand. - -SEGASTO. I thought so; it was a hermit that walked a solitary life -in the woods. Well, get you to dinner; and after never leave seeking, -till you bring some news of them, or I'll hang you both. - [_Exit_. - -CLOWN. How now, Rumbelo, what shall we do now? - -RUMBELO. Faith, I'll home to dinner, and afterward to sleep. - -CLOWN. Why, then thou wilt be hanged. - -RUMBELO. Faith, I care not; for I know I shall never find them. -Well, I'll once more abroad, and if I cannot find them, I'll never -come home again. - -CLOWN. I tell thee what, Rumbelo; thou shalt go in at one end of the -wood, and I at the other, and we will meet both together in the midst. - -RUMBELO. Content; let's away to dinner. - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MUCEDORUS _solus_. - -MUCEDORUS. Unknown to any here within these woods, -With bloody Bremo do I lead my life. -The monster he doth murther all he meets; -He spareth none, and none doth him escape. -Who would continue--who, but only I-- -In such a cruel cutthroat's company? -Yet Amadine is there; how can I choose? -Ah, silly soul! how oftentimes she sits -And sighs, and calls, _Come, shepherd, come; -Sweet Mucedorus, come and set me free_, -When Mucedorus present stands her by! -But here she comes. - - _Enter_ AMADINE. - -What news, fair lady, as you walk these woods? - -AMADINE. Ah, hermit! none but bad, and such -As thou knowest. - -MUCEDORUS. How do you like -Your Bremo and his woods? - -AMADINE. Not my Bremo, -Nor Bremo's[187] woods. - -MUCEDORUS. And why not yours? -Methinks he loves you well. - -AMADINE. I like him not. -His love to me is nothing worth. - -MUCEDORUS. Lady, in this (methinks) you offer wrong, -To hate the man that ever loves you best. - -AMADINE. Hermit,[188] I take no pleasure in his love, -Neither doth Bremo like me best. - -MUCEDORUS. Pardon my boldness, lady,[189] sith we both -May safely talk now out of Bremo's sight. Unfold -To me (if so you please) the full discourse, -How, when, and why you came into these woods, -And fell into this bloody butcher's hands. - -AMADINE. Hermit, I will; -Of late a worthy shepherd I did love-- - -MUCEDORUS. A shepherd, lady? Sure, a man unfit -To match with you! - -AMADINE. Hermit, 'tis[190] true; and when we had-- - -MUCEDORUS. Stay there, the wild man comes; -Refer the rest until another time. - - _Enter_ BREMO. - -BREMO. What secret tale is this, what whispering have we here? -Villain, I charge thee tell thy tale again. - -MUCEDORUS. If needs I must, lo! here it is again: -When as we both had lost the sight of thee, -It griev'd us both, but specially the queen. -Who in thy absence ever fears the worst, -Lest some mischance befall your royal grace. -Shall my sweet Bremo wander through the woods: -Toil to and fro for to redress my wants: -Hazard his life, and all to cherish me? -I like not this, quoth she. -And thereupon [she] crav'd to know of me, -If I could teach her handle weapons well. -My answer was, I had small skill therein, -But glad, most mighty king, to learn of thee. -And this was all. - -BREMO. Was't so? -None can dislike of this. I'll teach -You both to fight. But first, my queen, begin: -Here, take this weapon; see how thou canst use it. - -AMADINE. This is too big; -I cannot wield it in my arm. - -BREMO. Is't so, we'll have a knotty crabtree staff for thee: -But, sirrah, tell me, what say'st thou? - -MUCEDORUS. With all my heart I willing am to learn. - -BREMO. Then take my staff, and see how thou canst wield it. - -MUCEDORUS. First teach me how to hold it in my hand. - -BREMO. Thou hold'st it well. [To _Amadine_.] -Look how he doth; -Thou mayest the sooner learn. - -MUCEDORUS. Next tell me how and when 'tis best to strike. - -BREMO. 'Tis best to strike when time doth serve, -'Tis best to lose no time. - -MUCEDORUS. Then now or never is my time to strike. - -BREMO. And when thou strikest, be sure to hit the head. - -MUCEDORUS. The head? - -BREMO. The very head. - -MUCEDORUS. Then have at thine, -So lie there and die; [_He strikes him down dead_. -A death, no doubt, according to desert, -Or else a worse, as thou deservest a worse. - -AMADINE. It glads my heart this tyrant's death to see. - -MUCEDORUS. Now, lady, it remains in you -To end the tale you lately had begun, -Being interrupted by this wicked wight-- -You said you loved a shepherd? - -AMADINE. Ay, so I do, and none but only him; -And will do still, as long as life shall last. - -MUCEDORUS. But tell me, lady, sith I set you free, -What course of life do you intend to take? - -AMADINE. I will (disguised) wander through the world -Till I have found him out. - -MUCEDORUS. How, if you find your shepherd in these woods? - -AMADINE. Ah! none so happy then as Amadine.[191] - -MUCEDORUS. In tract of time a man may alter much: -Say, lady, do you know your shepherd well? - [_He discovers himself_. - -AMADINE. My Mucedorus, hath he set me free? - -MUCEDORUS. He hath set thee free. - -AMADINE. And lived so long -Unknown to Amadine? - -MUCEDORUS. Ay, that's a question -Whereof you may not be resolved. -You know that I am banish'd from the court, -I know likewise each passage is beset, -So that we cannot long escape unknown, -Therefore my will is this, that we return, -Right through the thickets, to the wild man's cave, -And there a while live on his provision, -Until the search and narrow watch be past: -This is my counsel, and I think it best. - -AMADINE. I think the very same. - -MUCEDORUS. Come, let's begone. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN, _who searches and falls over the - wild man, and so carries him away_. - -CLOWN. Nay, soft, sir, are you here? a bots on you! -I was like to be hanged for not finding you, -We would borrow a certain stray king's daughter of you; -A wench, a wench, sir, we would have. - -MUCEDORUS. A wench of me? I'll make thee eat my sword. - -CLOWN. O Lord, nay, and you are so lusty, -I'll call a cooling card for you: -Ho, master, master, come away quickly! - - _Enter_ SEGASTO. - -SEGASTO. What's the matter? - -CLOWN. Look, master, Amandine and the shepherd! O brave! - -SEGASTO. What, minion, have I found you out? - -CLOWN. Nay, that's a lie, I found her out myself. - -SEGASTO. Thou gadding huswife, -What cause hadst thou to gad abroad, -When as thou knowest our wedding-day so nigh? - -AMADINE. Not so, Segasto; no such thing in hand. -Show your assurance, then I'll answer you? - -SEGASTO. Thy father's promise my assurance is. - -AMADINE. But what he promis'd he hath not perform'd. - -SEGASTO. It rests in thee to perform the same. - -AMADINE. Not I. - -SEGASTO. And why? - -AMADINE. So is my will, and therefore even so. - -CLOWN. Master, with a nonny, nonny, no.[192] - -SEGASTO. Ah, wicked villain! art thou here? - -MUCEDORUS. What needs these words? we weigh them not. - -SEGASTO. We weigh them not! proud shepherd, I scorn thy company. - -CLOWN. We'll not have a corner of thy company. - -MUCEDORUS. I scorn not thee, nor yet the least of thine. - -CLOWN. That's a lie, a would have kill'd me with his pugs-nando. - -SEGASTO. This stoutness, Amadine, contents me not. - -AMADINE. Then seek another, that may you better please. - -MUCEDORUS. Well, Amadine. it only rests in thee -Without delay to make thy choice of three. -There stands Segasto: here a shepherd stands: -There stands the third. Now make thy choice. - -CLOWN. A lord at the least I am. - -AMADINE. My choice is made; for I will none but thee. - -SEGASTO. A worthy mate, no doubt, for such a wife. - -MUCEDORUS. And, Amadine, why wilt thou none but me? -I cannot keep thee, as thy father did; -I have no lands for to maintain thy state; -Moreover, if thou mean to be my wife, -Commonly this must be thy use: -To bed at midnight, up at four, -Drudge all day, and trudge from place to place, -Whereby our daily victuals for to win: -And last of all, which is the worst of all, -No princess then, but a plain shepherd's wife. - -CLOWN. Then God gi' you good morrow, goody shepherd! [_Aside_. - -AMADINE. It shall not need; if Amadine do live, -Thou shalt be crowned King of Arragon. - -CLOWN. O master, laugh; when he's king, then I'll be a queen. [_Aside_. - -MUCEDORUS. Then know that, which never tofore was known, -I am no shepherd, no Arragonian I, -But born of royal blood. My father's of Valentia -King, my mother Queen: who, for thy secret[193] sake, -Took this hard task in hand. - -AMADINE. Ah, how I joy my fortune is so good! - -SEGASTO. Well, now I see Segasto shall not speed; -But, Mucedorus, I as much do joy -To see thee here within our Court of Arragon, -As if a kingdom had befallen me this time. -I with my heart surrender her to thee. - [_He giveth her unto him_. -And loose[194] what right to Amadine I have. - -CLOWN. What, [a] barn's door, and born where my father -Was constable. A bots on thee! how dost thee? [_Aside_. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, Segasto; but yet you levell'd at the crown. - -CLOWN. Master, bear this and bear all. - -SEGASTO. Why so, sir? - -CLOWN. He sees you take a goose by the crown. - -SEGASTO. Go to, sir, away, post you to the King, -Whose heart is fraught with careful doubts; -Glad him up, and tell him these good news, -And we will follow as fast as we may. - -CLOWN. I go, master; I run, master. - - [_Exeunt severally. - - Enter the_ KING _and_ COLLEN. - -KING. Break, heart, and end my pallid[195] woes! -My Amadine, the comfort of my life, -How can I joy, except she were in sight? -Her absence breedeth sorrow to my soul, -And with a thunder breaks my heart in twain. - -COLLEN. Forbear those passions, gentle King, -And you shall see 'twill turn unto the best, -And bring your soul to quiet and to joy. - -KING. Such joy as death, I do assure me that, -And nought but death, unless of her I hear, -And that with speed; I cannot sigh thus long-- -But what a tumult do I hear within? - - [_They cry within, Joy and happiness_! - -COLLEN. I hear a noise of overpassing joy -Within the court. My lord, be of good comfort. -And here comes one in haste. - - _Enter the_ CLOWN, _running_. - -CLOWN. A King, a king, a king! - -COLLEN. Why, how now, sirrah? what's the matter? - -CLOWN. O, 'tis news for a king; 'tis worth money. - -KING. Why, sirrah, thou shalt have silver and gold, if it be good. - -CLOWN. O, 'tis good, 'tis good. Amadine-- - -KING. O, what of her? tell me, and I will make thee a knight. - -CLOWN. How, a sprite? no, by Lady, I will not be a sprite, masters. -Get ye away; if I be a sprite, I shall be so lean, I shall make you -all afraid. - -COLLEN. Thou sot, the King means to make thee a gentleman. - -CLOWN. Why, I shall want 'pparel. - -KING. Thou shalt want for nothing. - -CLOWN. Then stand away; trick[196] up thyself; here they come. - - _Enter_ SEGASTO, MUCEDORUS, _and_ AMADINE. - -AMADINE. My gracious father, pardon thy disloyal daughter. - -KING. What, do mine eyes behold my daughter -Amadin? Rise up, dear daughter, -And let these my embracing arms show some -Token of thy father's joy, which, ever since -Thy departure, hath languished in sorrow. - -AMADINE. Dear father, -Never were your sorrows greater than my griefs: -Never you so desolate as I comfortless. -Yet, nevertheless, acknowledging myself -To be the cause of both, on bended knees -I humbly crave your pardon. - -KING. I'll pardon thee, dear daughter, but as for -Him---- - -AMADINE. Ah, father! what of him? - -KING. As sure as I am king, and wear the crown, -I will revenge on that accursed wretch. - -MUCEDORUS. Yet, worthy prince, work not thy will in wrath: -Show favour. - -KING. Ay, such favour as thou deservest. - -MUCEDORUS. I do deserve the daughter of a king. - -KING. O, impudent! a shepherd and so insolent? - -MUCEDORUS. No shepherd [am] I, but a worthy prince. - -KING. In fair conceit, not princely born. - -MUCEDORUS. Yes, princely born; my father is a king, -My mother queen, and of Valentia both. - -KING. What, Mucedorus? welcome to our court! -What cause hadst thou to come to me disguis'd? - -MUCEDORUS. No cause to fear; I caused no offence, -But this--desiring thy daughter's virtues for to see, -Disguis'd myself from out my father's court, -Unknown to any. In secret I did rest, -And passed many troubles near to death; -So hath your daughter my partaker been, -As you shall know hereafter more at large, -Desiring you, you will give her to me, -Even as mine own, and sovereign of my life, -Then shall I think my travels are well spent. - -KING. With all my heart, but this-- -Segasto claims my promise made tofore, -That he should have her as his only wife, -Before my council, when we came from war. -Segasto, may I crave thee let it pass, -And give Amadine as wife to Mucedorus. - -SEGASTO. With all my heart, were it a far greater thing, -And what I may to furnish up their rites, -With pleasing sports and pastimes you shall see. - -KING. Thanks, good Segasto; I will think of this. - -MUCEDORUS. Thanks, good my lord; and while I live, -Account of me in what I can or may. - -AMADINE. And, good Segasto, these great courtesies -Shall not be forgot. - -CLOWN. Why, hark you, master! bones, what have you done? What, given -away the wench you made me take such pains for? you are wise indeed; -mass, and I had known of that, I would have had her myself. Faith, -master, now we may go to breakfast with a woodcock-pie. - -SEGASTO. Go, sir; you were best leave this knavery. - -KING. Come on, my lords, let's now to court, -Where we may finish up the joyfullest day -That ever happ'd to a distressed king.[197] -With mirth and joy and great solemnity -We'll finish up these Hymen's rites most pleasantly. - -CLOWN. Ho, lords! at the first, I am one too; but hear, Master King, -by your leave, a cast. Now you have done with them, I pray you begin -with me. - -KING. Why, what wouldst thou have? - -CLOWN. O, you forgot now! a little apparel to make's handsome. What, -should lords go so beggarly as I do? - -KING. What I did promise thee, I will perform. -Attend on me: come, let's depart. - - [_They all speak_. - -We'll wait on you with all our hearts. - -CLOWN. And with a piece of my liver too. - - [_Exeunt omnes_. - - _Enter_ COMEDY _and_ ENVY. - -COMEDY. How now, Envy? what, blushest thou already? -Peep forth, hide not thy head with shame; -But with a courage praise a woman's deeds. -Thy threats were vain, thou couldst do me no hurt, -Although thou seem'st to cross me with despite, -I overwhelm'd and turn'd upside down thy block, -And made thyself to stumble at the same. - -ENVY. Though stumbled, yet not overthrown: -Thou canst not draw my heart to mildness, -Yet must I needs confess thou hast done well, -And play'd thy part with mirth and pleasant glee. -Say all this; yet canst thou not conquer me, -Although this time thou hast got-- -Yet not the conquest neither, -A double revenge another time I'll have.[198] - -COMEDY. Then, caitiff cursed, stoop upon thy knee; -Yield to a woman, though not to me, -And from her foes high God defend her still, -That they 'gainst her may never work their will. - -ENVY. Envy, were he never so stout -Would beck and bow unto her majesty. -Indeed, Comedy, thou hast overrun me now, -And forc'd me stoop unto a woman's sway. -God grant her grace amongst us long may reign, -And those that would not have it so, -Would that by Envy soon their hearts they might forego. - -COMEDY. The council, nobles, and this realm, -Lord, guide it still with thy most holy hand! -The Commons and the subjects, grant them grace. -Their prince to serve, her to obey, and treason to deface: -Long may she reign in joy and great felicity, -Each Christian heart do say amen with me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - - - -THE TWO ANGRY WOMEN OF ABINGTON. - - - -_EDITION. - -The Pleasant Historie of the two angrie women of Abington. With the -humorous mirthe of Dick Coomes and Nicholas Prouerbes, two Seruingmen. -As it was lately playde by the right Honorable the Earle of Nottingham, -Lord high Admirall, his seruants. By Henry Porter Gent. Imprinted at -London for Ioseph Hunt, and William Ferbrand, and are to be solde at -the Corner of Colman-streete, neere Loathburie_. 1599. 4º. - -Another 4º, printed for Ferbrand alone, was published during the same -year.--_Dyce_. - - - - -[DYCE'S PREFACE.][199] - - -The text of the former 4°, which is, I apprehend, the earlier impression, -has been adopted in the present reprint, except where the readings of the -other edition have been occasionally preferred, and where obvious -typographical errors have been rectified. Every minute particular in -which the second 4° differs from the first, I have thought it unnecessary -to note. The absurd punctuation and faulty metrical arrangement of the -old copy have not been followed; and I must be allowed to add that I have -retained the original spelling only in accordance to the decision of the -Percy Council.[200] - -Though Henry Porter was a dramatist of considerable reputation, all his -productions, except the copy now reprinted, appear to have utterly -perished; and, I believe, the only materials to be found for his -biography are the subjoined memoranda in the Diary of Henslowe:[201]-- - - Pd this 23 of Aguste 1597 to Harey Porter to carye to | - T. Nashe now at this tyme in the fflete for wrytinge of | s - _the eylle of Dogges_ ten shellinges to bee paide agen to | x - me when he canne I say ten shillinges | - - Lent unto the company the 30 of Maye 1598 to bye a boocke | li - [202] called _Love prevented_ the some of fower powndes dd. | iiij - to Thomas Dowton, Mr Porter | - - Lent unto the company the 18 of Aguste 1598 to bye a Booke | li - called _Hoote Anger sone cowld_ of Mr Porter, Mr Cheattell | vj - and bengemen Johnson in full payment, the some of | - - Lent unto Thomas Dowton the 22 of Desember 1598 to bye a | li - boocke of Harey Porter called _the 2 pte of the 2 angrey_ | v - _Wemen of Abengton_ | - - Let unto Harey Porter at the request of the company in | - earnest of his booke called _ij merey women of abington_ | - the some of forty shellings and for the resayte of that | s - money he gave me his faythfull promise that I should have | xl - alle his bookes which he writte ether him selfe or with | - any other which some was dd. the 28th of febreary 1598[-9]. | - - Lent unto Harey Cheattell the 4 of March 1598[-9] in | s - earneste of his boocke which Harey Porter and he is a | x - writtinge the some of--called _the Spencers_. | - - Lent Harey Porter the 11 of Aprell 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Lent Hary Porter the 16 of Aprell 1599 the some of[203] | d - | xij - - Lent Harey Porter the 5 of Maye 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Lent Harey Porter the 15 of Maye 1599 the some of | s d - | ii vj - - Be it knowne unto all men that I Henry Porter do owe unto - Phillip Henchlowe the some of x's of lawfull money of - England which I did borrowe of hym the 26 of Maye a'o. dom. - 1599 Henry Porter[204]. - -"The Two Angry Women of Abington" is thus noticed by the late Charles -Lamb: "The pleasant comedy from which these extracts are taken is -contemporary with some of the earliest of Shakespeare's, and is no whit -inferior to either the 'Comedy of Errors' or the 'Taming of the Shrew,' -for instance. It is full of business, humour, and merry malice. Its -night scenes are peculiarly sprightly and wakeful. The versification -unencumbered, and rich with compound epithets."[205] - A.D. - - - -THE PROLOGUE. - -Gentlemen, I come to ye like one that lacks and would borrow, but was -loth to ask, lest he should be denied: I would ask, but I would ask to -obtain; O, would I knew that manner of asking! To beg were base; and to -couch low, and to carry an humble show of entreaty, were too dog-like, -that fawns on his master to get a bone from his trencher: out, cur! I -cannot abide it; to put on the shape and habit of this new world's -new-found beggars, mistermed soldiers[206], as thus: "Sweet gentlemen, -let a poor scholar implore and exerate that you would make him rich in -the possession of a mite of your favours, to keep him a true man in wit, -and to pay for his lodging among the Muses! so God him help, he is -driven to a most low estate! 'tis not unknown what service of words he -hath been at; he lost his limbs in a late conflict of flout; a brave -repulse and a hot assault it was, he doth protest, as ever he saw, since -he knew what the report of a volley of jests were; he shall therefore -desire you"--A plague upon it, each beadle disdained would whip him from -your company. Well, gentlemen, I cannot tell how to get your favours -better than by desert: then the worse luck, or the worse wit, or -somewhat, for I shall not now deserve it. Well, then[207], I commit -myself to my fortunes and your contents; contented to die, if your severe -judgments shall judge me to be stung to death with the adder's hiss. - - - -THE NAMES OF THE SPEAKERS.[208] - - -M[ASTER] GOURSEY. -MIST[RESS] GOURSEY. -M[ASTER] BARNES. -MIST[RESS] BARNES. -FRANK GOURSEY. -PHILIP [BARNES.] -BOY. -MALL BARNES. -DICK COOMES. -HODGE. -NICHOLAS PROVERBS. -SIR RALPH SMITH. -[LADY SMITH.] -WILL, _Sir Ralph's man. -[Other Attendants_.] - - - - -THE PLEASANT COMEDY OF THE TWO ANGRY WOMEN OF ABINGTON. - - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY _and his wife, and_ MASTER BARNES - _and his wife, with their two sons, and their two servants_. - -MASTER GOURSEY. Good Master Barnes, this entertain of yours, -So full of courtesy and rich delight, -Makes me misdoubt my poor ability -In quittance of this friendly courtesy. - -MR BAR. O Master Goursey, neighbour-amity -Is such a jewel of high-reckoned worth, -As for the attain of it what would not I -Disburse, it is so precious in my thoughts! - -MR GOUR. Kind sir, near-dwelling amity indeed -Offers the heart's inquiry better view -Than love that's seated in a farther soil: -As prospectives[209], the[210] nearer that they be, -Yield better judgment to the judging eye; -Things seen far off are lessened in the eye, -When their true shape is seen being hard by. - -MR BAR. True, sir, 'tis so; and truly I esteem -Mere[211] amity, familiar neighbourhood, -The cousin german unto wedded love. - -MR GOUR. Ay, sir, there's surely some alliance 'twixt them, -For they have both the offspring from the heart: -Within the heart's-blood-ocean still are found -Jewels of amity and gems of love. - -MR BAR. Ay, Master Goursey, I have in my time -Seen many shipwrecks of true honesty; -But incident such dangers ever are -To them that without compass sail so far: -Why, what need men to swim, when they may wade?-- -But leave this talk, enough of this is said: -And, Master Goursey, in good faith, sir, welcome;-- -And, Mistress Goursey, I am much in debt -Unto your kindness that would visit me. - -MRS GOUR. O Master Barnes, you put me but in mind -Of that which I should say; 'tis we that are -Indebted to your kindness for this cheer: -Which debt that we may repay, I pray let's have -Sometimes your company at our homely house. - -MRS BAR. That, Mistress Goursey, you shall surely have; -He'll[212] be a bold guest, I warrant ye, -And bolder too with you than I would have him. - -MRS. GOUR. How, do you mean he will be bold with me? - -MRS BAR. Why, he will trouble you at home, forsooth, -Often call in, and ask ye how ye do; -And sit and chat with you all day till night, -And all night too,[213] if he might have his will. - -MR BAR. Ay, wife, indeed I thank her for her kindness; -She hath made me much good cheer passing that way. - -MRS BAR. Passing well-done of her, she is a kind wench. -I thank ye, Mistress Goursey, for my husband; -And if it hap your husband come our way -A-hunting or such ordinary sports, -I'll do as much for yours as you for mine. - -MR GOUR. Pray do, forsooth.--God's Lord, what means the woman? -She speaks it scornfully: faith, I care not; -Things are well-spoken, if they be well-taken. [_Aside_.] -What, Mistress Barnes, is it not time to part? - -MRS BAR. What's a-clock, sirrah? - -NICHOLAS. 'Tis but new-struck one. - -MR GOUR. I have some business in the town by three. - -MR BAR. Till then let's walk into the orchard, sir. -What, can you play at tables? - -MR GOUR. Yes, I can. - -MR BAR. What, shall we have a game? - -MR GOUR. And if you please. - -MR BAR. I'faith, content; we'll spend an hour so. -Sirrah, fetch the tables.[214] - -NICH. I will, sir. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Sirrah Frank, whilst they are playing here, -We'll to the green to bowls. - -FRAN. Philip, content. Coomes, come hither, sirrah: -When our fathers part, call us upon the green. -Philip, come, a rubbers[215], and so leave. - -PHIL. Come on. - [_Exeunt_ PHILIP _and_ FRANCIS.] - -COOMES. 'Sbloud, I do not like the humour of these springals; they'll -spend all their fathers' good at gaming. But let them trowl the bowls -upon the green. I'll trowl the bowls in the buttery by the leave of God -and Master Barnes: and his men be good fellows, so it is; if they be -not, let them go snick up[216]. - [_Exit. - - Enter_ NICHOLAS _with the tables_. - -MR BAR. So, set them down. -Mistress Goursey, how do you like this game? - -MRS GOUR. Well, sir. - -MR BAR. Can ye play at it? - -MRS GOUR. A little, sir. - -MR BAR. Faith, so can my wife. - -MR GOUR. Why, then, Master Barnes, and if you please, -Our wives shall try the quarrel 'twixt us two, -And we'll look on. - -MR BAR. I am content. What, women[217], will you play? - -MRS GOUR. I care not greatly. - -MRS BAR. Nor I, but that I think she'll play me false. - -MR GOUR. I'll see she shall not. - -MRS BAR. Nay, sir, she will be sure you shall not see; -You, of all men, shall not mark her hand; -She hath such close conveyance in her play. - -MR GOUR. Is she so cunning grown? Come, come, let's see. - -MRS GOUR. Yea, Mistress Barnes, will ye not house your jests, -But let them roam abroad so carelessly? -Faith, if your jealous tongue utter another, -I'll cross ye with a jest, and ye were my mother.-- -Come, shall we play? [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Ay, what shall we play a game? - -MRS GOUR. A pound a game. - -MR GOUR. How, wife? - -MRS GOUR. Faith, husband, not a farthing less. - -MR GOUR. It is too much; a shilling were good game. - -MRS GOUR. No, we'll be ill-huswives once; -You have been oft ill husbands: let's alone. - -MR BAR. Wife, will you play so much? - -MRS BAR. I would be loth to be so frank a gamester -As Mistress Goursey is; and yet for once -I'll play a pound a game as well as she. - -MR BAR. Go to, you'll have your will - [_Offer to go from them_. - -MRS BAR. Come, there's my stake. - -MRS GOUR. And there's mine. - -MRS BAR. Throw for the dice. Ill luck! then they are yours. - -MR BAR. Master Goursey, who says that gaming's bad, -When such good angels[218] walk 'twixt every cast? - -MR GOUR. This is not noble sport, but royal play. - -MR BAR. It must be so, where royals[218] walk so fast. - -MRS BAR. Play right, I pray. - -MRS GOUR. Why, so I do. - -MRS BAR. Where stands your man? - -MRS GOUR. In his right place. - -MRS BAR. Good faith, I think ye play me foul an ace. - -MR BAR. No, wife, she plays ye true. - -MRS BAR. Peace, husband, peace; I'll not be judg'd by you. - -MRS GOUR. Husband, Master Barnes, pray, both go walk! -We cannot play if standers-by do talk. - -MR GOUR. Well, to your game; we will not trouble ye. - [_Go from them_. - -MRS GOUR. Where stands your man now? - -MRS BAR. Doth he not stand right? - -MRS GOUR. It stands between the points. - -MRS BAR. And that's my spite. -But yet methinks the dice runs much uneven. -That I throw but deuce-ace and you eleven. - -MRS GOUR. And yet you see that I cast down the hill. - -MRS BAR. Ay, I beshrew ye, 'tis not with my will. - -MRS GOUR. Do ye beshrew me? - -MRS BAR. No, I beshrew the dice, -That turn you up more at once than me at twice. - -MRS GOUR. Well, you shall see them turn for you anon. - -MRS BAR. But I care not for them, when your game is done. - -MRS GOUR. My game! what game? - -MRS BAR. Your game, your game at tables. - -MRS GOUR. Well, mistress, well; I have read Aesop's fables, -And know your moral meaning well enough. - -MRS BAR. Lo, you'll be angry now! here's[219] good stuff. - -MR GOUR. How now, women?[220] who hath won the game? - -MRS GOUR. Nobody yet. - -MR BAR. Your wife's the fairest for't. - -MRS BAR. Ay, in your eye. - -MRS GOUR. How do you mean? - -MRS BAR. He holds you fairer for't than I. - -MRS GOUR. For what, forsooth? - -MRS BAR. Good gamester, for your game. - -MR BAR. Well, try it out; 'tis all but in the bearing[221]. - -MRS BAR. Nay, if it come to bearing, she'll be best. - -MRS GOUR. Why, you're as good a bearer as the rest. - -MRS BAR. Nay, that's not so; you bear one man too many. - -MRS GOUR. Better do so than bear not any. - -MR BAR. Beshrew me, but my wife's jests grow too bitter; -Plainer speeches for her were more fitter[222]: -Malice lies embowelled in her tongue, -And new hatch'd hate makes every jest a wrong. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Look ye, mistress, now I hit ye. - -MRS BAR. Why, ay, you never use to miss a blot[223], -Especially when it stands so fair to hit. - -MRS GOUR. How mean ye, Mistress Barnes? - -MRS BAR. That Mistress Goursey's in the hitting vein. - -MRS GOUR. I hot[224] your man. - -MRS BAR. Ay, ay, my man, my man; but, had I known, -I would have had my man stood nearer home. - -MRS GOUR. Why, had ye kept your man in his right place, -I should not then have hit him with an ace. - -MRS BAR. Right, by the Lord! a plague upon the bones! - -MRS GOUR. And a hot mischief on the curser too! - -MR BAR. How now, wife? - -MR GOUR. Why, what's the matter, woman? - -MRS GOUR. It is no matter; I am-- - -MRS BAR. Ay, you are-- - -MRS GOUR. What am I? - -MRS BAR. Why, that's as you will be ever. - -MRS GOUR. That's every day as good as Barnes's wife. - -MRS BAR. And better too: then, what needs all this trouble? -A single horse is worse than that bears double. - -MR BAR. Wife, go to, have regard to what you say; -Let not your words pass forth the verge of reason, -But keep within the bounds of modesty; -For ill-report doth like a bailiff stand, -To pound the straying and the wit-lost tongue, -And makes it forfeit into folly's hands. -Well, wife, you know it is no honest part -To entertain such guests with jests and wrongs: -What will the neighbouring country vulgar say, -When as they hear that you fell out at dinner? -Forsooth, they'll call it a pot-quarrel straight; -The best they'll name it is a woman's jangling. -Go to, be rul'd, be rul'd. - -MRS BAR. God's Lord, be rul'd, be rul'd! -What, think ye I have such a baby's wit, -To have a rod's correction for my tongue? -School infancy! I am of age to speak, -And I know when to speak: shall I be chid -For such a-- - -MRS GOUR. What-a? nay, mistress, speak it out; -I scorn your stopp'd compares: compare not me -To any but your equals, Mistress Barnes. - -MR GOUR. Peace, wife, be quiet. - -MR BAR. O, persuade, persuade! -Wife, Mistress Goursey, shall I win your thoughts -To composition of some kind effects? -Wife, if you love your credit, leave this strife, -And come shake hands with Mistress Goursey here. - -MRS BAR. Shall I shake hands? let her go shake her heels; -She gets nor hands nor friendship at my hands: -And so, sir, while I live, I will take heed, -What guests I bid again unto my house. - -MR BAR. Impatient woman, will you be so stiff -In this absurdness? - -MRS BAR. I am impatient now I speak; -But, sir, I'll tell you more another time: -Go to, I will not take it as I have done. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. Nay, she might stay; I will not long be here -To trouble her. Well, Master Barnes, -I am sorry that it was our haps to-day, -To have our pleasures parted with this fray: -I am sorry too for all that is amiss, -Especially that you are mov'd in this; -But be not so, 'tis but a woman's jar: -Their tongues are weapons, words their blows of war; -'Twas but a while we buffeted, you saw, -And each of us was willing to withdraw; -There was no harm nor bloodshed, you did see: -Tush, fear us not, for we shall well agree. -I take my leave, sir. Come, kind-hearted man, -That speaks his wife so fair--ay, now and then; -I know you would not for an hundreth pound, -That I should hear your voice's churlish sound; -I know you have a far more milder tune -Than "Peace, be quiet, wife;" but I have done. -Will ye go home? the door directs the way; -But, if you will not, my duty is to stay[225]. - -MR BAR. Ha, ha! why, here's a right woman, is there not? -They both have din'd, yet see what stomachs they have! - -MR. GOUR. Well, Master Barnes, we cannot do withal[226]: -Let us be friends still-- - -MR BAR. O Master Goursey, the mettle of our minds, -Having the temper of true reason in them. -Affords[227] a better edge of argument -For the maintain of our familiar loves -Than the soft leaden wit of women can; -Wherefore with all the parts of neighbour-love -I [do] impart[228] myself to Master Goursey. - -MR GOUR. And with exchange of love I do receive it: -Then here we'll part, partners of two curs'd wives. - -MR BAR. O, where shall we find a man so bless'd that is not? -But come; your business and my home-affairs -Makes me deliver that unfriendly word -'Mongst friends--farewell. - -MR GOUR. Twenty farewells, sir. - -MR BAR. But hark ye, Master Goursey; -Look ye persuade at home, as I will do: -What, man! we must not always have them foes. - -MR GOUR. If I can help it. - -MR BAR. God help, God help! -Women are even untoward creatures still. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP, FRANCIS, _and his_ BOY, _from bowling_. - -PHIL. Come on, Frank Goursey: you have had good luck -To win the game. - -FRAN. Why, tell me, is't not good, -That never play'd before upon your green? - -PHIL. 'Tis good, but that it cost me ten good crowns; -That makes it worse. - -FRAN. Let it not grieve thee, man; come o'er to us; -We will devise some game to make you win -Your money back again, sweet Philip. - -PHIL. And that shall be ere long, and if I live: -But tell me, Francis, what good horses have ye, -To hunt this summer? - -FRAN. Two or three jades, or so. - -PHIL. Be they but jades? - -FRAN. No, faith; my wag-string here -Did founder one the last time that he rid-- -The best grey nag that ever I laid my leg over. - -BOY. You mean the flea-bitten. - -FRAN. Good sir, the same. - -BOY. And was the same the best that e'er you rid on? - -FRAN. Ay, was it, sir. - -BOY. I'faith, it was not, sir. - -FRAN. No! where had I one so good? - -BOY. One of my colour, and a better too. - -FRAN. One of your colour? I ne'er remember him: -One of that colour! - -BOY. Or of that complexion. - -FRAN. What's that ye call complexion in a horse? - -BOY. The colour, sir. - -FRAN. Set me a colour on your jest, or I will-- - -BOY. Nay, good sir, hold your hands! - -FRAN. What, shall we have it? - -BOY. Why, sir, I cannot paint. - -FRAN. Well, then, I can; -And I shall find a pencil for ye, sir. - -BOY. Then I must find the table, if you do. - -FRAN. A whoreson, barren, wicked urchin! - -BOY. Look how you chafe! you would be angry more, -If I should tell it you. - -FRAN. Go to, I'll anger ye, and if you do not. - -BOY. Why, sir, the horse that I do mean -Hath a leg both straight and clean, -That hath nor spaven, splint, nor flaw, -But is the best that ever ye saw; -A pretty rising knee--O knee! -It is as round as round may be; -The full flank makes the buttock round: -This palfrey standeth on no ground, -When as my master's on her back, -If that he once do say but, tack:[229] -And if he prick her, you shall see -Her gallop amain, she is so free; -And if he give her but a nod, -She thinks it is a riding-rod; -And if he'll have her softly go, -Then she trips it like a doe; -She comes so easy with the rein, -A twine-thread turns her back again; -And truly I did ne'er see yet -A horse play proudlier on the bit: -My master with good managing -Brought her first unto the ring;[230] -He likewise taught her to corvet, -To run, and suddenly to set; -She's cunning in the wild-goose race, -Nay, she's apt to every pace; -And to prove her colour good, -A flea, enamour'd of her blood, -Digg'd for channels in her neck, -And there made many a crimson speck: -I think there's none that use to ride -But can her pleasant trot abide; -She goes so even upon the way, -She will not stumble in a day; -And when my master-- - -FRAN. What do I? - -BOY. Nay, nothing, sir. - -PHIL. O, fie, Frank, fie! -Nay, nay, your reason hath no justice now, -I must needs say; persuade him first to speak, -Then chide him for it! Tell me, pretty wag, -Where stands this prancer, in what inn or stable? -Or hath thy master put her out to run, -Then in what field, what champion,[231] feeds this courser, -This well-pac'd, bonny steed that thou so praisest? - -BOY. Faith, sir, I think-- - -FRAN. Villain, what do ye think? - -BOY. I think that you, sir, have been ask'd by many, -But yet I never heard that ye told any. - -PHIL. Well, boy, then I will add one more to many. -And ask thy master where this jennet feeds. -Come, Frank, tell me--nay, prythee, tell me, Frank, -My good horse-master, tell me--by this light, -I will not steal her from thee; if I do, -Let me be held a felon to thy love. - -FRAN. No, Philip, no. - -PHIL. What, wilt thou wear a point[232] but with one tag? -Well, Francis, well, I see you are a wag. - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. 'Swounds, where be these timber-turners, -these trowl-the-bowls, these green-men, these-- - -FRAN. What, what, sir? - -COOMES. These bowlers, sir. - -FRAN. Well, sir, what say you to bowlers? - -COOMES. Why, I say they cannot be saved. - -FRAN. Your reason, sir? - -COOMES. Because they throw away their souls at every mark. - -FRAN. Their souls! how mean ye? - -PHIL. Sirrah, he means the soul of the bowl. - -FRAN. Lord, how his wit holds bias like a bowl! - -COOMES. Well, which is the bias? - -FRAN. This next to you. - -COOMES. Nay, turn it this way, then the bowl goes true. - -BOY. Rub, rub! - -COOMES. Why rub? - -BOY. Why, you overcast the mark, and miss the way. - -COOMES. Nay, boy, I use to take the fairest of my play. - -PHIL. Dick Coomes, methinks thou art[233] very pleasant: -Where[234] got'st thou this merry humour? - -COOMES. In your father's cellar, the merriest place in th' house. - -PHIL. Then you have been carousing hard? - -COOMES. Yes, faith, 'tis our custom, when your father's men and we meet. - -PHIL. Thou art very welcome thither, Dick. - -COOMES. By God, I thank ye, sir, I thank ye, sir: by God, I have a quart -of wine for ye, sir, in any place of the world. There shall not a -servingman in Barkshire fight better for ye than I will do, if you have -any quarrel in hand: you shall have the maidenhead of my new sword; I -paid a quarter's wages for't, by Jesus. - -PHIL. O, this meat-failer Dick! -How well't has made the apparel of his wit, -And brought it into fashion of an honour! -Prythee, Dick Coomes, but tell me how thou dost? - -COOMES. Faith, sir, like a poor man of service. - -PHIL. Or servingman. - -COOMES. Indeed, so called by the vulgar. - -PHIL. Why, where the devil hadst thou that word? - -COOMES. O, sir, you have the most eloquent ale in all the[235] world; -our blunt soil affords none such. - -FRAN. Philip, leave talking with this drunken fool. Say, sirrah, -where's my father? - -COOMES. "Marry, I thank ye for my very good cheer,--O Lord, it is not -so much worth.--You see I am bold with ye.--Indeed, you are not so bold -as welcome; I pray ye, come oft'ner.--Truly, I shall trouble ye." All -these ceremonies are despatch'd between them, and they are gone. - -FRAN. Are they so? - -COOMES. Ay, before God, are they. - -FRAN. And wherefore came not you to call me then? - -COOMES. Because I was loth to change my game. - -FRAN. What game? - -COOMES. You were at one sort of bowls as I was at another. - -PHIL. Sirrah, he means the butt'ry bowls of beer. - -COOMES. By God, sir, we tickled it. - -FRAN. Why, what a swearing keeps this drunken ass? -Canst thou not say but swear at every word? - -PHIL. Peace, do not mar his humour, prythee, Frank. - -COOMES. Let him alone; he's a springall; he knows not what belongs -to an oath. - -FRAN. Sirrah, be quiet, or I do protest-- - -COOMES. Come, come, what do you protest? - -FRAN. By heaven, to crack your crown. - -COOMES. To crack my crown! I lay ye a crown of that, lay it down, and -ye dare; nay, 'sblood, I'll venture a quarter's wages of that. Crack my -crown, quotha! - -FRAN. Will ye not yet be quiet? will ye urge me? - -COOMES. Urge ye, with a pox! who urges ye? You might have said so much -to a clown, or one that had not been o'er the sea to see fashions: I -have, I tell ye true; and I know what belongs to a man. Crack my crown, -and ye can. - -FRAN. And I can, ye rascal! - -PHIL. Hold, hair-brain, hold! dost thou not see he's drunk? - -COOMES. Nay, let him come: though he be my master's son, I am my -master's man, and a man is a man in any ground of England. Come, and he -dares, a comes upon his death: I will not budge an inch, no, 'sblood, -will I[236] not. - -FRAN. Will ye not? - -PHIL. Stay, prythee, Frank. Coomes, dost thou hear? - -COOMES. Hear me no hears: stand away, I'll trust none of you all. If I -have my back against a cartwheel, I would not care if the devil came. - -PHIL. Why, ye fool, I am your friend. - -COOMES. Fool on your face! I have a wife. - -FRAN. She's a whore, then. - -COOMES. She's as honest as Nan Lawson. - -PHIL. What's she? - -COOMES. One of his whores. - -PHIL. Why, hath he so many? - -COOMES. Ay, as many as there be churches in London. - -PHIL. Why, that's a hundred and nine. - -BOY. Faith, he lies a hundred. - -PHIL. Then thou art a witness to nine. - -BOY. No, by God, I'll be witness to none. - -COOMES. Now do I stand like the George at Colebrook. - -BOY. No, thou stand'st like the Bull at St Alban's. - -COOMES. Boy, ye lie--the Horns.[237] - -BOY. The bull's bitten; see, how he butts! - -PHIL. Coomes, Coomes, put up;[238] my friend and thou art friends. - -COOMES. I'll hear him say so first. - -PHIL. Frank, prythee, do; be friends, and tell him so. - -FRAN. Go to, I am. - -BOY. Put up, sir; and ye be a man, put up. - -COOMES. I am easily persuaded, boy. - -PHIL. Ah, ye mad slave! - -COOMES. Come, come, a couple of whoremasters I found ye, -and so I leave ye. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Lo, Frank, dost thou not see he's drunk, -That twits thee[239] with thy disposition? - -FRAN. What disposition? - -PHIL. Nan Lawson, Nan Lawson. - -FRAN. Nay, then-- - -PHIL. Go to, ye wag, 'tis well: -If ever ye get a wife, i'faith I'll tell. -Sirrah, at home we have a servingman; -He is[240] not humour'd bluntly as Coomes is, -Yet his condition[241] makes me often merry: -I'll tell thee, sirrah, he's a fine neat fellow, -A spruce slave; I warrant ye, he will[242] have -His cruel garters[243] cross about the knee, -His woollen hose as white as th'driven snow, -His shoes dry-leather neat, and tied with red ribbons, -A nosegay bound with laces in his hat-- -Bridelaces, sir--and his hat all green[244], -Green coverlet for such a grass-green wit. -"The goose that grazeth on the green," quoth he, -"May I eat on, when you shall buried be!" -All proverbs is his speech, he's proverbs all. - -FRAN. Why speaks he proverbs? - -PHIL. Because he would speak truth, -And proverbs, you'll confess, are old-said sooth. - -FRAN. I like this well, and one day I will see him: -But shall we part? - -PHIL. Not yet, I'll bring ye somewhat on your way, -And as we go, between your boy and you -I'll know where that brave prancer stands at livery. - -FRAN. Come, come, you shall not. - -PHIL. I'faith, I will. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MASTER BARNES _and his Wife_. - -MR BAR. Wife, in my mind to-day you were to blame, -Although my patience did not blame ye for it: -Methought the rules of love and neighbourhood -Did not direct your thoughts; all indiscreet[245] -Were your proceedings in the entertain -Of them that I invited to my house. -Nay, stay, I do not chide, but counsel, wife, -And in the mildest manner that I may: -You need not view me with a servant's eye, -Whose vassal[246] senses tremble at the look -Of his displeased master. O my wife, -You are myself! when self sees fault in self, -Self is sin-obstinate, if self amend not: -Indeed, I saw a fault in thee myself, -And it hath set a foil upon thy fame, -Not as the foil doth grace the diamond. - -MRS BAR. What fault, sir, did you see in me to-day? - -MR BAR. O, do not set the organ of thy voice -On such a grunting key of discontent! -Do not deform the beauty of thy tongue -With such misshapen answers. Rough wrathful words -Are bastards got by rashness in the thoughts: -Fair demeanours are virtue's nuptial babes, -The offspring of the well-instructed soul; -O, let them call thee mother, then, my wife! -So seem not barren of good courtesy. - -MRS BAR. So; have ye done? - -MR BAR. Ay, and I had done well, -If you would do what I advise for well. - -MRS BAR. What's that? - -MR BAR. Which is, that you would be good friends -With Mistress Goursey. - -MRS BAR. With Mistress Goursey! - -MR BAR. Ay, sweet wife. - -MRS BAR. Not so, sweet husband. - -MR BAR. Could you but show me any grounded cause. - -MRS BAR. The grounded cause I ground, because I will not. - -MR BAR. Your will hath little reason, then, I think. - -MRS BAR. Yes, sir, my reason equalleth my will. - -MR BAR. Let's hear your reason, for your will is great. - -MRS BAR. Why, for I will not. - -MR BAR. Is all your reason "for I will not," wife? -Now, by my soul, I held ye for more wise, -Discreet, and of more temp'rature in sense, -Than in a sullen humour to affect -That woman's[247] will--borne, common, scholar phrase: -Oft have I heard a timely-married girl, -That newly left to call her mother mam, -Her father dad: but yesterday come from -"That's my good girl, God send thee a good husband!" -And now being taught to speak the name of husband, -Will, when she would be wanton in her will, -If her husband ask'd her why, say "for I will." -Have I chid men for[248] [an] unmanly choice, -That would not fit their years? have I seen thee -Pupil such green young things, and with thy counsel -Tutor their wits? and art thou now infected -With this disease of imperfection? -I blush for thee, ashamed at thy shame. - -MRS BAR. A shame on her that makes thee rate me so! - -MR BAR. O black-mouth'd rage, thy breath is boisterous, -And thou mak'st virtue shake at this high storm! -She is[249] of good report; I know thou know'st it. - -MRS BAR. She is not, nor I know not, but I know -That thou dost love her, therefore think'st her so; -Thou bear'st with her, because she bears with thee. -Thou may'st be ashamed to stand in her defence: -She is a strumpet, and thou art no honest man -To stand in her defence against thy wife. -If I catch her in my walk, now, by Cock's[250] bones, -I'll scratch out both her eyes. - -MR BAR. O God! - -MRS BAR. Nay, never say "O God" for the matter: -Thou art the cause; thou bad'st her to my house, -Only to blear the eyes of Goursey, did'st not? -But I will send him word, I warrant thee, -And ere I sleep too, trust upon it, sir. - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Methinks this is a mighty fault in her; -I could be angry with her: O, if I be so, -I shall but put a link unto a torch, -And so give greater light to see her fault. -I'll rather smother it in melancholy: -Nay, wisdom bids me shun that passion; -Then I will study for a remedy. -I have a daughter,--now, heaven invocate, -She be not of like spirit as her mother! -If so, she'll be a plague unto her husband, -If that he be not patient and discreet, -For that I hold the ease of all such trouble. -Well, well, I would my daughter had a husband, -For I would see how she would demean herself -In that estate; it may be, ill enough,-- -And, so God shall help me, well-remembered now! -Frank Goursey is his father's son and heir: -A youth that in my heart I have good hope on; -My senses say a match, my soul applauds -The motion: O, but his lands are great, -He will look high; why, I will strain myself -To make her dowry equal with his land. -Good faith, and 'twere a match, 'twould be a means -To make their mothers friends. I'll call my daughter, -To see how she's dispos'd to marriage.-- -Mall, where are ye? - - _Enter_ MALL. - -MALL. Father, here I am. - -MR BAR. Where is your mother? - -MALL. I saw her not, forsooth, since you and she -Went walking both together to the garden. - -MR BAR. Dost thou hear me, girl? I must dispute with thee. - -MALL. Father, the question then must not be hard, -For I am very weak in argument. - -MR BAR. Well, this it is; I say 'tis good to marry. - -MALL. And this say I, 'tis not good to marry. - -MR BAR. Were it not good, then all men would not marry; -But now they do. - -MALL. Marry, not all; but it is good to marry. - -MR BAR. Is it both good and bad; how can this be? - -MALL. Why, it is good to them that marry well; -To them that marry ill, no greater hell. - -MR BAR. If thou might marry well, wouldst thou agree? - -MALL. I cannot tell; heaven must appoint for me. - -MR BAR. Wench, I am studying for thy good indeed. - -MALL. My hopes and duty wish your thoughts good speed. - -MR BAR. But tell me, wench, hast thou a mind to marry? - -MALL. This question is too hard for bashfulness; -And, father, now ye pose my modesty. -I am a maid, and when ye ask me thus, -I, like a maid, must blush, look pale and wan, -And then look red[251] again; for we change colour, -As our thoughts change. With true-fac'd passion -Of modest maidenhead I could adorn me, -And to your question make a sober cour'sey, -And with close-clipp'd civility be silent; -Or else say "No, forsooth," or "Ay, forsooth." -If I said, "No, forsooth," I lied forsooth: -To lie upon myself were deadly sin, -Therefore I will speak truth and shame the devil. -Father, when first I heard ye name a husband, -At that same very time my spirits quickened. -Despair before had kill'd them, they were dead: -Because it was my hap so long to tarry, -I was persuaded I should never marry; -And sitting sewing thus upon the ground, -I fell in trance of meditation; -But coming to myself, "O Lord," said I, -"Shall it be so I must I unmarried die?" -And, being angry, father, farther, said-- -"Now, by Saint Anne, I will not die a maid!" -Good faith, before I came to this ripe growth, -I did accuse the labouring time of sloth; -Methought the year did run but slow about, -For I thought each year ten I was without. -Being fourteen and toward the tother year, -Good Lord, thought I, fifteen will ne'er be here! -For I have heard my mother say that then -Pretty maids were fit for handsome men: -Fifteen past, sixteen, and seventeen too, -What, thought I, will not this husband do? -Will no man marry me? have men forsworn -Such beauty and such youth? shall youth be worn -As rich men's gowns, more with age than use? -Why, then I let restrained fancy loose, -And bad it gaze for pleasure; then love swore me -To do whate'er my mother did before me; -Yet, in good faith, I have been very loth, -But now it lies in you to save my oath: -If I shall have a husband, get him quickly, -For maids that wear cork shoes may step awry. - -MR BAR. Believe me, wench, I do not reprehend[252] thee, -But for this pleasant answer do commend thee. -I must confess, love doth thee mighty wrong, -But I will see thee have thy right ere long; -I know a young man, whom I hold most fit -To have thee both for living and for wit: -I will go write about it presently. - -MALL. Good father, do. [_Exit_ [BARNES]. - O God, methinks I should -Wife it as fine as any woman could! -I could carry a port to be obeyed, -Carry a mastering eye upon my maid, -With "Minion, do your business, or I'll make ye," -And to all house authority betake me. -O God! would I were married! by my troth, -But if I be not, I swear I'll keep my oath. - - _Enter_ MRS BARNES. - -MRS BAR. How now, minion, where have you been gadding? - -MALL. Forsooth, my father called me forth to him. - -MRS BAR. Your father! and what said he to ye, I pray? - -MALL. Nothing, forsooth. - -MRS BAR. Nothing! that cannot be; something he said. - -MALL. Ay, something that as good as nothing was. - -MRS BAR. Come, let me hear that something-nothing, then. - -MALL. Nothing but of a husband for me, mother. - -MRS BAR. A husband! that was something; but what husband? - -MALL. Nay, faith, I know not, mother: would I did! - -MRS BAR. Ay, "would ye did!" i'faith, are ye so hasty? - -MALL. Hasty, mother! why, how old am I? - -MRS BAR. Too young to marry. - -MALL. Nay, by the mass, ye lie. -Mother, how old were you when you did marry? - -MRS BAR. How old soe'er I was, yet you shall tarry. - -MALL. Then the worse for me. Hark, mother, hark! -The priest forgets that e'er he was a clerk: -When you were at my years, I'll hold my life, -Your mind was to change maidenhead for wife. -Pardon me, mother, I am of your mind, -And, by my troth, I take it but by kind.[253] - -MRS BAR. Do ye hear, daughter? you shall stay my leisure. - -MALL. Do you hear, mother? would you stay from pleasure, -When ye have mind to it? Go to, there's no wrong -Like this, to let maids lie alone so long: -Lying alone they muse but in their beds, -How they might lose their long-kept maidenheads. -This is the cause there is so many scapes, -For women that are wise will not lead apes -In hell: I tell ye, mother, I say true; -Therefore come husband: maidenhead adieu! [_Exit_. - -MRS BAR. Well, lusty guts, I mean to make ye stay, -And set some rubs in your mind's smoothest way[254]. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. Mother-- - -MRS BAR. How now, sirrah; where have you been walking? - -PHIL. Over the meads, half-way to Milton, mother, -To bear my friend, Frank Goursey, company. - -MRS BAR. Where's your blue coat[255], your sword and buckler, sir? -Get you such like habit for a serving-man, -If you will wait upon the brat of Goursey. - -PHIL. Mother, that you are mov'd, this makes me wonder; -When I departed, I did leave ye friends: -What undigested jar hath since betided? - -MRS BAR. Such as almost doth choke thy mother, boy, -And stifles her with the conceit of it; -I am abus'd, my son, by Goursey's wife. - -PHIL. By Mistress Goursey. - -MRS BAR. Mistress Flirt--yea[256], foul strumpet, -Light-a-love, short-heels! Mistress Goursey -Call her again, and thou wert better no. - -PHIL. O my dear mother, have some patience! - -MRS BAR. Ay, sir, have patience, and see your father -To rifle up the treasure of my love, -And play the spendthrift upon such an harlot! -This same will make me have patience, will it not? - -PHIL. This same is women's most impatience: -Yet, mother, I have often heard ye say, -That you have found my father temperate, -And ever free from such affections. - -MRS BAR. Ay, till[257] my too much love did glut his thoughts, -And make him seek for change. - -PHIL. O, change your mind! -My father bears more cordial love to you. - -MRS BAR. Thou liest, thou liest, for he loves Goursey's wife, -Not me. - -PHIL. Now I swear, mother, you are much to blame; -I durst be sworn he loves you as his soul. - -MRS BAR. Wilt thou be pampered by affection? -Will nature teach thee such vild[258] perjury? -Wilt thou be sworn, ay, forsworn,[259] careless boy? -And if thou swear't, I say he loves me not. - -PHIL. [Mother] he loves[260] ye but too well, I swear, -Unless ye knew much better how to use him. - -MRS BAR. Doth he so, sir? thou unnatural boy! -"Too well," sayest thou? that word shall cost thee[261] somewhat: -O monstrous! have I brought thee up to this? -"Too well!" O unkind, wicked, and degenerate, -Hast thou the heart to say so of thy mother? -Well, God will plague thee for't, I warrant thee: -Out on thee, villain! fie upon thee, wretch! -Out of my sight, out of my sight, I say! - -PHIL. This air is pleasant, and doth please me well, -And here I will stay. - -MRS BAR. Wilt thou, stubborn villain? - - _Enter_ MR BARNES. - -MR BAR. How now, what's the matter? - -MRS BAR. Thou sett'st thy son to scoff and mock at me: -Is't not sufficient I am wrong'd of thee, -But he must be an agent to abuse me? -Must I be subject to my cradle too? -O God, O God, amend it! - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Why, how now, Philip? is this true, my son? - -PHIL. Dear father, she is much impatient: -Ne'er let that hand assist me in my need, -If I more said than that she thought amiss -To think that you were so licentious given; -And thus much more, when she inferr'd it more, -I swore an oath you lov'd her but too well: -In that as guilty I do hold myself. -Now that I come to more considerate trial, -I know my fault: I should have borne with her: -Blame me for rashness, then, not for want of duty. - -MR BAR. I do absolve thee; and come hither, Philip: -I have writ a letter unto Master Goursey, -And I will tell thee the contents thereof; -But tell me first, think'st thou Frank Goursey loves thee? - -PHIL. If that a man devoted to a man, -Loyal, religious in love's hallowed vows-- -If that a man that is sole laboursome -To work his own thoughts to his friend's delight, -May purchase good opinion with his friend, -Then I may say, I have done this so well, -That I may think Frank Goursey loves me well. - -MR BAR. 'Tis well; and I am much deceived in him, -And if he be not sober, wise, and valiant. - -PHIL. I hope my father takes me for thus wise, -I will not glue myself in love to one -That hath not some desert of virtue in him: -Whate'er you think of him, believe me, father, -He will be answerable to your thoughts -In any quality commendable. - -MR BAR. Thou cheer'st my hopes in him; and, in good faith, -Thou'st[262] made my love complete unto thy friend: -Philip, I love him, and I love him so, -I could afford him a good wife, I know. - -PHIL. Father, a wife! - -MR BAR. Philip, a wife. - -PHIL. I lay my life--my sister! - -MR BAR. Ay, in good faith. - -PHIL. Then, father, he shall have her; he shall, I swear. - -MR BAR. How canst thou say so, knowing not his mind? - -PHIL. All's one for that; I will go to him straight. -Father, if you would seek this seven-years'-day, -You could not find a fitter match for her; -And he shall have her, I swear he shall; -He were as good be hanged, as once deny[263] her. -I'faith, I'll to him. - -MR BAR. Hairbrain, hairbrain, stay! -As yet we do not know his father's mind: -Why, what will Master Goursey say, my son, -If we should motion it without his knowledge? -Go to, he's a wise and discreet gentleman, -And that expects from me all honest parts; -Nor shall he fail his expectation; -First I do mean to make him privy to it: -Philip, this letter is to that effect. - -PHIL. Father, for God's[264] sake, send it quickly, then: -I'll call your man. What, Hugh! where's Hugh, there, ho? - -MR BAR. Philip, if this would prove a match, -It were the only means that could be found -To make thy mother friends with Mistress Goursey. - -PHIL. How, a match! I'll warrant ye, a match. -My sister's fair, Frank Goursey he is rich; -Her[265] dowry, too, will be sufficient; -Frank's young,[266] and youth is apt to love; -And, by my troth, my sister's maidenhead -Stands like a game at tennis: if the ball -Hit into the hole, or hazard, farewell all: - -MR BAR. How now, where's Hugh? - - [_Enter_ NICHOLAS.] - -PHIL. Why, what doth this proverbial with us? -Why, where's Hugh? - -MR BAR. Peace, peace. - -PHIL. Where's Hugh, I say? - -MR BAR. Be not so hasty, Philip. - -PHIL. Father, let me alone, -I do it but to make myself some sport. -This formal fool, your man, speaks nought but proverbs, -And speak men what they can to him, he'll answer -With some rhyme-rotten sentence or old saying, -Such spokes as th'ancient of the parish use, -With, "Neighbour, 'tis an old proverb and a true, -Goose giblets are good meat, old sack better than new;" -Then says another, "Neighbour, that is true;" -And when each man hath drunk his gallon round-- -A penny pot, for that's the old man's gallon-- -Then doth he lick his lips, and stroke his beard, -That's glued together with his slavering drops -Of yeasty ale, and when he scarce can trim -His gouty fingers, thus he'll phillip it, -And with a rotten hem, say, "Ay, my hearts, -Merry go sorry! cock and pie, my hearts"! -But then their saving penny proverb comes, -And that is this, "They that will to the wine, -By'r Lady[267] mistress, shall lay their penny to mine." -This was one of this penny-father's[268] bastards, -For, on my life, he was never[269] begot -Without the consent of some great proverb-monger. - -MR BAR. O, ye are a wag. - -PHIL. Well, now unto my business. -'Swounds, will that mouth, that's made of old-said saws -And nothing else, say nothing to us now? - -NICH. O Master Philip, forbear; you must not leap over the stile, before -you come at it; haste makes waste; soft fire makes sweet malt; not too -fast for falling; there's no haste to hang true men.[270] - -PHIL. Father, we ha't, ye see, we ha't. Now will I see if my memory will -serve for some proverbs too. O--a painted cloth were as well worth a -shilling as a thief worth a halter; well, after my hearty commendations, -as I was at the making hereof; so it is, that I hope as you speed, so -you're sure; a swift horse will tire, but he that trots easily will -endure. You have most learnedly proverb'd it, commending the virtue of -patience or forbearance, but yet, you know, forbearance is no quittance. - -NICH. I promise ye, Master Philip, you have spoken as true as steel. - -PHIL. Father, there's a proverb well applied. - -NICH. And it seemeth unto me, ay, it seems to me, that you, Master -Philip, mock me: do you not know, _qui mocat mocabitur_? mock age, -and see how it will prosper. - -PHIL. Why, ye whoreson proverb-book bound up in folio, -Have ye no other sense to answer me -But every word a proverb? no other English? -Well, I'll fulfil a proverb on thee straight. - -NICH. What is it, sir? - -PHIL. I'll fetch my fist from thine ear. - -NICH. Bear witness, he threatens me! - -PHIL. That same is the coward's common proverb. -But come, come, sirrah, tell me where Hugh is. - -NICH. I may, and I will; I need not, except I list; you shall not -command me, you give me neither meat, drink, nor wages; I am your -father's man, and a man's a man, and a have but a hose on his head; -do not misuse me so, do not; for though he that is bound must obey, -yet he that will not tarry, may[271] run away--so he may. - -MR BAR. Peace, Nick, I'll see he shall use thee well; -Go to, peace, sirrah: here, Nick, take this letter, -Carry it to him to whom it is directed. - -NICH. To whom is it? - -MR BAR. Why, read it: canst thou read? - -NICH. Forsooth, though none of the best, yet meanly. - -MR BAR. Why, dost thou not use it? - -NICH. Forsooth, as use makes perfectness, so seldom seen is soon -forgotten. - -MR BAR. Well-said: but go; it is to Master Goursey. - -PHIL. Now, sir, what proverb have ye to deliver a letter? - -NICH. What need you to care? who speaks to you? you may speak when ye -are spoken to, and keep your wind to cool your pottage. Well, well, you -are my master's son, and you look for his land; but they that hope for -dead men's shoes may hap go barefoot: take heed, as soon goes the young -sheep to the pot as the old. I pray God save my master's life, for -seldom comes the better! - -PHIL. O, he hath given it me! Farewell, Proverbs. - -NICH. Farewell, frost.[272] - -PHIL. Shall I fling an old shoe after ye? - -NICH. No; you should say, God send fair weather after me! - -PHIL. I mean for good luck. - -NICH. A good luck on ye! - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Alas, poor fool! he uses all his wit. -Philip, in faith[273] this mirth hath cheered thought, -And cosen'd it of his right play of passion. -Go after Nick, and, when thou think'st he's there, -Go in and urge to that which I have writ: -I'll in these meadows make a circling walk, -And in my meditation conjure so, -As that same[274] fiend of thought, self-eating anger, -Shall by my spells of reason[275] vanish quite: -Away, and let me hear from thee to-night. - -PHIL. To-night! yes, that you shall: but hark ye, father; -Look that you my sister waking keep, -For Frank, I swear, shall kiss her, ere I sleep. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ FRANK _and_ BOY. - -FRAN. I am very dry with walking o'er the green.-- -Butler, some beer! Sirrah, call the butler. - -BOY. Nay, faith, sir, we must have some smith to give the butler a -drench, or cut him in the forehead, for he hath got a horse's disease, -namely the staggers; to-night he's a good huswife, he reels all that he -wrought to-day; and he were good now to play at dice, for he casts[276] -excellent well. - -FRAN. How mean'st thou? is he drunk? - -BOY. I cannot tell; but I am sure he hath more liquor in him than a -whole dicker of hides; he's soak'd throughly, i'faith. - -FRAN. Well, go and call him; bid him bring me drink. - -BOY. I will, sir. - [_Exit_. - -FRAN. My mother pouts, and will look merrily -Neither upon my father nor on me: -He says she fell out with Mistress Barnes to-day; -Then I am sure they'll not be quickly friends. -Good Lord, what kind of creatures women are! -Their love is lightly[277] won and lightly lost; -And then their hate is deadly and extreme: -He that doth take a wife betakes himself -To all the cares and troubles of the world. -Now her disquietness doth grieve my father, -Grieves me, and troubles all the house besides. -What, shall I have some drink? [_Horn sounded within_]--How now? a horn! -Belike the drunken knave is fall'n asleep, -And now the boy doth wake him with his horn. - - _Enter_ BOY. - -How now, sirrah, where's the butler? - -BOY. Marry, sir, where he was even now, asleep; but I wak'd him, and -when he wak'd he thought he was in Master Barnes's buttery, for he -stretch'd himself thus, and yawning, said, "Nick, honest Nick, fill a -fresh bowl of ale; stand to it, Nick, and thou beest a man of God's -making, stand to it;" and then I winded my horn, and he's horn-mad. - - _Enter_ HODGE. - -HOD. Boy, hey! ho, boy! and thou beest a man, draw.--O, here's a blessed -moonshine, God be thanked!--Boy, is not this goodly weather for barley? - -BOY. Spoken like a right malster, Hodge: but dost thou hear? thou art -not drunk? - -HOD. No, I scorn that, i'faith. - -BOY.[278] But thy fellow Dick Coomes is mightily drunk. - -HOD. Drunk! a plague on it, when a man cannot carry his drink well! -'sblood, I'll stand to it. - -BOY. Hold, man; see, and thou canst stand first. - -HOD. Drunk! he's a beast, and he be drunk; there's no man that is a -sober man will be drunk; he's a boy, and he be drunk. - -BOY. No, he's a man as thou art. - -HOD. Thus 'tis, when a man will not be ruled by his friends: I bad him -keep under the lee, but he kept down the weather two bows; I told him he -would be taken with a planet, but the wisest of us all may fall. - -BOY. True, Hodge. [_Boy trips him_. - -HOD. Whoop! lend me thy hand, Dick, I am fall'n into a well; lend me thy -hand, I shall be drowned else. - -BOY. Hold fast by the bucket, Hodge. - -HOD. A rope on it! - -BOY. Ay, there is a rope on it; but where art thou, Hodge? - -HOD. In a well; I prythee, draw up. - -BOY. Come, give up thy body; wind up, hoist - -HOD. I am over head and ears. - -BOY. In all, Hodge, in all. - -FRAN. How loathsome is this beast-man's shape to me, -This mould of reason so unreasonable!-- -Sirrah, why dost thou trip him down, seeing he's drunk? - -BOY. Because, sir, I would have drunkards cheap.[279] - -FRAN. How mean ye? - -BOY. Why, they say that, when anything hath a fall, it is cheap; and so -of drunkards. - -FRAN. Go to, help him up: [_Knocking without_] but, hark, who knocks? - - [BOY _goes to the door, and returns_.] - -BOY. Sir, here's one of Master Barnes's men with a letter to my old -master. - -FRAN. Which of them is it? - -BOY. They call him Nicholas, sir. - -FRAN. Go, call him in. - - [_Exit_ BOY.] - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. By your leave, ho! How now, young master, how is't? - -FRAN. Look ye, sirrah, where your fellow lies: -He's[280] in a fine taking, is he not? - -COOMES. Whoop, Hodge! where art thou, man, where art thou? - -HOD. O, in a well. - -COOMES. In a well, man! nay, then, thou art deep in understanding. - -FRAN. Ay, once to-day you were almost so, sir. - -COOMES. Who, I! go to, young master, I do not like this humour in ye, I -tell ye true; give every man his due, and give him no more: say I was -in such a case! go to, 'tis the greatest indignation that can be offered -to a man; and, but a man's more godlier given, you were able to make him -swear out his heart-blood. What, though that honest Hodge have cut his -finger here, or, as some say, cut a feather: what, though he be mump, -misled, blind, or as it were--'tis no consequent to me: you know I have -drunk all the ale-houses in Abington dry, and laid the taps on the -tables, when I had done: 'sblood, I'll challenge all the true rob-pots -in Europe to leap up to the chin in a barrel of beer, and if I cannot -drink it down to my foot, ere I leave, and then set the tap in the midst -of the house, and then turn a good turn on the toe on it, let me be -counted nobody, a pingler,[281]--nay, let me be[282] bound to drink -nothing but small-beer seven years after--and I had as lief be hanged. - - _Enter_ NICHOLAS. - -FRAN. Peace, sir, I must speak with one.-- -Nicholas, I think, your name is. - -NlCH. True as the skin between your brows. - -FRAN. Well, how doth thy master? - -NlCH. Forsooth, live, and the best doth no better. - -FRAN. Where is the letter he hath sent me? - -NlCH. _Ecce signum_! here it is. - -FRAN. 'Tis right as Philip said, 'tis a fine fool [_Aside_]. ---This letter is directed to my father; -I'll carry it to him. Dick Coomes, make him drink. - [_Exit_. - -COOMES. Ay, I'll make him drunk,[283] and he will. - -NICH. Not so, Richard; it is good to be merry and wise. - -DICK[284] [COOMES]. Well, Nicholas, as thou art Nicholas, welcome; but -as thou art Nicholas and a boon companion, ten times welcome. Nicholas, -give me thy hand: shall we be merry? and we shall, say but we shall, and -let the first word stand. - -NICH. Indeed, as long lives the merry man as the sad; an ounce of debt -will not pay a pound of care. - -COOMES. Nay, a pound of care will not pay an ounce of debt. - -NICH. Well, 'tis a good horse never stumbles: but who lies here? - -COOMES. 'Tis our Hodge, and I think he lies asleep: you made him drunk -at your house to-day; but I'll pepper some of you for't. - -NICH. Ay, Richard, I know you'll put a man over the shoes, and if you -can; but he's a fool will take more than will do him good. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, ye shall take more than will do ye good, or I'll make -ye clap under the table. - -NICH. Nay, I hope, as I have temperance to forbear drink, so have I -patience to endure drink: I'll do as company doth; for when a man doth -to Rome come, he must do as there is done.[285] - -COOMES. Ha, my resolved Nick, froligozene! Fill the pot, hostess; -swouns, you whore! Harry Hook's a rascal. Help me, but carry my fellow -Hodge in, and we'll c'rouse[286] it, i'faith. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. By this, I think, the letter is delivered, -And 'twill be shortly time that I step in, -And woo their favours for my sister's fortune: -And yet I need not; she may do as well, -But yet not better, as the case doth stand, -Between our mothers; it may make them friends; -Nay, I would swear that she would do as well, -Were she a stranger to one quality, -But they are so acquainted, they'll ne'er part. -Why, she will flout the devil, and make blush -The boldest face of man that e'er man saw; -He that hath best opinion of his wit, -And hath his brainpan fraught with bitter jests, -Or of his own, or stol'n, or howsoever, -Let him stand ne'er so high in his own conceit, -Her wit's a sun that melts him down like butter, -And makes him sit at table pancake-wise, -Flat, flat, God knows, and ne'er a word to say; -Yet she'll not leave him then, but like a tyrant -She'll persecute the poor wit-beaten man, -And so bebang him with dry bobs and scoffs, -When he is down, most coward-like, good faith, -As I have pitied the poor patient. -There came a farmer's son a-wooing to her, -A proper man: well-landed too he was, -A man that for his wit need not to ask -What time a year 'twere good to sow his oats, -Nor yet his barley; no, nor when to reap, -To plough his fallows, or to fell his trees, -Well-experienc'd thus each kind of way; -After a two months' labour at the most-- -And yet 'twas well he held it out so long-- -He left his love, she had so lac'd his lips -He could say nothing to her but "God be with ye!" -Why she, when men have din'd and call for cheese, -Will straight maintain jests bitter to disgest;[287] -And then some one will fall to argument, -Who if he over-master her with reason, -Then she'll begin to buffet him with mocks. -Well, I do doubt Francis hath so much spleen, -They'll ne'er agree; but I will moderate. -By this time it is time, I think, to enter: -This is the house; shall I knock? no; I will not. -[Nor] wait, while one comes out to answer [me]:[288] -I'll in, and let them be as bold with us. - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY, _reading a letter_. - -MR GOUR. _If that they like, her dowry shall be equal -To your son's wealth or possibility: -It is a means to make our wives good friends, -And to continue friendship 'twixt us two_. -'Tis so, indeed: I like this motion, -And it hath my consent, because my wife -Is sore infected and heart-sick with hate; -And I have sought the Galen of advice, -Which only tells me this same potion -To be most sovereign for her sickness' cure. - - _Enter_ FRANK _and_ PHILIP. - -Here comes my son, conferring with his friend.-- -Francis, how do you like your friend's discourse? -I know he is persuading to this motion. - -FRAN. Father, as matter that befits a friend, -But yet not me, that am too young to marry. - -MR GOUR. Nay, if thy mind be forward with thy years, -The time is lost thou tarriest. Trust me, boy, -This match is answerable to thy birth; -Her blood and portion give each other grace; -These indented lines promise a sum, -And I do like the value: if it hap -Thy liking to accord to my consent, -It is a match. Wilt thou go see the maid? - -FRAN. Ne'er trust me, father, the shackles[289] of marriage, -Which I do see in others, seem so severe, -I dare not put my youngling liberty -Under the awe of that instruction; -And yet I grant the limits of free youth -Going astray are often restrain'd by that. -But mistress wedlock, to my scholar-thoughts, -Will be too curs'd, I fear: O, should she snip -My pleasure-aiming mind, I shall be sad, -And swear, when I did marry, I was mad! - -MR GOUR. But, boy, let my experience teach thee this-- -Yet, in good faith, thou speak'st not much amiss-- -When first thy mother's fame to me did come, -Thy grandsire thus then came to me his son, -And even my words to thee to me he said, -And as to me thou say'st to him I said, -But in a greater huff and hotter blood,-- -I tell ye, on youth's tip-toes then I stood: -Says he (good faith, this was his very say), -"When I was young, I was but reason's fool, -And went to wedding as to wisdom's school; -It taught me much, and much I did forget, -But, beaten much, by it I got some wit; -Though I was shackled from an often scout, -Yet I would wanton it, when I was out; -'Twas comfort old acquaintance then to meet, -Restrained liberty attain'd is sweet." -Thus said my father to thy father[290], son, -And thou mayst do this too, as I have done. - -PHIL. In faith, good counsel, Frank: what say'st thou to it? - -FRAN. Philip, what should I say? - -PHIL. Why, either ay or no. - -FRAN. O, but which rather? - -PHIL. Why, that which was persuaded by thy father. - -FRAN. That's ay then[291]. Ay. O, should it fall out ill, -Then I, for I am guilty of that ill!-- -I'll not be guilty. No. - -PHIL. What, backward gone! - -FRAN. Philip, no whit backward; that is, on. - -PHIL. On, then. - -FRAN. O, stay! - -PHIL. Tush, there is no good luck in this delay. -Come, come; late-comers, man, are shent. - -FRAN. Heigho, I fear I shall repent! -Well, which way, Philip[292]? - -PHIL. Why, this way. - -FRAN. Canst thou tell, -And takest upon thee to be my guide to hell?-- -But which way, father? - -MR GOUR. That way. - -FRAN. Ay, you know, -You found the way to sorrow long ago. -Father, God be wi' ye[293]: you have sent your son -To seek on earth an earthly day of doom, -Where I shall be adjudged, alack the ruth, -To penance for the follies of my youth! -Well, I must go; but, by my troth, my mind -Is not capable to love [in][294] that kind. -O, I have look'd upon this mould of men, -As I have done upon a lion's den! -Praised I have the gallant beast I saw, -Yet wish'd me no acquaintance with his paw: -And must I now be grated with them? well, -Yet I may hap to prove a Daniel; -And, if I do, sure it would make me laugh, -To be among wild beasts and yet be safe. -Is there a remedy to abate their rage? -Yes, many catch them, and put them in a cage. -Ay, but how catch them? marry, in your hand -Carry me forth a burning firebrand, -For with his sparkling shine, old rumour says, -A firebrand the swiftest runner frays: -This I may do; but, if it prove not so, -Then man goes out to seek his adjunct woe. -Philip, away! and, father, now adieu! -In quest of sorrow I am sent by you. - -MR GOUR. Return, the messenger of joy, my son. - -FRAN. Seldom in this world such a work is done. - -PHIL. Nay, nay, make haste, it will be quickly night. - -FRAN. Why, is it not good to woo by candle-light? - -PHIL. But, if we make not haste, they'll be a-bed. - -FRAN. The better, candles out and curtains spread. - - [_Exeunt_ FRANCIS and PHILIP.] - -MR GOUR. I know, though that my son's years be not many, -Yet he hath wit to woo as well as any. -Here comes my wife: I am glad my boy is gone. - - _Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY. - -Ere she came hither. How now, wife? how is't? -What, are ye yet in charity and love -With Mistress Barnes? - -MRS GOUR. With Mistress Barnes! why Mistress[295] Barnes, I pray? - -MR GOUR. Because she is your neighbour and-- - -MRS GOUR. And what? -And a jealous, slandering, spiteful quean she is, -One that would blur my reputation -With her opprobrious malice, if she could; -She wrongs her husband, to abuse my fame: -'Tis known that I have lived in honest name -All my lifetime, and been your right true wife. - -MR GOUR. I entertain no other thought, my wife, -And my opinion's sound of your behaviour. - -MRS GOUR. And my behaviour is as sound as it; -But her ill-speeches seeks to rot my credit, -And eat it with the worm of hate and malice. - -MR GOUR. Why, then, preserve it you by patience. - -MRS GOUR. By patience! would ye have me shame myself, -And cosen myself to bear her injuries? -Not while her eyes be open, will I yield -A word, a letter, a syllable's value. -But equal and make even her wrongs to me -To her again. - -MR GOUR. Then, in good faith, wife, ye are more to blame. - -MRS GOUR. Am I to blame, sir? pray, what letter's this? - [_Snatches the letter_.] - -MR GOUR. There is a dearth of manners in ye, wife, -Rudely to snatch it from me. Give it me. - -MRS GOUR. You shall not have it, sir, till I have read it. - -MR GOUR. Give me it, then, and I will read it to you. - -MRS GOUR. No, no, it shall not need: I am a scholar -Good enough to read a letter, sir. - -MR GOUR. God's passion, if she know but the contents, -She'll seek to cross this match! she shall not read it. [_Aside_.] -Wife, give it me; come, come, give it me. - -MRS GOUR. Husband, in very deed, you shall not have it. - -MR GOUR. What, will you move me to impatience, then? - -MRS GOUR. Tut, tell not me of your impatience; -But since you talk, sir, of impatience, -You shall not have the letter, by this light, -Till I have read it; soul, I'll burn it first! - -MR GOUR. Go to, ye move me, wife; give me the letter; -In troth, I shall grow angry, if you do not. - -MRS GOUR. Grow to the house-top with your anger, sir! -Ne'er tell me, I care not thus much for it. - -MR GOUR. Well, I can bear enough, but not too much. -Come, give it me; 'twere best you be persuaded; -By God--ye make me swear--now God forgive me!-- -Give me, I say, and stand not long upon it; -Go to, I am angry at the heart, my very heart. - -MRS GOUR. Heart me no hearts! you shall not have it, sir, -No, you shall not; ne'er look so big, -I will not be afraid at your great looks; -You shall not have it, no, you shall not have it. - -MR GOUR. Shall I not have it? in troth, I'll try that: -Minion, I'll ha''t; shall I not ha''t?--I am loth-- -Go to, take pausement, be advis'd-- -In faith, I will; and stand not long upon it-- -A woman of your years! I am asham'd -A couple of so long continuance -Should thus--God's foot--I cry God heart'ly mercy!-- -Go to, ye vex me; and I'll vex ye for it; -Before I leave ye, I will make ye glad -To tender it on your knees; hear ye, I will, I will. -What, worse and worse stomach! true faith, -Shall I be cross'd by you in my old age? -And where I should have greatest comfort, too, -A nurse of you?--nurse in the devil's name!-- -Go to, mistress; by God's precious deer, -If ye delay-- - -MRS GOUR. Lord, Lord, why, in what a fit -Are you in, husband! so enrag'd, so mov'd, -And for so slight a cause, to read a letter! -Did this letter, love, contain my death, -Should you deny my sight of it, I would not -Nor see my sorrow nor eschew my danger, -But willingly yield me a patient -Unto the doom that your displeasure gave. -Here is the letter; not for that your incensement - [_Gives back the letter_.] -Makes me make offer of it, but your health, -Which anger, I do fear, hath craz'd[296], -And viper-like hath suck'd away the blood -That wont was to be cheerful in this cheek: -How pale ye look! - -MR GOUR. Pale! Can ye blame me for it? I tell you true, -An easy matter could not thus have moved me. -Well, this resignment--and so forth--but, woman, -This fortnight shall I not forget ye for it.-- -Ha, ha, I see that roughness can do somewhat! -I did not think, good faith, I could have set -So sour a face upon it, and to her, -My bed-embracer, my right bosom friend. -I would not that she should have seen the letter-- -As poor a man as I am--by my troth, -For twenty pound: well, I am glad I have it. [_Aside_.] -Ha, here's ado about a thing of nothing! -What, stomach, ha! 'tis happy you're come down. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. Well, crafty[297] fox, I'll hunt ye, by my troth, -Deal ye so closely! Well, I see his drift: -He would not let me see the letter, lest -That I should cross the match; and I will cross it. -Dick Coomes! - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. Forsooth. - -MRS GOUR. Come hither, Dick; thou art a man I love, -And one whom I have much in my regard. - -COOMES. I thank ye for it, mistress, I thank ye for it. - -MRS GOUR. Nay, here's my hand, I will do very much -For thee, if e'er thou stand'st in need of me; -Thou shalt not lack, whilst thou hast a day to live, -Money, apparel-- - -COOMES. And sword and bucklers? - -MRS GOUR. And sword and bucklers too, my gallant Dick, -So thou wilt use but this in my defence. - [_Pointing to his sword_.] - -COOMES. This! no, faith, I have no mind to this; break my head, if this -break not, if we come to any tough play. Nay, mistress, I had a sword, -ay, the flower of Smithfield for a sword, a right fox,[298] i'faith; -with that, and a man had come over with a smooth and a sharp stroke, it -would have cried twang, and then, when I had doubled my point, trac'd my -ground, and had carried my buckler before me like a garden-butt, and -then come in with a cross blow, and over the pick[299] of his buckler -two ells long, it would have cried twang, twang, metal, metal: but a -dog hath his day; 'tis gone, and there are few good ones made now. I see -by this dearth of good swords, that[300] dearth of sword-and-buckler -fight begins to grow out:[301] I am sorry for it; I shall never see -good manhood again, if it be once gone; this poking fight of rapier and -dagger will come up then; then a man, a tall[302] man, and a good -sword-and-buckler man, will be spitted like a cat or a coney; then a boy -will be as good as a man, unless the Lord show mercy unto us; well, I -had as lief be hang'd as live to see that day. Well, mistress, what -shall I do? what shall I do? - -MRS GOUR. Why, this, brave Dick. Thou knowest that Barnes's wife -And I am foes: now, man me to her house; -And though it be dark, Dick, yet we'll have no light. -Lest that thy master should prevent our journey -By seeing our depart. Then, when we come, -And if that she and I do fall to words, -Set in thy foot and quarrel with her men, -Draw, fight, strike, hurt, but do not kill the slaves, -And make as though thou strookest[303] at a man, -And hit her, and thou canst,--a plague upon her!-- -She hath misus'd me, Dick: wilt thou do this? - -COOMES. Yes, mistress, I will strike her men; but God forbid that e'er -Dick Coomes should be seen to strike a woman! - -MRS GOUR. Why, she is mankind;[304] therefore thou mayest strike her. - -COOMES. Mankind! nay, and she have any part of a man, I'll strike her, -I warrant. - -MRS GOUR. That's my good Dick, that's my sweet Dick! - -COOMES. 'Swouns, who would not be a man of valour to have such words of -a gentlewoman! one of their words are more to me than twenty of these -russet-coats, cheese-cakes, and butter-makers. Well, I thank God, I am -none of these cowards; well, and a man have any virtue in him, I see he -shall be regarded. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Art thou resolved, Dick? wilt thou do this for me? -And if thou wilt, here is an earnest-penny -Of that rich guerdon I do mean to give thee. - [_Gives money_.] - -COOMES. An angel,[305] mistress! let me see. Stand you on my left hand, -and let the angel lie on my buckler on my right hand, for fear of losing. -Now, here stand I to be tempted. They say, every man hath two spirits -attending on him, either good or bad; now, I say, a man hath no other -spirits but either his wealth or his wife: now, which is the better of -them? Why, that is as they are used; for use neither of them well, and -they are both nought. But this is a miracle to me, that gold that is -heavy hath the upper, and a woman that is light doth soonest fall, -considering that light things aspire, and heavy things soonest go down: -but leave these considerations to Sir John;[306] they become a -black-coat better than a blue.[307] Well, mistress, I had no mind to-day -to quarrel; but a woman is made to be a man's seducer; you say, quarrel? - -MRS GOUR. Ay. - -COOMES. There speaks an angel: is it good? - -MRS GOUR. Ay. - -COOMES. Then, I cannot do amiss; the good angel goes with me. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH, _his_ LADY, WILL, [_and_ ATTENDANTS]. - -SIR RALPH. Come on, my hearts: i'faith, it is ill-luck, -To hunt all day, and not kill anything. -What sayest thou, lady? art thou weary yet? - -LADY. I must not say so, sir. - -SIR RALPH. Although thou art! - -WILL. And can you blame her, to be forth so long, -And see no better sport? - -SIR RALPH. Good faith, 'twas very hard. - -LADY. No, 'twas not ill, -Because, you know, it is not good to kill. - -SIR RALPH. Yes, venison, lady. - -LADY. No, indeed, nor them; -Life is as dear in deer as 'tis in men. - -SIR RALPH. But they are kill'd for sport. - -LADY. But that's bad play, -When they are made to sport their lives away. - -SIR RALPH. 'Tis fine to see them run. - -LADY. What, out of breath? -They run but ill that run themselves to death. - -SIR RALPH. They might make, then, less haste, and keep their wind. - -LADY. Why, then, they see the hounds brings death behind. - -SIR RALPH. Then, 'twere as good for them at first to stay, -As to run long, and run their lives away. - -LADY. Ay, but the stoutest of you all that's here -Would run from death and nimbly scud for fear. -Now, by my troth, I pity these poor elves.[308] - -SIR RALPH. Well, they have made us but bad sport to-day. - -LADY. Yes, 'twas my sport to see them 'scape away. - -WILL. I wish that I had been at one buck's fall. - -LADY. Out, thou wood-tyrant! thou art worst of all. - -WILL. A wood-man,[309] lady, but no tyrant I. - -LADY. Yes, tyrant-like thou lov'st to see lives die. - -SIR RALPH. Lady, no more: I do not like this luck, -To hunt all day, and yet not kill a buck. -Well, it is late; but yet I swear I will -Stay here all night, but I a buck will kill. - -LADY. All night! nay, good Sir Ralph Smith, do not so. - -SIR RALPH. Content ye, lady. Will, go fetch my bow: -A berry[310] of fair roes I saw to-day -Down by the groves, and there I'll take my[311] stand, -And shoot at one--God send a lucky hand! - -LADY. Will ye not, then, Sir Ralph, go home with me? - -SIR RALPH. No, but my men shall bear thee company.-- -Sirs, man her home. Will, bid the huntsmen couple, -And bid them well reward their hounds to-night.-- -Lady, farewell. Will, haste ye with the bow; -I'll stay for thee here by the grove below. - -WILL. I will; but 'twill be dark, I shall not see: -How shall I see ye, then? - -SIR RALPH. Why, halloo to me, and I will answer thee. - -WILL. Enough, I will. - -SIR RALPH. Farewell. - [_Exit_. - -LADY. How willingly dost thou consent to go -To fetch thy master that same killing bow! - -WILL. Guilty of death I willing am in this, -Because 'twas our ill-haps to-day to miss: -To hunt, and not to kill, is hunter's sorrow. -Come, lady, we'll have venison ere to-morrow. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ PHILIP, FRANK [_and_ BOY]. - -PHIL. Come, Frank, now are we hard by the[312] house: -But how now? Sad? - -FRAN. No, to study how to woo thy sister. - -PHIL. How, man? how to woo her! why, no matter how; -I am sure thou wilt not he ashamed to woo. -Thy cheeks not subject to a childish blush, -Thou hast a better warrant by thy wit; -I know thy oratory can unfold -[A] quick invention, plausible discourse, -And set such painted beauty on thy tongue, -As it shall ravish every maiden sense; -For, Frank, thou art not like the russet youth -I told thee of, that went to woo a wench, -And being full stuff'd up with fallow wit -And meadow-matter, ask'd the pretty maid -How they sold corn last market-day with them, -Saying, "Indeed, 'twas very dear with [us]." -And, do ye hear, ye[313] had not need be so, -For she[314] will, Francis, throughly[315] try your wit; -Sirrah, she'll bow the metal of your wits, -And, if they crack, she will not hold ye current; -Nay, she will weigh your wit, as men weigh angels,[316] -And, if it lack a grain, she will not change with ye. -I cannot speak it but in passion, -She is a wicked wench to make a jest; -Ah me, how full of flouts and mocks she is! - -FRAN. Some aqua-vitae reason to recover -This sick discourser! Sound[317] not, prythee, Philip. -Tush, tush, I do not think her as thou sayest: -Perhaps she's[318] opinion's darling, Philip, -Wise in repute, the crow's bird. O my friend, -Some judgments slave themselves to small desert, -And wondernise the birth of common wit, -When their own[319] strangeness do but make that strange, -And their ill errors do but make that good: -And why should men debase to make that good? -Perhaps such admiration wins her wit. - -PHIL. Well, I am glad to hear this bold prepare -For this encounter. Forward, hardy Frank! -Yonder's the window with the candle in't; -Belike she's putting on her night attire: -I told ye, Frank, 'twas late. Well, I will call her, -Marry, softly, that my mother may not hear. -Mall, sister Mall! - - _Enter_ MALL _in the window_. - -MAL. How now, who's there? - -PHIL. 'Tis I. - -MAL. 'Tis I! Who I? I, quoth the dog, or what? -A Christcross row I?[320] - -PHIL. No, sweet pinkany.[321] - -MAL. O, is't you, wild-oats? - -PHIL. Ay, forsooth, wanton. - -MAL. Well said, scapethrift. - -FRAN. Philip, be these your usual best salutes? [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Is this the harmless chiding of that dove? [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Dove! One of those that draw the queen of love? [_Aside_.] - -MAL. How now? who's that, brother? who's that with ye? - -PHIL. A gentleman, my friend. - -MAL. By'r lady, he hath a pure wit. - -FRAN. How meane your holy judgment? - -MAL. O, well put-in, sir! - -FRAN. Up, you would say. - -MAL. Well climb'd, gentleman! -I pray, sir, tell me, do you cart the queen of love? - -FRAN. Not cart her, but couch her in your eye, -And a fit place for gentle love to lie. - -MAL. Ay, but methinks you speak without the book, -To place a four[322]-wheel waggon in my look: -Where will you have room to have the coachman sit? - -FRAN. Nay, that were but small manners, and not fit: -His duty is before you bare to stand, -Having a lusty whipstock[323] in his hand. - -MAL. The place is void; will you provide me one? - -FRAN. And if you please, I will supply the room. - -MAL. But are ye cunning in the carman's lash? -And can ye whistle well? - -FRAN. Yes, I can well direct the coach of love. - -MAL. Ah, cruel carter! would you whip a dove? - -PHIL. Hark ye, sister-- - -MAL. Nay, but hark ye, brother; -Whose white boy[324] is that same? know ye his mother? - -PHIL. He is a gentleman of a good house. - -MAL. Why, is his house of gold? -Is it not made of lime and stone like this? - -PHIL. I mean he's well-descended. - -MAL. God be thanked! -Did he descend some steeple or some ladder? - -PHIL. Well, you will still be cross; I tell ye, sister-- -This gentleman, by all your friends' consent -Must be your husband. - -MAL. Nay, not all, some sing another note; -My mother will say no, I hold a groat. -But I thought 'twas somewhat, he would be a carter; -He hath been whipping lately some blind bear, -And now he would ferk the blind boy here with us. - -PHIL. Well, do you hear, you, sister, mistress [that] would have-- -You that do long for somewhat, I know what-- -My father told me--go to, I'll tell all, -If ye be cross--do you hear me? I have labour'd -A year's work in this afternoon for ye: -Come from your cloister, votary, chaste nun, -Come down and kiss Frank Goursey's mother's son. - -MAL. Kiss him, I pray? - -PHIL. Go to, stale maidenhead! come down, I say, -You seventeen and upward, come, come down; -You'll stay till twenty else for your wedding gown. - -MAL. Nun, votary, stale maidenhead, seventeen and upward! -Here be names! what, nothing else? - -FRAN. Yes, or a fair-built steeple without bells. - -MAL. Steeple! good people, nay, another cast. - -FRAN. Ay, or a well-made ship without a mast. - -MAL. Fie, not so big, sir, by one part of four. - -FRAN. Why, then, ye are a boat without an oar. - -MAL. O well row'd wit! but what's your fare, I pray? - -FRAN. Your fair self must be my fairest pay. - -MAL. Nay, and you be so dear, I'll choose another. - -FRAN. Why, take your first man, wench, and go no further. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Peace, Francis. Hark ye, sister, this I say: -You know my mind; or answer ay or nay. -[Your] wit and judgment hath resolv'd his mind, -And he foresees what after he shall find: -If such discretion, then, shall govern you, -Vow love to him, he'll do the like to you. - -MAL. Vow love! who would not love such a comely feature, -Nor high nor low, but of the middle stature? -A middle man, that's the best size indeed; -I like him well: love grant us well to speed! - -FRAN. And let me see a woman of that tallness, -So slender and of such a middle smallness, -So old enough, and in each part so fit, -So fair, so kind, endued with so much wit, -Of so much wit as it is held a wonder, -'Twere pity to keep love and her asunder; -Therefore go up, my joy, call down my bliss; -Bid her come seal the bargain with a kiss. - -MAL. Frank, Frank, I come through dangers, death, and harms, -To make love's patent[325] with my[326] seal of arms. - -PHIL. But, sister, softly, lest my mother hear. - -MAL. Hush, then; mum, mouse in cheese[327], cat is near. - [_Exit_ MAL. - -FRAN. Now, in good faith, Philip, this makes me smile, -That I have wooed and won in so small while. - -PHIL. Francis, indeed my sister, I dare say. -Was not determined to say thee nay; -For this same tother thing, call'd maiden-head, -Hangs by so small a hair or spider's thread, -And worn so too[328] with time, it must needs fall, -And, like a well-lur'd hawk, she knows her call. - - [_Enter_ MALL.] - -MAL. Whist, brother, whist! my mother heard me tread, -And ask'd, Who's there? I would not answer her; -She call'd, A light! and up she's gone to seek me: -There when she finds me not, she'll hither come; -Therefore dispatch, let it be quickly done. -Francis, my love's lease I do let to thee, -Date of my life and thine: what sayest thou to me? -The ent'ring, fine, or income thou must pay, -Are kisses and embraces every day; -And quarterly I must receive my rent; -You know my mind. - -FRAN. I guess at thy intent: -Thou shalt not miss a minute of thy time. - -MAL. Why, then, sweet Francis, I am only thine.-- -Brother, bear witness. - -PHIL. Do ye deliver this as your deed? - -MAL. I do, I do. - -PHIL. God send ye both good speed! -God's Lord, my mother! Stand aside, -And closely too, lest that you be espied. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES.] - -MRS BAR. Who's there? - -PHIL. Mother, 'tis I. - -MRS BAR. You disobedient ruffian, careless wretch, -That said your father lov'd me but too well? -I'll think on't, when thou think'st I have forgot it: -Who's with thee else?--How now, minion? you! -With whom? with him!--Why, what make you here, sir, - - [_Discovers_ FRANCIS _and_ MALL.] - -And thus late too? what, hath your mother sent ye -To cut my throat, that here you be in wait?-- -Come from him, mistress, and let go his hand.-- -Will ye not, sir? - -FRAN. Stay, Mistress Barnes, or mother--what ye will; -She is[329] my wife, and here she shall be still. - -MRS BAR. How, sir? your wife! wouldst thou my daughter have? -I'll rather have her married to her grave.[330] -Go to; be gone, and quickly, or I swear -I'll have my men beat ye for staying here. - -PHIL. Beat him, mother! as I am true[331] man, -They were better beat the devil and his dam. - -MRS BAR. What, wilt thou take his part? - -PHIL. To do him good, -And 'twere to wade hitherto up in blood. - -FRAN. God-a-mercy, Philip!--But, mother, hear me. - -MRS BAR. Call'st thou me mother? no, thy mother's name -Carries about with it reproach and shame. -Give me my daughter: ere that she shall wed -A strumpet's son, and have her so misled, -I'll marry her to a carter; come, I say, -Give me her from thee. - -FRAN. Mother, not to-day, -Nor yet to-morrow, till my life's last morrow -Make me leave that which I with leave did borrow: -Here I have borrowed love, I'll not denay[332] it.-- -Thy wedding night's my day, then I'll repay it.-- -Till then she'll trust me. Wench, is't[333] not so? -And if it be, say ay, if not, say no. - -MAL. Mother, good mother, hear me! O good God, -Now we are even, what, would you make us odd? -Now, I beseech ye, for the love of Christ, -To give me leave once to do what I list. -I am as you were, when you were a maid; -Guess by yourself how long you would have stay'd, -Might you have had your will: as good begin -At first as last, it saves us from much sin; -Lying alone, we muse on things and things, -And in our minds one thought another brings: -This maid's life, mother, is an idle life, -Therefore I'll be, ay, I will be a wife; -And, mother, do not mistrust[334] my age or power, -I am sufficient, I lack ne'er an hour; -I had both wit to grant, when he did woo me, -And strength to bear whate'er he can do to me. - -MRS BAR. Well, bold-face, but I mean to make ye stay. -Go to, come from him, or I'll make ye come: -Will ye not come? - -PHIL. Mother, I pray, forbear; -This match is for my sister. - -MRS BAR. Villain, 'tis not; -Nor she shall not be so match'd now.[335] - -PHIL. In troth, she shall, and your unruly hate -Shall not rule us; we'll end all this debate -By this begun device. - -MRS BAR. Ay, end what you begun! Villains, thieves, -Give me my daughter! will ye rob me of her?-- -Help, help! they'll rob me here, they'll rob me here! - - _Enter_ MASTER BARNES _and his men_. - -MR BAR. How now? what outcry's here? why, how now, woman? - -MRS BAR. Why, Goursey's son, confederate[336] with this boy, -This wretch unnatural and undutiful, -Seeks hence to steal my daughter: will you suffer it? -Shall he, that's son to my arch-enemy, -Enjoy her? Have I brought her up to this? -O God, he shall not have her, no, he shall not! - -MR BAR. I am sorry she knows it. [_Aside_.]--Hark ye, wife, -Let reason moderate your rage a little. -If you examine but his birth and living, -His wit and good behaviour, you will say, -Though that ill-hate make your opinion bad, -He doth deserve as good a wife as she. - -MRS BAR. Why, will you give consent he shall enjoy her? - -MR BAR. Ay, so that thy mind would agree with mine? - -MRS BAR. My mind shall ne'er agree to this agreement. - - _Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.[337] - -MR BAR. And yet it shall go forward:--but who's here? -What, Mistress Goursey! how knew she of this? - -PHIL. Frank, thy mother! - -FRAN. 'Sowns, where? a plague upon it! -I think the devil is set to cross this match. - -MRS GOUR. This is the house, Dick Coomes, and yonder's [th'] light: -Let us go near. How now? methinks I see -My son stand hand in hand with Barnes his daughter. -Why, how now, sirrah? is this time of night -For you to be abroad? what have we here? -I hope that love hath not thus coupled you. - -FRAN. Love, by my troth, mother, love: she loves me, -And I love her; then we must needs agree. - -MRS BAR. Ay, but I'll keep her sure enough from thee. - -MRS GOUR. It shall not need, I'll keep him safe enough; -Be sure he shall not graft in such a stock. - -MRS BAR. What stock, forsooth? as good a stock as thine: -I do not mean that he shall graft in mine. - -MRS GOUR. Nor shall he, mistress. Hark, boy; th'art but mad -To love the branch that hath a root so bad. - -FRAN. Then, mother, I will graft a pippin on a crab. - -MRS GOUR. It will not prove well. - -FRAN. But I will prove my skill. - -MRS BAR. Sir, but you shall not. - -FRAN. Mothers both, I will. - -MR BAR. Hark, Philip: send away thy sister straight; -Let Francis meet her where thou shalt appoint; -Let them go several to shun suspicion, -And bid them go to Oxford both this night; -There to-morrow say that we will meet them, -And there determine of their marriage. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. I will: though it be very late and dark. -My sister will endure it for a husband. [_Aside_.] - -MR BAR. Well, then, at Carfax,[338] boy, I mean to meet them. [_Aside_.] - -PHIL. Enough. _Exit_ [MASTER BARNES.] -Would they would begin to chide! -For I would have them brawling, that meanwhile -They may steal hence, to meet where I appoint it. [_Aside_.] -What, mother, will you let this match go forward? -Or, Mistress Goursey, will you first agree? - -MRS GOUR. Shall I agree first? - -PHIL. Ay, why not? come, come. - -MRS GOUR. Come from her, son, and if thou lov'st thy mother. - -MRS BAR. With the like spell, daughter, I conjure thee. - -MRS GOUR. Francis, by fair means let me win thee from her, -And I will gild my blessing, gentle son, -With store of angels. I would not have thee -Check thy good fortune by this cos'ning choice: -O, do not thrall thy happy liberty -In such a bondage! if thou'lt needs be bound, -Be then to better worth; this worthless choice -Is not fit for thee. - -MRS BAR. Is't not fit for him? wherefore is't not fit? -Is he too brave[339] a gentleman, I pray? -No, 'tis not fit; she shall not fit his turn: -If she were wise, she would be fitter for -Three times his better. Minion, go in, or I'll make ye; -I'll keep ye safe from him, I warrant ye. - -MRS GOUR. Come, Francis, come from her. - -FRAN. Mothers, with both hands shove I hate from love, -That like an ill-companion would infect -The infant mind of our affection: -Within this cradle shall this minute's babe -Be laid to rest; and thus I'll hug my joy. - -MRS GOUR. Wilt thou be obstinate, thou self-will'd boy? -Nay, then, perforce I'll part ye, since ye will not. - -COOMES. Do ye hear, mistress? pray ye give me leave to talk two or three -cold words with my young master.--Hark ye, sir, ye are my master's son, -and so forth; and indeed I bear ye some good-will, partly for his sake, -and partly for your own; and I do hope you do the like to me,--I should -be sorry else. I must needs say ye are a young man; and for mine own -part, I have seen the world, and I know what belongs to causes, and the -experience that I have, I thank God I have travelled for it. - -FRAN. Why, how far have ye travell'd for it? - -BOY. From my master's house to the ale-house. - -COOMES. How, sir? - -BOY. So, sir. - -COOMES. Go to. I pray, correct your boy; 'twas ne'er a good world, since -a boy would face a man so. - -FRAN. Go to. Forward, man. - -COOMES. Well, sir, so it is, I would not wish ye to marry without my -mistress' consent. - -FRAN. And why? - -COOMES. Nay, there's ne'er a why but there is a wherefore; I have -known some have done the like, and they have danc'd a galliard at -beggars'-bush[340] for it. - -BOY. At beggars'-bush! Hear him no more, master; he doth bedaub ye with -his dirty speech. Do ye hear, sir? how far stands beggars'-bush from -your father's house, sir? Why, thou whoreson refuge[341] of a tailor, -that wert 'prentice to a tailor half an age, and because, if thou hadst -served ten ages thou wouldst prove but a botcher, thou leapst from the -shop-board to a blue coat, doth it become thee to use thy terms so? -well, thou degree above a hackney, and ten degrees under a page, sew up -your lubber lips, or 'tis not your sword and buckler shall keep my -poniard from your breast. - -COOMES. Do ye hear, sir? this is your boy. - -FRAN. How then? - -COOMES. You must breech him for it. - -FRAN. Must I? how, if I will not? - -COOMES. Why, then, 'tis a fine world, when boys keep boys, and know not -how to use them. - -FRAN. Boy, ye rascal! - -MRS GOUR. Strike him, and thou darest. - -COOMES. Strike me? alas, he were better strike his father! Sowns, go to, -put up your bodkin.[342] - -FRAN. Mother, stand by; I'll teach that rascal-- - -COOMES. Go to, give me good words, or, by God's dines,[343] I'll buckle -ye for all your bird-spit. - -FRAN. Will you so, sir? - -PHIL. Stay, Frank, this pitch of frenzy will defile thee; -Meddle not with it: thy unreproved valour -Should be high-minded; couch it not so low. -Dost hear me? take occasion to slip hence, -But secretly, let not thy mother see thee: -At the back-side there is a coney-green;[344] -Stay there for me, and Mall and I will come to thee. [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Enough, I will [_Aside_.] Mother, you do me wrong -To be so peremptory in your command, -And see that rascal to abuse me so. - -COOMES. Rascal! take that and take all! Do ye hear, sir? I do not mean -to pocket up this wrong. - -Boy. I know why that is. - -COOMES. Why? - -Boy. Because you have ne'er a pocket. - -COM. A whip, sirrah, a whip! But, sir, provide your tools against -to-morrow morning; 'tis somewhat dark now, indeed: you know Dawson's -close, between the hedge and the pond; 'tis good even ground; I'll meet -you there; and I do not, call me cut;[345] and you be a man, show -yourself a man; we'll have a bout or two; and so we'll part for that -present. - -FRAN. Well, sir, well. - -NICH. Boy, have they appointed to fight? - -BOY. Ay, Nicholas; wilt not thou go see the fray? - -NICH. No, indeed; even as they brew, so let them bake. I will not thrust -my hand into the flame, and [I] need not; 'tis not good to have an oar -in another man's boat; little said is soon amended, and in little -meddling cometh great rest; 'tis good sleeping in a whole skin; so a man -might come home by Weeping-Cross:[346] no, by lady, a friend is not so -soon gotten as lost; blessed are the peace-makers; they that strike with -the sword, shall be beaten with the scabbard. - -PHIL. Well-said, Proverbs: ne'er another to that purpose? - -NICH. Yes, I could have said to you, sir, Take heed is a good reed.[347] - -PHIL. Why to me, take heed? - -NICH. For happy is he whom other men's harms do make to beware. - -PHIL. O, beware, Frank! Slip away, Mall, you know what I told ye. I'll -hold our mothers both in talk meanwhile. [_Aside_.] -Mother and Mistress Barnes, methinks you should not stand in hatred so -hard one with another. - -MRS BAR. Should I not, sir? should I not hate a harlot, -That robs me of my right, vild[348] boy? - -MRS GOUR. That title I return unto thy teeth, - [_Exeunt_ FRANCIS _and_ MALL. -And spit the name of harlot in thy face. - -MRS BAR. Well, 'tis not time of night to hold out chat -With such a scold as thou art; therefore now -Think that I hate thee, as I do the devil. - -MRS GOUR. The devil take thee, if thou dost not, wretch! - -MRS BAR. Out upon thee, strumpet! - -MRS GOUR. Out upon thee, harlot! - -MRS BAR. Well, I will find a time to be reveng'd: -Meantime I'll keep my daughter from thy son.-- -Where are ye, minion? how now, are ye gone? - -PHIL. She went in, mother. - -MRS GOUR. Francis, where are ye? - -MRS BAR. He is not here. O, then, they slipp'd away, -And both together! - -PHIL. I'll assure ye, no: -My sister she went in--into the house. - -MRS BAR. But then she'll out again at the back door, -And meet with him: but I will search about -All these same fields and paths near to my house: -They are not far, I am sure, if I make haste. - [_Exit_. - -MRS GOUR. O God, how went he hence, I did not see him? -It was when Barnes's wife did scold with me; -A plague on[349] her!--Dick, why didst not thou look to him? - -COOMES. What should I look for him? no, no. -I look not for him while[350] to-morrow morning. - -MRS GOUR. Come, go with me to help me look him out. -Alas! I have nor light, nor link, nor torch! -Though it be dark, I will take any pains -To cross this match. I prithee, Dick, away. - -COOMES. Mistress, because I brought ye out, I'll bring ye home; but, -if I should follow, so he might have the law on his side. - -MRS GOUR. Come, 'tis no matter; prythee, go with me. - - _Exeunt_ [MRS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.] - -MR BAR. Philip, thy mother's gone to seek thy sister, -And in a rage, i'faith: but who comes here? - -PHIL. Old Master Goursey, as I think, 'tis he. - -MR BAR. 'Tis so, indeed. - - [_Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY.] - -MR GOUR. Who's there? - -MR BAR. A friend of yours. - -MR GOUR. What, Master Barnes! did ye not see my wife? - -MR BAR. Yes, sir, I saw her; she was here even now. - -MR GOUR. I doubted that; that made me come unto you: -But whither is she gone? - -PHIL. To seek your son, who slipp'd away from her -To meet with Mall my sister in a place, -Where I appointed; and my mother too -Seeks for my sister; so they both are gone: -My mother hath a torch; marry, your wife -Goes darkling up and down, and Coomes before her. - -MR GOUR. I thought that knave was with her; but 'tis well: -I pray God, they may come by ne'er a light, -But both be led a dark dance in the night! - -HOD. Why, is my fellow, Dick, in the dark with my mistress? I pray God, -they be honest, for there may be much knavery in the dark: faith, if I -were there, I would have some knavery with them. [_Aside_] -Good master, will ye carry the torch yourself, and give me leave to play -at blind-man-buff with my mistress. - -PHIL. On that condition thou wilt do thy best -To keep thy mistress and thy fellow, Dick, -Both from my sister and thy master's son, -I will entreat thy master let thee go. - -HOD. O, ay, I warrant ye, I'll have fine tricks to cosen them. - -MR GOUR. Well, sir, then, go your ways; I give you leave. - -HOD. O brave! but whereabout are they? - -PHIL. About our coney-green they surely are, -If thou canst find them. - -HOD. O, let me alone to grope for cunnies. - [_Exit_. - -PHIL. Well, now will I to Frank and to my sister. -Stand you two heark'ning near the coney-green; -But sure your light in you must not be seen; -Or else let Nicholas stand afar off with it, -And as his life keep it from Mistress Goursey. -Shall this be done? - -MR BAR. Philip, it shall. - -PHIL. God be with ye! I'll be gone. - [_Exit_. - -MR BAR. Come on, Master Goursey: this same is a means -To make our wives friends, if they resist not. - -MR GOUR. Tut, sir, howsoever, it shall go forward. - -MR BAR. Come, then, let's do as Philip hath advis'd. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ MALL. - -MAL. Here is the place where Philip bad me stay, -Till Francis came; but wherefore did my brother -Appoint it here? why in the coney-burrow? -He had some meaning in't, I warrant ye. -Well, here I'll set me down under this tree, -And think upon the matter all alone. -Good Lord, what pretty things these conies are! -How finely they do feed till they be fat, -And then what a sweet meat a coney is! -And what smooth skins they have, both black and gray! -They say they run more in the night than day: -What is the reason? mark; why in the light -They see more passengers than in the night; -For harmful men many a hay[351] do set, -And laugh to see them tumble in the net; -And they put ferrets in the holes--fie, fie!-- -And they go up and down where conies lie; -And they lie still, they have so little wit: -I marvel the warrener will suffer it; -Nay, nay, they are so bad, that they themselves -Do give consent to catch these pretty elves. -How if the warrener should spy me here? -He would take me for a coney, I dare swear. -But when that Francis comes, what will he say? -"Look, boy, there lies a coney in my way!" -But, soft, a light! who's that? soul, my mother! -Nay, then, all-hid[352]: i'faith, she shall not see me; -I'll play bo-peep with her behind this tree. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES.] - -MRS BAR. I marvel where this wench doth[353] hide herself -So closely; I have search'd in many a bush. - -MAL. Belike my mother took me for a thrush. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. She's hid in this same warren, I'll lay money. - -MAL. Close as a rabbit-sucker[354] from an old coney. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. O God, I would to God that I could find her! -I would keep her from her love's toys yet. - -MAL. Ay, so you might, if your daughter had no wit. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. What a vild[355] girl 'tis, that would hav't so young! - -MAL. A murrain take that dissembling tongue! -Ere your calf's teeth were out, you thought it long. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. But, minion, yet I'll keep you from the man. - -MAL. To save a lie, mother, say, if you can. [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Well, now to look for her. - -MAL. Ay, there's the spite: -What trick shall I now have to 'scape her light? [_Aside_.] - -MRS BAR. Who's there? what, minion, is it you?-- -Beshrew her heart, what a fright she put me to! -But I am glad I found her, though I was afraid. [_Aside_.] -Come on your ways; you are[356] a handsome maid! -Why [steal] you forth a-doors so late at night? -Why, whither go ye? come, stand still, I say. - -MAL. No, indeed, mother; this is my best way. - -MRS BAR. 'Tis not the best way; stand by me, I tell ye. - -MAL. No; you would catch me, mother. O, I smell ye! - -MRS BAR. Will ye not stand still? - -MAL. No, by lady, no. - -MRS BAR. But I will make ye. - -MAL. Nay, then, trip-and-go. - -MRS BAR. Mistress, I'll make ye weary, ere I have done. - -MAL. Faith, mother, then, I'll try, how you can run. - -MRS BAR. Will ye? - -MAL. Yes, faith. [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ [FRANK _and_ BOY.] - -FRAN. Mall, sweet-heart, Mall! what, not a word? - -BOY. A little farther, master; call again. - -FRAN. Why, Mall! I prythee, speak; why, Mall, I say! -I know thou art not far, if thou wilt[357] speak; -Why, Mall!-- -But now I see she's in her merry vein, -To make me call, and put me to more pain. -Well, I must bear with her; she'll bear with me: -But I will call, lest that it be not so.-- -What, Mall! what, Mall, I say! Boy, are we right? -Have we not miss'd the way this same dark night? - -BOY. Mass, it may be so: as I am true[358] man, -I have not seen a coney since I came; -Yet at the coney-burrow we should meet. -But, hark! I hear the trampling of some feet. - -FRAN. It may be so, then; therefore, let's lie close. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY _and_ COOMES.] - -MRS GOUR. Where art thou, Dick? - -COOMES. Where am I, quoth-a! marry, I may be where anybody will say I -am; either in France or at Rome, or at Jerusalem, they may say I am, -for I am not able to disprove them, because I cannot tell where I am. - -MRS GOUR. O, what a blindfold walk have we had, Dick, -To seek my son! and yet I cannot find him. - -COOMES. Why, then, mistress, let's go home. - -MRS GOUR. Why, 'tis so dark we shall not find the way. - -FRAN. I pray God, ye may not, mother, till it be day! [_Aside_. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, take heed, mistress, here's a tree. - -MRS GOUR. Lead thou the way, and let me hold by thee. - -BOY. Dick Coomes, what difference is there between a blind man and he -that cannot see? - -FRAN. Peace, a pox on thee! - -COOMES. Swounds, somebody spake. - -MRS GOUR. Dick, look about; -It may be here we may find them out. - -COOMES. I see the glimpse[359] of somebody here.-- -And ye be a sprite, I'll fray the bugbear.-- -There a-goes, mistress. - -MRS GOUR. O, sir, have I spied you? - -FRAN. A plague on the boy! 'was he that descried[360] me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - [_Enter_ PHILIP.] - -PHIL. How like a beautous lady mask'd in black -Looks that same large circumference of heaven! -The sky, that was so fair three hours ago, -Is in three hours become an Ethiop; -And being angry at her beauteous change, -She will not have one of those pearled stars -To blab her sable metamorphosis:[361] -'Tis very dark. I did appoint my sister -To meet me at the coney-borough below, -And Francis too; but neither can I see. -Belike my mother happ'ned on that place, -And fray'd them from it, and they both are now -Wand'ring about the[362] fields: how shall I find them? -It is so dark, I scarce can see my hand: -Why, then, I'll hollow for them--no, not so; -So will his voice betray him to our mothers, -And if he answer, and bring them where he is. -What shall I then do? it must not be so-- -'Sblood,[363] it must be so; how else, I pray? -Shall I stand gaping here all night till day, -And then be ne'er the near?[364] So ho, so ho! - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. So ho! I come: where are ye? where art thou? here! - -PHIL. How now, Frank, where hast thou[365] been? - -WILL. Frank! what Frank? 'sblood, is Sir Ralph mad? [_Aside_.] -Here's the bow. - -PHIL. I have not been much private with that voice: -Methinks Frank Goursey's talk and his doth tell me -I am mistaken; especially by his bow; -Frank had no bow. Well, I will leave this fellow, -And hollow somewhat farther in the fields. [_Aside_.] ---Dost thou hear, fellow? I perceive by thee -That we are both mistaken: I took thee -For one thou art not; likewise thou took'st me -For Sir Ralph Smith, but sure I am not he: -And so, farewell; I must go seek my friend. -So ho! - [_Exit_. - -WILL. So ho, so ho! nay, then, Sir Ralph, so whore! -For a whore she was sure, if you had her here -So late. Now, you are Sir Ralph Smith![366] -Well do ye counterfeit and change your voice, -But yet I know ye. But what should be that Francis? -Belike that Francis cosen'd him of his wench, -And he conceals himself to find her out; -'Tis so, upon my life. Well, I will go, -And help him ring his peal of so ho, so ho! [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ FRANK. - -FRAN. A plague on Coomes! a plague upon the boy! -A plague, too--not on my mother for an hundreth pound! -'Twas time to run; and yet I had not thought -My mother could have followed me so close, -Her legs with age I thought had foundered; -She made me quite run through a quickset hedge, -Or she had taken me. Well, I may say, -I have run through the briars for a wench; -And yet I have her not--the worse luck mine. -Methought I heard one hollow hereabout; -I judge it Philip; O, the slave will laugh, -When as he hears how that my mother scar'd me! -Well, here I'll stand until I hear him hollow, -And then I'll answer him; he is not far. - - [_Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH.] - -SIR RALPH. My man is hollowing for me up and down, -And yet I cannot meet with him. So ho! - -FRAN. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. Why, what a pox, wert thou so near me, man, -And wouldst not speak? - -FRAN. 'Sblood, ye're very hot. - -SIR RALPH. No, sir, I am cold enough with staying here -For such a knave as you. - -FRAN. Knave! how now, Philip? -Art mad, art mad? - -SIR RALPH. Why, art not thou my man, -That went to fetch my bow?[367] - -FRAN. Indeed, a bow -Might shoot me ten bows down the weather so: -I your man! - -SIR RALPH. What art thou, then? - -FRAN. A man: but what's thy name? - -SIR RALPH. Some call me Ralph. - -FRAN. Then, honest Ralph, farewell. - -SIR RALPH. Well-said, familiar Will! plain Ralph, i'faith. - - [_Hollow within_ PHILIP _and_ WILL.][368] - -FRAN. There calls my man. - -SIR RALPH. But there goes mine away; -And yet I'll hear what this next call will say, -And here I'll tarry, till he call again. - [_Retires_.][369] - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. So ho! - -FRAN. So ho! where art thou, Philip? - -WILL. 'Sblood,[370] Philip! -But now he call'd me Francis: this is fine. [_Aside_.] - -FRAN. Why studiest thou? I prythee, tell me, Philip, -Where the wench[371] is. - -WILL. Even now he ask'd me (Francis) for the wench, -And now he asks[372] me (Philip) for the wench. [_Aside_.] -Well, Sir Ralph, I must needs tell ye now, -'Tis[373] not for your[374] credit to be forth -So late a-wenching in this order.[375] - -FRAN. What's this? so late a-wenching, doth he say? [_Aside_] ---Indeed, 'tis true I am thus late a-wenching, -But I am forc'd to wench without a wench. - -WILL. Why, then, you might have ta'n your bow at first, -And gone and kill'd a buck, and not have been -So long a-drabbing, and be ne'er the near.[376] - -FRAN. Swounds, what a puzzle am I in this night! -But yet I'll put this fellow farther [question. _Aside_] ---Dost thou hear, man? I am not Sir Ralph Smith, -As thou dost think I am; but I did meet him, -Even as thou sayest, in pursuit of a wench. -I met the wench too, and she ask'd for thee, -Saying 'twas thou that wert her love, her dear, -And that Sir Ralph was not an honest knight -To train her thither, and to use her so. - -WILL. 'Sblood, my wench! swounds, were he ten Sir Ralphs-- - -FRAN. Nay, 'tis true, look to it; and so, farewell. - [_Exit_. - -WILL. Indeed, I do love Nan our dairymaid: -And hath he traine[d] her forth to that intent, -Or for another? I carry his crossbow, -And he doth cross me, shooting in my bow. -What shall I do? - [_Exit_.][377] - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. So ho! - -PHIL. Francis, art thou there? - -SIR RALPH. No, here's no Francis. Art thou Will, my man? - -PHIL. Will Fool your man, Will goose[378] your man! -My back, sir, scorns to wear your livery. - -SIR RALPH. Nay, sir, I mov'd but such a question to you, -And it hath not disparag'd you, I hope; -'Twas but mistaking; such a night as this -May well deceive a man. God be w'ye,[379] sir. - [_Exit_.] - -PHIL. God's will, 'tis Sir Ralph Smith, a virtuous knight! -How gently entertains he my hard answer! -Rude anger made my tongue unmannerly: -I cry him mercy. Well, but all this while -I cannot find a Francis.--Francis, ho! - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. Francis, ho! O, you call Francis now! -How have ye us'd my Nan? come, tell me, how. - -PHIL. Thy Nan! what Nan? - -WILL. Ay, what Nan, now! say, do you not seek a wench? - -PHIL. Yes, I do. - -WILL. Then, sir, that is she. - -PHIL. Art not thou [he] I met withal before? - -WILL. Yes, sir; and you did counterfeit before, -And said to me you were not Sir Ralph Smith. - -PHIL. No more I am not. I met Sir Ralph Smith; -Even now he ask'd me, if I saw his man. - -WILL. O, fine! - -PHIL. Why, sirrah, thou art much deceived in me: -Good faith, I am not he thou think'st I am. - -WILL. What are ye, then? - -PHIL. Why, one that seeks one Francis and a wench. - -WILL. And Francis seeks one Philip and a wench. - -PHIL. How canst thou tell? - -WILL. I met him seeking Philip and a wench. -As I was seeking Sir Ralph and a wench. - -PHIL. Why, then, I know the matter: we met cross, -And so we miss'd; now here we find our loss. -Well, if thou wilt, we two will keep together, -And so we shall meet right with one or other. - -WILL. I am content: but, do you hear me, sir? -Did not Sir Ralph Smith ask ye for a wench? - -PHIL. No, I promise thee, nor did he look -For any but thyself, as I could guess. - -WILL. Why, this is strange: but come, sir, let's away: -I fear that we shall walk here, till't be day. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ BOY. - -[BOY.] O God, I have run so far into the wind, that I have run myself -out of wind! They say a man is near his end, when he lacks breath; and -I am at the end of my race, for I can run no farther; then here I be in -my breath-bed, not in my death-bed.[380] - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. They say men moil and toil for a poor living; so I moil and -toil, and am living, I thank God; in good time be it spoken. It had -been better for me my mistress's angel had been light, for then perhaps -it had not led me into this darkness. Well, the devil never blesses a -man better, when he purses up angels by owl-light. I ran through a hedge -to take the boy, but I stuck in the ditch, and lost the boy. [_Falls_.] -'Swounds, a plague on that clod, that molehill, that ditch, or what the -devil so e'er it were, for a man cannot see what it was! Well, I would -not, for the price of my sword and buckler, anybody should see me in -this taking, for it would make me but cut off their legs for laughing at -me. Well, down I am, and down I mean to be, because I am weary; but to -tumble down thus, it was no part of my meaning: then, since I am down, -here I'll rest me, and no man shall remove me. - - _Enter_ HODGE. - -HOD. O, I have sport in coney, i'faith! I have almost burst myself with -laughing at Mistress Barnes. She was following of her daughter; and I, -hearing her, put on my fellow Dick's sword-and-buckler voice and his -_swounds_ and _sblood_ words, and led her such a dance in the dark as it -passes.[381] "Here she is," quoth I. "Where?" quoth she. "Here," quoth I. -O, it hath been a brave here-and-there night! but, O, what a soft-natured -thing the dirt is! how it would endure my hard treading, and kiss my feet -for acquaintance! and how courteous and mannerly were the clods[382] to -make me stumble only of purpose to entreat me lie down and rest me! But -now, and I could find my fellow Dick, I would play the knave with him -honestly, i'faith. Well, I will grope in the dark for him, or I'll poke -with my staff, like a blind man, to prevent a ditch. - [_He stumbles[383] on_ DICK COOMES. - -COOMES. Who's that, with a pox? - -HOD. Who art thou, with a pestilence? - -COOMES. Why, I am Dick Coomes. - -HOD. What, have I found thee. Dick? nay, then, I am for ye, Dick, - [_Aside_.] ---Where are ye, Dick? - -COOMES. What can I tell, where I am? - -HOD. Can ye not tell? come, come, ye wait on your mistress well! come -on your ways; I have sought you, till I am weary, and call'd ye, till -I am hoarse: good Lord, what a jaunt I have had this night, heigho! - -COOMES. Is't you, mistress, that came over me? 'Sblood, 'twere a good -deed to come over you for this night's work. I cannot afford all this -pains for an angel: I tell ye true; a kiss were not cast away upon a -good fellow, that hath deserved more that way than a kiss, if your -kindness would afford it him: what, shall I have't, mistress? - -HOD. Fie, fie, I must not kiss my man. - -COOMES. Nay, nay, ne'er stand; shall I, shall I? nobody sees: say but -I shall, and I'll smack it[384] soundly, i'faith. - -HOD. Away, bawdy man! in truth, I'll tell your master. - -COOMES. My master! go to, ne'er tell me of my master: he may pray for -them that may, he is past it: and for mine own part, I can do somewhat -that way, I thank God; I am not now to learn, and 'tis your part to have -your whole desire. - -HOD. Fie, fie, I am ashamed of you: would you tempt your mistress to -lewdness? - -COOMES. To lewdness! no, by my troth, there's no such matter in't, it is -for kindness; and, by my troth, if you like my gentle offer, you shall -have what courteously I can afford ye. - -HOD. Shall I indeed, Dick? I'faith, if I thought nobody would see-- - -COOMES. Tush, fear not that; swoons, they must have cats' eyes, then. - -HOD. Then, kiss me, Dick. - -COOMES. A kind wench, i'faith! [_Aside_.]--Where are ye, mistress? - -HOD. Here, Dick. O, I am in the dark! Dick, go about.[385] - -COOMES. Nay, I'll throw[386] sure: where are ye? - -HOD. Here. - -COOMES. A plague on this post! I would the carpenter had been hang'd, -that set it up, for me.[387] Where are ye now? - -HOD. Here. - -COOMES. Here! O, I come. [_Exit_.] A plague on it, I am in a pond, -mistress! - -HOD. Ha, ha! I have led him into a pond.--Where art thou, Dick? - -COOMES. [_Within_.] Up to the middle in a pond! - -HOD. Make a boat of thy buckler, then, and swim out. Are ye so hot, with -a pox? would you kiss my mistress? cool ye there, then, good Dick Coomes. -O, when he comes forth, the skirts of his blue coat will drop like a -pent[388]-house! O, that I could see, and not be seen; how he would -spaniel it, and shake himself, when he comes out of the pond! But I'll -be gone; for now he'll fight with a fly, if he but buzz[389] in his ear. - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ COOMES. - -COOMES. Here's so-ho-ing with a plague! so hang, and ye will; for I have -been almost drown'd. A pox of your stones,[390] and ye call this kissing! -Ye talk of a drowned rat, but 'twas time to swim like a dog; I had been -serv'd like a drown'd cat else. I would he had digg'd his grave that -digg'd the pond! my feet were foul indeed, but a less pail than a pond -would have served my turn to wash them. A man shall be serv'd thus -always, when he follows any of these females: but 'tis my kind heart -that makes me thus forward in kindness unto them: well, God amend them, -and make them thankful to them that would do them pleasure. I am not -drunk, I would ye should well know it; and yet I have drunk more than -will do me good, for I might have had a pump set up with as[391] good -March beer as this was, and ne'er set up an ale-bush for the matter. -Well, I am somewhat in wrath, I must needs say; and yet I am not more -angry than wise, nor more wise than angry; but I'll fight with the next -man I meet, and it be but for luck's sake; and if he love to see himself -hurt, let him bring light with him; I'll do it by darkling else, by -God's dines. Well, here will I walk, whosoever says nay. - - _Enter_ NICHOLAS. - -NICH. He that worse may, must hold the candle; but my master is not so -wise, as God might have made him. He is gone to seek a hare in a hen's -nest, a needle in a bottle of hay, which is as seldom seen as a black -swan: he is gone to seek my young mistress; and I think she is better -lost than found, for whosoever hath her, hath but a wet eel by the tail. -But they may do, as they list; the law is in their own hands; but, and -they would be rul'd by me, they should set her on the lee-land, and bid -the devil split her; beshrew her fingers, she hath made me watch past -mine hour; but I'll watch her a good turn for it. - -COOMES. How, who's that? Nicholas!--So, first come, first serv'd; -I am for him [_Aside_]. ---How now, Proverb, Proverb? 'sblood, how now, Proverb? - -NICH. My name is Nicholas, Richard; and I know your meaning, and I hope -ye mean no harm. I thank ye: I am the better for your asking. - -COOMES. Where have ye been a-whoring thus late, ha? - -NICH. Master Richard, the good wife would not seek her daughter in -the oven, unless she had been there herself: but, good Lord, you -are knuckle-deep in dirt!--I warrant, when he was in, he swore -Walsingham[392], and chaf'd terrible for the time. [_Aside_.] ---Look, the water drops from you as fast as hops. - -COOMES. What need'st thou to care, whip-her-Jenny[393], -tripe-cheeks?[394], out, you fat ass! - -NICH. Good words cost nought: ill words corrupt good manners, Richard; -for a hasty man never wants woe. And I had thought you had been my -friend; but I see all is not gold that glitters; there's falsehood in -fellowship; _amicus certus in re certa cernitur_; time and truth tries -all; and 'tis an old proverb, and not so old as true, bought wit is the -best; I can see day at a little hole; I know your mind as well as though -I were within you; 'tis ill halting before a cripple: go to, you seek to -quarrel; but beware of had I wist[395]; so long goes the pot to the -water, at length it comes home broken; I know you are as good a man as -ever drew sword, or as was e'er girt in a girdle, or as e'er went on -neat's leather, or as one shall see upon a summer's day, or as e'er -look'd man in the face, or as e'er trod on God's earth, or as e'er broke -bread or drunk drink; but he is proper that hath proper conditions[396]; -but be not you like the cow, that gives a good sop of milk, and casts it -down with her[397] heels; I speak plainly, for plain-dealing is a jewel, -and he that useth it shall die a beggar; well, that happens in an hour, -that happens not in seven years; a man is not so soon whole as hurt; and -you should kill a man, you would kiss his--well, I say little, but I -think the more. Yet I'll give him good words; 'tis good to hold a candle -before the devil; yet, by God's dine[398], I'll take no wrong, if he had -a head as big as Brass[399], or look'd as high as Paul's steeple. - [_Aside_.] - -COOMES. Sirrah, thou grasshopper, that shalt skip from my sword as from a -scythe; I'll cut thee out in collops and eggs, in steaks, in slic'd beef, -and fry thee with the fire I shall strike from the pike of thy buckler. - -NICH. Ay, Brag's a good dog; threat'ned folks live long. - -COOMES. What say ye, sir? - -NICH. Why, I say not so much as, How do ye? - -COOMES. Do ye not so, sir? - -NICH. No, indeed, whatsoe'er I think; and thought is free. - -COOMES. You whoreson wafer-cake, by God's dines, I'll crush ye for this! - -NICH. Give an inch, and you'll take an ell; I will not put my finger in -a hole, I warrant ye: what, man! ne'er crow so fast, for a blind man may -kill a hare; I have known when a plain fellow hath hurt a fencer, so I -have: what! a man may be as slow as a snail, but as fierce as a lion, -and he be moved; indeed, I am patient, I must needs say, for patience in -adversity brings a man to the Three Cranes in the Vintry. - -COOMES. Do ye hear? set down your torch; draw, fight, I am for ye. - -NICH. And I am for ye too, though it be from this midnight to the next -morn. - -COOMES. Where be your tools? - -NlCH. Within a mile of an oak, sir; he's a proud horse will not carry -his own provender, I warrant ye. - -COOMES. Now am I in my quarrelling humour, and now can I say nothing but, -zounds, draw! but I'll untruss, and then have to it. [_Aside_.] - - _Enter [severally]_ HODGE _and_ BOY. - -HOD. Who's there? boy! honest boy, well-met: where hast thou been? - -BOY. O Hodge, Dick Coomes hath been as good as a cry of hounds, to make -a breath'd[400] hare of me! but didst thou see my master? - -HOD. I met him even now, and he ask'd me for thee, and he is gone up -and down, whooing like[401] an owl for thee. - -BOY. Owl, ye ass! - -HOD. Ass! no, nor glass, for then it had been Owlglass[402]: -but who's that, boy? - -BOY. By the mass, 'tis our Coomes and Nicholas; and it seems they are -providing to fight. - -HOD. Then we shall have fine sport, i'faith. Sirrah, let's stand close, -and when they have fought a bout or two, we'll run away with the torch, -and leave them to fight darkling, shall we? - -BOY. Content; I'll get the torch: stand close. - -COOMES. So now my back hath room to reach: I do not love to be lac'd in, -when I go to lace a rascal. I pray God, Nicholas prove not a fly:[403] -it would do me good to deal with a good man now, that we might have -half-a-dozen good smart strokes. Ha, I have seen the day I could have -danc'd in my fight, one, two, three, four, and five, on the head of him; -six, seven, eight, nine, and ten on the sides of him; and, if I went so -far as fifteen, I warrant I shewed[404] him a trick of one-and-twenty; -but I have not fought this four days, and I lack a little practice of -my ward; but I shall make a shift: ha, close [_Aside_]. ---Are ye disposed, sir? - -NICH. Yes, indeed, I fear no colours: change sides, Richard. - -COOMES. Change the gallows! I'll see thee hang'd first. - -NICH. Well, I see the fool will not leave his bable[405] for the Tower -of London. - -COOMES. Fool, ye rogue! nay, then, fall to it. - -NICH. Good goose, bite not. - -COOMES. 'Sblood, how pursy I am! Well, I see exercise is all: I must -practice my weapons oft'ner; I must have a goal or two at foot-ball, -before I come to my right kind [_Aside_]. -Give me thy hand, Nicholas: thou art a better man than I took thee for, -and yet thou art not so good a man as I. - -NICH. You dwell by ill-neighbours, Richard; that makes ye praise -yourself. - -COOMES. Why, I hope thou wilt say I am a man? - -NICH. Yes, I'll say so, if I should see ye hang'd. - -COOMES. Hang'd, ye rogue! nay, then, have at ye. - - [_While they fight, exeunt_ HODGE _and_ BOY _with the torch_.] - -Zounds, the light is gone! - -NICH. O Lord, it is as dark as pitch! - -COOMES. Well, here I'll lie, with my buckler thus, lest striking up and -down at randall[406] the rogue might hurt me, for I cannot see to save -it, and I'll hold my peace, lest my voice should bring him where I am. - [_Stand aside_.] - -NICH. 'Tis good to have a cloak for the rain; a bad shift is better than -none at all; I'll sit here, as if I were as dead as a door-nail. - [_Stand aside_.][407] - - _Enter_ MR BARNES _and_ MR GOURSEY. - -MR GOUR. Hark! there's one hallooes. - -MR BARNES. And there's another. - -MR GOUR. And everywhere we come, I hear some halloo, -And yet it is our haps to meet with none. - -MR BAR. I marvel where your Hodge is and my man. - -MR GOUR. Ay, and our wives? we cannot meet with them, -Nor with the boy, nor Mall, nor Frank, nor Philip, -Nor yet with Coomes, and yet we ne'er stood still. -Well, I am very angry with my wife, -And she shall find I am not pleas'd with her, -If we meet ne'er so soon: but 'tis my hope[408] -She hath had as blind a journey on't as we; -Pray God, she have, and worse, if worse may be! - -MR BAR. This is but short-liv'd envy[409], Master Goursey: -But, come, what say ye to my policy? - -MR GOUR. I'faith, 'tis good, and we will practise it; -But, sir, it must be handled cunningly, -Or all is marr'd; our wives have subtle heads, -And they will soon perceive a drift device. - - _Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH. - -SIR RALPH. So ho! - -MR GOUR. So ho! - -SIR RALPH. Who there? - -MR BAR. Here's one or two. - -SIR RALPH. Is Will there? - -MR BAR. No. Philip? - -MR GOUR. Frank? - -SIR RALPH. No, no.-- -Was ever man deluded thus like me? -I think some spirit leads me thus amiss, -As I have often heard that some have been -Thus in the nights. -But yet this mazes me; where e'er I come, -Some asks me still for Frank or Philip, -And none of them can tell me where Will is. [_Aside_. - -WILL. So ho! | - -PHIL. So ho! | [_They hallo within_. - -HOD. So ho! | - -BOY. So ho! | - -SIR RALPH. Zounds, now I hear four halloo at the least! -One had a little voice; then, that's the wench -My man hath lost: well, I will answer all. [_Aside.] ---So ho! - - [_Enter_ HODGE.] - -HOD. Whoop, whoop! - -SIR RALPH. Who's there? Will? - -HOD. No, sir; honest Hodge: but, I pray ye, sir, did ye not meet with a -boy with a torch? he is run away from me, a plague on him! - -SIR RALPH. Heyday, from Frank and Philip to a torch, -And to a boy! nay, zounds, then, hap as 'twill. [_Aside_. - - [_Exeunt_ SIR RALPH _and_ HODGE _severally_. - -MR GOUR. Who goes there? - - [_Enter_ WILL.] - -WILL. Guess here. - -MR BAR. Philip? - -WILL. Philip! no, faith; my name's Will--ill-Will, for I was never worse: -I was even now with him, and might have been still, but that I fell into -a ditch and lost him, and now I am going up and down to seek him. - -MR GOUR. What would'st thou do with him? - -WILL. Why, I would have him go with me to my master's. - -MR GOUR. Who's thy master? - -WILL. Why, Sir Ralph Smith; and thither he promis'd me he would come; -if he keep his word, so 'tis. - -MR BAR. What was a[410] doing, when thou first found'st him? - -WILL. Why, he halloo'd for one Francis, and Francis halloo'd for him; -I halloo'd for my master, and my master for me; but we miss'd still, -meeting contrary, Philip and Francis with me and my master, and I and -my master with Philip and Frank. - -MR GOUR. Why, wherefore is Sir Ralph so late abroad? - -WILL. Why, he meant to kill a buck; I'll say so to save his honesty, -but my Nan was his mark [_Aside_]. And he sent me for his bow, and when -I came, I halloo'd for him; but I never saw such luck to miss him; it -hath almost made me mad. - -MR BAR. Well, stay with us; perhaps Sir Ralph and he will come anon: -hark! I do hear one halloo. - - _Enter_ PHILIP. - -PHIL. Is this broad waking in a winter's night? -I am broad walking in a winter's night-- -Broad indeed, because I am abroad-- -But these broad fields, methinks, are not so broad -That they may keep me forth of narrow ditches. -Here's a hard world! -For I can hardly keep myself upright in it: -I am marvellous dutiful--but, so ho! - -WILL. So ho! - -PHIL. Who's there? - -WILL. Here's Will. - -PHIL. What, Will! how 'scap'st thou? - -WILL. What, sir? - -PHIL. Nay, not hanging, but drowning: wert thou in a pond or a ditch? - -WILL. A pestilence on it! is't you, Philip? no, faith, I was but dirty -a little: but here's one or two ask'd for ye. - -PHIL. Who be they, man? - -MR BAR. Philip, 'tis I and Master Goursey. - -PHIL. Father, O father, I have heard them say -The days of ignorance are pass'd and done; -But I am sure the nights of ignorance -Are not yet pass'd, for this is one of them. -But where's my sister? - -MR BAR. Why, we cannot tell. - -PHIL. Where's Francis? - -MR GOUR. Neither saw we him. - -PHIL. Why, this is fine. -What, neither he nor I, nor she nor you, -Nor I nor she, nor you and I, till[411] now, -Can meet, could meet, or e'er, I think, shall meet! -Call ye this wooing? no, 'tis Christmas sport -Of Hob-man-blind[412], all blind, all seek to catch, -All miss--but who comes here? - - _Enter_ FRANK _and his_ BOY. - -FRAN. O, have I catch'd ye, sir? It was your doing -That made me have this pretty dance to-night; -Had not you spoken, my mother had not scar'd me: -But I will swinge ye for it. - -PHIL. Keep the king's peace! - -FRAN. How! art thou become a constable? -Why, Philip, where hast thou been all this while? - -PHIL. Why, where you were not: but, I pray [you], where's my sister? - -FRAN. Why, man, I saw her not; but I have sought her, -As I should seek-- - -PHIL. A needle, have ye not? -Why you, man, are the needle that she seeks -To work withal! Well, Francis, do you hear? -You must not answer so, that you have sought her; -But have ye found her? faith, and if you have, -God give ye joy of that ye found with her! - -FRAN[413]. I saw her not: how could I find her? - -MR GOUR. Why, could ye miss from Master Barnes's house -Unto his coney-burrow? - -FRAN. Whether I could or no, father, I did. - -PHIL. Father, I did! Well, Frank, wilt thou believe me? -Thou dost not know how much this same doth grieve me: -Shall it be said thou miss'd so plain a way, -When as so fair a wench did for thee stay? - -FRAN. Zounds, man! - -PHIL. Zounds, man! and if thou hadst been blind, -The coney-burrow thou needest must find. -I tell, thee, Francis, had it been my case, -And I had been a wooer in thy place, -I would have laid my head unto the ground, -And scented out my wench's way, like a hound; -I would have crept upon my knees all night, -And have made the flintstones links to give me light; -Nay, man, I would. - -FRAN. Good Lord, what you would do! -Well, we shall see one day, how you can woo. - -MR GOUR. Come, come, we see that we have all been cross'd; -Therefore, let's go, and seek them we have lost. - [_Exeunt_ - - _Enter_ MALL. - -[MAL.] Am I alone? doth not my mother come? -Her torch I see not, which I well might see, -If any way she were coming toward me: -Why, then, belike she's gone some other way; -And may she go, till I bid her [to] turn! -Far shall her way be then, and little fair, -Foe she hath hindered me of my good turn; -God send her wet and weary, ere she turn! -I had been at Oxenford, and to-morrow -Have been releas'd from all my maiden's sorrow, -And tasted joy, had not my mother been; -God, I beseech thee, make it her worst sin! -How many maids this night lies in their beds, -And dream that they have lost their maidenheads! -Such dreams, such slumbers I had too enjoy'd, -If waking malice had not them destroy'd. -A starved man with double death doth die, -To have the meat might save him in his eye, -And may not have it: so am I tormented, -To starve for joy I see, yet am prevented. -Well, Frank, although thou wooedst and quickly won, -Yet shall my love to thee be never done; -I'll run through hedge and ditch, through brakes and briars, -To come to thee, sole lord of my desires: -Short wooing is the best, an hour, not years, -For long-debating love is full of fears. -But, hark! I hear one tread. O, were't my brother, -Or Frank, or any man, but not my mother! - - [_Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH.] - -SIR RALPH. O, when will this same year of night have end? -Long-look'd for day's sun, when wilt thou ascend? -Let not this thieve[414] friend, misty veil of night, -Encroach on day, and shadow thy fair light, -Whilst thou com'st tardy from thy Thetis' bed, -Blushing forth golden hair and glorious red; -O, stay not long, bright lanthorn of the day, -To light my miss'd-way feet to my right way! - -MAL. It is a man, his big voice tells me so, -Much am I not acquainted with it, tho'; -And yet mine ear, sound's true distinguisher, -Boys[415] that I have been more familiar -With it than now I am: well, I do judge, -It is no envious fellow, out[416] of grudge; -Therefore I'll plead acquaintance, hire his guiding, -And buy of him some place of close abiding, -Till that my mother's malice be expir'd, -And we may joy in that is long desired [_Aside_] ---Who's there? - -SIR RALPH. Are ye a maid? No question, this is she -My man doth miss: faith, since she lights on me, -I do not mean till day to let her go; -For whe'er[417] she is my man's love, I will know [_Aside_ -Hark ye, maid, if [a] maid, are ye so light, -That you can see to wander in the night? - -MAL. Hark ye, true man, if true, I tell ye, no; -I cannot see at all which way I go. - -SIR RALPH. Fair maid, is't so? say, had ye ne'er a fall? - -MAL. Fair man, not so; no, I had none at all. - -SIR RALPH. Could you not stumble on one man, I pray? - -MAL. No, no such block till now came in my way. - -SIR RALPH. Am I that block, sweet tripe; then, fall and try. - -MAL. The ground's too hard a feather-bed; not I. - -SIR RALPH. Why, how, and you had met with such a stump? - -MAL. Why, if he had been your height, I meant to jump. - -SIR RALPH. Are ye so nimble? - -MAL. Nimble as a doe. - -SIR RALPH. Bak'd in a pie. - -MAL. Of ye. - -SIR RALPH. Good meat, ye know. - -MAL. Ye hunt sometimes? - -SIR RALPH. I do. - -MAL. What take ye? - -SIR RALPH. Deer. - -MAL. You'll ne'er strike rascal[418]? - -SIR RALPH. Yes, when ye are there. - -MAL. Will ye strike me? - -SIR RALPH. Yes: will ye strike again? - -MAL. No, sir: it fits not maids to fight with men. - -SIR RALPH. I wonder, wench, how I thy name might know. - -MAL. Why, you may find it, sir, in th'Christcross row[419]. - -SIR RALPH. Be my schoolmistress, teach me how to spell it. - -MAL. No, faith, I care not greatly, if I tell it; -My name is Mary Barnes. - -SIR RALPH. How, wench? Mall Barnes! - -MAL. The very same. - -SIR RALPH. Why, this is strange. - -MAL. I pray, sir, what's your name? - -SIR RALPH. Why, Sir Ralph Smith doth wonder, wench, at this; -Why, what's the cause thou art abroad so late? - -MAL. What, Sir Ralph Smith! nay, then, I will disclose -All the whole cause to him, in him repose -My hopes, my love: God him, I hope, did send -Our loves and both our mothers' hates to end. [_Aside_.] ---Gentle Sir Ralph, if you my blush might see, -You then would say I am ashamed to be -Found, like a wand'ring stray, by such a knight, -So far from home at such a time of night: -But my excuse is good; love first by fate -Is cross'd, controll'd, and sundered by fell hate. -Frank Goursey is my love, and he loves me; -But both our mothers hate and disagree; -Our fathers like the match and wish it done; -And so it had, had not our mothers come; -To Oxford we concluded both to go; -Going to meet, they came; we parted so; -My mother followed me, but I ran fast, -Thinking who went from hate had need make haste; -Take me she cannot, though she still pursue: -But now, sweet knight, I do repose on you; -Be you my orator and plead my right, -And get me one good day for this bad night. - -SIR RALPH. Alas, good heart, I pity thy hard hap! -And I'll employ all that I may for thee. -Frank Goursey, wench! I do commend thy choice: -Now I remember I met one Francis, -As I did seek my man,--then, that was he,-- -And Philip too,--belike that was thy brother: -Why, now I find how I did lose myself, -And wander[420] up and down, mistaking so. -Give me thy hand, Mall: I will never leave, -Till I have made your mothers friends again, -And purchas'd to ye both your hearts' delight, -And for this same one bad many a good night. -'Twill not be long, ere that Aurora will, -Deck'd in the glory of a golden sun, -Open the crystal windows of the east, -To make the earth enamour'd of her face, -When we shall have clear light to see our way: -Come; night being done, expect a happy day. - - [_Exeunt. - - Enter_ MISTRESS BARNES. - -MRS BAR. O, what a race this peevish girl hath led me! -How fast I ran, and now how weary I am! -I am so out of breath I scarce can speak,-- -What shall I do?--and cannot overtake her. -'Tis late and dark, and I am far from home: -May there not thieves lie watching hereabout, -Intending mischief unto them they meet? -There may; and I am much afraid of them, -Being alone without all company. -I do repent me of my coming forth; -And yet I do not,--they had else been married, -And that I would not for ten times more labour. -But what a winter of cold fear I thole[421], -Freezing my heart, lest danger should betide me! -What shall I do to purchase company? -I hear some halloo here about the fields: -Then here I'll set my torch upon this hill, -Whose light shall beacon-like conduct them to it; -They that have lost their way, seeing a light, -For it may be seen far off in the night, -Will come to it. Well, here I'll lie unseen, -And look who comes, and choose my company. -Perhaps my daughter may first come to it. - - [_Enter_ MISTRESS GOURSEY.] - -MRS GOUR. Where am I now? nay, where was I even now? -Nor now, nor then, nor where I shall be, know I. -I think I am going home: I may as well -Be[422] going from home; 'tis[423] so very dark, -I cannot see how to direct a step. -I lost my man, pursuing of my son; -My son escap'd me too: now, all alone, -I am enforc'd[424] to wander up and down. -Barnes's wife's[425] abroad: pray God, that she -May have as good a dance, nay, ten times worse! -O, but I fear she hath not; she hath light -To see her way. O, that some[426] bridge would break, -That she might fall into some deep digg'd ditch, -And either break her bones or drown herself! -I would these mischiefs I could wish to her -Might light on her!--but, soft; I see a light: -I will go near; it is comfortable, -After this night's sad spirits-dulling darkness. -How now? what, is it set to keep itself? - -MRS BAR. A plague on't, is she there? [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. O, how it cheers and quickens up my thoughts! - -MRS BAR. O that it were the basilisk's fell eye, -To poison thee! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I care not, if I take it-- -Sure none is here to hinder me-- -And light me home. - -MRS BAR. I had rather she were hang'd -Than I should set it there to do her good. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I'faith, I will. - -MRS BAR. I'faith, you shall not, mistress; -I'll venture a burnt finger but I'll have it. [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. Yet Barnes's wife would chafe, if that she knew, -That I had this good luck to get a light. - -MRS BAR. And so she doth; but praise your[427] luck at parting. - [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. O, that it were[428] her light, good faith, that she -Might darkling walk about as well as I! - -MRS BAR. O, how this mads me, that she hath her wish! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. How I would laugh to see her trot about! - -MRS BAR. O, I could cry for anger and for rage! [_Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. But who should set it here, I marv'l, a God's name. - -MRS BAR. One that will have't from you in the devil's name. _Aside_.] - -MRS GOUR. I'll lay my life that it was Barnes's son. - -MRS BAR. No, forsooth, it was Barnes's wife. - -MRS GOUR. A plague upon her, how she made me start! [_Aside_.] -Mistress, let go the torch. - -MRS BAR. No, but I will not. - -MRS GOUR. I'll thrust it in thy face, then. - -MRS BAR. But you shall not. - -MRS GOUR. Let go, I say. - -MRS BAR. Let you go, for 'tis mine. - -MRS GOUR. But my possession says, it is none of thine. - -MRS BAR. Nay, I have hold too. - -MRS GOUR. Well, let go thy hold, -Or I will spurn thee. - -MRS BAR. Do; I can spurn thee too. - -MRS GOUR. Canst thou? - -MRS BAR. Ay, that I can. - - _Enter_ MASTER GOURSEY _and_ MASTER BARNES, - [PHILIP, FRANK, &c.] - -MR GOUR. Why, how now, women? how unlike to women -Are ye both now! come, part, come, part, I say. - -MR BAR. Why, what immodesty is this in you! -Come, part, I say; fie, fie. - -MRS BAR. Fie, fie? I say she shall not have my torch.-- -Give me thy torch, boy:--I will run a-tilt, -And burn out both her eyes in my encounter. - -MRS GOUR. Give room, and let us have this hot career[429]. - -MR GOUR. I say ye shall not: wife, go to, tame your thoughts, -That are so mad with fury. - -MR BAR. And, sweet wife, -Temper your rage with patience; do not be -Subject so much to such misgovernment. - -MRS BAR. Shall I not, sir, when such a strumpet wrongs me? - -MR GOUR. How, strumpet, Mistress Barnes! nay, I pray, hark ye: -I oft indeed have heard ye call her so, -And I have thought upon it, why ye should -Twit her with name of strumpet; do you know -Any hurt by her, that you term her so? - -MR BAR. No, on my life; rage only makes her say so. - -MR GOUR. But I would know whence this same rage should come; -Where's smoke, there's fire; and my heart misgives -My wife's intemperance hath got that name;-- -And, Mistress Barnes, I doubt and shrewdly[430] doubt, -And some great cause begets this doubt in me, -Your husband and my wife doth wrong us both. - -MR BAR. How, think ye so? nay, Master Goursey, then, -You run in debt to my opinion, -Because you pay not such advised wisdom, -As I think due unto my good conceit. - -MR GOUR. Then still I fear I shall your debtor prove. - -[MR BAR.] Then I arrest you in the name of love; -Not bail, but present answer to my plea; -And in the court of reason we will try, -If that good thoughts should believe jealousy. - -PHIL. Why, look ye, mother, this is 'long of you.-- -For God's sake, father, hark? why, these effects -Come still from women's malice: part, I pray.-- -Coomes, Will, and Hodge, come all, and help us part them!-- -Father, but hear me speak one word--no more. - -FRAN. Father, but hear him[431] speak, then use your will. - -PHIL. Cry peace between ye for a little while. - -MRS GOUR. Good husband, hear him speak - -MRS BAR. Good husband, hear him. - -COOMES. Master, hear him speak; he's a good wise young stripling for -his years, I tell ye, and perhaps may speak wiser than an elder body; -therefore hear him. - -HOD. Master, hear; and make an end; you may kill one another in jest, -and be hanged in earnest. - -MR GOUR. Come, let us hear him. Then speak quickly, Philip. - -MR BAR. Thou shouldst have done ere this; speak, Philip, speak. - -MRS BAR. O Lord, what haste you make to hurt yourselves!-- -Good Philip, use some good persuasions -To make them friends. - -PHIL. Yes, I'll do what I can.-- -Father and Master Goursey, both attend. -It is presumption in so young a man -To teach where he might learn, or to[432] direct, -Where he hath had direction; but in duty -He may persuade as long as his persuase -Is back'd with reason and a rightful suit. -Physic's first rule is this, as I have learned: -Kill the effect by cutting off the cause. -The same effects of ruffian outrages -Comes by the cause of malice in your wives; -Had not they two been foes, you had been friends, -And we had been at home, and this same war -In peaceful sleep had ne'er been dreamt upon. -Mother and Mistress Goursey, to make them friends, -Is to be friends yourselves: you are the cause, -And these effects proceed, you know, from you; -Your hates gives life unto these killing strifes, -But die, and if that envy[433] die in you.-- -Fathers, yet stay.--O, speak!--O, stay a while!-- -Francis, persuade thy mother.--Master Goursey, -If that my mother will resolve[434] your mind[435] -That 'tis but mere suspect, not common proof, -And if my father swear he's innocent, -As I durst pawn my soul with him he is, -And if your wife vow truth and constancy, -Will you be then persuaded? - -MR GOUR. Philip, if thy father will remit -The wounds I gave him, and if these conditions -May be performed, I banish all my wrath. - -MR BAR. And if thy mother will but clear me, Philip, -As I am ready to protest I am, -Then Master Goursey is my friend again. - -PHIL. Hark, mother; now you hear that your desires -May be accomplished; they will both be friends, -If you'll perform these easy articles. - -MRS BAR. Shall I be friends with such an enemy? - -PHIL. What say you[436] unto my persuase? - -MRS BAR. I say she's[437] my deadly enemy. - -PHIL. Ay, but she will be your friend, if you revolt. - -MRS BAR. The words I said! what, shall I eat a truth? - -PHIL. Why, hark ye, mother. - -FRAN. Mother, what say you? - -MRS GOUR. Why, this I say, she slandered my good name. - -FRAN. But if she now deny it, 'tis no defame. - -MRS GOUR. What, shall I think her hate will yield so much? - -FRAN. Why, doubt it not; her spirit may be such. - -MR GOUR. Why, will it be? - -PHIL. Yet stay, I have some hope. -Mother, why, mother, why, hear ye[438]: -Give me your hand; it is no more but thus; -'Tis easy labour to shake hands with her: -Little[439] breath is spent in speaking of fair words, -When wrath hath violent delivery. - -MR BAR. What, shall we be resolv'd? - -MRS BAR. O husband, stay!-- -Stay, Master Goursey: though your wife doth hate me, -And bears unto me malice infinite -And endless, yet I will respect your safeties; -I would not have you perish by our means: -I must confess that only suspect, -And no proof else, hath fed my hate to her. - -MRS GOUR. And, husband, I protest by heaven and earth -That her suspect is causeless and unjust, -And that I ne'er had such a vild[440] intent; -Harm she imagin'd, where as none was meant. - -PHIL. Lo, sir, what would ye more? - -MR BAR. Yes, Philip, this; -That I confirm him in my innocence -By this large universe. - -MR GOUR. By that I swear, -I'll credit none of you, until I hear -Friendship concluded straight between them two: -If I see that they willingly will do, -Then I'll imagine all suspicion ends; -I may be then assured, they being friends. - -PHIL. Mother, make full my wish, and be it so. - -MRS BAR. What, shall I sue for friendship to my foe? - -PHIL. No: if she yield, will you? - -MRS BAR. It may be, ay. - -PHIL. Why, this is well. The other I will try.-- -Come, Mistress Goursey, do you first agree. - -MRS GOUR. What, shall I yield unto mine enemy? - -PHIL. Why, if she will, will you? - -MRS GOUR. Perhaps I will - -PHIL. Nay, then, I find this goes well forward still. -Mother, give me your hand [_to_ MRS G.], give me yours too-- -Be not so loth; some good thing I must do; -But lay your torches by, I like not them; -Come, come, deliver them unto your men: -Give me your hands. So, now, sir, here I stand, -Holding two angry women in my hand: -And I must please them both; I could please tone[441], -But it is hard when there is two to one, -Especially of women; but 'tis so, -They shall be pleas'd, whether they will or no.-- -Which will come first? what, both give back! ha, neither! -Why, then, yond help that both may come together[442]. -So, stand still, stand [still] but a little while, -And see, how I your angers will beguile. -Well, yet there is no hurt; why, then, let me -Join these two hands, and see how they'll agree: -Peace, peace! they cry; look how they friendly kiss! -Well, all this while there is no harm in this: -Are not these two twins? twins should be both alike, -If tone speaks fair, the tother should not strike: -Jesus, the warriors will not offer blows! -Why, then, 'tis strange that you two should be foes. -O yes, you'll say, your weapons are your tongues; -Touch lip with lip, and they are bound from wrongs: -Go to, embrace, and say, if you be friends, -That here the angry women's quarrels ends. - -MRS GOUR. Then here it ends, if Mistress Barnes say so. - -MRS BAR. If you say ay, I list not to say no. - -MR GOUR. If they be friends, by promise we agree. - -MR BAR. And may this league of friendship ever be! - -PHIL. What say'st thou, Frank? doth not this fall out well? - -FRAN. Yes, if my Mall were here, then all were well. - - _Enter_ SIR RALPH SMITH _with_ MALL. [MALL _stays behind_.] - -SIR RALPH. Yonder they be, Mall: stay, stand close, and stir not -Until I call. God save ye, gentlemen! - -MR BAR. What, Sir Ralph Smith! you are welcome, man: -We wond'red when we heard you were abroad. - -SIR RALPH. Why, sir, how heard ye that I was abroad? - -MR BAR. By your man. - -SIR RALPH. My man! where is he? - -WILL. Here. - -SIR RALPH. O, ye are a trusty squire! - -NICH. It had been better, and he had said, a sure card. - -PHIL. Why, sir? - -NICH. Because it is the proverb. - -PHIL. Away, ye ass! - -NICH. An ass goes a four legs; I go of two, Christ cross. - -PHIL. Hold your tongue. - -NICH. And make no more ado. - -MR GOUR. Go to, no more ado. Gentle Sir Ralph, -Your man is not in fault for missing you, -For he mistook by us, and we by him. - -SIR RALPH. And I by you, which now I well perceive. -But tell me, gentlemen, what made ye all -Be from your beds this night, and why thus late -Are your wives walking here about the fields[443]: -'Tis strange to see such women of accompt -Here; but I guess some great occasion [prompt.] - -MR GOUR. Faith, this occasion, sir: women will jar; -And jar they did to-day, and so they parted; -We, knowing women's malice let alone -Will, canker-like, eat farther in their hearts, -Did seek a sudden cure, and thus it was: -A match between his daughter and my son; -No sooner motioned but 'twas agreed, -And they no sooner saw but wooed and lik'd: -They have it sought to cross, and cross['d] it thus. - -SIR RALPH. Fie, Mistress Barnes and Mistress Goursey both; -The greatest sin wherein your souls may sin, -I think, is this, in crossing of true love: -Let me persuade ye. - -MRS BAR. Sir, we are persuaded, -And I and Mistress Goursey are both friends; -And, if my daughter were but found again, -Who now is missing, she had my consent -To be dispos'd of to her own content. - -SIR RALPH. I do rejoice that what I thought to do, -Ere I begin, I find already done: -Why, this will please your friends at Abington. -Frank, if thou seek'st that way, there thou shalt find -Her, whom I hold the comfort of thy mind. - -MAL. He shall not seek me; I will seek him out, -Since of my mother's grant I need not doubt. - -MR[S] BAR. Thy mother grants, my girl, and she doth pray -To send unto you both a joyful day! - -HOD. Nay, Mistress Barnes, I wish her better: that those joyful days -may be turn'd to joyful nights. - -COOMES. Faith, 'tis a pretty wench, and 'tis pity but she should -have him. - -NICH. And, Mistress Mary, when ye go to bed, God send you good rest, -and a peck of fleas in your nest, every one as big as Francis! - -PHIL. Well said, wisdom! God send thee wise children! - -NICH. And you more money. - -PHIL. Ay, so wish I. - -NICH. 'Twill be a good while, ere you wish your skin full of -eyelet-holes. - -PHIL. Frank, hark ye: brother, now your wooing's done, -The next thing now you do is for a son, -I prythee; for, i'faith, I should be glad -To have myself called nunkle[444], and thou dad. -Well, sister, if that Francis play the man, -My mother must be grandam and you mam. -To it, Francis--to it, sister!--God send ye joy! -'Tis fine to sing, dancey, my own sweet boy! - -FRAN. Well, sir, jest on. - -PHIL. Nay, sir[445], do you jest on. - -MR BAR. Well, may she prove a happy wife to him! - -MR GOUR. And may he prove as happy unto her! - -SIR RALPH. Well, gentlemen, good hap betide them both! -Since 'twas my hap thus happily to meet, -To be a witness of this sweet contract, -I do rejoice; wherefore, to have this joy -Longer present with me, I do request -That all of you will be my promis'd guests: -This long night's labour doth desire some rest, -Besides this wished end; therefore, I pray, -Let me detain ye but a dinner time: -Tell me, I pray, shall I obtain so much? - -MR BAR. Gentle Sir Ralph, your courtesy is such, -As may impose command unto us all; -We will be thankful bold at your request. - -PHIL. I pray, Sir Ralph, what cheer shall we have? - -SIR RALPH. I'faith, country fare, mutton and veal, -Perchance a duck or goose [upon the platter.] - -MAL. O, I am sick! - -ALL. How now, Mall? what's the matter? - -MAL. Father and mother, if you needs would know, -He nam'd a goose, which is my stomach's foe. - -PHIL. Come, come, she is with child of some odd jest, -And now she's sick, till that she bring[446] it forth. - -MAL. A jest, quoth you! well, brother, if it be, -I fear 'twill prove an earnest unto me. -Goose, said ye, sir? O, that same very name -Hath in it much variety of shame! -Of all the birds that ever yet was seen, -I would not have them graze upon this green; -I hope they will not, for this crop is poor, -And they may pasture upon greater store: -But yet 'tis pity that they let them pass, -And like a common bite the Muse's grass. -Yet this I fear: if Frank and I should kiss, -Some creaking goose would chide us with a hiss; -I mean not that goose that -Sings it knows not what; -'Tis not that hiss, when one says, "hist, come hither," -Nor that same hiss that setteth dogs together, -Nor that same hiss that by a fire doth stand, -And hisseth T. or F.[447] upon the hand; -But 'tis a hiss, and I'll unlace my coat, -For I should sound[448] sure, if I heard that note, -And then green ginger for the green goose cries, -Serves not the turn--I turn'd the white of eyes. -The _rosa-solis_ yet that makes me live -Is favour[449] that these gentlemen may give; -But if they be displeased, then pleas'd am I -To yield myself a hissing death to die. -Yet I hope here is[450] none consents to kill, -But kindly take the favour of good-will. -If any thing be in the pen to blame, -Then here stand I to blush the writer's shame: -If this be bad, he promises a better; -Trust him, and he will prove a right true debtor. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - - - -LOOK ABOUT YOU. - - - -_EDITION. - -A Pleasant Commodie called Looke About you. As it was lately played by -the right honourable the Lord High Admirall his seruaunts. London, -Printed for William Ferbrand, and are to be solde at his shop at the -signe of the Crowne neere Guildhall gate_. 1600. 4°. - -This drama is now first reprinted from the original edition, which has -no division into acts and scenes. Mr Halliwell ("Dict. of Old Plays," -1860, p. 149) observes: "This is a diverting play, and the plot of it -is founded on the English historians of the reign of Henry II."[451] - -"Look About You" is not only a _pleasant_ comedy, full of bustle and -amusing episodes, and abundantly stored with illustrations of manners, -but it is a piece which exhibits, on the part of the unknown writer, -a considerable share of power and originality. The crazed Earl of -Gloucester is not an ill-conceived character, and may have supplied a -hint to Shakespeare; and the cross-purposes, stratagems, and deceptions, -of which it is full, remind us of our great dramatist's own "Comedy of -Errors," with which, however, it has nothing in common. It is by no -means improbable, at the same time, that "Look About You," and not -Shakespeare's play, was the piece performed at Gray's Inn in December -1594.[452] - -Skink, who fills the part assigned to the vice in the earlier comedies, -is a well-sustained and entertaining character, and the series of -transformations which he and the rest undergo, even while they -occasionally perplex us a little, as the plot thickens, and the figures -on the stage multiply, can hardly fail to amuse. - - - -DRAMATIS PERSONAE[453] - - -HENRY II., _King of England_. -PRINCE HENRY, _the young usurped King_. -PRINCE JOHN. -PRINCE RICHARD. -EARLS OF GLOUCESTER, LANCASTER, CHESTER, LEICESTER, _and_ MORTON. -SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE. -ROBIN HOOD, _Earl of Huntington_. -SKINK, _disguised as a hermit_. -THE QUEEN. -LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. -BLOCK. -_Warden of the Fleet_. -REDCAP, _a messenger_. -_Constable and Watch_. -_A Pursuivant_. -_A Drawer_. -_Music_. - - - - -A PLEASANT COMEDY CALLED LOOK ABOUT YOU. - - - -SCENE THE FIRST. - - - _Enter_ ROBERT HOOD, _a young Nobleman, a Servant with him, with - riding wands in their hands, as if they had been new-lighted_. - -ROB. Go, walk the horses, wait me on the hill; -This is the hermit's cell; go out of sight. -My business with him must not be reveal'd -To any mortal creature but himself. - -SERV. I'll wait your honour in the cross highway. [_Exit_. - -ROB. Do so. Hermit devout and reverend, -If drowsy age keep not thy stiffened joints -On thy unrestful bed, or if the hours -Of holy orisons detain thee not, -Come forth. - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like an hermit_. - -SKINK. Good morrow, son, -Good morrow; and God bless thee, Huntington, -A brighter gleam of true nobility -Shines not in any youth more than in thee. -Thou shalt be rich in honour, full of speed; -Thou shalt win foes by fear, and friends by meed. - -ROB. Father, I come not now to know my fate; -Important business urgeth princely Richard [_Deliver letters_. -In these terms to salute thy reverent age. -Read and be brief; I know some cause of trust -Made him employ me for his messenger. - -SKINK. A cause of trust indeed, true-honoured youth. -Princes had need, in matters of import, -To make nice choice. Fair earl, if I not err, -Thou art the prince's ward? - -ROB. Father, I am -His ward, his chamberlain, and bed-fellow. - -SKINK. Fair fall thee, honourable Robert Hood! -Wend to Prince Richard: say, though I am loth -To use my skill in conjuration, -Yet Skink, that poisoned red-cheek'd Rosamond, -Shall make appearance at the parliament; -He shall be there by noon, assure his grace. - -ROB. Good-morrow, father, see you fail him not, -For though the villain did a horrible deed, -Yet hath the young king Richard, and Earl John, -Sworn to defend him from his greatest foes. - -SKINK. God's benison be with thee, noble Earl! - -ROB. Adieu, good father. Holla, there! my horse! - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. Up, spur the kicking jade, while I make speed -To conjure Skink out of his hermit's weed; -Lie there, religion: keep thy master grave, -And on the fair trust of these princes' word -To court again, Skink. But, before I go, -Let mischief take advice of villainy, -Why to the hermit letters should be sent, -To post Skink to the court incontinent. -Is there no trick in this? ha! let me see! -Or do they know already I am he? -If they do so, faith, westward[454] then with Skink -But what an ass am I to be thus fond! -Here lies the hermit, whom I dying found -Some two months since, when I was hourly charg'd -With Hugh the crier and with constables. -I saw him in the ready way to heaven; -I help'd him forward: 'twas a holy deed; -And there he lies some six foot in the ground. -Since where, and since, I kept me in his weeds, -O, what a world of fools have fill'd my cells! -For fortunes, run-aways, stol'n goods, lost cattle! -Among the number, all the faction -That take the young king's part against the old, -Come to myself to hearken for myself. -So did the adverse party make inquire, -But either fall full of contrary desire: -The old king's part would kill me being stain'd; -The young king's keep me from their violence. -So then thou need'st not fear; go boldly on, -Brave Hal, Prince Dick, and my spruce hot-spur John, -Here's their safe-conduct. O, but for Rosamond! -A fig for Rosamond! to this hope I'll lean, -At a queen's bidding I did kill a quean. - - - -SCENE THE SECOND. - - - _Sound trumpets; enter with a Herald, on the one side_, - HENRY THE SECOND, _crowned, after him_ LANCASTER, CHESTER, - SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE: _on the other part_, KING HENRY - _the son, crowned, Herald after him; after him_ PRINCE - RICHARD, JOHN, LEICESTER. _Being set, enters fantastical_ - ROBERT OF GLOSTER _in a gown girt; walks up and down_. - -OLD KING. Why doth not Gloster take his honoured seat? - -GLO. In faith, my liege, Gloster is in a land, -Where neither surety is to sit or stand. -I only do appear as I am summoned, -And will await without till I am call'd. - -YOUNG K. Why, hear you, Gloster? - -GLO. Henry, I do hear you. - -YOUNG K. And why not _King_? - -GLO. What's he that sits so near you? - -RICH. King too. - -GLO. Two kings? Ha, ha! - -OLD K. Gloster, sit, we charge thee. - -GLO. I will obey your charge; I will sit down, -But in this house on no seat but the ground. - -JOHN. The seat's too good. - -GLO. I know it, brother John. - -JOHN. Thy brother? - -OLD K. Silence there. - -YOUNG KING. Pass to the bills, Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -FAU. My lieges both, old Fauconbridge is proud -Of your right honour'd charge. He that worst may -Will strain his old eyes: God send peace this day! -A bill for the releasement of the queen preferr'd, -By Henry the young King, Richard the Prince, John, Earl -Of Morton, Bohmine, Earl of Leicester, and the Commons. - -OLD K. Did you prefer this bill? - -ALL. We did. - -CHES. and LAN. Ye did not well. - -GLO. Why, this is good; now shall we have the hell. - -THREE BRO. Chester and Lancaster, you wrong the king. - -CHES. and LAN. Our king we do not. - -YOUNG K. Do not you see me crown'd? - -LAN. But whilst he lives, we to none else are bound. - -LEI. Is it not wrong, think you, when all the world['s] -Troubled with rumour of a captive queen, -Imprisoned by her husband in a realm, -Where her own son doth wear a diadem? -Is like an head of people mutinous, -Still murmuring at the shame done her and us? -Is it not more wrong, when her mother zeal, -Sounded through Europe, Afric, Asia, -Tells in the hollow of news-thirsting ears, -Queen Elinor lives in a dungeon, -For pity and affection to her son? -But when the true cause, Clifford's daughter's death, -Shall be exposed to stranger nations, -What volumes will be writ, what libels spread, -And in each line our state dishonoured! - -FAU. My lord speaks to the purpose; marry, -It may be so; pray God it prove not so. - -LEI. Hear me conclude, and therewithal conclude; -It is an heinous and unheard-of sin: -Queen Elinor, daughter to kingly France, -King Henry's wife, and royal Henry's mother, -Is kept close prisoner for an act of justice, -Committed on an odious concubine. - -KING. Thou wrong'st her, Leicester. - -LEI. Lechers ever praise -The cause of their confusion; she was vile. - -FAU. She was ill-spoken of, it's true, [too] true. - -GLO. Yonder sits one would do as much for you, -Old fool; young Richard hath a gift, I know it, -And on your wife my sister would bestow it. -Here's a good world! men hate adulterous sin, -Count it a gulf, and yet they needs will in. [_Aside_. - -LEI. What answer for the queen? - -LAN. The king replies, -Your words are foul slanderous forgeries. - -JOHN. His highness says not so. - -LAN. His highness doth, -Tells you it is a shame for such wild youth -To smother any impiety, -With shew to chastise loose adultery, -Say Rosamond was Henry's concubine. -Had never king a concubine but he? -Did Rosamond begin the fires in France? -Made she the northern borders reek with flames? -Unpeopled she the towns of Picardy? -Left she the wives of England husbandless? -O, no. She sinn'd, I grant; so do we all; -She fell herself, desiring none should fall. -But Elinor, whom you so much commend, -Hath been the bellows of seditious fire, -Either through jealous rage or mad desire. -Is't not a shame to think that she hath arm'd -Four sons' right hands against their father's head, -And not the children of a low-priz'd wretch, -But one, whom God on earth hath deified? -See, where he sits with sorrow in his eyes! -Three of his sons and hers tutor'd by her: -Smiles, whilst he weeps, and with a proud disdain -Embrace blithe mirth, while his sad heart complain. - -FAU. Ha! laugh they? nay, by the rood, that is not well; -Now fie, young princes, fie! - -HEN. Peace, doting fool. - -JOHN. Be silent, ass. - -FAU. With all my heart, my lords; my humble leave, my lords. -God's mother, ass and fool for speaking truth! -'Tis terrible; but fare ye well, my lords. - -RlCH. Nay, stay, good Fauconbridge; impute it rage, -That thus abuses your right reverend age. -My brothers are too hot. - -FAU. Too hot indeed! -Fool, ass, for speaking truth! It's more than need. - -RICH. Nay, good Sir Richard, at my kind intreat, -For all the love I bear your noble house, -Let not your absence kindle further wrath. -Each side's at council now; sit down, I pray. -I'll quit it with the kindest love I may. - -GLOS. Ay, to his wife. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Prince Richard, I'll sit down; -But by the faith I owe fair England's crown, -Had you not been, I would have left the place; -My service merits not so much disgrace. - -RICH. Good Fauconbridge, I thank thee. - - [_Go to their places_. - -GLO. And you'll think of him, -If you can step into his bower at Stepney. - -FAU. Prince Richard's very kind; I know his kindness. -He loves me, but he loves my lady better. -No more. I'll watch him; I'll prevent his game; -Young lad, it's ill to halt before the lame. [_Aside. - - [They break asunder, papers this while being - offered and subscribed between either_. - -HEN. I'll not subscribe to this indignity; -I'll not be called a king, but be a king. -Allow me half the realm; give me the north, -The provinces that lie beyond the seas: -Wales and the Isles, that compass in the main. - -GLO. Nay, give him all, and he will scant be pleased. [_Aside_. - -RICH. Brother, you ask too much. - -JOHN. Too much? too little! -He shall have that and more; I swear he shall. -I will have Nottingham and Salisbury, -Stafford and Darby, and some other earldom, -Or, by St John (whose blessed name I bear), -I'll make these places like a wilderness. -Is't not a plague, an horrible abuse, -A king, a King of England, should be father -To four such proper youths as Hal and Dick, -My brother Geoffrey, and my proper self, -And yet not give his sons such maintenance, -As he consumes among his minions? - -RICH. Be more respective, John. - -JOHN. Respective, Richard? -Are you turn'd pure? a changing weathercock! [_Aside_. -I say its reason Henry should be king, -Thou prince, I duke, as Geoffrey is a duke. - -LAN. What shall your father do? - -JOHN. Live at his prayers, -Have a sufficient pension by the year, -Repent his sins, because his end is near. - -GLO. A gracious son, a very gracious son! [_Aside_. - -KING. Will this content you? I that have sat still, -Amaz'd to see my sons devoid of shame; -To hear my subjects with rebellious tongues -Wound the kind bosom of their sovereign; -Can no more bear, but from a bleeding heart -Deliver all my love for all your hate: -Will this content ye?[455] Cruel Elinor, -Your savage mother, my uncivil queen: -The tigress, that hath drunk the purple blood -Of three times twenty thousand valiant men; -Washing her red chaps in the weeping tears -Of widows, virgins, nurses, sucking babes; -And lastly, sorted with her damn'd consorts, -Ent'red a labyrinth to murther love. -Will this content you? She shall be releas'd, -That she may next seize me she most envies! - -HEN. Our mother's liberty is some content. - -KING. What else would Henry have? - -HEN. The kingdom. - -KING. Peruse this bill; draw near; let us confer. - -JOHN. Hal, be not answered but with sovereignty, -For glorious is the sway of majesty. - -KING. What would content you, John? - -JOHN. Five earldoms, sir. - -KING. What you, son Richard? - -RICH. Pardon, gracious father, -And th'furtherance for my vow of penance. -For I have sworn to God and all his saints, -These arms erected in rebellious brawls -Against my father and my sovereign, -Shall fight the battles of the Lord of Hosts, -In wrong'd Judaea and Palestina. -That shall be Richard's penance for his pride, -His blood a satisfaction for his sin, -His patrimony, men, munition, -And means to waft them into Syria. - -KING. Thou shalt have thy desire, heroic son, -As soon as other home-bred brawls are done. - -LAN. Why weeps old Fauconbridge? - -FAU. I am almost blind, -To hear sons cruel and the fathers kind. -Now, well-a-year,[456] that e'er I liv'd to see -Such patience and so much impiety! - -GLO. Brother, content thee; this is but the first: -Worse is a-brewing, and yet not the worst. - -LEI. You shall not stand to this. - -HEN. And why, my lord? - -LEI. The lands of Morton doth belong to John. - -HEN. What's that to me? by Act of Parliament -If they be mine confirm'd, he must be pleas'd. - -JOHN. Be pleased, King-puppet! have I stood for thee, -Even in the mouth of death? open'd my arms -To circle in sedition's ugly shape? -Shook hands with duty, bad adieu to virtue, -Profan'd all majesty in heaven and earth; -Writ in black characters on my white brow -The name of _rebel John_ against his father? -For thee, for thee, thou 'otomy[457] of honour, -Thou worm of majesty, thou froth, thou bubble![458] -And must I now be pleas'd in peace to stand, -While statutes make thee owner of my land? - -GLO. Good pastime, good, now will the thieves fall out! [_Aside_. - -JOHN. O, if I do, let me be never held -Royal King Henry's son; pardon me, father; -Pull down this rebel, that hath done thee wrong. -Dick, come and leave his side; assail him, lords; -Let's have no parley but with bills and swords. - -KING. Peace, John, lay down thy arms; hear Henry speak. -He minds thee no such wrong. - -JOHN. He were not best. - -HEN. Why, hair-brain'd brother, can ye brook no jest? -I do confirm you Earl of Nottingham. - -JOHN. And Morton too? - -HEN. Ay, and Morton too. - -JOHN. Why so? now once more I'll sit down by you. - -GLO. Blow, wind! the youngest of King Henry's stock -Would fitly serve to make a weathercock. - -JOHN. Gape, earth! challenge thine own, as Gloster lies; -Pity such muck is cover'd with the skies? - -FAU. Be quiet, good my lords; ['tis] the King's command -You should be quiet, and 'tis very meet; -It's most convenient--how say you, Prince Richard? - -RICH. It is indeed. - -FAU. Why, that is wisely said; -You are a very kind, indifferent man, -Marry a' God, and by my halidom, -Were not I had a feeling in my head -Of some suspicion 'twixt my wife and him -I should affect him more than all the world. [_Aside_. - -GLO. Take heed, old Richard, keep thee there, mad lad. -My sisters' fair, and beauty may turn bad. [_Aside_. - - - -SCENE THE THIRD. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, _a paper in his hand_. - -OFFICER. Room there, make room for young Huntington. - -FAU. A gallant youth, a proper gentleman. - -HEN. Richard, I have had wrong about his wardship. - -RlCH. You cannot right yourself. - -JOHN. He can and shall. - -RICH. Not with your help; but, honourable youth, -Have ye perform'd the business I enjoin'd? - -ROB. I have, and Skink is come; here is his bill. - -HEN. No matter for his bill; let him come in. - -KING. Let him not enter; his infectious breath -Will poison the assembly. - -GLO. Never doubt;[459] -There's more infectious breaths about your throne. -Leicester is there; your envious sons are there; -If them you can endure, no poison fear. - -KING. Content thee, Gloster. - -GLO. I must be content -When you, that should mend all, are patient. - - _Enter_ SKINK. - -HEN. Welcome, good Skink, thou justly dost complain, -Thou stand'st in dread of death for Rosamond, -Whom thou didst poison at our dread command -And the appointment of our gracious mother. -See here my father's hand unto thy pardon. - -SKINK. I receive it graciously, wishing his soul sweet peace in heaven -for so meritorious a work, for I fear me I have not his heart, though -his hand. - -KING. Be sure thou hast not, murderous bloodsucker, -To jealous envy executioner. - -HEN. Besides, thou suest to have some maintenance; -We have bethought us how we will reward thee, -Thou shalt have Rowden lordship. - -GLO. Shall he so? -Will you reward your murtherers with my lands? - -HEN. Your lands? it is our gift; and he shall have it. - -GLO. I'll give him seizure first with this and this. - [_Strike him_. - -JOHN. Lay hold on Gloster. - -KING. Hold that murderous Skink. - -GLO. Villains, hands off; I am a prince, a peer, -And I have borne disgrace, while I can bear. - -FAU. Knaves, leave your rudeness; how now, brother -Gloster? nay, be appeas'd, be patient, brother. - -RICH. Shift for thyself, good Skink; there's gold, away: -Here will be parts.[460] - -SKINK. Swounds! I'll make one, and stay. - -JOHN. I prythee, begone, since thus it falleth out, -Take water; hence, away; thy life I doubt. - -SKINK. Well, farewell [then]; get I once out of door, -Skink never will put trust in warrants more. - [_Exit_. - -KING. Will Gloster not be bridled? - -GLO. Yes, my liege; -And saddled too, and rid, and spurred, and rein'd, -Such misery (in your reign) 'falls your friends. -Let go my arms, you dunghills; let me speak. - -KING. Where's that knave, Skink? I charge you see him stay'd. - -FAU. The swift-heel'd knave is fled; -Body-a-me, here's rule; here's work indeed. - -KING. Follow that Skink; let privy search be made; -Let not one pass, except he be well-known; -Let posts be every way sent speedily -For ten miles' compass round about the city. - -HEN. Take Gloster to you, Lieutenant of the Tower. -Keep him aside, till we confer awhile. -Father, you must subscribe to his committing. - -LAN. Why must he, Henry? - -LEI. Marry, for this cause: -He hath broke peace, and violated laws. - -GLO. So have you all done, rebels as you be. - -FAU. Good words, good brother; hear me, gracious lords. - -HEN. I prythee, Fauconbridge, be patient. -Gloster must of force answer this contempt. - -KING. I will not yield; he shall unto the Tower, -Warden of th'Fleet, take you the charge of Gloster. - -HEN. Why, be it so; yet stay with him awhile, -Till we take order for the company, -That shall attend him, and resort to him. - -GLO. Warden of the Fleet, I see I am your charge, -Befriend me thus, lest by their command -I be prevented of what I intend. - -KEEP. Command me any service in my power. - -GLO. I pray you call some nimble-footed fellow -To do a message for me to my sister. - -KEEP. Call in Redcap; he waiteth with a tipstaff, - [_Exit one for him_. -He stammers; but he's swift and trusty, sir. - - - -SCENE THE FOURTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -GLO. No matter for the stammering; is this he? - -RED. Ay, I am Re-Redcap, s-s-sir. - -GLO. Run. Redcap, to Stepney. - -RED. I'll be at Stepney p-p-presently. - -GLO. Nay, stay; go to the Lady Fauconbridge, my sister. - -RED. The La-La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fauconbreech? -I r-r-run, sir! - -GLO. But take thy errand; tell her I am prisoner, -Committed to the Fleet. - -RED. I am g-g-glad of th-th-that, my fa-fa-father -the p-p-porter sha-shall ge-ge-get a f-f-fee by you. - [_Still runs_. - -GLO. Stand still a while--desire her to make means -Unto Prince Richard for my liberty; -At thy return (make speed) I will reward thee. - -RED. I am g-g-gone, si-sir. - -RICH. Commend me to her, gentle Huntington; -Tell her in these affairs I'll stand her friend, -Her brother shall not long be prisoner: -Say I will visit her immediately. -Begone, sweet boy, to Marion Fauconbridge, -Thou lookest like love: persuade her to be loving. - -ROB. So far as honour will, I will persuade; -I'll lay love's battery to her modest ears; -Second my mild assault, you may chance win, -Fair parley at the least may hap pass in. - [_Exit_. - -HEN. Here, take your charge; let no man speak with him, -Except ourself, our brethren, or Earl Leicester. - -FAU. Not I, my lord? may not I speak with him? - -HEN. Yes, Fauconbridge, thou shalt. - -JOHN. And why? he is his wife's brother. - -FAU. Earl John, although I be, -I am true unto the state, and so is he. - -GLO. What, shall I have no servant of my own? - -HEN. No, but the household servants of the Fleet. - -GLO. I thank you, kinsman King; your father knows, -Gloster may boldly give a base slave blows. - -FAU. O, but not here; it was not well done here. - -KING. Farewell, good Gloster, you shall hear from us. - -GLO. Even what your sons will suffer you to send. -Is't not a misery to see you stand, -That sometime was the monarch of this land, -Intreating traitors for a subject's freedom? - -LEI. Let him not speak; away with him to prison. - -GLO. Here's like to be a well-stay'd commonwealth, -Wherein proud Leicester and licentious John -Are pillars for the king to lean upon. - -JOHN. We'll hear your railing lecture in the Fleet. - -GLO.[461] On thy displeasure--well ye have me here. -O, that I were within my fort of Bungay, -Whose walls are wash'd with the clear streams of Waveney,[462] -Then would not Gloster pass a halfpenny, -For all these rebels and their poor king too.[463] -Laughtst thou, King Henry? Thou know'st my words are true, -God help thee, good old man! adieu, adieu! - -JOHN. That castle shall be mine, wherein stands[464] Fauconbridge. - -FAU. Far from your reach, sure, under Feckhill-ridge, -Five hundred men (England hath few such wight) -Keep it for Gloster's use both day and night: -But you may easily win it. Wantons' words -Quickly can master men, tongues out-brawl swords! - -JOHN. Ye are an idiot. - -RICH. I prythee, John, forbear. - -JOHN. What, shall old winter with his frosty jests -Cross flow'ry pleasures? - -FAU. Ay, and nip you too! -God Mary mother,[465] I would tickle you, -Were there no more in place but I and you. - -KING. Cease these contentions; forward to the Tower. -Release Queen Elinor, and leave me there. -Your prisoner I am, sure, if ye had power; -There's nothing let's you but the Commons' fear: -Keep your state, lords; we will by water go, -Making the fresh Thames salt with tears of woe. - -HEN. And we'll by land thorough the City ride, -Making the people tremble at our pride. - - [_Exeunt with trumpets two ways_. - - - -SCENE THE FIFTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _solus_. - -SKINK. Blackheath, quoth he! And I were king of all Kent, I would give -it for a commodity of apron-strings, to be in my cottage again. Princes' -warrants! marry, Skink finds them as sure as an obligation seal'd with -batter. At King's-Bridge I durst not enter a boat. Through London the -stones were fiery. I have had a good cool way through the fields, and -in the highway to Ratcliffe stands a heater. Mile-end's covered with -_who goes there_? 'Tis for me, sure. O Kent, O Kent, I would give my -part of all Christendom[466] to feel thee, as I see thee. If I go -forward, I am stayed; if I go backward, there's a rogue in a red cap, -he's run from St John's after me. I were best stay here, lest if he come -with hue and cry, he stop me yonder. I would slip the collar for fear of -the halter; but here comes my runner, and if he run for me, his race -dies, he is as sure as dead as if a Parliament of devils[467] had -decreed it. - [_Retires_. - - - -SCENE THE SIXTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -RED. Ste-Ste-Stepney ch-church yonder; but I have forgot -The La-La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau--plague on her, -I mu-must b-back to the Fle-Fle-Fleet to kn-kn-know it. -The La- the La-La-Lady Fau--plague on't; G-Gloster -Will go ne-near to st-stab me so for forgetting -My errand, he is such a ma-ma-mad lord, the -La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. Help me, device; upon my life, this fool is sent -From Gloster to his sister Marian. - -RED. I m-must ne-needs go back, the La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. God speed, good fellow. - -RED. Go-Go-God sp-sp-speed you, sir. - -SKINK. Why runn'st thou from me? - -RED. Ma-Marry, sir, I have lo-lost a la-lady's name, and I am running -ba-back to se-se-seek it. - -SKINK. What lady? I prythee, stay. - -RED. Why, the La-Lady Fau-Fau-Fau-- - -SKINK. Fauconbridge? - -RED. Ay, the s-s-same: farewell. I th-th-thank you h-heartily. - -SKINK. If thou would'st speak with her, she is in Kent. I serve her; -what's thy business with my lady? - -RED. I sh-sh-should do an errand to her f-f-from my Lord of Gloucester; -but, a-a-and she be in K-Kent, I'll send it by you. - -SKINK. Where is my lord? - -RED. Marry, p-p-prisoner in the Fl-Fleet, a-a-and w-would have her -speak to P-Prince R-Richard for his re-re-release. - -SKINK. I have much business; hold, there's thy fare by water, my Lady -lies this night-- - -RED. Wh-wh-where, I pray? - -SKINK. At Gravesend at the Angel. - -RED. 'Tis devilish co-co-cold going by water. - -SKINK. Why, there's my cloak and hat to keep thee warm; -Thy cap and jerkin will serve me to ride in -By the way; thou hast wind and tide; take oars; -My lady will reward thee royally. - -RED. G-God-a-mercy, f-fa-faith; and ever th-thou co-co-come to the -Fl-Fl-Fleet, I'll give the tu-tu-turning of the ke-key f-for -n-no-nothing. - -SKINK. Hie thee; to-morrow morning at Gravesend I'll wash thy stammering -throat with a mug of ale merrily. - -RED. God be w-with you till s-soo-soon. What call you the lady? O, now I -re-remember: the La-Lady Fa-Fauconbridge. At what s-sign? - -SKINK. At the Angel. - -RED. A-Angel, the La-La-Lady Fa-Fa-Fauconbridge, Fa-Fan-Fanconbridge. - -SKINK. Farewell and be hang'd, good stammering ninny, I think I have set -your Redcap's heels a-running, would your pianot-chattering humour could -as sa-safely se-set me fr-from the searchers' walks. Yonder comes some -one. 'Hem! Skink, to your tricks this titty titty. Ah, the tongue, I -believe, will fail me.[468] - - - -SCENE THE SEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ CONSTABLE _and_ WATCH. - -CON. Come, make up to this fellow, let th'other go, he seems a gentleman. - [_Exit_ REDCAP _dressed as_ SKINK.] -What are you, sir? - -SKINK. Would I had kept my own suit, if the countenance carry it away. - -CON. Stand, sirrah, what are you? - -SKINK. The po-po-porter's son of the F-Fl-Fleet, going to Stepney about -business to the La-La-Lady Fa-Fa-Fauconbridge. - -CON. Well, bring him thither, some two or three of ye, honest -neighbours, and so back to the Fleet; we'll show ourselves diligent -above other officers. - -SKINK. Wh-wh-why, le-le-let me run. I am Re-Redcap. - -CON. Well, sure you shall now run no faster than I lead you, hear ye, -neighbour Simmes, I leave my staff with ye; be vigilant, I pray you, -search the suspicious houses at the town's end; this Skink's a trouncer. -Come, will you be gone, sir? - -SKINK. Yes, sir, and the devil go with you and them, -Well, yet have hope, mad ha-heart; co-co-come your way. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE EIGHTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _and_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Sweet nobility in reversion, Block, by the commission of his head, -conjures you and withal binds you, by all the tricks that pages pass in -time of Parliament, as swearing to the pantable,[469] crowning with -custards, paper-whiffs to the sleepers' noses, cutting of tags, stealing -of torches, _cum multis aliis_--tell, Block, what block you have cast in -the way of my lady's content! - -ROB. Block, by the antiquity of your ancestry, I have given your lady not -so much as the least cause of dislike; if she be displeased at any news -I bring, it's more than I must blab. - -BLO. Zounds, these pages be so proud, they care not for an old -servingman; you are a ward and so an earl, and no more: you disquiet our -house--that's the most; and I may be even with thee--that's the least. - - _Enter the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. What, Block, what, Block, I say! what do you there? - -BLO. Making the young lord merry, madam. - -LADY F. Go, attend the gate; -See if you can let in more grief thereat. - -BLO. Zounds, and grief come in there; and I see -Him once, I'll conjure his gaberdine. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Will you be gone, sir? - -BLO. Hem! these women, these women! -And she be not in love either with Prince Richard or this lad, let -Block's head be made a chopping-block. - [_Exit BLOCK_. - -ROB. Fair madam, what reply you to my suit? -The prince expects[470] smiles, welcomes, loving looks. - -LADY F. The prince, if he give heed to Marian's suit, -Must hear heart-sighs, see sorrow in my eyes, -And find cold welcome to calamities. - -ROB. And why, for God's sake? - -LADY F. Even for Gloster's sake. - -ROB. Why, by mine honour, and Prince Richard saith, -Your brother Gloster shall have liberty, -Upon condition you release a prisoner, -That you have long held in captivity. - -LADY F. I have no prisoner. - -ROB. Yes, a world of eyes -Your beauty in a willing bondage ties. - -LADY F. Go to, you are dispos'd to jest, my lord. - -ROB. In earnest, I must be an earnest suitor -To you for love; yet you must be my tutor. - -LADY F. Are you in love? - -ROB. I dearly love Prince Richard. - -LADY F. Then do you love the loveliest man alive, -The princeliest person of King Henry's sons. - -ROB. I like this well. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. He is virtuous in his mind, his body fair; -His deeds are just, his speeches debonair. - -ROB. Better and better still. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Indeed he is, what nobody can deny, -All lovely, beauty all, all majesty. - -ROB. I'll tell his excellence what you report; -No doubt he will be very thankful for't. - -LADY F. Nay, hear you, young lord! [for] God's pity, stay. - -ROB. What, have you more in Richard's praise to say? - -LADY F. I have said too much, if you misconstrue me. -Duty bids praise him, not unchastity. - -ROB. Unchastity? holy heavens forfend it, -That he or I, or you should once intend it! - - - -SCENE THE NINTH. - - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and_ RICHARD. - -BLO. They are there, sir, close at it, I leave -you, sir; the more room the less company. - -RICH. Drink that; farewell. [_Gives him money_. - -BLO. If that Sir Richard comes; this ties, this binds; -O gold, thy power converteth servants' minds. - [_Exit_. - -RICH. How now, fair madam, who hath anger'd you? - -LADY F. Grief at my brother's durance angers me. - -RICH. I had thought my ward, young Huntington, had vex'd you. - -LADY F. Who? he? alas, good gentleman, he wrong'd me not; -No matter, for all this I'll tell your tale. - - _A noise within, enter_ SKINK, BLOCK, CONSTABLE. - -BLO. Sir, there comes no more of you in with him than the constable. -Zounds, here's a beadroll of bills at the gate indeed; back, ye base! - -LADY F. Now, sirrah, what's the matter? - -BLO. Marry, here's a stammerer taken clipping the king's English, and -the constable and his watch hath brought him to you to be examin'd. - -CON. No, madam, we are commanded by the king to watch; and meeting this -fellow at Mile-end, he tells us he is the porter's son of the Fleet, -[and] that the Earl of Gloster sent him to you. - -SKINK. Ay, f-forsooth he desire[d] you to speak to the p-prince for him. - -LADY F. O, I conceive thee; bid him blithely fare, -Bear him this ring in token of my care. - -SKINK. If I be rid of this evil angel that haunts me, many rings, much -Fleet, will Skink come unto. [_Aside_. - -CON. Madam, if you know this fellow, we'll discharge him. - -BLO. Madam, and you be wise, trust your honest neighbours here; -let them bring this ca-ca-ca-ca-to the Fleet, and s-see your ring -delivered. - -SKINK. A plague upon you for a damned rogue! -The porter of the Fleet will surely know me. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Good neighbours, bring this honest fellow thither; -There's for his pains a crown, if he say true, -And for your labour there's as much for you. - -SKINK. Why, ma-ma-madam, I am Re-Re-Redcap, the porter's son. - -LADY F. Thou hast no wrong in this; farewell, good fellow. - -SKINK. Best speaking to Prince Richard? no, I'll try -And face out Redcap, if the slave were by. - -LADY F. Make them drink, Block. - -BLO. Come to the buttery-bar, stitty-stitty stammerer; come, honest -Constable, hey! the watch of our town; we'll drink, try-lill, i'faith. - - - -SCENE THE TENTH. - - - _As they go out, enters_ SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE, - _stealing forward_, PRINCE _and_ LADY _talking_.[471] - -ROB. _Lupus in fabula_, my noble Lord; -See the old fox, Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -RICH. We'll fit him well enough; second us, Robin. - -LADY F. I'll fit you well enough for all your hope. - - [FAUC. _beckons to_ BLOCK. - -FAU. Leave quaffing, sirrah, listen to their talk. - -BLO. O, while you live, beware, two are sooner seen than one; besides, -bear a brain, master, if Block should be now spied, my madam would not -trust this sconce neither in time nor tide. - -FAU. Well, leave me, now it buds; see, see, they kiss. - -BLO. Adieu, good old sinner, you may recover it with a sallet of -parsley and the herb patience; if not, sir, you know the worst. -It's but even this. - -RICH. Madam, what you desire, I not deny, -But promise Gloster life and liberty. -I beg but love. - -FAU. When doth she give her alms? [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Fair, honourable prince. - -FAU. Nay, then, they speed. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. My soul hath your deserts in good esteem. - -FAU. Witness these goodly tines[472], that grace my head. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. But were you the sole monarch of the earth, -Your power were insufficient to invade -My never-yielding heart of chastity. - -FAU. Sayst thou so, Mall? I promise thee for this, -I'll owe thy cherry lips an old man's kiss; -Look, how my cockerell droops; 'tis no matter, -I like it best, when women will not flatter. [_Aside_. - -RICH. Nay, but sweet lady-- - -ROB. Nay, but gracious lord, -Do not so much forget your princely worth -As to tempt[473] virtue t' unchastity. - -FAU. O noble youth! [_Aside_. - -ROB. Let not the lady's dead grief for her brother -Give life to shameless and detested sin. - -FAU. Sweet child. [_Aside_. - -ROB. Consider that she is of high descent. - -FAU. Most virtuous earl. [_Aside_. - -ROB. Wife to the noblest knight that ever breath'd. - -FAU. Now, blessing on thee, blessed Huntington! [_Aside_. - -ROB. And would you then first stain your princely stock, -Wrong beauty, virtue, honour, chastity, -And blemish Fauconbridge's untainted arms? - -FAU. By adding horns unto our falcon's head? -Well thought on, noble youth: 'twas well put in. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Besides, my gracious lord,-- - -FAU. Tickle him, Mall, -Plague him on that side for his hot desire. - -LADY F.--however secretly great princes sin. - -FAU. O, now the spring! she'll do it secretly. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. The King of all hearts will have all sins known. - -FAU. Ah, then she yields not! [_Aside_. - -RICH. Lady, here's my hand. -I did but try your honourable faith. - -FAU. He did but try her! would she have been tried, -It had gone hard on this and on this side. [_Aside_. - -RICH. And since I see your virtue so confirm'd, -As vice can have no entrance in your heart, -I vow, in sight of heaven, never again, -To move like question but for love. - -FAU. My heart is eased; hold, Block, take up my cloak. - -BLO. And your cap, too, sir?[474] - - [_Sir_ RICH. FAUC. _comes forward_. - -RICH. Sir Richard! - -FAU. What, sweet Prince, welcome, i'faith, -I see youth quickly gets the start of age; -But welcome, welcome; and, young Huntington, -Sweet Robin Hood, honour's best flow'ring bloom, -Welcome to Fauconbridge with all my heart! -How cheers my love, how fares my Marian, ha? -Be merry, chuck, and, Prince Richard, welcome. -Let it go, Mall; I know thy grievances. -Away, away; tut, let it pass, sweet girl. -We needs must have his help about the earls. [_Aside_. - -LADY F. Let it not be delay'd, dear Fauconbridge. - -RICH. Sir Richard, first make suit unto my father, -I'll follow you to Court, and second you. - -FAU. Follow to court, ha? then I smell a rat, -It's probable he'll have a bout again; -Long siege makes entrance to the strongest fort. -It must not be; I must not leave him here. [_Aside_. -Prince Richard, if you love my brother's good, -Let's ride back to the court: I'll wait on you. - -RICH. He's jealous; but I must observe the time. [_Aside_. -We'll ride unto the court; I'll leave my boy -Till we return; are you agreed to this? - -FAU. O, ay, he is an honourable youth, -Virtuous and modest, Huntington's right heir, -His father Gilbert was the smoothest-fac'd lord -That e'er bare arms in England or in France. - -RICH. Solicit,[475] Robin: Lady, give good ear, -And of your brother's freedom never fear. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Marian, farewell; where's Block? open the gate; -Come, Prince, God send us to prove fortunate. - - [_Exeunt_. - -LADY F. Why do you stay,[476] sir? - -ROB. Madam, as a lieger to solicit for your absent love. - -LADY F. Walk in the garden; I will follow you, -I'faith, i'faith, you are a noble wag. - -ROB. An honourable wag and waggish earl, -Even what you will, sweet lady, I must bear, -Hoping of patience profit will ensue, -That you will bear the Prince as I bear you. - -LADY F. Well said, well said, I'll have these toys amended, -Go, will you walk into the garden, sir? - -ROB. But will you promise me to bring no maids, -To set upon my little manship there? -You threat'ned whipping, and I am in fear. - -LADY F. Upon my word, I'll bring none but myself. - -ROB. You see I am weapon'd, do not, I beseech thee.[477] -I'll stab them, come there twenty, ere they breech me. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. This youth and Richard think me easily won; -But Marian rather will embrace -The bony carcase of dismaying death, -Than prove unchaste to noble Fauconbridge. -Richard,[478] King Henry's son, is light, -Wanton, and loves not humble modesty, -Which makes me (much contrary to my thoughts) -Flatter his humour for my brother's safety, -But I protest I'll dwell among the dead, -Ere I pollute my sacred nuptial bed. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE ELEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _in his gown, calling_. - - -GLO. Porter, what, porter, where's this drowsy ass? - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -POR. Who calls? my Lord of Gloucester all alone? - -GLO. Alone, and have your wisdom's company! -Pray, where's the stammering chatterer, your son? -He's ever running; but he makes small haste. -I'll bring his lither legs in better frame, -And if he serve me thus another time-- - [_Knock within_. -Hark, sir, your clients knock; and't be your pye, -Let him[479] vouchsafe to chatter us some news, -Tell him we dance attendance in our chamber. - [_Exit_ PORTER. -This John and Henry are so full of hate, -That they will have my head by some device, -Gloster hath plotted means for an escape, -And if it fadge,[480] why so; if not, then well. -The way to heaven is death, this life's a hell. - - - -SCENE THE TWELFTH. - - - _Enter_ PORTER _and_ SKINK. - -POR. Why should the watchman come along with thee? - -SKINK. There's such, a que-question for yon s-same r-rogue; Skink, -p-plague keep [me] far enough from him, that a-an-honest f-fellow -ca-can-not w-w-walk the streets. - -POR. Well, sir, dispatch your business with the earl; -He's angry at your stay, I tell ye that. - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. 'Sblood, what a frown this Gloster casts at me; -I hope he means to lend me no more cuffs, -Such as he paid me at the Parliament. [_Aside_. - -GLO. What mutter you? what tidings from my sister? - -SKINK. Co-commendations, and s-she hath s-sent ye this r-ring. - -GLO. Hold, there's two angels; shut the chamber-door, -You must about some business for me straight; -Come nearer, man. - -SKINK. I fear I am too near. [_Aside_. - -GLO. Hast thou no tidings for my liberty? - -SKINK. No, b-but ye sh-shall he-hear f-from her p-p-presently. - -GLO. And p-presently, sir, off with your coat. -Nay, quick, uncase, I am bold to borrow it, -I'll leave my gown; change is no robbery. -Stutterer, it's so, ne'er flinch, ye cannot pass: -Cry, and by heaven I'll cut thy coward's throat, -Quickly cashier yourself: you see me stay. - -SKINK. N-n-nay, b-b-but wh-wh-what m-mean ye? - -GLO. To 'scape, I hope, sir, with your privilege-- - [_He takes his coat off_. -How now, who's this? my fine familiar Skink, -Queen Beldam's minion? - -SKINK. Zounds, ye see 'tis I. - -GLO. Time sorts not now to know these mysteries. -How thou cam'st by this ring, or stol'st this coat, -They are mine now in possession, for which kindness, -If I escape, I'll get thee liberty, -Or fire the Fleet about the warden's ears. -Mumbudget, not a word, as thou lovest thy life. - -SKINK. Ay mum, mum fair, pray God may chance it, -My lord, but that my case is desperate, -I'd see your eyes out, ere I would be cheated. - -GLO. Walk like an earl, villain; some are coming. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTEENTH. - - - _Enter PRINCE JOHN and PORTER_. - -JOHN. Where is this Gloster? - -GLO. Y-y-yonder he walks. Fa-fa-father, l-let me out. - -POR. Why, whither must you now? - -GLO. To Je-Jericho, I th-think; 'tis such a h-h-humorous earl. - -POR. Well, sir, will't please you hasten home again. - -GLO. I-I-ll be h-here in a trice; b-but p-pray have a care of th-this -madcap; if he g-give us the s-s-slip, s-s-some of us a-are like to -m-make a sl-sl-slippery occupation on't. - - [_This while_ JOHN _walks and stalks by_ SKINK [_disguised as_ - GLO'STER], _never a word between them_. - -POR. Look to your business, sir; let me alone. - -GLO. Alone; never trust me, if I trouble thee. - -JOHN. Mad Gloster mute, all mirth turn'd to despair? -Why, now you see what 'tis to cross a king, -Deal against princes of the royal blood, -You'll snarl and rail, but now your tongue is bedrid, -Come, caperhay[481], set all at six and seven; -What, musest thou with thought of hell or heaven? - -SKINK. Of neither, John; I muse at my disgrace, -That I am thus kept prisoner in this place. - -JOHN. O, sir, a number are here prisoners: -My cousin Morton, whom I came to visit. -But he (good man) is at his morrow mass; -But I, that neither care to say nor sing, -Come to seek that preaching hate and prayer, -And while they mumble up their orisons, -We'll play a game at bowls. What say'st thou, Gloster? - -SKINK. I care not, if I do. - -JOHN. You do not care, -Let old men care for graves, we for our sports; -Off with your gown, there lies my hat and cloak, -The bowls there quickly, ho? - -SKINK. No, my gown stirs not; it keeps sorrow warm, -And she and I am not to be divorced. - - _Enter_ PORTER _with bowls_. - -JOHN. Yes, there's an axe must part your head and you, -And with your head sorrow will leave your heart. -But come, shall I begin? a pound a game? - -SKINK. More pounds, and we thus heavy? well, begin. - -JOHN. Rub, rub, rub, rub. - -SKINK. Amen, God send it short enough, and me -A safe running with these[482] clothes from thee. - -JOHN. Play, Robin; run, run, run. - -SKINK. Far enough and well: fly one foot more; -Would I were half so far without the door. - -JOHN. Now, Porter, what's the news? - -POR. Your cousin Morton humbly craves, -Leaving your game, you would come visit him. - -JOHN. Bowl, Gloster; I'll come presently. -So near, mad Robin? then have after you. - - [_Ex_. PORT. - -SKINK. Would I were gone, make after as you may. - -JOHN. Well, sir, 'tis yours, one all; throw but the jack, -While I go talk with Morton. I'll not stay, -Keep coat and hat in pawn, I'll hold out play. - [_Ex_. JOHN. - -SKINK. I would be sorry, John, but you should stay, -Until my bias run another way. -Now pass and hey-pass, Skink, unto your tricks: -'Tis but a chance at hazard. There lies Gloster, -And here stands Skink; now, John, play thou thy part, -And if I 'scape I'll love thee with my heart. - [_Puts on_ PRINCE JOHN'S _cloak, sword, and hat_. -So, porter! let me forth. - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -POR. God bless your grace, spoke ye[483] with the Lord Morton? - -SKINK. I have, and must about his business to the Court. -It grieves me to break my sport with Gloster: -The melancholy earl is comfortless. - -POR. I would your grace would comfort him from hence, -The Fleet is weary of his company. - - [REDCAP _knocks_. - -SKINK. Drink that, some knocks; I prythee, let me out, -His head shall off ere long, never make doubt. - - [_Exeunt_. - - _Enter_ JOHN _at the other door_. - -JOHN. Now, madcap, thou winn'st all; where art thou, Robin? -Uncased? nay, then, he means to play in earnest. -But where's my cloak, my rapier, and my hat? -I hold my birthright to a beggar's scrip, -The bastard is escaped in my clothes. -'Tis well he left me his to walk the streets; -I'll fire the city, but I'll find him out. -Perchance he hides himself to try my spleen. -I'll to his chamber. Gloster! hallo! Gloster! - [_Exit_. - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -POR. I wonder how thou cam'st so strangely chang'd! -'Tis not an hour since thou went'st from hence. - -RED. By my Ch-Ch-Christendom, I ha-have not b-been h-here this three -nights; a p-p-plague of him, that made me such a ch-chanting, and -s-sent me such a ja-ja-jaunt! blood, I was st-stayed for Skink, that -ill-fa-fa-fac'd rogue. - -POR. I pray God there be no practice in this change. -Now I remember these are Skink's clothes, -That he wore last day at the Parl'ament. - - _Knock; Enter at another door_ JOHN _in_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -JOHN. Porter? you Porter? - -POR. Do you not hear them knock? you must stay, sir. - -JOHN. Blood, I could eat these rogues. - -RED. Wh-wh-what, raw? -'Tis a very harsh mo-morsel, -Ne-next your he-heart. - -JOHN. A plague upon your jaunts! what, porter, slave? - -RED. I have been at G-Gravesend, sir. - -JOHN. What's that to me? - -RED. And at Ca-Ca-Canterbury. - -JOHN. And at the gallows! zounds, this frets my soul. - -RED. But I c-could not f-find your s-s-sister the La-Lady -Fau-Fauconbridge. - -JOHN. You stammering slave, hence! chat among your daws. -Come ye to mad me? while the rogue your father-- - - _Enter_ PORTER. - -RED. My f-fa-father? - -JOHN. Porter, you damned slave. - -POR. Is't midsummer: do you begin to rave? - -JOHN. Hark, how the traitor flouts me to my teeth! -I would entreat your knaveship, let me forth, -For fear I dash your brains out with the keys. -What is become of Gloster and my garments? - -POR. Alas, in your apparel Gloster's gone, -I let him out even now; I am undone. - -JOHN. It was your practice, and to keep me back, -You sent Jack Daw your son with ka-ka-ka, -To tell a sleeveless tale! lay hold on him, -To Newgate with him and your tut-a-tut! -Run, Redcap, and trudge about, -Or bid your father's portership farewell. - - [_Exeunt with_ PORTER. - -RED. Eh! here's a go-good je-je-jest, by the L-Lord, to mo-mock an ape -withal! my fa-fa-father has brought his ho-ho-hogs to a fa-fa-fair -m-m-market. Po-po-porter, quoth you? p-po-porter that will for me; and -I po-po-porter it, let them po-po-post me to heaven in this qua-quarter. -But I must s-s-seek this Gl-Gl-Gloster and Sk-Sk-Skink that -co-coney-catching ra-ra-rascal, a pa-pa-plague co-co-confound him. -Re-Re-Redcap must ru-run, he cannot tell whi-whither. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE FOURTEENTH. - - - _Sound trumpets, enter_ HENRY _the younger, on one - hand of him_ QUEEN ELINOR, _on the other_ LEICESTER. - -HEN. Mother and Leicester, add not oil to fire; -Wrath's kindled with a word, and cannot hear -The numberless persuasions you insort. - -QUEEN. O, but, my son, thy father favours him. -Richard, that vile abortive changeling brat, -And Fauconbridge, are fallen at Henry's feet. -They woo for him, but entreat my son -Gloster may die for this, that he hath done. - -LEI. If Gloster live, thou wilt be overthrown. - -QUEEN. If Gloster live, thy mother dies in moan. - -LEI. If Gloster live, Leicester will fly the realm. - -QUEEN. If Gloster live, thy kingdom's but a dream. - -HEN. Have I not sworn by that eternal arm, -That puts just vengeance' sword in monarchs' hands, -Gloster shall die for his presumption! -What needs more conjuration, gracious mother? -And, honourable Leicester, mark my words. -I have a bead-roll of some threescore lords -Of Gloster's faction. - -QUEEN. Nay, of Henry's faction, -Of thy false father's faction; speak the truth, -He is the head of factions; were he down, -Peace, plenty, glory, will impale thy crown. - -LEI. Ay, there's the _But_, whose heart-white if we hit, -The game is ours. Well, we may rage and rave[484] -At Gloster, Lancaster, Chester, Fauconbridge; -But his the upshot. - -QUEEN. Yet begin with Gloster. - -HEN. The destinies run to the Book of Fates, -And read in never-changing characters -Robert of Gloster's end; he dies to-day: -So fate, so heaven, so doth King Henry say. - -QUEEN. Imperially resolv'd. [_Trumpets far off_. - -LEI. The old King comes. - -QUEEN. Then comes luxurious lust; -The King of concubines; the King that scorns -The undefiled, chaste, and nuptial bed; -The King that hath his queen imprisoned: -For my sake, scorn him; son, call him not father; -Give him the style of a competitor. - -HEN. Pride, seize upon my heart: wrath, fill mine eyes! -Sit, lawful majesty, upon my front, -Duty, fly from me; pity, be exil'd: -Senses, forget that I am Henry's child. - -QUEEN. I kiss thee, and I bless thee for this thought. - - - -SCENE THE FIFTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ KING, LANCASTER, RICHARD, FAUCONBRIDGE. - -KING. O Lancaster, bid Henry yield some reason, -Why he desires so much the death of Gloster. - -HEN. I hear thee, Henry, and I thus reply: -I do desire the death of bastard Gloster, -For that he spends the Treasure of the Crown; -I do desire the death of bastard Gloster, -For that he doth desire to pull me down. -Or were this false (I purpose to be plain), -He loves thee, and for that I him disdain. - -HEN. Therein thou shewest a hate-corrupted mind; -To him the more unjust, to me unkind. - -QUEEN. He loves you, as his father lov'd his mother. - -KING. Fie, fie upon thee, hateful Elinor; -I thought thou hadst been long since scarlet-dyed. - -HEN. She is, and therefore cannot change her colour. - -RICH. You are too strict; Earl Gloster's fault -Merits not death. - -FAU. By the rood, the Prince says true; -Here is a statute from the Confessor[485]. - -HEN. The Confessor was but a simple fool. -Away with books; my word shall be a law, -Gloster shall die. - -LEI. Let Gloster die the death. - -LAN. Leicester, he shall not; -He shall have law, despite of him and thee. - -HEN. What law? will you be traitors? what's the law? - -RICH. His right hand's loss; and that is such a loss, -As England may lament, all Christians weep. -That hand hath been advanc'd against the Moors, -Driven out the Saracens from Gad's[486] and Sicily, -Fought fifteen battles under Christ's red cross; -And is it not, think you, a grievous loss, -That for a slave (and for no other harm) -It should be sundred from his princely arm? - -FAU. More for example, noble Lancaster; -But 'tis great pity too--too great a pity. - -HEN. I'll have his hand and head. - -RICH. Thou shalt have mine, then. - -QUEEN. Well said, stubborn Dick, Jack would not -Serve me so, were the boy here. - -RICH. Both John and I have serv'd your will too long; -Mother, repent your cruelty and wrong: -Gloster, you know, is full of mirth and glee, -And never else did your grace injury. - -QUEEN. Gloster shall die. - -HEN. Fetch him here, I'll see him dead. - -RICH. He that stirs for him shall lay down his head. - -FAU. O quiet, good my lords; patience, I pray, -I think he comes unsent for, by my fay. - - _Enter_ JOHN _in_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -RICH. What mean'st thou, Gloster? - -HEN. Who brought Gloster hither? - -JOHN. Let Gloster hang and them that ... [487] -There lies his case[488], a mischief on his carcase! - [_Throws off_ GLOSTER'S _gown_. - -QUEEN. My dear son Jack! - -JOHN. Your dear son Jack-an-apes; -Your monkey, your baboon, your ass, your gull! - -LEI. What ails Earl John? - -JOHN. Hence, further from my sight! -My fiery thoughts and wrath have work in hand; -I'll curse ye blacker than th'Avernian[489] Lake, -If you stand wond'ring at my sorrow thus. -I am with child, big, hugely swoll'n with rage, -Who'll play the midwife, and my throbs assuage? - -KING. I will, my son. - -HEN. I will, high-hearted brother. - -JOHN. You will? and you? tut, tut, all you are nothing! -'Twill out, 'twill out, myself myself can ease: -You chafe, you swell: ye are commanding King. -My father is your footstool, when ye please. -Your word's a law; these lords dare never speak. -Gloster must die; your enemies must fall! - -HEN. What means our brother? - -JOHN. He means that thou art mad: -She frantic: Leicester foolish: I the babe-- -Thou grind us, bite us, vex us, charge and discharge. -Gloster, O Gloster! - -QUEEN. Where is Gloster, son? - -HEN. Where is Gloster, brother? - -KING. I hope he be escaped. - -JOHN. O, I could tear my hair, and, falling thus -Upon the solid earth, -Dig into Gloster's grave, -So he were dead, and gone into the depth -Of under-world-- -Or get sedition's hundreth thousand hand, -And, like Briareus, battle with the stars, -To pull him down from heaven, if he were there! - -FAU. Look to Earl John; the gentleman is mad. - -JOHN. O, who would not be mad at this disgrace? -Gloster the fox is fled; there lies his case. - [_Points to the gown_. -He cozen'd me of mine; the porter helped him. - -HEN. The porter shall be hang'd; let's part and seek him: -Gloster shall die; all Europe shall not save him. - -JOHN. He is wise, too wise for us; yet I'll go with you -To get more fools into my company. - -QUEEN. This is your father's plot; revenge it, son. - -HEN. Father, by heaven, if this were your advice, -Your head or heart shall pay the bitter price. -Come, mother, brother, Leicester; let's away. - -JOHN. Ay, I'll be one, in hope to meet the bastard, -And then no more: myself will be his headsman. - - [_Exeunt_. - -KING. Richard and Fauconbridge, follow the search; -You may prevent mischance by meeting Gloster. -If ye find Skink, see that you apprehend him. -I hear there is a wizard at Blackheath; -Let some inquire of him, where Skink remains. -Although I trust not to those fallacies, -Yet now and then such men prove soothsayers. -Will you be gone? - -FAU. With all my heart, with all my heart, my lord. -Come, princely Richard, we are ever yok'd. -Pray God, there be no mystery in this. - -RICH. Be not suspicious, where there is no cause. - -FAU. Nay, nothing, nothing; I am but in jest. - - [_Exeunt_. - -KING. Call in a pursuivant. - -LAN. Here's one, my liege. - - _Enter_ PURSUIVANT. - -KING. There is a porter likely to be hang'd -For letting Gloster 'scape; sirrah, attend. -You shall have a reprieve to bring him us. -These boys are too-too stubborn, Lancaster; -But 'tis their mother's fault. If thus she move me, -I'll have her head, though all the world reprove me. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE SIXTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _and_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Do not deny me, gentle Huntington. - -ROB. My lord will miss me. - -LADY F. Tut, let me excuse thee. - -ROB. Turn, woman? O, it is intolerable! -Except you promise me to play the page. -Do that, try one night, and you'll laugh for ever -To hear the orisons that lovers use: -Their ceremonies, sighs, their idle oaths! -To hear how you are prais'd and pray'd unto. -For you are Richard's saint. They talk of Mary -The blessed Virgin; but upon his beads -He only prays to Marian Fauconbridge. - -LADY F. The more his error; but will you agree -To be the Lady Fauconbridge one day? - -ROB. When is't? - -LADY. F. On Monday. - -ROB. Wherefore is't? - -LADY F. Nay, then, you do me wrong with inquisition, -And yet I care not greatly if I tell thee. -Thou seest my husband full of jealousy: -Prince Richard in his suit importunate, -My brother Gloster threat'ned by young Henry, -To clear these doubts, I will in some disguise -Go to Blackheath, unto the holy hermit, -Whose wisdom, in foretelling things to come, -Will let me see the issue of my cares. -If destinies ordain me happiness, -I'll chase these mists of sorrow from my heart -With the bright sun of mirth; if fate agree -To't[490], and my friends must suffer misery, -Yet I'll be merry too, till mischief come. -Only I long to know the worst of ill. - -ROB. I'll once put on a scarlet countenance. - -LADY F. Be wary, lest ye be discovered, Robin. - -ROB. Best paint me, then be sure I shall not blush. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _bleeding_, GLOSTER _with him_. - -BLO. Beat an officer, Redcap? I'll have ye talk'd withal! -Beat Sir Richard's porter? help, madam, help! - -GLO. Peace, you damned rogue. - -LADY F. Brother, I pray you forbear. - -GLO. Zwounds! an hundred's at my heels almost, -And yet the villain stands on compliment. - -BLO. A bots on[491] you, is't you? - -GLO. Will you to the door, you fool, and bar the gate? -Hold, there's an angel for your broken pate: -If any knock, let them not in in haste. - -BLO. Well, I will do, as I see cause; -Blood, thou art dear to me. -But here's a sovereign plaister for the sore: -Gold healeth wounds, gold easeth hearts! -What can a man have more? [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Dear brother, tell us how you made escape? - -GLO. You see I am here, but if you would know how, -I cannot 'scape, and tell the manner too, -By this I know your house is compassed -With hell-hound search[492]. - -LADY F. Brother, I'll furnish you with beard and hair, -And garment like my husband's. -How like you that? - -GLO. Well, when I have them: -Quickly, then, dispatch. [_Exit_ LADY.] S'blood! turn -Grey beard and hair. -Robin, conceal; this dieteth my mind. -Mirth is the object of my humorous spleen. -Thou high, commanding fury, further device! -Jests are conceited. I long to see their birth. - - _Re-enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -What, come ye, sister? Robin, a thief's hand! -But, prythee, where hadst thou this beard and hair? - -LADY F. Prince Richard wore them hither in a masque. - -GLO. Say'st thou me so? faith, [I] love the princely youth; -Tut, you must taste stolen pleasure now and then. - -ROB. But if she steal, and jealous eyes espy, -She will be sure condemn'd of burglary. - -GLO. Ha! crake! can your low stumps venture so deep -Into affection's stream? go to, you wanton! -What want we now? my nightcap! O, 'tis here. -So now no Gloster, but old Fauconbridge. -Hark, the search knocks; I'll let them in myself: -Welcome, good fellows; ha! what is't you lack? - - _Enter REDCAP, with two others_[493]. - -RED. Ma-master Co-Constable, se-se-search you th-that way; a-and, you -ho-honest man, th-that way. I'll ru-run th-this way m-my own se-self. - - [_They disperse themselves_. - -GLO. What search you for? what is it you would have? - - _Enter_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Madam, what shall I do to these brown-bill fellows? some run into -the wine cellar; some here, some there. - -GLO. Let them alone; let them search their fills. - -BLO. I'll look to their fingers for all that. - -GLO. Do so, good Block; be careful, honest Block. - -BLO. Sir stammerer and your wa-watch, y'are pa-past, i'faith. - [_Exit_. - -GLO, Will you not speak, knaves? tell me who you seek. - -RED. Ma-marry, sir, we s-seek a va-va-vacabond, a fu-fugative, my -la-lady's own b-brother; but, and he were the po-po-pope's own b-brother, -I would s-search f-f-for him; for I have a p-poor father r-ready to be -ha-ha-hang'd f-f-for him. - -GLO. O, 'tis for Gloster? marry, search, a' God's name, -Seek, peace[494]; will he break prison too? -It's a pity he should live; nay, I defy him. -Come, look about, search every little corner, -Myself will lead the way; pray you, come. -Seek, seek, and spare not, though it be labour lost: -He comes not under my roof; hear ye, wife? -He comes not hither, take it for a warning. - -RED. You sp-sp-speak like an honest ge-ge-gentleman, re-re-rest you -me-me-merry! co-co-come, my f-f-friends, I be-believe h-h-he r-ran by -the g-g-garden w-wall toward the wa-water side. - - [_Exeunt running_. - -GLO. This fellow is of the humour I would choose my wife: -Few words and many paces; a word and away; and so -Must I. Sister, adieu; pray you for me; I'll do the like for you. -Robin, farewell; commend me to the Prince. - -LADY F. Can ye not stay here safe? - -GLO. No, I'll not trust the changing humours of old Fauconbridge. -Adieu, young earl; sister, let's kiss and part. -Tush, never mourn, I have a merry heart. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Farewell all comfort. - -ROB. What, weeping, lady? -Then I perceive you have forgot Blackheath! - -LADY F. No, there I'll learn both of his life and death. - -ROB. Till Monday, madam, I must take my leave. - -LADY F. You will not miss then? - -ROB. Nay, if Robin fail ye, -Let him have never favour of fair lady! - -LADY F. Meanwhile, I'll spend my time in prayers and tears, -That Gloster may escape these threat'ned fears. - [_Exit_ - - - -SCENE THE SEVENTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like_ PRINCE[495] JOHN. - -SKINK. Thus jets my noble Skink along the streets, -To whom each bonnet vails, and all knees bend; -And yet my noble humour is too light -By the six shillings. Here are two crack'd groats -To helter-skelter at some vaulting-house[496]. -But who comes yonder? ha! old Fauconbridge? -Hath a brave chain; were John and he good friends, -That chain were mine, and should unto Blackheath. -I'll venture; it's but trial: luck may fall. -Good morrow, good Sir Richard Fauconbridge. - -FAU. Good morrow, my sweet Prince, hearty good morrow; -This greeting well becomes us, marry does it, -Better, i'wis, than strife and jangling. -Now can I love ye; will ye to the sheriffs? -Your brother Richard hath been there this hour. - -SKINK. Yes, I am plodding forward, as you do; -What cost your chain? it's passing strongly wrought, -I would my goldsmith had a pattern of it. - -FAU. 'Tis at your grace's service: show it him. - -SKINK. Then dare ye trust me? - -FAU. Who? the princely John! -My sovereign's son: why, what a question's that. -I'll leave you; ye may know I dare trust you. - -SKINK. I'll bring it ye to the sheriff's, excuse my absence. - -FAU. I will, my noble lord; adieu, sweet prince. - [_Exit_. - -SKINK. Why so; this breakfast was well fed upon. -When Skink's devices on Blackheath do fail, -This and such cheats would set me under sail, -I'll to the water-side, would it were later [on]; -For still I am afraid to meet Prince John. - - - -SCENE THE EIGHTEENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _like_ FAUCONBRIDGE. - -[SKINK.] But what a mischief meant Fauconbridge -To come again so soon? that way he went, -And now comes peaking. Upon my life, -The buzzard hath me in suspicion, -But whatsoever chance, I'll filch a share. - -GLO. Yonder's Prince John; I hope he cannot know me, -There's nought but Gloster, Gloster in their mouths; -I am half-strangled with the garlic-breath -Of rascals that exclaim, as I pass by, -Gloster is fled; once taken, he must die. -But I'll to John--how does my gracious lord? -What babbles rumour now? What news of Gloster? - -SKINK. What news could I hear, since you left me last? -Were you not here even now? lent me your chain? -I think you dote. - -GLO. Sweet prince, age aye[497] forgets. -My brother's chain? a pretty accident! -But I'll have't, and be in the spite of John. [_Aside_. - -SKINK. There's more and more; I'll geld it, ere it go. - [_He breaks the chain_. -This same shall keep me in some tavern merry, -Till night's black hand curtain this too clear sky. - -GLO.[498] My sweet prince, I have some cause to use my chain; -Another time (whene'er your lordship please) -'Tis at your service, O marry God, it is. - -SKINK. Here, palsy, take your chain; stoop and be hang'd, - [_Casts it down_. -Yet the fish nibbled, when she might not swallow: -Go'ut[499] I have curtail'd, what I could not borrow. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. He's gone away in frets; would he might meet -My brother Fauconbridge in this mad mood, -There would be rare ado. Why, this fits me; -My brain flows with fresh wit and policy. -But, Gloster, look about, who have we yonder? -Another John, Prince Richard, and the sheriff? -Upon my life, the slave, that had the chain, -Was Skink, escap'd the Fleet by some mad sleight. -Well, farewell he, better and better still, -These seek for me; yet I will have my will. - - - -SCENE THE NINETEENTH. - - _Enter_ PRINCE JOHN, PRINCE RICHARD, _and the_ SHERIFF. - -JOHN. Sheriff, in any case be diligent. -Who's yonder? Fauconbridge? - -GLO. How now, sweet chuck; how fares my lovely prince? - -JOHN. What carest thou? or well or ill, we crave -No help of thee. - -GLO. God's mother, do ye scorn me? - -JOHN. Go'ut! what then? - -RICH. Fie, leave these idle brawls, I prythee, John; -Let's follow that we are enjoin'd unto. - -GLO. Ay, marry, prince, if now you slip the time, -Gloster will slip away; but, though he hate me, -I have done service; I have found him out. - -RICH. A shame confound thee for thy treachery, -Inconstant dotard, timorous old ass, -That shakes with cowardice, not with years. - -GLO. Go, I have found him, I have winded him. - -JOHN. O, let me hug thee, gentle Fauconbridge; -Forgive my oft ill-using of thine age. -I'll call thee father; I'll be penitent; -Bring me where Gloster is; I'll be thy slave, -All that is mine thou in reward shalt have. - -GLO. Soft; not too hasty; I would not be seen in't; -Marry a' God, my wife would chide me dead, -If Gloster by my means should lose his head. -Princely Richard, at this corner make your stand: -And for I know you love my sister well, -Know I am Gloster, and not Fauconbridge. - -RICH. Heaven prosper thee, sweet prince, in thy escape! - -GLO. Sheriff, make this your quarter, make good guard; -John, stay you here; this way he means to turn, -By Thomas, I lack a sword, body a' me! - -JOHN. What wouldst thou with a sword, old Fauconbridge? - -GLO. O sir, to make show in his defence, -For I have left him yonder at a house, -A friend's of mine, an honest citizen. - -JOHN. We'll fetch him thence. - -GLO. Nay, then, you injure me. Stay, till he come; he's in a russet cloak, -And must attend me like a serving-man. - -JOHN. Hold, there's my sword, and with my sword my heart. -Bring him, for God's sake, and for thy desert -My brother king and mother queen shall love thee. - -GLO. Mark me, good prince; yonder away we come, -I go afore, and Gloster follows me; -Let not the sheriff nor Richard meddle with us. -Begin you first; seize Gloster, and arrest him. -I'll draw and lay about me here and here; -Be heedful that your watchmen hurt me not. - -JOHN. I'll hang him that doth hurt thee; prythee, away, -I love thee; but thou kill'st me with delay. - -GLO. Well, keep close watch; I'll bring him presently. - -JOHN, Away then quickly. - -GLO. Gloster, close, master sheriff, Prince Richard. - -RICH. Gloster, adieu. - -GLO. I trust you. - -RICH. By my knighthood, I'll prove true. - - [_Exit_ GLOSTER. - -JOHN. Revenge, I'll build a temple to your name; -And the first offering shall be Gloster's head, -Thy altars shall be sprinkled with the blood, -Whose wanton current his mad humour fed; -He was a rhymer and a riddler, -A scoffer at my mother, prais'd my father: -I'll fit him now for all--escape and all. - -RICH. Take heed spite burst not in his proper gall. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTIETH. - - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _and_ BLOCK. - -JOHN. How now, what way took Fauconbridge, I wonder? -That is not Gloster, sure, that attends on him? - -FAU. He came not at the sheriff's by the morrow-mass, -I sought the Goldsmiths' row, and found him not; -Sirrah, y'are sure he sent not home my chain? - -BLO. Who should send [home] your chain, sir? - -FAU. The prince, Prince John; I lent it him to-day. - -JOHN. What's this they talk? - -BLO. By my truth, sir, and ye lent it him, I think you may go look it: -for one of the drawers of the Salutation told me even now, that he had -took up a chamber there till evening, and then he will away to Kent. - -FAU. Body of me, he means to spend my chain. -Come, Block; I'll to him. - -JOHN. Hear you, Fauconbridge; - -FAU. Why, what a knave art thou? yonder's Prince John. - -BLO. Then the drawer's a knave; he told me Prince John was at the -Salutation. - -JOHN. Where's Gloster, Fauconbridge? - -FAU. Sweet prince, I know not. - -JOHN. Come, jest not with me: tell me where he is? - -FAU. I never saw him since the Parl'ament. - -JOHN. Impudent liar, didst thou not even now -Say thou wouldst fetch him? Hadst thou not my sword? - -FAU. Wert thou a king, I will not bear the lie. -Thy sword? no, boy; thou seest this sword is mine. - -BLO. My master a liar? Zounds, wert thou a potentate! - -FAU. I scorn to wear thy arms, untutor'd child, -I fetch thee, Gloster, shameless did I see thee, -Since as I went this morning to the Sheriffs, -Thou borrow'dst my gold chain! - -JOHN. Thy chain? - -FAU. I hope thou wilt not cheat me, princocks John! - -JOHN. I'll cheat thee of thy life, if thou charge me -With any chain. - -FAU. Come, let him come, I pray, -I'll whip ye, boy, I'll teach you to out-face. - -BLO. Come, come, come! but one at once; ye dastards, come. - -RICH. Keep the king's peace, I see you are both deceiv'd, -He that was last here was not Fauconbridge. - -FAU. They slander me; who says that I was here? - -RICH. We do believe ye, sir; nor do you think -My brother John deceiv'd you of a chain. - -FAU. He did; I did deliver it with this hand. - -JOHN. I'll die upon the slanderer. - -FAU. Let the boy come. - -BLO. Aye, let him come, let him come. - -RICH. Fellow, thou speak'st even now, as if Prince John -Had been at some old tavern in the town! - -BLO. Aye, sir, I came up now but from the Salutation, -And a drawer, that doth not use to lie, told me -Prince John hath been there all this afternoon. - -JOHN. The devil in my likeness then is there. - -FAU. The devil in thy likeness or thyself -Had my gold chain. - -JOHN. Thou art the devil; for thou -Hadst my good sword, all these can witness it. - -FAU. God's mother, thou beliest me. - -JOHN. Give me the lie? - -RICH. Nay, calm this fury; let's down to the tavern; -Or one or both: these counterfeits are there. - -FAU. I know him well enough, that had my chain, -And there be two Johns, if I find one there. -By'r Lady, I will lay him fast. - -RICH. It is this Skink that mocks us, I believe. - -JOHN. Alas, poor Skink; it is the devil Gloster, -Who if I be so happy once to find, -I'll give contentment to his troubled mind. - -RICH. I hope he's far enough, and free enough, -Yet these conceits, I know, delight his soul. [_Aside_. -Follow me, Blocker, follow me, honest Blocker. - -BLO. Much follow you! I have another piece of work in hand; I hear say -Redcap's father shall be hanged this afternoon, I'll see him slip a -string, though I give my service the slip; besides, my lady bad me hear -his examination at his death. I'll get a good place, and pen it word for -word, and as I like it, let out a mournful ditty to the tune of -"Labandalashot," or "Row Well, ye Mariners," or somewhat as my muse -shall me invoke. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FIRST. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _like_ FAUCONBRIDGE, _with a_ PURSUIVANT; - GLOSTER _having a paper in his hand, the_ PURSUIVANT _bare_. - -GLO. A charitable deed, God bless the king; -He shall be then reprieved. - -PUR. Ay, sir, some day or two, -Till the young king and Prince John change it-- -Especially if the good earl be not found, -Which God forbid! - -GLO. What house is this, -That we are stepp'd into, to read this warrant in? - -PUR. A tavern, sir, the Salutation. - -GLO. A tavern? -Then I will turn prodigal; call for a pint -Of sack, good fellow. - -PUR. Drawer! - -DRA. [_Within_.] Anon, sir. - - _Enter_ DRAWER. - -GLO. A pint of thy best sack, my pretty youth. - -DRA. God bless your worship, sir; -Ye shall have the best in London, sir. - -GLO. What, know'st thou me I know'st thou old Fauconbridge? -I am no tavern-h[a]unter, I can tell thee. - -DRA. But my master hath taken many a fair pound -Of your man Block; he was here to-day, sir, -And emptied[500] two bottles of nippitate[501] sack. - -GLO. Well, fill us of your nippitate, sir; -This is well chanced. But hear[502] ye, boy! -Bring sugar in white paper, not in brown; -For in white paper I have here a trick, -Shall make the pursuivant first swoon, then sick. [_Aside_. -Thou honest fellow, what's thy name? - -PUR. My name is Winterborne, sir. - -GLO. What countryman, I prythee? - -PUR. Barkshire, and please ye. - -GLO. How long hast thou been sworn a messenger? - -PUR. But yesterday, and please your worship, -This is the first employment I have had. - - _Enter_ DRAWER, _with wine and sugar_. - -GLO. A good beginning; here, have to thee, fellow; -Thou art my fellow, now thou servest the king, -Nay, take sugar too, God's Lady dear! -I put it in my pocket; but it's here: -Drink a good draught, I prythee, Winterborne. - - [_He drinks and falls over the stool_. - -DRA. O Lord, Sir Richard, the man, the man! - -GLO. What a forgetful beast am I! Peace, boy, -It is his fashion ever, when he drinks. -Fellow, he hath the falling sickness; -Run, fetch two cushions to raise up his head, -And bring a little key to ope his teeth. [_Exit_ DRAWER. -Pursuivant, your warrant and your box-- -These must with me; the shape of Fauconbridge -Will hold no longer water hereabout. -Gloster will be a Proteus every hour, -That Elinor and Leicester, Henry, John, -And all that rabble of hate-loving curs, -May minister me more mirth to play upon. - - _Re-enter_ DRAWER, _with an_ ASSISTANT. - -DRA. Here's a key, sir, and one of our folk to help. - -GLO. No matter for a key; help him but in, -And lay him by the fire a little while, -He'll wake immediately; but be [not] heart-sick. -There's money for a candle and thy wine, -I'll go but up unto your alderman's, -And come down presently to comfort him. - - [_Exeunt_. - -SKINK. [_Within_.] Drawer! what Drawer? with a vengeance, Drawer! - -DRA. [_Within_.] Speak in the Crown[503] there. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SECOND. - - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like_ PRINCE JOHN. - -SKINK. They be come; the devil crown ye one by one. -Skink, thou'rt betray'd, that Master Fauconbridge, -Missing some of his chain has got thee dogg'd. -Drawer! what Drawer? - -DRA. Anon, anon, sir. - -SKINK. Was not Sir Richard Fauconbridge below? - -DRA. Yes, and please ye. - -SKINK. It does not please me well. Knows he that I am here? - -DRA. No, I protest. - -SKINK. Come hither, sirrah. I have little money; -But there's some few links of a chain of gold. -Upon your honesty, knows not Sir Richard -That I am here? - -DRA. No, by my holy-dam. - -SKINK. Who's that was with him? - -DRA. Why, a pursuivant. - -SKINK. Where is Sir Richard? - -DRA. At the alderman's. - -SKINK. A pursuivant, and at the alderman's? -What pig, or goose, or capon, have you kill'd -Within your kitchen new? - -DRA. A pig new-stick'd. - -SKINK. Fetch me a saucer of the blood; quick, run; [_Exit_ DRAWER. -I'll fit the pursuivant, and alderman, -And Fauconbridge, if Skink have any wit. -Well, Gloster, I did never love thee yet; -But thou'st the maddest lord that e'er I met. -If I 'scape this, and meet thee once again, -Curse Skink, if he die penny in thy debt. - - _Re-enter_ DRAWER. - -DRA. O my lord, the house is full of halberts, and a great many -gentlemen ask for the room where Prince John is. - -SKINK. Lend me thy apron; run and fetch a pot from the next room. -Betray'd, swounds, betray'd by gout, by palsy, by dropsy-- - _Re-enter_ DRAWER _with a pot_. -O brave boy, excellent blood! up, take my cloak -And my hat to thy share; when I come from Kent, I'll pay -Thee like a king. - -DRA. I thank you, my lord. - [_Exit_ DRAWER. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-THIRD. - - - _Enter_ JOHN, RICHARD, FAUCONBRIDGE, SHERIFFS, _and_ OFFICERS. - -SKINK. Now, fortune, help or never. They come--_and ye were a prince, -as ye say ye are, ye would be ashamed to abuse a poor servant thus; -but and if ye were not of the blood royal, I'd break the neck of ye -down the stairs, so would I, I'd teach you to hurt 'prentices_. - -RICH. Who hurt thee, fellow? - -SKINK. Prince devil or his dam; Prince John they call him. - -JOHN. Gloster, I hope. - -RICH. I doubt not but 'tis Skink. - -JOHN. Where is he? - -SKINK. Up them stairs; take heed of him, -He's in the Crown. - -FAU. Alas, poor fellow, he hath crown'd thee shrewdly. - -JOHN. In recompence, if it be him I seek, -I'll give thee his whole head to tread upon. -Follow me, brother; come, old Fauconbridge; -Keep the stairs, sheriff. You see, it waxeth dark; -Take heed he slip not by you. - - [_Exeunt_. - -SKINK. Hang yourselves, this darkness shall convey me out of doors, -I'll swim the Thames, but I'll attain Blackheath. -London, farewell; curse, John, rave, Fauconbridge! -Skink 'scapes you all by twilight's privilege. - [_Exit_. - -WITHIN. Where is he? lights, bring lights; drag out that boy. - - _Enter all with the_ BOY. - -JOHN. This is my cloak, my hat, my rapier; -And either it was Skink or Gloster. - -DRA. I know not who 'twas, sir; he said he was Prince John; he took -away my apron and a pottle-pot with him, and all-to blooded his head -and face. - -FAU. We met him, by St Anthony, we met him! - -JOHN. The fire of St Anthony confound -This changing counterfeit, whatsoever he be. - -RICH. It makes me laugh at envious greediness, -Who feeds upon her own heart's bitterness. - -JOHN. Sirrah, you that were born to cry anon, -What other copes-mates have you in the house? - -DRA. Sir, my master's gues's[504] be none of my copesmates. - -JOHN. Well, your gues's! can you guess who they be? - -DRA. Marry, here's a pursuivant, that this gentleman, sir, Richard -Fauconbridge, left sick even now. - -FAU. Marry of God, did I, thou lying knave? - -DRA. I am a poor boy, sir; your worship may say your pleasure; our -maids have had a foul hand with him. You said he would be sick; so he -is, with a witness. - -JOHN. Look about, Fauconbridge, here's work for you! -You have some evil angel in your shape. -Go, sirrah, bring us forth that Pursuivant. - - _Enter two, leading the_ PURSUIVANT, _sick_. - -RICH. Gloster, thou wilt be too-too venturous; -Thou dost delight in those odd humours so, -That much I fear they'll be thy overthrow. [_Aside_. - -PUR. O, O, O, not too fast; O, I am sick, O, very sick. - -JOHN. What picture of the pestilence is this? - -PUR. A poor man, sir, a poor man, sir: down, I pray ye; I pray, let me -sit down. Ah, Sir Richard, Sir Richard! Ah, good Sir Richard! what, have -I deserv'd to be thus dealt withal at your worship's hands? Ah! ah! ah! - -FAU. At my hands, knave? at my hands, paltry knave? - -DRA. And I should be brought to my book-oath, sir. - -WITHIN. What, Jeffrey? - -DRA. Anon, anon. - -JOHN. A plague upon your Jeffring; is your name Jeffrey? - -DRA. Ay, and't please you, sir. - -RICH. Why, gentle Jeffrey, then stay you awhile, -What can you say, if you come to your book? - -DRA. If I be pos'd upon a book, sir, though I be a poor 'prentice, -I must speak the truth, and nothing but the truth, sir. - -JOHN. And what's your truth, sir? - -PUR. O, O my heart. - -DRA. Marry, sir, this knight, this man of worship-- - -FAU. Well, what of me? what did my worship do? - -DRA. Marry, ye came into the Bell--our room next the bar--with this -honest man, as I take it. - -FAU. As thou tak'st it? - -PUR. O, sir, 'tis too true, too true, too true. O Lord. - -DRA. And there he call'd for a pint of sack, as good sack (I'll be pos'd -upon all the books that ever opened and shut), as any in all Christendom. - -FAU. Body of me, I come and call for sack? - -PUR. O, ye did, ye did, ye did. O, O. - -JOHN. Well, forward, sirrah. - -RICH. Gloster hath done this jest. [_Aside_. - -DRA. And you call'd then for sugar, sir, as good sugar and as wholesome, -as ever came in any cup of sack: you drank to this man, and you do well, -God be thanked--but he no sooner drank-- - -PUR. But I, but I, but I--O my head! O my heart! - -RICH. I cannot choose but smile at these conceits. - -JOHN. I am mad; and yet I must laugh at Fauconbridge: -Brother, look how Sir Richard acts his rage! - -FAU. I came? I call? the man is like to die, -Practice, by the mass; practice, by the marry God! -I shall be charg'd here for a poison'd knave, -Practice, by th'Lord, practice!--I see it clear. - -PUR. And more, Sir Richard. O Lord, O Sir Richard! - -FAU. What more? what hast thou more? what practice more? - -PUR. O my box, my box, with the king's arms! O my box, -O my box! it cost me, O Lord, every penny; O my box! - -RICH. And what of your box, sir? - -DRA. Marry, sir, it's lost; and 'tis well known my master keeps no -thieves in his house; O, there was none but you and he. - -FAU. O, then belike thou thinkest I had his box. - -PUR. O Sir Richard, I will not; O Lord, I will not charge you for all -the world; but--but--but for the warrant the old King sign'd to -reprieve the porter of the Fleet! O God, O God! - -JOHN. The porter of the Fleet? the old King sign'd?-- - -PUR. Ay, my good lord, ay, ay. - -JOHN. Is he reprieved then? - -PUR. No, my lord; O, Sir Richard took it from me with his own hand, O! - -FAU. Here's a device to bring me in contempt -With the old King, that I ever lov'd. -Princes and Sheriff, you can witness with me, -That I have been with you this afternoon-- -Only with you, with nobody but you-- -And now a fellow, whom the King would save -By a reprieve, this fellow says, is hang'd. - -JOHN. If thou hadst done it, I'd have justified it; -But, Richard, I conceit this jest already: -This mad-mate Skink, this honest merry knave, -Meeting this Pursuivant, and hearing tell -He had a warrant to reprieve a slave -Whom we would hang, stole it away from him. -This is sure the jest; upon my life, it is! - -PUR. O, but my warrant, how shall I do? O! - -RICH. But look about you, hot-brain'd brother John, -And I believe you'll find it otherwise; -Gloster hath got the warrant in disguise, -And sav'd the fellow you so fain would hang. - -JOHN. No, no; how say you, master Sheriff, is he not hang'd? - -SHER. My lord, the gibbet was set up by noon -In the Old Bailey, and I charg'd my men, -If I return not, though it were by torchlight, -To see him executed, ere they come. - -JOHN. I am greedy to hear news. - -FAU. Robb'd of my chain, out-faced I had a sword, -Accused of poisoning, cozenage, seeking blood! -Not to be borne! it is intolerable! - -RICH. Sir Richard, I prythee, have some patience. - -FAU. I'll to Blackheath, talk not of patience; -It is intolerable, not to be borne. - -JOHN. It is intolerable, not to be borne; -A warrant, brother; Fauconbridge, a warrant! - -FAU. I saw no warrant; I defy you all. - -JOHN. A slave, a pursuivant, one Winterborn. - -FAU. I care not for thee that, Winterborn. - -PUR. O, it is I, sir; that's my warrant. - -JOHN. Is't you? you rogue, you drunkard; ye are cheated, -And we are cheated of the prisoner. -Out, dog, dog. - -PUR. O, O, O, O my lord. - - [_Exit with_ DRAWER. - -SHER. Have patience, and we will have a privy search. - -JOHN. Go hang, ye blockheads, get ye from my sight! -O, would I were a basilisk, to kill -These glear-ey'd villains. - -SHER. Come away; let's leave him. -We have a warrant; let him do his worst. - - [_Exeunt_ SHERIFF _and_ OFFICERS. - -FAU. I'll to Blackheath, I'll to the holy hermit; -There shall I know not only these deceivers, -But how my wife plays fast and loose with Richard. -Ha! I shall fit them, I shall tickle them; -I'll do it, I'll hence, I'll to the heath amain. - [_Exit_. - -JOHN. There shall I know where this damned Gloster is, -I'll have the devils rous'd to find that devil, -O[r] else I'll conjure the old conjuror. -I'll to Blackheath, and there with friends conspire, -But I'll have Gloster's head, my heart's desire. - -RICH. Would mad Earl Robin saw these humourists: -'Twould feed him fit with laughter! O, 'twould fit him. -Wherever he is, I know the bare conceit -Is better to him than his daintiest food. -Well, and it fits me well, now I have time, -To court my Lady Fauconbridge at leisure. -Love, I implore thy aid; fair Cipria, -Thou sea-born mother at affection's ring, -Shine brightly in thy sphere, that art[505] my star, -My planet, thou of all lights most beauteous, -Be thou to my desires auspicious. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FOURTH. - - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _in the_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE'S - _gown, night attire on his head_. - -ROB. O, for this lady! Was never poor gentleman troubled with -gentlewoman as I am with myself! My Lady Fauconbridge hath fitted me -a turn. Here I am, visited with sleeveless errands and with asking for -_This thing, Madam_, and _That thing, Madam_, that they make me almost -mad in earnest. Whoop, here's another client. - - _Enter a_ SERVING-MAN. - -SER. Here's my Lady Rawford's page attends to speak with your ladyship. - -ROB. I pray ye bid her lordship's page come into my Ladyship. - [_Exit_. SERVINGMAN.] -Well, Robin Hood, part with these petticoats, -And cast these loose devices from thy back, -I'll ne'er go more untruss'd, never be kerchief'd, -Never have this ado with _what do you lack_? - - _Enter_ PAGE. - -PAGE. Madam, my lady greets your honour kindly, -And sends you the first grapes of her young vine. - -ROB. I am much indebted to her honour, there's an angel for you to -drink; set them up till after supper. Humphrey, pray look about for -Block. Humphrey! trust me, I think the fool be lost. - -PAGE. No, forsooth, madam, he's upon the green, jesting with a -stammerer, one Redcap. - -ROB. It is a lewd fellow; pray, bid him come in, youth; I'll give him -his welcome at the door. Commend me to your lady, I pray ye, heartily. - [_Exit_ PAGE. -Humphrey, I marvel where Sir Richard is so late! Truly, truly, he does -not as beseems a gentleman of his calling; pray, let some go forth to -meet him on the green, and send in that blockhead Block. - [_Exit_ HUMPHREY. - - _Enter_ REDCAP, _and_ BLOCK _after him_. - -BLO. Will ye tell tales, ye ass, will ye? - -RED. I'll te-te-tell your la-la-lady, or I would to G-God we were -ha-hang'd else, as my fa-father should have been. - -ROB. Now, what's the matter there, I pray you? What company have you -there, a-God's name? where spend you the day, I pray? - -BLO. Why, where you gave me leave; at the gallows I was--no farther. - -RED. A-a-and you be his la-lady, you are the La-Lady Fau-Fauconbridge, -the Earl of Glo-Gloster's sister. - -ROB. I am so, fellow. - -RED. Y-y-your man B-B-Blocke here does no--nothing but f-f-flout m-me, -a-and cr-cries _r-run Re-Redcap and s-s-see you f-f-father ha-ha-hang'd_. -I sh-shall g-go-near to m-make m-murder, and he u-use it. - -ROB. Well, sirrah, leave your mocking, you were best, I'll bob your -beetle head, and if you mock him. - -BLO. He's _run Redcap_. - -RED. La-la-law, ma-madam. - -ROB. Away, ye saucy fool; go, wait within. - -BLO. _Run, Redcap; run, Redcap_. [_Exit_. - -ROB. Art thou the porter's son, that was condemned about my brother -Gloster? - -RED. Ay, G-G-God be with you, I am the p-p-porter's son, I m-must r-run -to s-s-seek your b-br-brother. - -ROB. Well, drink that, fellow; if thou find my brother, be not too -violent, and I'll reward thee. - -RED. I th-th-thank ye h-heartily; and I had not been cozened with -Sk-Skink, I had no nee-need of these ja-jaunts, for Gl-Gloster was -s-safe enough. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and the_ PORTER _with his cloak muffled_. - -BLO. Ah, farewell, Redcap. - -RED. Fa-fare we-well, and be ha-hang'd. [_Exit_. - -ROB. You'll never leave your knavery. Who's there more. - -BLO. One, madam, that hath commendations to you from your brother. - -ROB. Comest thou from Gloster? thou art welcome, friend. - -BLO. O, it's one of the kindest ladies (though she will now and then -have a bout with Block) that ever breath'd, and she had been in her mood -now, Redcap would have made her such sp-sp-sport as 't a' pa-pa-pass'd. - -ROB. Will you make sport, and see who knocks again? - -BLO. Our gates are like an anvil; from four to ten, nothing but -knick-a-knock upon't. - -ROB. Will you be gone, sir? [_Exit_ BLOCK.] -Honest friend, I am glad -My brother Gloster got thy liberty, -Whose flight was cause of thy captivity: -Nor shall there be in us such negligence, -Though thou have lost thy office and thy house, -But we will see thee better far provided -Than when thou wert [the] Porter in the Fleet. - - _Re-enter_ BLOCK. - -BLO. Madam, your old friend, Prince Richard, -All alone, -Making moan, -Fetching many a grievous groan. - -ROB. Prince Richard come so late? lights to his chamber; -Sirrah, in any case, say I am sick. - -BLO. Very sick, sick, and like to die! I'll sing it, and you will. - -ROB. Away, ye knave; tell him, in the morning -I'll humbly wait upon his excellence. - -BLO. That's all his desire to have ye lowly and humble, and 'tis a -courteous thing in a lady. - [_Exit_. - -ROB. Hence, or else I'll set you hence. Go in, good friend. -Come, Lady Fauconbridge; it's time to come; -Robin can hold out no longer, I see: -Hot wooers will be tempters presently. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-FIFTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _like a Hermit_. - -SKINK. Now, holy Skink, in thy religious weed, -Look out for purchase or thy wonted clients. -Warrants, quoth you? I was fairly warranted; -Young Robin Hood, the Earl of Huntington, -Shall never fetch me more unto his prince. - - _Enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _in Merchant's Wife's attire_. - -But, _pauca verba_, Skink! a prize, a prize; -By th'mass, a pretty girl; close, hermit, close. -Overhear, if thou canst, what she desires, -For so my cunning and my credit spreads. - -LADY F. See, how affection arms my feeble strength, -To this so desperate journeying all alone, -While Robin Hood, young Earl of Huntington, -Plays Lady Fauconbridge for me at home. - -SKINK. What mystery is this? The Lady Fauconbridge! -It's she? Sweet fortune, thou hast sent her well; -I will entice this morsel to my cell. -Her husband's jealous; I will give him cause. -As he believes, I hope it shall succeed. -Nay, swounds, it shall; she's mine in scorn of speed. - -LADY F. By this broad beaten path, it should appear, -The holy hermit's cave cannot be far, -And if I err not, this is he himself. - -SKINK. What honour'd tongue enquireth for the hermit? - -LADY F. What honour'd tongue? - -SKINK. Ay, Lady Fauconbridge, -I know ye, and I know for what ye come, -For Gloster and your husband's jealousy. - -LADY F. O thou, whose eye of contemplation -Looks through the windows of the highest heavens, -Resolve thy handmaid, where Earl Gloster lives: -And whether he shall live, and 'scape the hate -Of proud young Henry and his brother John? - -SKINK. I'll have you first in; I'll tell you more anon. -Madam, they say bushes have ears and eyes; -And these are matters of great secrecy; -And you'll vouchsafe enter my holy cell, -There what you long to know I'll quickly tell. - - _Enter_ JOHN _and_ FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Stay, here are strangers. - -SKINK. A plague upon them, come they in the nick, -To hinder Reynard[506] of his fox's trick? - - [LADY FAUCONBRIDGE _retires a little_. - -JOHN. Good day, old hermit. - -FAU. So to you, fair dame. - -JOHN. By Elinor's grey eye, she's fair indeed. -Sweet heart, come ye for holy benisons? -Hermit, hast thou good custom with such clients? -I cannot blame your feats, your juggling tricks, -Plague juggle you! - -LADY F. Why curse ye sacred worth? - -FAU. Ill done, in sooth, my Lord, very ill done, -Wrong holiness! a very pretty woman! [_aside_.] -Mock gravity! by the mass a cherry lip! [_aside_.] -Ah, it's not well done [to] deride a holy hermit! - -JOHN. I have it in my purse shall make amends. - -SKINK. His purse and yours shall make me some amends -For hind'ring me this morning from the lady; -For scaring me at tavern yesternight: -For having back your chain, I'll fit you both. [_Aside_. - -JOHN. Hermit, a word. - -FAU. A word with you, fair mistress. - -JOHN. Where lie your devils, that tell all your news? -Would you would trouble them for half an hour, -To know what is become of traitor Gloster, -That in my clothes broke prison in the Fleet? - -SKINK. No, it was Skink. - -JOHN. Come, old fool, ye dote. - -SKINK. But hear me. - -FAU. Hear him, Prince. - -JOHN. 'Swounds, who hears you? -I'll make your lady graft ye for this work.-- [_Aside_.] ---But to your tale, sir. - -SKINK. Know, thrice-honoured Prince, -That Skink did cosen Redcap of his clothes, -Gloster did cosen Skink, and so escap'd. - -JOHN. Well done, Fauconbridge! - -FAU. My lord, he tells you true. - -JOHN. You find it on her lips: but, forward, sir. - -SKINK. 'Twas Skink in Gloster's gown, whom you did visit, -That play'd at bowls, and after stole your clothes, -While you went into the Lord Morton's chamber. - -JOHN. This savours of some truth. - -FAU. 'Tis very like. - -JOHN. Well, Fauconbridge, by heaven, I'll tell your wife. - -FAU. She'll much believe you! you will? Come, -Tell me not of my wife[507]: this evening fail me not. -My wife, quoth you: I'll send my wife from home. -Do tell my wife, Prince John, by my dear mother, -I love her too-too well to like another. - -LADY F. It seems so, fox; O, what a world is this! -There most sin reigns, where least suspicion is. - -FAU. You'll come? - -LADY F. I will not fail, I warrant you. - -JOHN. Hermit, is all this true? - -SKINK. Himself, -[If he] deliver not so much, before ye sleep, -Root me from out the borders of this realm. - - [JOHN _and_ FAUC. _retire a little_. - -JOHN. Well, by your leave, Sir Richard Fauconbridge, -Hence, free from fear; you'll melt, you'll melt, old man. - -FAU. Nay, take her to you; she's a shrew, I warrant. -I'll to the holy hermit, and inquire -About my chain, your sword, the pursuivant, -And other matters, that I have to ask. - - [_He returns_; JOHN _addresses the_ LADY. - -SKINK. You're welcome, good Sir Richard. - -JOHN. Nay, do not stand on terms; I am fire, all life, -Nor never tell me, that I have a wife. -I do not mean to marry; ye think so! -But to be merry you the manner know. -And you will have me, have me--'ppoint a meeting; -I'll be your true love, you shall be my sweeting. -If you deny to promise, this is plain -I'll have my will, ere you get home again. - -LADY F. Most gracious lord. - -JOHN. Tut, tell not me of grace: -I like no goodness but a beauteous face. -Be therefore brief; give me your hand and swear, -Or I'll away with you into the heath: -Neither shall Fauconbridge nor hermit help, -And what I do I'll answer well enough. - -LADY F. Why, then, my lord. - -JOHN. Nay, do not stand on them:[508] -But tell me, when my lord shall have you, Lady; -It's presently I venture for a baby. - -LADY F. This night at Stepney, by my summer-house, -There is a tavern which I sometimes use, -When we from London come a-gossiping; -It is the Hind. - -JOHN. Give me thy pretty hand: -Thou'lt meet me at the Hind? I'll be thy roe. - -LADY F. One word's enough. - -JOHN. Suffice; then be it so. - -LADY F. I'll fit my old adulterer and your grace, -I'll send the Princess thither in my place. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Prince John, Prince John, the hermit tells me wonders; -He says it was Skink that 'scap'd us at the tavern: -Skink had my chain--nay, sure, that Skink did all. - -SKINK. I say, go but to yonder corner, -And ere the sun be half an hour higher, -There will the thief attempt a robbery. - -JOHN. Who? Skink? - -FAU. Will Skink? - -SKINK. Ay, Skink, upon my word. - -FAU. Shall we go seize upon him, good Prince John? - -JOHN. Nay, we will have him, that's no question. -And yet not hurt the honest rogue. -He'll help us well in quest of changing Gloster. -Hermit, farewell; Lady, keep your hour. - -FAU. Adieu, old hermit: soon in the evening, lass. - -LADY F. I'll meet you both, and meet with[509] both of you. -Father, what answer do you give to me? - -SKINK. Lady, start down; I must into my cell, -Where I am curing of a man late hurt; -He dress'd, I must unto my orisons; -In half an hour all will be despatch'd, -And then I will attend your ladyship. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. At your best leisure, father. O, the life, -That this thrice-reverend hermit leadeth here. -How far remote from mortal vanities, -Baits to the soul, enticements to the eye! -How far is he unlike my lustful lord? -Who being given himself to be unchaste, -Thinks all men like himself in their effects, -And injures me, that never had a thought -To wrong the sacred rights of spotless faith. - - _Enter_ SKINK _with a patch on his face, and a - falconer's lure in his hand_.[510] - -SKINK. Hermit, farewell, I'll pay ye or speak with ye next time I see -ye. Sweet mouse, the hermit bids you stay here; he'll visit you anon. -Now, John and Fauconbridge, I'll match ye, and I do not say Skink's a -wretch, a wren, a worm. When I have trick'd them, madam, I will trim -you. Commodity is to be preferr'd before pleasure. About profit, Skink; -for crowns, for crowns, that make the kingly thoughts! - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. (_to the hermit supposed within_.) -I am assur'd that man's some murderer. -Good Father Hermit, speak and comfort me; -Are ye at prayers, good old man? I pray ye, speak. - [_Enters_. -What's here? a beard? a counterfeited hair? -The hermit's portesse,[511] garments, and his beads? -Jesus defend me! I will fly this den; -It's some thief's cave, no haunt for holy men. -What, if the murderer (as I guess him one) -Set on my husband! Tush, Prince John and he -Are able to defend their[512] noble selves. -Howe'er, I will not tarry, I'll away, -Lest unto theft and rape I prove a prey. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SIXTH. - - - _Enter_ SKINK _solus_. - -SKINK. Yonder they are; I'll fit them; here's my ground. -Wa-ha-how, wa-ha-how, wa-ha-how! - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE [_and_ JOHN.] - -FAU. I warrant ye, my lord, some man's distress'd. - -JOHN. Why, man, 'tis a falconer. - -FAU, Marry of me, good fellow, I did think thou had'st been robb'd. - -SKINK. Robb'd, sir? No, he that comes to rob me shall have a hard match -on't, yet two good fellows had like to have been robb'd by one tall -thief, had not I stepped in. A bots on him! I lost a hawk by him, and -yet I car'd not to send another after him, so I could find the thief; -and hereabout he is; I know he is squatted. - -FAU. Say'st thou me so? we'll find him, by St Mary, -An honest fellow, a good commonwealth's man. - -JOHN. There are caves hereabout, good fellow, are there not? - -SKINK. Yes, sir; tread the ground, sir, and you shall hear their -hollowness; this way, sir, this way. - -JOHN. Help, Fauconbridge. - -FAU. O, help me, good Prince John. - -SKINK. I'll help you both; deliver, sir, deliver! Swounds, linger not. -Prince John, put up your purse, or I'll throw poniards down upon your -pate. Quickly! when? I am Skink, that 'scap'd ye yesternight, and fled -the Fleet in your cloak, carrying me clean out of wind and rain. I broke -the bonds and links that fettered your chain amity; this cheat is mine. -Farewell, I cannot stay, -Sweet Prince, old Knight, I thank ye for this prey. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. God's marry mother, here's a jest indeed. -We came to take: a thief takes us! -Where are ye, good my lord? - -JOHN. No matter where; -I think I was fore-spoken at the teat, -This damn'd rogue serv'd me thus! Gloster and he, -Upon my life, conclude in villany. -He was not wont to plot these stratagems. -Lend me your hand a little; come away, -Let's to the cell again; perchance the hermit -Is Skink and thief, and hermit, all in one. - -FAU. Marry a God, then ten to one it's so; -Well thought on, Princely John; -He had my chain, no doubt he had your sword. - -JOHN. If there be now no hermit at the cell, -I'll swear by all the saints it's none but he. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-SEVENTH. - - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _in the Hermit's gown, putting on the beard_. - -GLO. This accident hath hit thy humour, Gloster; -From pursuivant I'll turn a hermit now. -Sure, he that keeps this cell's a counterfeit, -Else what does he here with false hair and beard? -Well, howsoe'er it be, I'll seem to be -The holy hermit; for such fame there is, -Of one accounted reverend on this heath. - - _Enter_ SKINK. - -[SKINK.] I'll fain unto my cell, to my fair lady; -But John and Fauconbridge are at my heels; [_Sees John_. -And some odd mate is got into my gown, -And walks devoutly like my counterfeit. -I cannot stay to question with you now, -I have another gown and all things fit, -These guests once rid, new mate, I'll bum,[513] I'll mark you. - [_Exit_. - -GLOS. What's he, a God's name? he is quickly gone. -I am for him, were he Robin Goodfellow. -Who's yonder, the Prince John and Fauconbridge? -I think they haunt me like my genii, -One good, the other ill; by the mass, they pry, -And look upon me but suspiciously. - -JOHN. This is not Skink; the hermit is not Skink. -He is a learned, reverend, holy man; - -FAU. He is, he is a very godly man; -I warrant ye, he's at his book at's prayers. -We should have took you, by my halidom, -Even for a very thief. - -GLO. Now God forfend -Such noblemen as you should guess me so! -I never gave such cause, for ought I know. - -JOHN. Yet thou did'st tell us Skink should do a robbery, -Appointed us the place, and there we found him. - -FAU. And he felt us, for he hath robb'd us both. - -GLO. He's a lewd fellow; but he shall be taken. - -JOHN. I had rather hear of Gloster than of him. - -GLO. Gloster did cheat him of the same gold chain, -That deceiv'd Sir Richard Fauconbridge. -He got your sword, Prince John: 'twas he that sav'd -The porter, and beguil'd the pursuivant. - -JOHN. A vengeance on him! - -GLO. Do not curse, good prince; -He's bad enough, 'twere better pray for him. - -JOHN. I'll kill thee, and thou bid us pray for him, -I'll fell [the] woods, and ring thee round with fire, -Make thee an offering unto fierce revenge, -If thou have but a thought to pray for him. - -GLO. I am bound to pray for[514] all men, chiefly Christians. - -JOHN. Ha, ha, for Christians? think'st thou he is one? -For men? hast thou opinion he is a man? -He that changes himself to sundry shapes, -Is he a Christian? can he be a man? -O irreligious thoughts! - -GLO. Why, worthy prince, -I saw him christened, dipp'd into the font. - -JOHN. Then nine times, like the northern Laplanders, -He backward circled the sacred font, -And nine times backward said his orisons: -As often curs'd the glorious host of heaven, -As many times invok'd the fiends of hell, -And so turn'd witch; for Gloster is a witch. - -GLO. Have patience, gentle prince; he shall appear -Before your kingly father speedily. - -JOHN. Shall he indeed? sweet comfort, kiss thy cheek; -Peace circle in thy aged honoured head. -When he is taken, hermit, I protest -I'll build thee up a chapel and a shrine: -I'll have thee worshipp'd as a man divine, -Assure [ye] he shall come, and Skink shall come. - -FAU.[515] Aye, that same Skink; I prythee, send that Skink. - -JOHN. Send both; and both, as prisoners criminate. -Shall forfeit their lost[516] lives to England's state, -Which way will Fauconbridge? - -FAU. Over the water, and -So with all speed I may to Stepney. - -JOHN. I must to Stepney too, and revel, and be blithe, -Old [Knight], wink at my mirth; 't may make amends, -So thou and I, and our friends, may be friends. - -FAU. With all my heart, with all my heart, Prince [John], -Old Fauconbridge will wait upon your grace. -Be good to Gloster, for my Marian's sake, -And me and mine you shall your servants make. - -GLO. Of that anon: my pleasure being serv'd, -Gloster shall have what Gloster hath deserv'd. - -FAU. Why, that's well said; adieu, good honest hermit. - [_Exit_. - -JOHN. Hermit, farewell, if I had my desire, -I'll make the world thy wondrous deeds admire. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. Still good, still passing good; Gloster is still -Henry's true hate, foe to John's froward will, -No more of that: for them in better time. -If this same hermit be an honest man, -He will protect me by his[517] simple life; -If not, I care not; I'll be ever Gloster, -Make him my footstool, if he be a slave, -For baseness over worth can have no power. -Robin, bethink thee, thou art come from kings, -Then scorn to be [a] slave to underlings, -Look well about thee, lad, and thou shalt see -Them burst in envy, that would injure thee. -Hermit, I'll meet you in your hermit's gown, -Honest, I'll love you: worse, I'll knock you down. - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-EIGHTH. - - - _Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, _with music_. - -P. RICH. Kind friends, we have troubled Lady Fauconbridge, -And either she's not willing to be seen, -Or else not well, or with our boldness griev'd, -To ease these, I have brought you to this window, -Knowing you are in music excellent. -I have penn'd a ditty here, and I desire -You would sing it for her love and my content. - -MUS. With all my heart, my lord. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD, _like the_ LADY [FAUCONBRIDGE]. - -ROB. Your excellence forgets your princely worth; -If I may humbly crave it at your hands, -Let me desire this music be dismiss'd. - -RICH. Forbear, I pray, and withdraw yourselves; -Be not offended, gracious Marian. [_Exeunt music_. -Under the upper heaven nine goodly spheres -Turn with a motion ever, musical; -In palaces of kings melodious sounds -Offer pleasures to their sovereigns ears. -In temples, milk-white-clothed quiristers -Sing sacred anthems, bowing to the shrine; -And in the fields whole quires of winged clerks -Salute the[518] morning bright and crystalline. -Then blame not me; you are my heaven, my queen: -My saint, my comfort, brighter than the morn. -To you all music and all praise is due; -For your delight, for you,[519] delight was born. -The world would have no mirth, no joy, no day, -If from the world your beauty were away. - -ROB. Fie on love's blasphemy and forgery, -To call that joy[520] that's only misery! -I, that am wedded to suspicious age, -Solicited by your lascivious youth; -I, that have [only] one poor comfort living-- -Gloster my brother, my high-hearted brother-- -He flies for fear, lest he should faint, and fall -Into the hands of hate tyrannical. - -RICH. What would you I should do? - -ROB. I would full fain -My brother Gloster had his peace again. - -RICH. Shall love be my reward, if I do bring -A certain token of his good estate, -And after pacify my brother's wrath? -Say you will love, he[521] will be fortunate! - -ROB. I will. - -RICH. No more; I vow to die unblest -If I perform not this imposed quest. -But one word, madam; pray, can you tell -Where Huntington my ward is? - -ROB. I was bold -To send young Robin Hood, your noble ward, -Upon some business of import for me. - -RICH. I am glad he is employed in your affairs; -Farewell, kind fair; let [not] one cloudy frown -Shadow the bright sun of thy beauty's light: -Be confident in this--I'll find thy brother, -Raise power but he'll[522] have peace: only perform -Your gracious promise at my back-return. - -ROB. Well, here's my hand, Prince Richard; that same night, -Which secondeth the day of your return, -I'll be your bed-fellow, and from that hour -Forswear the loathed bed of Fauconbridge: -Be speedy, therefore, as you hope to speed. - -RICH. O that I were as large-winged as the wind, -Then should you see my expeditious will. -My most desire, adieu! guess by my haste -Of your sweet promise the delicious taste. - [_Exit_. - -ROB. Why so: I am rid of him by this device, -He would else have tired me with his songs and sighs.[523] - - _Enter_ BLOCK. - -But now I shall have ease; here comes the saint, -To whom such suit was made. - -BLO. My lady gentlewoman is even here in her privity-walk. Madam, -here's the merchant's wife was here yesterday would speak with ye. -O, I was somewhat bold to bring her in. - - _Enter_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _disguised as a merchant's wife_. - -ROB. Well, leave us, sir; y'are welcome, gentlewoman. - -BLO. These women have no liberality in the world in them; I never let -in man to my lady, but I am rewarded. - -ROB. Please ye to walk, sir! wherefore mumble ye? - - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -LADY F. Robin, what news? how hast thou done this night? - -ROB. My ladyship hath done my part, my task, -Lain all alone for lack of company, -I might have had Prince Richard. - -LADY F. Was he here! - -ROB. He went away but now; -I have been lov'd and woo'd too simply, -God rid me of the woman once again; -I'll not be tempted so for all the world. -Come, will you to your chamber, and uncase? - -LADY F. Nay, keep my habit yet a little while, -Old Fauconbridge is almost at the gate, -I met him at Blackheath just at the hermit's, -And, taking me to be a merchant's wife, -Fell mightily in love, gave me his ring, -Made me protest that I would meet him here. -I told him of his lady--O, tut, quoth he, -I'll shake her up, I'll pack her out of sight. -He comes; kind Robin Hood, hold up the jest. - - _Enter_ SIR RICHARD FAUCONBRIDGE _and_ BLOCK, _talking together_. - -FAU. God's marry, knave, how long hath she been here? - -BLO. Sir, she came but even in afore you. - -FAU. A cunning quean, a very cunning quean, -Go to your business, Block; I'll meet with her. - -BLO. Ah, old muttonmonger, I believe here's work towards. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. [_seeing the merchant's wife_]. -Do not believe her. Moll, do not believe her, -I only spake a word or two in jest, -But would not for the world have been so mad; -Do not believe her, Moll, do not believe her. - -ROB. What should I not believe? what do you mean? - -LADY F. Why, good Sir Richard, let me speak with you. -Alas, will you undo me? will you shame me? -Is this your promise? came I here for this? -To be a laughing-stock unto your lady? - -ROB. How now, Sir Richard, what's the matter there? - -FAU. I'll talk with you anon; come hither, woman. -Did'st [thou] not tell my wife what match we made? - -LADY F. I tell your wife? think ye I am such a beast? -Now God forgive ye; I am quite undone. - -FAU. Peace, duck; peace, duck; I warrant all is well. [_Aside_. - -Rob. What's the matter? I pray ye, Sir Richard, tell me! - -FAU. Marry, Moll, thus--about some twelve month since, -Your brother Gloster, that mad prodigal, -Caus'd me to pass my word unto her husband -For some two thousand pounds, or more perchance-- -No matter what it is, you shall not know, -Nay, ye shall never ask to know. - -ROB. And what of this? - -FAU. Many, the man's decayed, -And I believe a little thing would please her; -A very little thing, a thing of nothing. -Go in, good Moll, and leave us two alone, -I'll deal with ye as simply as I can. - -LADY F. Fox, look about ye, ye are caught, i'faith. - -ROB. Deal with her simply! O, O, what kind of dealing? -Can ye not deal with her, and I be by? - -FAU. Marry a God, what, are ye jealous? -Ye teach me what to do? in, get you in. -O, I have heard Prince Richard was your guest, -How dwelt you then? In, get you in, I say. -Must I take care about your brother's debts, -And you stand crossing me? In, or I'll send you in. [_Exit_ ROBIN. -Ha, sirrah; you'll be master, you'll wear the yellow,[524] -You'll be an over-seer? marry, shall ye! - -LADY F. Ye are too curst (methinks, sir) to your lady. - -FAU. Ah, wench, content thee, I must bear her hard, -Else she'll be prying[525] into my dalliance. -I am an old man, sweet girl; I must be merry: -All steel, all spright: keep in health by change; -Men may be wanton, women must not range. - -LADY F. You have given good counsel, sir; I'll repent me. -Here is your ring; I'll only love my husband. - -FAU. I mean not so, I think to-day thou told'st me -Thy husband was an unthrift and a bankrupt. -And he be so, tut, thou hast favour store; -Let the knave beg, beauty cannot be poor. - -LADY F. Indeed my husband is a bankrupt-- -Of faith, of love, of shame, of chastity, -Dotes upon other women more than me. - -FAU. Ha! do he so? then give him tit for tat, -Have one so young and fair, and loves another? -He's worthy to be cuckolded, by the mass! -What is he, old or young? - -LADY F. About your age. - -FAU. An old knave, -And cannot be content with such a peat! -Come to my closet, girl, make much of me; -We'll appoint a meeting-place some twice a week, -And I'll maintain thee like a lady, ha! - -LADY F. O, but you will forget me presently, -When you look well upon your lady's beauty. - -FAU. Who? upon her? why, she is a very dowdy, -A dishclout, a foul gipsy unto thee. -Come to my closet, lass, there take thy earnest -Of love, of pleasure, and good maintenance. - -LADY F. I am very fearful. - -FAU. Come, fool, never fear. -I am lord here, who shall disturb us then? -Nay, come, or, by the rood, I'll make you come. - -LADY F. Help, Madam Fauconbridge, for God's sake. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD _as_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE, _and_ BLOCK. - -FAU. How now, what mean'st? - -LADY F. Help, gentle madam, help! - -ROB. How now, what ail'st thou? - -BLOCK. Nay, and't be a woman: ne'er fear my master, madam. - -ROB[526]. Why speak'st thou not, what ail'st thou? - -FAU. Why, nothing, by the rood, nothing she ails. - -LADY F. O madam, this vile man would have abused me, -And forc'd me to his closet. - -ROB. Ah, old Cole,[527] now look about: you are catcht! - -LADY F. Call in your fellows, Block. - -FAU. Do not, thou knave. - -LADY F. Do, or I'll crack your crown. - -BLO. Nay, I'll do't: I know she means to shame you. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. Why, Moll, wilt thou believe this paltry woman? -Huswife, I'll have you whipp'd for sland'ring me. - -ROB. What, lecher? no, she is an honest woman: -Her husband's well known; all the household knows. - -BLO. Here's some now to tell all the town your mind. - -LADY F. Before ye all I must [now] sure complain. -You see this wicked man, and ye all know -How oft he hath been jealous of my life: -Suspecting falsehood, being false himself. - -BLO. O master, O master. - -FAU. She slanders me; she is a cozening quean. -Fetch me the constable: I'll have her punish'd. - -LADY F. The constable for me? fie, fie upon ye. -Madam, do you know this ring? - -ROB. It is Sir Richard's. - -BLO. O, aye, that's my master's, too [--too] sure. - -FAU. Ay, marry, I did lend it to the false drab -To fetch some money for that bankrupt knave, -Her husband, that lies prisoner in the Fleet. - -LADY F. My husband bankrupt? my husband in the Fleet prisoner? -No, no, he is as good a man as you. - -ROB. Ay, that he is, and can spend pound for pound -With thee, i'faith, wert richer than thou art. -I know the gentleman. - -LADY F. Nay, madam, he is -Hard by: there must be revels at the Hind tonight; -Your copesmate's there--Prince John. - -ROB. There's a hot youth! - -BLO. O, a fierce gentleman! - -LADY F. He was fierce as you; but I have match'd him: -The princess shall be there in my attire. - -FAU. A plaguy, crafty quean, marry a God, -I see Prince John courted as well as I; -And since he shall be mock'd as well as I, -It's some contentment. - -BLO. Mass, he droops. -Fellow Humphrey, he is almost taken, -Look about ye, old Richard. [_Aside_. - -FAU. Hence, knaves; get in a little. Prythee, Moll, -Let thou and I, and she, shut up this matter. - -ROB. Away, sirs; get in. - -BLO. Come, come, -Let's go; he will be baited now. Farewell. - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -FAU. Marry, sweet Moll, I say, I met this woman; -Lik'd her, lov'd her; -For she is worthy love, I promise thee. -I say, I courted her: tut, make no brawl, -'Twixt thou and I we'll have amends for all. - -ROB. Had I done such a trick, what then? what then? - -FAU. Ah prythee, Moll, tut, bear with men. - -ROB. Aye, we must bear with you; you'll be excus'd, -When women undeserved are abus'd. - -FAU. Nay, do not weep: pardon me, gentle lady; -I know thee virtuous, and I do protest -Never to have an evil thought of thee. - -ROB. Aye, aye, ye swear; who's that that will believe ye? - -FAU. Now, by my halidom and honest faith, -This gentlewoman shall witness what I swear. -Sweet duck, a little help me. - -LADY F. Trust him, madam. - -FAU. I will be kind, credulous, constant ever, -Do what thou wilt, I'll be suspicious never. - -ROB. For which I thank [the] noble Fauconbridge. - [_Discovers himself_. - -FAU. Body of me, who's this? young Huntington? - -LADY F. And I your lady, whom you courted last, - [_Discovers herself_. -Ye looked about you ill, fox; we have caught ye; -I met ye at Blackheath, and ye were hot. - -FAU. I knew thee, Moll; now, by my sword, I knew thee. -I wink'd at all; I laughed at every jest. - -ROB. Aye, he did wink; the blind man had an eye.[528] - -FAU. Peace, Robin, thou't once be a man as I. - -LADY F. Well, I must bear it all. - -FAU. Come, and ye bear, -It's but your office; come, forget, sweet Moll. - -LADY. F. I do forgive it, and forget it, sir. - -FAU. Why, that's well said; that's done like a good girl. -Ha, sirrah, ha, you match'd me, pretty earl. - -ROB. I have, ye see, sir; I must unto Blackheath -In quest of Richard, whom I sent to seek -Earl Gloster out. I know he's at the hermit's. -Lend me your coach; I'll shift me, as I ride; -Farewell, Sir Richard. - [_Exit_. - -FAU. Farewell, England's pride. -By the matins, Moll, it is a pretty child; -Shall we go meet John? shall we go mock the prince? - -LADY F. We will. - -FAU. O, then we shall have sport anon. -Never wear yellow, Moll; 'twas but a trick; -Old Fauconbridge will still be a mad Dick. - - [_Exeunt_. - - - -SCENE THE TWENTY-NINTH. - - - _Enter_ REDCAP _and_ GLOSTER. - -RED. Do ye s-s-say, fa-fa-father hermit, th-that Gl-Gloster is about -this heath? - -GLO. He is upon this heath, son; look about it. -Run but the compass, thou shalt find him out. - -RED. R-r-run? I'll r-run the co-compass of all K-Kent but I'll f-find -him out; my f-f-father (where'er he lays his head) dare ne-never come -home, I know, t-t-till he be fo-fo-found. - -GLO. Well, thou shalt find him. Know'st thou who's a-hunting? - -RED. M-m-marry, 'tis the Earls of La-La-Lancaster and Le-Leicester, -Fa-fa-farewell, f-father; and I find Skink or Glo-Gloster, I'll -g-g-give thee the pr-price of a penny p-p-pudding for thy p-pains. - [_Exit_. - -GLO. Adieu, good friend: this is sure the fellow -I sent on message from the Parl'ament-- -The porter's son--he's still in quest of me, -And Skink, that cosen'd him of his red cap! - - _Enter_ RICHARD, _like a Serving-man_. - -But look about thee, Gloster; who comes yonder? -O, a plain serving-man, and yet perhaps -His bags are lin'd, -And my purse now grows thin: -If he have any, I must share with him. - - _Enter_ SKINK, _like a Hermit_. - -And who's on yond side? O, it is my hermit; -Hath got his other suit, since I went forth. - -SKINK. Sblood, yonder's company; I'll back again, -Else I would be with you counterfeit; -I'll leave the rogue till opportunity, -But never eat, till I have quit my wrong. [_Exit_. - -RICH. I saw two men attend like holy hermits; -One's slipp'd away, the other's at his beads. -Now, Richard, for the love of Marian, -Make thy inquire, where mad Gloster lives. -If England or the verge of Scotland hold him, -I'll seek him thus disguis'd. If he be pass'd -To any foreign part, I'll follow him. -Love, thou art Lord of hearts; thy laws are sweet; -In every troubled way thou guid'st our feet. -Lovers, enjoin'd to pass the dangerous sea -Of big-swoll'n sorrow in the bark Affection, -The winds and waves of woe need never fear, -While Love the helm doth, like a pilot, steer. - -GLO. Here's some lover come, a mischief on him! -I know not how to answer these mad fools; -But I'll be brief; I'll mar the hermit's tale. -Off, gown; hold, buckler; slice it, Bilbo' blade. - -RICH. What's this? what should this mean? old man, good friend. - -GLO. Young fool, deliver; else see your end. - -RICH. I thought thou hadst been holy and a hermit. - -GLO. Whate'er you thought, your purse! come, quickly, sir; -Cast that upon the ground, and then confer. - -RICH. There it is. - -GLO. Falls it so heavy? then my heart is light. - -RICH. Thou'lt have a heavy heart before thou touch it. -Theft shrin'd in holy weeds, stand to't, y'are best. - -GLO. And if I do not, seeing such a prey, -Let this be to me a disaster day. - -RICH. Art thou content to breathe? - - [_Fight and part once or twice_. - -GLO. With all my heart. -Take half thy money, and we'll friendly part. - -RICH. I will not cherish theft. - -GLO. Then I defy thee. - - [_Fight again and breathe_. - -RICH. Alas for pity, that so stout a man, -So reverend in aspect, should take this course. - -GLO. This is no common man with whom I fight, -And if he be, he is of wond'rous spright. [_Aside_. -Shall we part stakes? - -RICH. Fellow, take -The purse upon condition thou wilt follow me. - -GLO. What, wait on you? wear a turn'd livery, -Whose man's your master? If I be your man, -My man's man's office will be excellent! -There lies your purse again; win it and wear it. - [_Fight_. - - _Enter_ ROBIN HOOD. _They breathe, offer again_. - -ROB. Clashing of weapons at my welcome hither? -Bick'ring upon Blackheath. Well-said, old man; -I'll take thy side, the younger hath the odds. -Stay, end your quarrel, or I promise ye -I'll take the old man's part. - -RICH. You were not wont. -Young Huntington; [be] still on Richard's side. - -ROB. Pardon, gracious prince; I knew ye not. - -GLO. Prince Richard? then lie, envy, at his foot. -Pardon thy cousin Gloster, valiant lord. -I knew no common force confronted mine. - -RICH[529]. O heaven, I had the like conceit of thine, -I tell thee, Robin, Gloster, thou art met, -Bringing such comfort unto Richard's heart: -As in the foil of war, when dust and sweat, -The thirst of wreak[530], and the sun's fiery heat, -Have seized upon the soul of valiance, -And he must faint, except he be refresh'd. -To me thou com'st, as if to him should come -A perry[531] from the north, whose frosty breath -Might fan him coolness in that doubt[532] of death. -With me then meet'st, as he a spring might meet, -Cooling the earth under his toil-parch'd feet, -Whose crystal moisture, in his helmet ta'en, -Comforts his spirits, makes him strong again. - -GLO. Prince, in short terms, if you have brought me comfort, -Know, if I had my pardon in this hand, -That smit base Skink in open Parl'ament, -I would not come to Court, till the high feast -Of your proud brother's birthday be expired, -For as the old king--as he made a vow -At his unlucky coronation, [that I] -Must wait upon the boy and fill his cup, -And all the peers must kneel, while Henry kneels, -Unto his cradle--he shall hang me up, -Ere I commit that vile idolatry. -But when the feast is pass'd, if you'll befriend me, -I'll come and brave my proud foes to their teeth. - -RICH. Come, Robin; and if my brother's grace deny, -I'll take thy part, them and their threats defy. - -GLO. Gramercy, princely Dick. - -ROB. I have some pow'r: -I can raise two thousand soldiers in an hour. - -GLO. Gramercy, Robin; gramercy, little wag, -Prince Richard, pray let Huntington -Carry my sister Fauconbridge this ring. - -RICH. I'll carry it myself; but I had rather -Had thy kind company; thou might'st have mov'd -Thy sister, whom I long have vainly lov'd. - -GLO. I like her that she shuns temptation, -Prince Richard; but I bear with doting lovers. -I should not take it well, that you urge me -To such an office: but I bear with you. -Love's blind and mad. Hie to her boldly: try her; -But if I know she yield, faith, I'll defy her. - -RICH. I like thy honourable resolution; -Gloster, I pray thee pardon my intreat. - -GLO. It is men's custom: part, part, gentle prince, -Farewell, good Robin, this gold I will borrow; -Meet you at Stepney, pay you all to-morrow. - -ROB. Adieu, Gloster. - [_Exit_ ROBIN. - -GLO. Farewell, be short. -You gone, I hope to have a little sport. - -RICH. Take heed, mad coz. - -GLO. Tut, tell not me of heed: [_Exit_ RICHARD. -He that's too wary[533] never hath good speed. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTIETH. - - - _Hollooing within; enter_ LANCASTER _with a broken - staff in his hand_. - -[GLO.] Who's this? old Lancaster, my honour'd friend? - -LAN. These knaves have serv'd me well, left me alone, -I have hunted fairly, lost my purse, my chain, -My jewels, and been bang'd by a bold knave, -Clad in a hermit's gown, like an old man-- -O what a world is this? - -GLO. It's ill, my lord. - -LAN. He's come again! O knave, 'tis the worse for thee: - [_Mistakes_ GLOSTER _for the_ HERMIT. -Keep from me: be content with that thou hast, -And see thou fly this heath, for, if I take thee, -I'll make thee to all thieves a spectacle. -Had my staff held, thou hadst not 'scap'd me so. -But come not near me, fellow, thou art not[534] best, -Holla, Earl Leicester! holla, huntsmen, ho! - -GLO. Upon my life, old Lancaster, a-hunting, -Hath met my fellow-hermit. Could I meet him, -I'd play [at] rob-thief, at least part stakes with him. - - _Enter_ SKINK _as a hermit_. - -SKINK. Zounds, he is yonder alone. - - _Enter_ REDCAP _with a cudgel_. - -SKINK. Now revenge thyself on yonder slave[535], -'Snails, still prevented? this same Redcap rogue -Runs like hob goblin up and down the heath. - -RED. Wh-wh-wh-whoop, he-hermit, ye ha-ha-ma-ma-made Re-Redcap run a -fine co-co-compass, ha-have you not? - -SKINK. I made thee run? - -GLO. Yonder's my evil angel. -Were Redcap gone, Gloster would conjure him. - -RED. Je-Je-Jesus bl-bless me, whoop! t-t-two hermits? I'll -ca-ca-caperclaw t-t-t'one of ye, for mo-mo-mocking me, and I d-d-do -not ha-ha-hang me. Wh-wh-which is the fa-fa-false k-k-k-knave? for I -am s-s-sure the old he-he-hermit wo-would never mo-mock an honest man. - -GLO. He is the counterfeit; he mock'd thee, fellow. -I did not see thee in my life before, -He wears my garments, and has cosened me. - -RED. Have you co-co-cosened the he-he-hermit and m-made Redcap run to -no pu-pu-purpose? - -SKINK. No, he's [a] counterfeit; I will tell no lies, -As sure as Skink deceiv'd thee of thy clothes, -Sent thee to Kent, gave thee thy fare by water, -So sure, he's false, and I the perfect hermit. - -GLO. This villain is a conjuror, I doubt, -Were he the devil, yet I would not budge. - -RED. Si-si-sirrah, you are the co-counterfeit. O, this is the tr-tr-true -he-hermit. Sta-sta-stand still, g-good man, at that, I'll bu-bumbast you -i'faith, I'll make you g-give the old m-m-man his gown. - - [_Offers to strike_; GLOSTER _trips up his heels; - shifts_ SKINK _into his place_. - -G-G-God's lid, are ye go-good at that? I'll cu-cudgel ye f-f-for the -tr-tr-trick. - -SKINK. It was not I; 'twas he, that cast thee down. - -RED. You li-li-li-lie, you ra-ra-rascal, you; I le-left ye st-standing -he-here. - -SKINK. Zounds, hold, you stammerer, or I'll cut your stumps. - -GLO. He is for me; he's weapon'd--I like that! - -RED. O, here's a ro-ro-rogue in-ca-ca-carnate, help, mu-murder, murder. - - _Enter_ LANCASTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at one door_, - LEICESTER _and_ HUNTSMEN _at another_. - -LAN. Lay hold upon that thievish counterfeit. - -LEI. Why, here's another hermit, Lancaster: - -GLO. I am the hermit, sir; that wretched man -Doth many a robbery in my disguise: - -SKINK. It's he that robs; he slanders me; he lies. - -LAN. Which set on thee? - -RED. Th-this f-f-fellow has a s-s-sword and a buckler. - -LAN. Search him; this is the thief; O, here's my purse, -My chain, my jewels! O thou wicked wretch, -How dar'st thou, under show of holiness, -Commit such actions of impiety? -Bind him, I'll have him made a public scorn. - -SKINK. Lay hold upon that other hermit; -He is a counterfeit as well as I. -He stole those clothes from me; for I am Skink. -Search him, I know him not, he is some slave. - -GLO. Thou liest, base varlet. - -RED. O G-God, he has a sword too. Skink, are you ca-catcht? - -LAN. Villain, thou shalt with me unto the Court. - -LEI. And this with me; this is the traitor Gloster. - -GLO. Thou liest, proud Leicester; I am no traitor, - -RED. G-Gloster? O b-brave, now m-my father sh-shall be f-free. - -LAN. Earl Gloster, I am sorry thou art taken. - -GLO. I am not taken yet, nor will I yield -To any here but noble Lancaster. -Let Skink be Leicester's prisoner; I'll be thine. - -LEI. Thou shalt be mine. - -GLO. First, through a crimson sluice, -I'll send thy hated soul to those black fiends, -That long have hovered gaping for their part, -When tyrant life should leave thy traitor heart! -Come, Lancaster, keep Skink; I'll go with thee. -Let loose the mad knave, for I praise his shifts. -He shall not start away; I'll be his guide, -And with proud looks outface young Henry's pride. - -LEI. Look to them, Lancaster, upon thy life. - -RED. Well, I'll r-run and get a p-pardon of the k-k-k-king, Gl-Gloster -and Skink ta-ta-taken! O b-b-brave, r-r-r-run, Re-Re-Redca-cap, a-and -ca-ca-carry the first n-n-news to Co-Co-Court. - -LEI. Lancaster, I'll help to guard them to the Court. - -LAN. Do as you please. - -GLO. Leicester, do not come near me; -For, if thou do, thou shalt buy it dearly. - -LEI. I'll have thy hand for this. - -GLO. Not for thy heart. - -SKINK. Brave Earl, had Skink known thou hadst been the noble Gloster -(whose mad tricks have made me love thee), I would have dyed Blackheath -red with the blood of millions, ere we would have been taken; but what -remedy? we are fast, and must answer it like gentlemen, like soldiers, -like resolutes. - -GLO. Aye, ye are a gallant. Come, old Lancaster. -For thy sake will I go, or else, by heaven, -I'd send some dozen of these slaves to hell. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-FIRST. - - - _Enter_ PRINCE RICHARD, ROBIN HOOD, _and_ LADY FAUCONBRIDGE. - -LADY F. Your travail and your comfortable news: -This ring, the certain sign you met with him: -Binds me in duteous love unto your grace; -But on my knees I fall, and humbly crave -Importune that no more you ne'er can have. - -RICH. Nay, then, ye wrong me, Lady Fauconbridge, -Did you not join your fair white hands, -Swore that ye would forswear your husband's bed, -[And] if I could but find out Gloster? - -LADY F. I swear so! - -RICH. [Yes,] by heaven. - -ROB. Take heed; it's an high oath, my lord. - -RICH. What meanest thou, Huntington? - -ROB. To save your soul; -I do not love to have my friends forsworn, -She never promis'd, that you urge her with. - -RICH. Go to; provoke me not. - -ROB. I tell you true; -'Twas I in her attire that promis'd you. -She was gone unto the wizard at Blackheath, -And there had suitors more than a good many. - -RICH. Was I deluded then? - -LADY F. No, not deluded; -But hind'red from desire unchaste and rude. -O, let me woo ye with the tongue of ruth, -Dewing your princely hand with pity's tears, -That you would leave this most unlawful suit, -If e'er we live, till Fauconbridge be dead, -(As God defend his death I should desire). -Then, if your highness deign so base a match, -And holy laws admit a marriage, -Considering our affinity in blood, -I will become your handmaid, not your harlot-- -That shame shall never dwell upon my brow. - -ROB. I'faith, my lord, she's honourably resolv'd, -For shame, no more; importune her no more. - -RICH. Marian, I see thy virtue, and commend it; -I know my error, seeking thy dishonour, -But the respectless, reasonless command -Of my inflamed love, bids me still try, -And trample under foot all piety; -Yet, for I will not seem too impious, -Too inconsiderate of thy seeming grief, -Vouchsafe to be my mistress: use me kindly. -And I protest I'll strive with all my power, -That lust himself may in his heat devour. - -LADY F. You are my servant, then. - -RICH. Thanks, sacred mistress. - -ROB. What am I? - -LADY F. You are my fellow Robert. - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _in his hose and doublet_. - -FAU. What, Prince Richard? noble Huntington? -Welcome, i'faith, welcome! by the morrow mass! -You are come as fitly as my heart can wish. -Prince John this night will be a reveller, -He hath invited me and Marian, -God's marry mother, go along with us, -It's but hard by, close by--at our town-tavern. - -RICH. Your tavern? - -FAU. O, aye, aye, aye; 'tis his own made match, -I'll make you laugh, I'll make you laugh, i'faith; -Come, come; he's ready. O, come, come away. - -LADY F. But where's the princess? - -FAU. She is[536] ready too; -Block, Block, my man, must be her waiting-man. -Nay, will ye go? for God's sake, let us go. - -RICH. Is the jest so? nay, then, let us away. - -ROB. O, 'twill allay his heat, make dead his fire. - -FAU. Ye bobb'd me first; ye first gave me my hire, -But come, a God's name, Prince John stays for us. - - [_Exeunt_. - -ROB. This is the word ever at spendthrifts' feasts, -They are gull'd themselves, and scoff'd at by their guests. - - [_Exit_. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-SECOND. - - - _A tavern. Enter_ JOHN, FAUCONBRIDGE, ROBIN - HOOD, RICHARD, _and the others_[537]. - -JOHN. Baffled and scoff'd! Skink, Gloster, women, -Fools and boys abuse me. I'll be reveng'd. - -RICH. Reveng'd? and why, good child? -Old Fauconbridge hath had a worser basting. - -FAU. Aye, they have banded [me] from chase to chase; -I have been their tennis-ball, since I did court. - -RICH. Come, John, take hand with virtuous Isabel, -And let's unto the court, like loving friends. -Our kingly brother's birth-day's festival -Is forthwith to be kept; thither we'll hie, -And grace with pomp that great solemnity. - -JOHN. Whither ye will; I care not, where I go. -If grief will grace it, I'll adorn the show. - -FAU. Come, madam; we must thither; we are bound. - -LADY.[538] I'm loth to see the court, Gloster being from thence, -Or kneel to him that gave us this offence. - -FAU. Body of me, peace, woman, I prythee, peace. - - _Enter_ REDCAP. - -RED. Go-Go-God [speed] ye, Go-God s-speed ye! - -JOHN. Whither run you, sir knave? - -RED. R-r-run ye, sir knave? why, I r-run to my La-Lady Fa-Fauconbridge, -to te-te-tell her Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster is taken, and are g-g-gone to -the c-c-court with L-Lord Leicester and L-Lord La-La-Lancaster. - -JOHN. Is Gloster taken? thither will I fly -Upon wrath's wings; not quiet till he die. - - [_Exit with_ PRINCESS. - -RICH. Is Gloster taken? - -RED. Aye, he is ta-taken, I wa-warrant ye, with a wi-witness. - -RICH. Then will I to court, -And either set him free, or die the death. -Follow me, Fauconbridge; fear not, fair madam: -You said you had the porter in your house? -Some of your servants bring him; on my life, -One hair shall not be taken from his head, -Nor he, nor you, nor Gloster, injured. - -FAU. Come, Moll, and Richard say the word, ne'er fear. - -ROB. Madam, we have twenty thousand at our call, -The most young Henry dares is but to brawl. - -LADY F. Pray God, it prove so. - -RICH. Follow, Huntington: -Sir Richard, do not fail to send the porter. - -FAU. Block, bring the porter of the Fleet to court. - -BLO. I will, sir. - -RED. The p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet to court? -What p-p-porter of the Fl-Fl-Fleet? - -BLO. What, Redcap? Run, Redcap, wilt thou see thy father? - -RED. My fa-father? Aye, that I w-would s-see my f-father, and there be -A p-porter in your ho-house, it is my fa-father. - -BLO. Follow me, Redcap, then. - [_Exit_. - -RED. And you were tw-tw-twenty B-Blocks, I'd f-f-follow ye, s-so I would, -and r-run to the co-co-court too, and k-kneel before the k-k-king f-f-for -his pa-pardon. - -BLO. [Within.] Come away, Redcap; run, Redcap. - -RED. I-I-I r-r-run as f-f-fast as I-I ca-ca-can run, I wa-warrant ye. - - - -SCENE THE THIRTY-THIRD. - - - _Enter a Signet,[539] first two Heralds, after them_ - LEICESTER, _with a sceptre,_ LANCASTER, _with a - crown imperial on a cushion: after them_ HENRY THE ELDER, - _bare-headed, bearing a sword and a globe: after him_ - YOUNG HENRY, _crowned_: ELINOR, _the Mother-Queen, - crowned_: YOUNG QUEEN _crowned_: HENRY THE ELDER - _places his son, the two Queens on either hand, himself - at his feet_, LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER _below him_. - -HEN. Herald, fetch Lancaster and Leicester coronets, -Suffer no marquis, earl, nor countess enter, -Except their temples circled are in gold. - [_He delivers coronets to_ LEICESTER _and_ LANCASTER. -Shew them our viceroys: by our will controll'd, -As at a coronation, every peer -Appears in all his pomp; so at this feast, -Held for our birthright, let them be adorn'd, -Let Gloster be brought in, crowned like an earl. [_Exit_ HERALD. -This day we'll have no parley of his death, -But talk of jouissance and gleeful mirth. -Let Skink come in; give him a baron's seat. -High is his spirit, his deserts are great. - -KING. You wrong the honour of nobility -To place a robber in a baron's stead. - -QUEEN. It's well ye term him not a murderer. - -KING. Had I misterm'd him? - -QUEEN. Ay, that had you, Henry. -He did a piece of justice at my bidding. - -KING. Who made you a justice? - -HEN. I, that had the power. - -KING. You had none then. - - _Enter_ GLOSTER _and_ SKINK. - -LEI. Yes, he was crown'd before. - -HEN. Why does not Gloster wear a coronet? - -GLO. Because his sovereign doth not wear a crown. - -HEN. By heaven, put on thy coronet, or that heaven, -Which now with a clear [arch] lends us this light, -Shall not be curtain'd with the veil of night, -Ere on thy head I clap a burning crown -Of red-hot iron, that shall sear thy brains. - -RICH. Good Gloster, crown thee with thy coronet. - -LAN. Do, gentle earl. - -SKINK. Swounds, do; would I had one. [_Aside_. - -QUEEN. Do not, I prythee, keep thy proud heart still. - -GLO. I'll wear it but to cross thy froward will. - -HEN. Sit down, and take thy place. - -GLO. It's the low earth; -To her I must, from her I had my birth.[540] - -HEN. We are pleas'd thou shalt sit there. -Skink, take thy place among my nobles. - - _Enter_ JOHN _and_ ISABEL, _with coronets_. - -SKINK. Thanks to King Henry's grace. - -JOHN. John, Earl of Morton and of Nottingham, -With Isabel his countess, bow themselves -Before their brother Henry's royal throne! - -HEN. Ascend your seats; live in our daily love. - - _Enter_ RICHARD _and_ ROBERT, _with coronets_. - -RICH. Richard, the Prince of England, with his ward, -The noble Robert Hood, Earl Huntington, -Present their service to your majesty. - -HEN. Y'are welcome, too, though little be your love. [_Aside_.] - - _Enter_ FAUCONBRIDGE _with his_ LADY, _she a coronet_. - -FAU. Old Richard Fauconbridge, Knight of the Cross, -Lord of the Cinque Ports, with his noble wife, -Dame Marian, Countess of West-Hereford,[541] -Offer their duties at this royal meeting. - -HEN. Sit down, thou art a neuter, she a foe. -Thy love we doubt; her heart too well we know. [_Aside_. -What suitors are without? let them come in. - -GLO. And have no justice, where contempt is king. - -HEN. Madman, I give no ear to thy loose words. - -JOHN. O sir, y'are welcome; you have your old seat. - -GLO. Though thou sit higher, yet my heart's as great. - -QUEEN. Great heart, we'll make you lesser by the head. - -GLO. Ill comes not ever to the threatened[542]. - - _Enter_ BLOCK _and_ REDCAP. - -HEN. What are you two? - -RED. M-ma-marry, and't please you, I am Re-Re-Redcap. - -HEN. And what's your mate? - -BLO. A poor porter, sir. - -JOHN. The porter of the Fleet, that was condemned? - -BLO. No, truly, sir; I was porter last, when I left the door open -at the tavern. - -JOHN. O, is't you, sir? - -LEI. And what would you two have? - -RED. I co-co-come to re-re-re-qui-quire the young k-k-king of his -go-goo-goodness, since Glo-Gloster is t-taken, that he wo-wo-would -let my fa-fa-father have his pa-pa-pardon. - -HEN. Sirrah, your father has his pardon sign'd. -Go to the office, it shall be delivered. - -RED. And shall he be p-p-porter a-ga-gain? - -HEN. Aye, that he shall; but let him be advis'd, -Hereafter how [he] lets out prisoners. - -RED. I wa-warrant ye, my lord. - -HEN. What hast thou more to say? - -RED. Marry, I wo-would have Skink pu-punish'd -For co-co-coney-catching me. - -LEI. Is that your business? - -RED, Aye, by my t-t-troth is it. - -HEN. Then get away. - -GLO. Against Skink (poor knave) thou gett'st no right this day. - -BLO. O, but run back, Redcap, for the pursuivant! -O L-Lord, s-sir, I have another s-suit for the p-p-pursuivant, -That has l-l-lost his b-b-box and his wa-wa-warrant. - -HEN. What means the fellow? - -RED. Why, the pu-pu-pursuivant, sir, and the po-po-porter. - -GLO. The box, that I had from him--there it is. - -FAU. Marry a me, and I was charg'd with it. -Had you it, brother Gloster? God's good mercy! - -HEN. And what have you to say? - -BLO. Nothing, sir, -But God bless you! you are a goodly company! -Except Sir Richard[543] or my lady will command me -Any more service. - -FAU. Away, you prating knave! hence, varlet, hence. - - [_Exit_ BLOCK. - -LEI. Put forth them fellows there. - -RED. Af-fo-fore I g-go, -I b-b-be-s-s-seech you, let Sk-Skink and Gl-Gloster be lo-lo-looked to; -For they have p-p-play'd the k-k-knaves too-too-too b-b-bad. - -HEN. Take hence that stuttering fellow; shut him[544] forth. - -RED. Nay, I'll ru-ru-run; faith, you shall not n-n-need to b-b-b-bid -him ta-t-take m-me away; for Re-Re-Redcap will r-ru-run rarely. - [_Exit_ REDCAP. - -HEN. The sundry misdemeanors late committed, -As thefts and shifts in other men's disguise, -We now must (knave Skink) freely tell thy faults. - -SKINK. Sweet king, by these two terrors[545] to mine enemies, that lend -light to my body's darkness: Cavilero Skink being beleaguer'd with an -host of leaden heels, arm'd in ring Irish[546]: cheated my hammerer of -his _red cap_ and coat; was surpris'd, brought to the Fleet as a person -suspected, pass'd current, till Gloster stripped me from my counterfeit, -clad my back in silk and my heart in sorrow, and so left me to the mercy -of my mother-wit. How Prince John released me, he knows; how I got -Fauconbridge's chain, I know. But how he will get it again, I know not. - -FAU. Where is it, sirrah? tell me where it is? - -GLO. I got it from him, and I got John's sword. - -JOHN. I would 'twere to the hilt up in thy heart. - -RICH. O, be more charitable, brother John. - -LEI. My liege, you need not by particulars -Examine, what the world knows too plain; -If you will pardon Skink, his life is sav'd; -If not, he is convicted by the law. -For Gloster, as you worthily resolv'd, -First take his hand, and afterward his head. - -HEN. Skink, thou hast life, our pardon and our love. - -SKINK [_to_ JOHN.] And your forgiveness for my robbery? - -JOHN. Tut, never trouble me with such a toy; -Thou hind'rest me from hearing of my joy. - -HEN. Bring forth a block, wine, water, and towel; -Knives, and a surgeon to bind up the veins -Of Gloster's arm, when his right hand is off-- -His hand that struck Skink at the Parl'ament. - -SKINK. I shall bear his blows to my grave, my lord. - -KING. Son Henry, see thy father's palsy hands, -Join'd like two suppliants, pressing to thy throne. -Look, how the furrows of his aged cheek, -Fill'd with the rivulets of wet-ey'd moan, -Begs mercy for Earl Gloster? weigh his guilt. -Why for a slave should royal blood be spilt? - -SKINK. You wrong mine honour: Skink must[547] be reveng'd. - -HEN. Father, I do commend your humble course; -But quite dislike the project of your suit. -Good words in an ill cause makes the fact worse: -Of blood or baseness justice will dispute. -The greater man, the greater his transgression: -Where strength wrongs weakness, it is mere oppression. - -LADY F. O, but, King Henry, hear a sister speak. -Gloster was wrong'd, his lands were given away, -They are not justly said just laws to break, -That keep their own right with what power they may. -Think, then, thy royal self began the wrong, -In giving Skink what did to him[548] belong. - -QUEEN. Hear me, son Henry, while thou art a king, -Give, take, prison: thy subjects are thy slaves. -Life, need, thrones[549], proud hearts in dungeons fling, -Grace men to day, to-morrow give them graves. -A king must be, like Fortune, ever turning, -The world his football, all her glory spurning. - -GLO. Still your own counsel, beldam policy! -You're a fit tutress in a monarchy. - -RICH. Mother, you are unjust, savage, too cruel, -Unlike a woman. Gentleness guides their sex; -But you to fury's fire add more fuel. -The vexed spirit will you delight to vex? -O God, when I conceit what you have done, -I am asham'd to be esteem'd your son. - -JOHN. Base Richard, I disdain to call thee brother, -Tak'st thou a traitor's part in our disgrace? -For Gloster wilt thou wrong our sacred mother? -I scorn thee, and defy thee to thy face. -O, that we were in field! then should'st thou try. - -ROB. How fast Earl John would from Prince Richard fly! -Thou meet a lion in field? poor mouse, -All thy careers are in a brothel house. - -JOHN. 'Zounds, boy! - -RICH. Now, man! - -LEI. Richard, you wrong Prince John. - -RICH. Leicester, 'twere good you prov'd his champion. - -JOHN. Hasten the execution, royal lord[s], -Let deeds make answer for their worthless words. - -GLO. I know, if I respected hand or head, -I am encompassed with a world of friends, -And could from fury be delivered. -But then my freedom hazards many lives. -Henry, perform the utmost of thy hate, -Let my[550] hard-hearted mother have her will. -Give frantic John no longer cause to prate: -I am prepared for the worst of ill. -You see my knees kiss the cold pavement's face, -They are not bent to Henry nor his friends, -But to all you whose blood, fled to your hearts, -Shows your true sorrow in your ashy cheeks: -To you I bend my knees: you I entreat -To smile on Gloster's resolution. -Whoever loves me, will not shed a tear, -Nor breathe a sigh, nor show a cloudy frown. -Look, Henry, here's my hand; I lay it down, -And swear, as I have knighthood, here't shall lie -Till thou have used all thy tyranny. - -LADY F. Has no man heart to speak? - -GLO. Let all that love me keep silence, or, by heaven, -I'll hate them dying. - -QUEEN. Harry, off with his hand, then with his head. - -FAU. By the red rood, I cannot choose but weep, -Come love or hate, my tears I cannot keep. - -QUEEN. When comes this ling'ring executioner? - -JOHN. An executioner, an executioner! - -HEN. Call none, till we have drunk: father, fill wine; -To-day your office is to bear our cup. - -RICH. I'll fill it, Henry. [RICH. _kneels down_. - -HEN. Dick, you are too mean -To bow unto your sovereign. - -GLO. Kneel to his child? -O hell! O torture! Gloster, learn: -Who would love life to see this huge dishonour? - -HEN. Saturn kneeled to his son; the god was fain -To call young Jove his age's sovereign. -Take now your seat again, and wear your crown; -Now shineth Henry like the mid-day's sun, -Through his horizon darting all his beams, -Blinding with his bright splendour every eye, -That stares against his face of majesty. -The comets, whose malicious gleams -Threatened the ruin of our royalty, -Stand at our mercy, yet our wrath denies -All favour, but extreme extremities: -Gloster, have to thy sorrow, chafe thy arm, -That I may see thy blood (I long'd for oft) -Gush from thy veins, and stain this palace-roof. - -JOHN. 'Twould exceed gilding. - -QUEEN. Aye, as gold doth ochre. - -GLO. It's well ye count my blood so precious. - -HEN. Leicester, reach Gloster wine. - -LEI. I reach it him? - -HEN. Proud earl, I'll spurn thee; quickly go and bear it. - -GLO. I'll count it poison, if his hand come near it. - -HEN. Give it him, Leicester, upon our displeasure. - -GLO. Thus Gloster takes it: thus again he flings it, -In scorn of him that sent it, and of him that brought it. - -SKINK. O brave spirit! - -LADY F. Bravely resolv'd, brother; I honour thee. - -QUEEN. Hark, how his sister joys in his abuse. -Wilt thou endure it, Hal? - -FAU. Peace, good Marian. - -HEN. Avoid there every under-officer: -Leave but [with] us our peers and ladies here. -Richard, you love Earl Gloster: look about, -If you can spy one in this company -That hath but[551] done as great a sin as Gloster; -Choose him, let him be the executioner. - -RICH. Thou hast done worse then, like, rebellious head, -Hast arm'd ten thousand arms against his life, -That lov'd thee so, as thou wert made a king, -Being his child; now he's thy underling! -I have done worse: thrice I drew my sword, -In three set battles for thy false defence! -John hath done worse; he still hath took thy part. -All of us three have smit our father's heart, -Which made proud Leicester bold to strike his face, -To his eternal shame and our disgrace! - -HEN. Silence, I see thou mean'st to find none fit. -I am sure, nor Lancaster, nor Huntington, -Nor Fauconbridge, will lay a hand on him. -Mother, wife, brother, let's descend the throne, -Where Henry, as[552] the monarch of the west. -Hath sat[553] amongst his princes dignified. -Father, take you the place: see justice [done]. - -KING. It's unjust justice, I must tell thee, son. - -HEN. Mother, hold you the basin, you the towel: -I know your French hearts thirst for English blood; -John, take the mallet; I will hold the knife, -And when I bid thee smite, strike for thy life: -Make a mark, surgeon. Gloster, now prepare thee. - -GLO. Tut. I am ready; to thy worst I dare thee. - -HEN. Then have I done my worst, thrice-honour'd earl, -I do embrace thee in affection's arms. - -QUEEN. What mean'st thou, Henry? O, what means my son? - -HEN. I mean no longer to be lullabi'd -In your seditious arms. - -HEN. WIFE. _Mordieu_[554] Henry. - -HEN. _Mordieu_ nor devil, little tit of France, -I know your heart leaps at our heart's mischance. - -JOHN. 'Swounds, Henry, thou art mad! - -HEN. I have been mad: -What, stamp'st thou, John? know'st thou not who I am? -Come, stamp the devil out, suck'd from thy dam? - -QUEEN. I'll curse thee, Henry. - -HEN. You're best be quiet; -Lest, where we find you, to the Tower we bear you; -For, being abroad, England hath cause to fear you.[555] - -KING. I am struck dumb with wonder. - -GLO. I amaz'd, imagine that I see a vision. - -HEN. Gloster, I gave thee first this Skink, this slave; -It's in thy power his life to spill or save. - -SKINK. He's a noble gentleman, I do not doubt his usage. - -HEN. Stand not thus wond'ring; princes, kneel all down, -And cast your coronets before his crown. -Down, stubborn Queen, kneel to your wronged king, -Down, mammet! Leicester, I'll cut off thy legs, -If thou delay thy duty! when, proud John? - -JOHN. Nay, if all kneel of force, I must be one. - -FAU. Now, by my halidom, a virtuous deed! - -HEN. Father, you see your most rebellious son, -Stricken with horror of his horrid guilt, -Requesting sentence fitting his desert: -O, tread upon his head, that trod [upon] -Your heart: I do deliver up all dignity, -Crown, sceptre, sword, unto your majesty. - -KING. My heart surfeits with joy in hearing this, -And, dear[est] son, I'll bless thee with a kiss. - -HEN. I will not rise; I will not leave this ground -Till all these voices, joined in one sound, -Cry: God save Henry, second of that name, -Let his friends live, his foes see death with shame! - -ALL. God save Henry, second of that name, -Let his friends live, his foes see death with shame! - -HEN. Amen, amen, amen! - -JOHN. Hark! mother, hark! -My brother is already turned clerk. - -QUEEN. He is a recreant; I am mad with rage. - -HEN. Be angry at your envy, gracious mother, -Learn patience and true humility -Of your worst-tutor'd son; for I am he. -Hence, hence that Frenchwoman; give her her dowry, -Let her not speak, to trouble my mild soul, -Which of this world hath taken her last leave: -And by her power will my proud flesh control. -Off with these silks; my garments shall be grey, -My shirt hard hair; my bed the ashy dust; -My pillow but a lump of hard'ned clay: -For clay I am, and with clay I must. -O, I beseech ye, let me go alone, -To live, where my loose life I may bemoan. - -KING. Son! - -QUEEN. Son! - -RICH. Brother! - -JOHN. Brother! - -HEN. Let none call me their son; I'm no man's brother, -My kindred is in heav'n, I know no other. -Farewell, farewell; the world is your's; pray take it, -I'll leave vexation, and with joy forsake it. - [_Exit_. - -LADY F. Wondrous conversion! - -FAU. Admirable good: -Now, by my halidom, Moll, passing good. - -RICH. H'hath fir'd my soul; I will to Palestine. -And pay my vows before the Sepulchre. -Among the multitude of misbelief, -I'll show myself the soldier of Christ: -Spend blood, sweat tears, for satisfaction -Of many--many sins, which I lament; -And never think to have them pardoned, -Till I have part of Syria conquered. - -GLO. He makes me wonder, and inflames my spirits, -With an exceeding zeal to Portingale, -Which kingdom the unchris'ned Saracens[556], -The black-fac'd Africans, and tawny Moors, -Have got unjustly in possession: -Whence I will fire them with the help of heaven. - -SKINK. Skink will scorch them, brave Gloster; -Make carbonadoes of their bacon-flitches; -Deserve to be counted valiant by his valour, -And Rivo[557] will he cry, and Castile too, -And wonders in the land of Seville do. - -ROB. O, that I were a man to see these fights: -To spend my blood amongst these worthy knights. - -FAU. Marry, aye me, were I a boy again, -I'd either to Jerusalem or Spain. - -JOHN. Faith, I'll keep England; mother, you and I -Will live from[558] all this fight and foolery. - -KING. Peace to us all, let's all for peace give praise, -Unlook'd-for peace, unlook'd-for happy days! -Love Henry's birth-day; he hath been new-born; -I am new-crowned, new-settled in my seat. -Let's all to th'chapel, there give thanks and praise, -Beseeching grace from Heaven's eternal throne, -That England never know more prince than one. - - [_Exeunt_. - - -FINIS. - - - - -FOOTNOTES: - - -[1] He is mentioned by Webbe, in his "Discourse of English Poetrie," -1586, Sign. C 4, with other poets of that time, as Whetstone, Munday, -Grange, Knight, _Wilmot_, Darrell, F.C. F.K., G.B., and others, whose -names he could not remember. - -[2] Robert Wilmot, A.M., was presented to the rectory of North Okenham, -in Essex, the 28th of November 1582, by Gabriel Poyntz: and to the -vicarage of Horndon on the Hill, in the same county, the 2d December -1585, by the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's.--Newcourt's "Repertorium." ---_Steevens_. - -[3] The same person, who was the author of "A Discourse of English -Poetrie: together with the Authors judgment, touching the reformation of -our English Verse." B.L. 4to, 1586. [This "Discourse" is reprinted in -Haslewood'a "Ancient Critical Essays," 1811-15.] - -[4] [An English translation was published in 1577.] - -[5] These three sonnets following occur both in Lansdowne MS. (786) and -Hargrave MS. (205), but the first was not included in the printed copy -of 1591. - -[6] _Pheer_ signifies a husband, a friend, or a companion, and in -all these senses it is used in our ancient writers. It here means -_a husband_. So in Lyly's "Euphues," 1581, p. 29: "If he be young, he -is the more fitter to be thy _pheere_. If he bee olde, the lyker to -thine aged father." It occurs again in act ii. sc. 3, and act iv. sc. 3. - -[7] _Prevent_, or _forbid_. So in "Euphues and his England," 1582, -p. 40: "For never shall it be said that Iffida was false to Thirsus, -though Thirsus be faithlesse (which the gods _forefend_) unto Iffida." - -[8] _Command_. So in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," p. 78: "For this -I sweare by her whose lightes canne never die, Vesta, and by her _whose -heasts_ are not to be broken, Diana," &c. - -Again, in Shakespeare's "Tempest," act iii. sc. 1-- - - "O my father, - I have broke _your hest_ to say so!" - -And in the prologue to [Peele's] "Araygnement of Paris," 1584-- - - "Done by the pleasure of the powers above, - Whose _hestes_ men must obey." - -The word occurs again in act iv. sc. 2, act iv. sc. 4, and act v. sc. 1. - -[9] The second and third sonnets are now given (_verbatim et literatim_) -in a note, as they stand in Lansdowne MS. 786. They will serve to show -how slight were Wilmot's improvements, and will leave it perhaps open to -doubt whether the changes made in 1591 were always changes for the -better. - - _An other to the same_. - - Flowers of prime, pearles couched in gold, - sonne of our day that gladdeneth the hart - of them that shall yo'r shining beames behold, - salue of eche sore, recure of euery smart, - in whome vertue and beautie striueth soe - that neither yeldes: loe here for you againe - Gismondes vnlucky loue, her fault, her woe, - and death at last, here fére and father slayen - through her missehap. And though ye could not see, - yet rede and rue their woefull destinie. - So Joue, as your hye vertues doen deserue, - geue you such féres as may yo'r vertues serue - w'th like vertues: and blissfull Venus send - Vnto your happy loue an happy end. - - _An other to the same_. - - Gismond, that whilom liued her fathers ioy, - and dyed his death, now dead doeth (as she may) - by vs pray you to pitie her anoye; - and, to reacquite the same, doeth humbly pray - Joue shield yo'r vertuous loues from like decay. - The faithfull earle, byside the like request, - doeth wish those wealfull wightes, whom ye embrace. - the constant truthe that liued within his brest; - his hearty loue, not his unhappy case - to fall to such as standen in your grace. - The king, prayes pardon of his cruel hest: - and for amendes desireth it may suffise, - that w'th his blood he teacheth now the rest - of fond fathers, that they in kinder wise - entreat the iewelles where their comfort lyes. - And we their messagers beseche ye all - on their behalfes, to pitie all their smartes: - and on our own, although the worth be small, - we pray ye to accept our simple hartes - auowed to serue, w'th prayer and w'th praise - your honors, as vnable otherwayes. - -[10] The play, as written in 1568, and as altered by Wilmot in 1591, -differs so much throughout, that it has been found impracticable, -without giving the earlier production entire, to notice all the changes. -Certain of the variations, however, and specialities in the Lansdowne -MS., as far as the first and second scenes of the first act, will be -printed (as a specimen) in the notes. - -[11] In the Lansdowne MS. another person of the drama is mentioned: -"Claudia, a woman of Gismunda's privie chamber;" and for _Choruses_ we -have: "Chorus, four gentlewomen of Salerne." - -[12] Not in the MSS. - -[13] The County Palurin, a few lines lower, is called Earl. Mr Tyrwhitt -says that _County_ signified _noblemen_ in general; and the examples -which might be quoted from this play would sufficiently prove the truth -of the observation. See "Shakespeare," vol. x., p. 39. [_County_ for -_Count_ is not very unusual; but it may be doubted if, as Tyrwhitt -thought, _County_ signified _noblemen in general_.] - -[14] This is in the two MSS., but varies in many verbal particulars. - -[15] Not in the copy of 1591. - -[16] Presented to Gismond. She filled up the cup wherein the heart was -brought with her tears and with certain poisonous water, by her -distilled for that purpose, and drank out this deadly drink. ---Copy of 1568. - -[17] The story of this tragedy is taken from Boccaccio's "Decameron," -day 4th, novel first. [It was turned into verse] by William Walter, a -retainer to Sir Henry Marney, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, [and -printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1532. A different version appeared in] -1597, under the title of "The Statly Tragedy of Guistard and Sismond, in -two Bookes," in a volume entitled, "Certaine Worthye Manuscript Poems of -great Antiquitie, reserved long in the Studie of a Northfolke Gent., and -now first published by J.S." Mr Dryden also versified it a second time. -See his works, vol. iii., 8vo edition, p. 245. Oldys, in his MSS. Notes -on Langbaine, says the same story is in Painter's Palace of Pleasure, -vol. i., and a French novel called "Guiscard et Sigismonde fille de -Tancredus Prince de Salerne mis en Latin. Par Leon Arretin, et traduit -in vers François, par Jean Fleury." [See Brunet, dern. edit. v. -_Aretinus_, Hazlitt's edit. of Warton, 1871, and "Popular Poetry," -ii. 66.] - -[18] [This line is not in the MSS.] - -[19] [Lo I in shape that seem unto your sight.--_Lansdowme MS_.] - -[20] [Do rule the world, and every living thing.--Ibid.] - -[21] This word seems anciently to have been pronounced as two syllables. -See "Cornelia," act iv., Chorus. - -[22] [And eat the living heart.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[23] An epithet adopted from Virgil's "Aeneid," lib. vi, line 729-- - - "Et quae _marmoreo_ fert monstra sub aequore pontus." - -Ibid. lib. vii. v. 28-- - - "Lento luctantur _marmore_ tonsae." - -Again, "Georg. I.," v. 254-- - - "Infidum remis impellere _marmor_." - ---_Steevens_. - -[24] [What secret hollow doth the huge seas hide, - When blasting fame mine acts hath not forth blown.] ---_Lansdowne MS_. - -[25] Io. - -[26] [Grazing in.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[27] Like to Amphitrio [when he presented himself] to Alcmena. - -[28] [Me.--_Lansdowne MS_.] - -[29] [The bloody Mars hath felt my.--_Do_.] - -[30] [Evened.--_Do_.] - -[31] Hercules. - -[32] Alexander. - -[33] [Won the famous golden fleece.--_M.S_.] - -[34] [What nature's bond or law's restraint avails, - To conquer and deface me every hour.--MS.] - -[35] Myrrha. - -[36] i.e., For pity. So, act ii. sc. 2-- - - "As easily befalls that age which asketh _ruth_." - -Act v. sc. 1-- - - "That hath the tyrant king - Withouten _ruth_ commanded us to do." - -Again, in Milton's "Lycidas," i. 163-- - - "Look homeward, angel, now and melt with _ruth_, - And, O ye Dolphins, waft the helpless youth." - -And in Churchyard's "Worthiness of Wales," 1587-- - - "Great _ruth_, to let so trim a seate goe downe, - The countries strength, and beautie of the towne." - -[37] [Mine almighty.--MS.] - -[38] [This, and the three following lines, are not in the MSS.] - -[39] [In creeping thorough all her veins within, - That she thereby shall raise much ruth and woe.--MS.] - -[40] [This, and the five preceding lines, are not in the MSS.] - -[41] [Lo, this before your eyes so will I show, - That ye shall justly say with one accord - We must relent and yield; for now we know - Love rules the world, love only is the lord.--MS.] - -[42] [Hath taught me plain to know our state's unrest.--MS.] - -[43] [O mighty Jove, O heavens and heavenly powers.--MS.] - -[44] [This, and the next line, do not occur in the MSS.] - -[45] [Thy sprite, I know, doth linger hereabout - And looks that I, poor wretch, should after come; - I would, God wot, my lord, if so I mought: - But yet abide, I may perhaps devise - Some way to be unburdened of my life, - And with my ghost approach thee in some wise - To do therein the duty of a wife.--MS.] - -[46] These omissions are frequent in our old plays. See note on "Love's -Labour Lost," edit. of Shakspeare, 1778, vol. ii. p. 410.--_Steevens_. - -[47] In this manner the word was formerly accented. See Dr Farmer's -"Essay on the Learning of Shakspeare." - -[48] Go. So in Epilogue-- - - "With violent hands he that his life doth end, - His damned soul to endless night doth _wend_." - -Again, in the "Return from Parnassus," 1600, act v. sc. 4-- - - "These my companions still with me must _wend_." - -In "George a Green Pinner of Wakefield," [Dyce's "Greene and Peele," -1861, p. 259, &c.]-- - - "Wilt thou leave Wakefield and _wend_ with me ... - So will I _wend_ with Robin all along ... - For you are wrong, and may not _wend_ this way." - -And in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," Prologue, line 19-- - - "Byfel, that, on that sesoun on a day, - In Southwerk at the Tabbard as I lay, - Redy to _wenden_ on my pilgrimage, - To Canturbury with ful devout corage." - -[49] Alexander. - -[50] Hector. - -[51] _Euripus Euboicus_, or _Chalcidicus_, is a narrow passage of sea -dividing _Attica_ and the Island of _Euboea_, now called the _Gulf of -Negropont_. It ebbs and flows seven times every day: the reason of -which, it is said, when Aristotle could not find, he threw himself into -the sea with these words: _Quia ego non capio te, tu capias me_. Sir -Thomas Brown, in his "Enquiries into Vulgar Errors," b. vii. c. 14, -appears to have been not satisfied with this account of Aristotle's -death, which he has taken some pains to render doubtful. - -[52] [Go]. So act ii. sc. 3-- - - "Therefore my counsel is you shall not stir, - Nor farther _wade_ in such a case as this," - -And in Turbervile's "Tragical Tales," 1587-- - - "Eare thou doe _wade_ so farre, revoke to minde the bedlam boy. - That in his forged wings of waxe reposed too great a joy." - -[53] _Sadly_, in most of our ancient writers, is used as here for -_seriously_. So in Nash's "Lenten Stuff," 1599: "Nay, I will lay no -wagers, for, now I perponder more _sadly_ upon it, I think I am out -indeed." - -Again, in Hall's "Chronicle," 1550, fo. 2: "His cosyn germaine was nowe -brought to that trade of livynge, that he litle or nothynge regarded the -counsaill of his uncles, nor of other grave and _sadde_ persones, but -did all thynge at his pleasure." - -In Ascham's "Toxophilus," 1571: "And when I sawe not you amonges them, -but at the last espyed you lookinge on your booke here so _sadlye_, I -thought to come and hold you with some communication." - -And in Warton's "Life of Sir Thomas Pope," p. 30: "Wherein is an abbes -namyd Dame Alice Fitzherbert, of the age LX yeares, a very _sadde_, -discreate, and relegyous woman." - -[54] Formerly this diversion was as much followed in the evening, as it -was at an earlier hour in the day. In "Laneham's Account of the -Entertainment at Kenelworth Castle," we find that Queen Elizabeth -always, while there, hunted in the afternoon. "Monday was hot, and -therefore her highness kept in till _five a clok in the eeveing; what -time it pleaz'd to ryde forth into the chase too hunt the hart of fors: -which found anon, and after sore chased," &c. Again, "Munday the 18 of -this July, the weather being hot, her highness kept the castle for -coolness, till about _five a clok_, her majesty in the chase, hunted the -hart (as before) of forz" &c. - -[55] That is, _proceed no further_. - -[56] i.e., Of nature. - -[57] Acquaint her with my resolution. _To resolve_, however, was -sometimes used for _convince_, or _satisfy_. It may therefore mean, -_convince her of the propriety of my command_. So in Middleton's "More -Dissemblers besides Women," act i. sc. 3-- - - "The blessing of perfection to your thoughts, lady, - For I'm _resolv'd_ they are good ones." - -Reed is right in his first explanation; it is so used in Chapman's -"May Day," act i. sc. 1. - - "Tell her such a man will _resolve_ her naming me." - ---"Anc. Dram.," vol. vi. p. 6.--_Gilchrist_. - -[A few lines further on in the text, however,] _resolve_ has the same -meaning as _dissolve_; and so in Lyly's "Euphues and his England," -p. 38: "I could be content to _resolve_ myselfe into teares to rid thee -of trouble." - -Marlowe, as quoted in "England's Parnassus," 1600, p. 480 [see Dyce's -"Marlowe," iii., 301], uses it in the same way-- - - "No molten Christall but a Richer mine, - Euen natures rarest alchumie ran there, - Diamonds _resolu'd_, and substance more diuine. - Through whose bright gliding current might appeare - A thousand naked Nymphes, whose yuorie shine, - Enameling the bankes, made them more deare - Then euer was that glorious Pallas gate. - Where the day-shining sunne in triumph sate." - -See also Shakespeare's "Hamlet," act i. sc. 2, and Mr Steevens's note -on it. - -[58] _To quail_, is to _languish, to sink into dejection_. So in -Churchyard's "Challenge," 24-- - - "Where malice sowes, the seedes of wicked waies, - Both honor _quailes_, and credit crackes with all: - Of noblest men, and such as fears no fall." - -See also Mr Steevens's notes on the "First Part of Henry IV.," act iv. -sc. 2, and "Cymbeline," act v. sc. 5. - -[Had the writer this passage in his mind when he wrote the well-known -lines on Shakespeare, "What need my Shakespeare," &c., which occur in -the folio of 1632?] - -[59] [The second Chorus to leave off abruptly with this word, the third -Chorus taking up the narrative.] - -[60] A compliment to Queen Elizabeth.--_S.P_. - -It was, as Mr Steevens observes, no uncommon thing to introduce a -compliment to Queen Elizabeth in the body of a play. See "Midsummer's -Night's Dream," act ii. sc. 2. See also "Locrine," act v. sc. last. - -[61] Probably Henry Noel, younger brother to Sir Andrew Noel, and one of -the gentlemen pensioners to Queen Elizabeth; a man, says Wood, of -excellent parts, and well skilled in music. See "Fasti," p. 145. A poem, -entitled, "Of disdainful Daphne," by M[aster] H. Nowell, is printed in -"England's Helicon," 1600, 4to. The name of Mr Henry Nowell also appears -in the list of those lords and gentlemen that ran at a tilting before -Queen Elizabeth. See Peele's "Polyhymnia," 1590. - -"I cannot here let pass unremembered a worthy gentleman, Master Henry -Noel, brother to the said Sir Andrew Noel, one of the gentlemen -pensioners [see Peck's "Life of Milton," p. 225, for the Gentlemen -Pensioners.] to Queen Elizabeth; a man for personage, parentage, grace, -gesture, valour, and many excellent parts, inferior to none of his rank -in the court; who, though his lands and livelihoods were but small, -having nothing known certain but his annuity and his pension, yet in -state, pomp, magnificence and expenses, did equalise barons of great -worth. If any shall demand whence this proceeded, I must make answer -with that Spanish proverb-- - - '_Aquello qual vienne de arriba ninguno lo pregunta_.' - 'That which cometh from above let no one question.' - -"This is the man of whom Queen Elizabeth made this enigmatical distich-- - - 'The word of denial, and letter of fifty, - Is that gentleman's name that will never be thrifty.' - -He, being challenged (as I have heard) by an Italian gentleman at the -_baloune_ (a kind of play with a great ball tossed with wooden braces -upon the arm), used therein such violent motion, and did so overheat his -blood, that he fell into a calenture, or burning fever, and thereof -died, Feb. 26, 1596, and was by her majesty's appointment buried in the -abbey church of Westminster, in the chapel of St Andrew."--_Benton in -Nichols's "Leicestershire_," vol. iii. p. 249. - -Henry Noel was the second son of Sir Edward Noel, of Dalby, by his -second wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of William Hopton, of ----, -Shropshire, relict of Sir John Peryent, Knt.--Ibid. 254.--_Gilchrist_. - -[62] In the former edition, the word _denay'd_ was altered to the more -modern one of _deny'd_. _Denay'd_, however, was the ancient manner of -spelling it. So in the "Second Part of Henry VI.," act i. sc. 3-- - - "Then let him be _denay'd_ the regentship." - -Again, in the "First Part of Jeronimo," 1605-- - - "And let not wonted fealty be _denayed_." - -And in "Gammer Gurton's Needle"-- - - "Loke, as I have promised, I will not _denay_ it." - ---_Collier_. - -[63] _Prease_ signifies _a crowd or multitude, or any assemblage of a -number of persons_. So in "Damon and Pithias," vol. iv., pp. 49, 53-- - - "The King is at hand, stand close in _the prease_, beware," &c. - -And ibid.-- - - "Away from the prisoner, what a _prease_ have we here!" - -Again, in the "History of Euordanus Prince of Denmark," 1605, sig. H: -"The Prince passing forwards sorely shaken, having lost both his -stirrups: at length recovering himselfe, entred _the prease_, where on -all sides he beate downe knights, and unbarred helms." - -[It must be repeated, once for all, that such totally unnecessary notes -as this have been retained only from a reluctance to impart to these -volumes the character of an abridged or mutilated republication.] - -[64] [Draweth.] - -[65] _Raught_ is the ancient preterite of the word _reach_. It is -frequently used by Spenser, Shakespeare, and other ancient writers. - -[66] [Old copy, _where her_.] - -[67] [Reward.] - -[68] Alluding to the vulture that gnawed the liver of Titius. In "Ferrex -and Porrex," act ii. sc. 1, is this line-- - - "Or cruell gripe to gnaw my groaning hart." - ---_Reed_. The allusion is rather to the vulture of Prometheus. ---Steevens. - -[69] _Vipeream inspirans animam_. The image is from Virgil. Rowe -likewise adopts it in his "Ambitious Stepmother"-- - - "And send a _snake_ to every vulgar breast."--_Steevens_. - -[70] i.e., The wretch. The word _miser_ was anciently used without -comprehending any idea of avarice. See note on "King Henry VI, Part I.," -edit. of Shakespeare, 1778, vol. vi. p. 279.--_Steevens_. - -[71] "A _stoop_, or _stowp_; a post fastened in the earth, from the -Latin _stupa_."--Ray's "North Country Words," p. 58, edit. 1742. - -[72] Not that she is careful or anxious about, or regrets the loss of -this life. So in Milton's "Paradise Lost," Bk. ix. line 171-- - - "Revenge at first though sweet, - Bitter ere long back on itself recoils; - Let it; _I reck not_, so it light well aim'd." - -And again, in the "History of Sir John Oldcastle," 1600-- - - "I _reck_ of death the less in that I die, - Not by the sentence of that envious priest." - -[73] Petrarch and Laura. - -[74] These initials were almost unquestionably intended for Christopher -Hatton, afterwards knighted and created Lord Chancellor of England. In -the fourth year of Queen Elizabeth, 1562, about six years before this -play is supposed to have been written, we learn from Dugdale's "Origines -Juridiciales," p. 150, a magnificent Christmas was kept in the Inner -Temple, at which her majesty was present, and Mr Hatton was appointed -Master of the Game. Historians say he owed his rise, not so much to his -mental abilities, as to the graces of his person and his excellence in -dancing, which captivated the Queen to such a degree, that he arose -gradually from one of her Gentlemen Pensioners to the highest employment -in the law, which he, however, filled without censure, supplying his own -defects by the assistance of the ablest men in the profession. _The -grave Lord Keeper_, after his promotion, still retained his fondness for -that accomplishment to which he was indebted for his rise, _and led the -Brawls_ almost until his death. In 1589, on the marriage of his heir -with Judge Gawdy's daughter, "the Lord Chancellor danced the measures at -the solemnity, and left his gown on the chair, saying _Lie there, -Chancellor_." His death, which happened two years after, was hastened by -an unexpected demand of money from the Queen, urged in so severe a -manner, that all the kindness she afterwards showed to him was -insufficient to remove the impression it had made on him. See Birch's -"Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth." vol. i. pp. 8, 56, [and Nicolas's "Life of -Hatton," p. 478.] - -[75] Dryden's translation of Boccaccio's "Description of the Cave" is as -follows:-- - - "Next the proud palace of Salerno stood - A Mount of rough ascent, and thick with wood. - Through this a cave was dug with vast expence: - The work it seem'd of some suspicious prince, - Who, when abusing power with lawless might, - From public justice would secure his flight. - The passage made by many a winding way, - Reach'd even the room in which the tyrant lay. - Fit for his purpose on a lower floor, - He lodged, whose issue was an iron door; - From whence by stairs descending to the ground. - In the blind grot a safe retreat he found. - Its outlet ended in a brake o'ergrown - With brambles, choak'd by time, and now unknown. - A rift there was, which from the mountain's height - Convey'd a glimm'ring and malignant light, - A breathing place to draw the damps away, - A twilight of an intercepted day." - ---"Sigismonda and Guiscardo." Dryden's Works, vol. iii. p. 251. - -[76] See Milton's "Paradise Lost," Bk. i. l. 60. - -[77] _Fetters_ or _chains_. So in Beaumont and Fletcher's "Beggar's -Bush," act iii. sc. 4-- - - "_Gyves_ I must wear, and cold must be my comfort." - -Marston's "What You Will," act ii. sc. 1-- - - "Think'st thou a libertine, _an ungiv'd_ beast, - Scornes not the shackles of thy envious clogs?" - -Milton's "Samson Agonistes," l. 1092-- - - "Dost thou already single me? I thought - _Gyves_ and the mill had tam'd thee." - -See Dr Newton's note on the last passage; and Mr Steevens's note on -"First Part of Henry IV.," act iv. sc. 3. - -[78] _Amate_ is to daunt or confound. Skinner, in his "Etymologicon," -explains it thus: "Perterrefacere, Attonitum reddere, Obstupefacere, -mente consternare, Consilii inopem reddere." So in "Thule or Vertue's -Historic," by Francis Rous, 1598, sig. B-- - - "At last with violence and open force. - They brake the posternes of the Castle gate, - And entred spoyling all without remorce, - Nor could old Sobrin now resist his fate, - But stiffe with feare ev'n like a senceles corse - Whom grisly terror doth so much _amate_, - He lyes supine upon his fatall bed. - Expecting ev'ry minute to be dead." - -Again, Ibid., sig. D-- - - "He would forsake his choyse, and change his fate, - And leave her quite, and so procure her woe, - Faines that a sudden grief doth her _amate_, - Wounded with piercing sicknes' Ebon bow." - -[79] Astonished. So in "Euphues and his England," p. 102--"Philautus, -_astonied_ at this speech," &c. And again, in the "Fable of Jeronimi," -by G. Gascoigne, p. 209: "When Ferdinando (somewhat _astonied_ with hir -strange speech) thus answered." And in "Thieves Falling Out," &c., 1615, -by Rob. Greene: "The gentleman, _astonied_ at this strange metamorphosis -of his mistress." - -[80] _Sprent_ is sprinkled. So in Spenser's "Shepherd's Calendar," -December-- - - "My head _besprent_ with hoary frost I find." - -And Fairfax's "Tasso," cant. xii. st. 101-- - - "His silver locks with dust he foul _besprent_." - -Again in Milton's "Comus," l. 542-- - - "Of knot grass dew _besprent_." - -[81] Harbour. - -[82] Old copy, _hasteth_. - -[83] Habiliments, _S.P_. - -[84] Unrevenged. [The more correct form would be _unwroken_.] So in Ben -Jonson's "Every Man out of his Humour," act ii. sc. 4-- - - "Would to heaven, - In _wreak_ of my misfortunes, I were turn'd - To some fair water nymph." - -In "Sejanus his Fall," act iv.-- - - "Made to speak - What they will have to fit their tyrannous _wreak_." - -In Massinger's "Fatal Dowry," act iv. sc. 4-- - - "But there's a heaven above, from whose just _wreak_ - No mists of policy can hide offenders." - -In his "Very Woman," act i. - - "And our just _wreak_, by force or cunning practice - With scorn prevented." - -See also Mr Steevens's note on "Coriolanus," act iv. sc. 5. "Moriamur -_in ultae_?"--Virgil's "Aeneid," lib. iv.--_Steevens_. - -[85] Sorrow. Again, act v. sc. 3-- - - "His death, her woe, and her avenging _teen_." - -And in Shakespeare's "Venus and Adonis"-- - - "More I could tell, but more I dare not say, - The text is old, the orator too green. - Therefore in sadness now I will away, - My face is full of shame, my heart of _teen_." - -[86] Old copy, _but hell_. - -[87] _Untrimmed locks_ are locks dishevelled or undressed. _Trim_, in -the language of the times, was frequently used for dress. So in -Massinger's "Emperor of the East," act ii. sc. 1-- - - "Our Eastern queens, at their full height bow to thee, - And are, in their best _trim_, thy foils and shadows." - -See also Mr Steevens's note on "King John," act iii. sc. 3. - -[88] Alluding to a custom of which mention is made in Genesis, chap. -xxiv. 9--"And the servant put his _hand_ under the _thigh_ of Abraham -his master, and _sware_ to him concerning that matter." The same form -was likewise observed by Jacob and Joseph when they were dying. Some -mystery is supposed to be couched under this practice. The most -probable, at least the most decent, supposition is, that it was a token -of subjection or homage from a servant to his lord, when the former -solemnly promised to perform whatever should be commanded by the -latter.--_Steevens_. - -[89] The following account of Lodge and his works is very imperfect. -See the Shakespeare Society volume, 1853, containing much fuller -particulars. - -[90] In the "Epistle of England to her Three Daughters," in Clarke's -"Polimanteia," 1595, Lodge is spoken of as belonging to Oxford. ---_Collier_. - -[91] Mr Malone ("Shakespeare," by Boswell, iii. 40, note 9) says that it -was printed about 1580; but Lodge himself, writing in 1584, speaks of -Gosson's "Plays Confuted," as written "about two years since." - -[92] "Scilla's Metamorphosis," 1589; "Diogenes in his Singularity," -1591; and "A Fig for Momus," 1595, are all stated to be by T.L., or -Thomas Lodge, of Lincoln's Inn, Gentleman. - -[93] A French sonnet by Thomas Lodge is prefixed to Robert Greene's -"Spanish Masquerado." He has also some French verses in "Rosalynde." - -[94] The lines upon Lodge in "The Return from Parnassus," 1606, would -show that it did occur:-- - - "He that turns over Galen every day, - To sit and simper 'Euphues' Legacy,'" &c. - ---_Collier_. - -[95] Afterwards purchased by Mr Collier. - -[96] [This does not appear quite to follow. In a poem, "Upon London -Physicians," written about 1620, and quoted in "Inedited Poetical -Miscellanies," edit. Hazlitt, 1870, sig. Ff 5, he is mentioned in the -same way, without any reference to his literary repute or performances.] -It is to be observed in the list of Lodge's productions, that there is -an interval between 1596, when "Wit's Misery and the World's Madness" -appeared, and 1603, when the "Treatise of the Plague" was published. - -[97] Others have been attributed to him in conjunction with Greene, but -on no sufficient evidence--viz., "Lady Alimony," not printed until 1659; -"The Laws of Nature," and "The Contention between Liberality and -Prodigality," 1602. - -[98] [Reprinted in Mr Dyce's editions of Greene's Works, 1831 and 1861.] -Henslowe probably alludes to this play in his MSS., and if so, it was -acted as early as 1591. The following is the entry: "R. (i.e., received) -at _the Looking Glasse_, the 8th of Marche, 1591, vij s." [See Mr -Collier's edit. 1845, pp. 23-8.] - -[99] [Here follows in the former edition a list of Lodge's works, which -will be found more fully and correctly given in Hazlitt's "Handbook," -in _v_.] - -[100] In the course of the incidents of this historical tragedy, Lodge -has very much followed the lives of Marius and Sylla, as given by -Plutarch: he was a scholar, and it was not necessary therefore for him -to resort to Sir Thomaa North's translation from the French, of which -Shakespeare availed himself, and of which there were many editions -subsequent to its first appearance in 1579. It is pretty evident, -however, from a comparison of a few passages quoted in the notes in the -progress of the play, that Lodge did employ this popular work, although -he has varied some of the events, and especially the death of Sylla. - -It is not, perhaps, possible now to settle the point when this tragedy -was first represented on the stage, but it was most likely some time -before its publication in 1594. We know that Lodge had written in -defence of the stage before 1582, and it is not unlikely that he did so, -because he had already written for it. Robert Greene, in his "Groat's -worth of Wit," speaks of Lodge as a dramatic poet in 1592; and the -comedy which they wrote together, it is ascertained, was acted in March -1591, if not earlier, although it was not printed until three years -afterwards. The versification of "The Wounds of Civil War" certainly -affords evidence that it was penned even before Marlowe had improved the -measure of dramatic blank verse, which Shakespeare perfected: it is -heavy, monotonous, and without the pauses subsequently introduced; if -therefore Lodge produced it after Marlowe's "Edward II." was brought -out, he did not at least profit by the example. All the unities are set -at defiance. - -[101] The "consul's pall" is the consul's robe. Thus Milton in -"Il Penseroso"-- - - "Let gorgeous Tragedy - In scepter'd _pall_ come sweeping by." - -Purple _pall_ is very commonly met with in our old writers. - -[102] "Sylla _nill_ brook" is "Sylla _ne will_, or will not brook." -Shakespeare uses the word. See Mr Steevens's note, "Taming of the -Shrew," act ii. sc. 1. - -[103] "But specially one day above the rest, having made him sup with -him at his table, some one after supper falling in talke of Captaines -that were in Rome at that time, one that stood by Scipio asked him -(either because he stood in doubt, or else for that he would curry -favour with Scipio), what other Captaine the Romanes should have after -his death, like unto him? Scipio having Marius by him, gently clapped -him upon the shoulders and said, Peradventure this shall be he." ---_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[104] [Old copy, _into_.] - -[105] [Old copy, _shall_, and so in the next line.] - -[106] It is doubtful whether we ought to read _impale_ or _impall_. -If the latter, it means to enfold with a _pall_; but Cleveland uses -_impale_ in the same sense-- - - "I now _impale_ her in my arms." - -This, however, is rather a forced construction. - -[107] [Old copy, _spence_.] This may mean "the _expense_ of years that -Marius hath o'erpast," or it may be an easy misprint for "space of -years." Either may be right. - -[108] [Old copy, _mate_.] - -[109] [Old copy, _conservatives_.] - -[110] "To _bandy_ a ball" Coles defines _clava pilam torquere_; "to -bandy at tennis," "Dict." 1679. See Mr Malone's note on "Lear," act i. -sc. 4. - -[111] _Prest_ for Asia, is ready for Asia. It is almost unnecessary to -multiply instances, but the following is very apposite:-- - - "Dispisde, disdainde, starvde, whipt and scornd, - _Prest_ through dispaire myself to quell." - ---R. Wilson's "Cobbler's Prophecy," 1594, sig. C4. - -[112] Lodge and other writers not unfrequently use the adjective for the -substantive: thus, in "The Discontented Satyre:"-- - - "Blush, daies eternal lampe, to see thy lot, - Since that thy _cleere_ with cloudy _darkes_ is scar'd." - -[113] The quarto has the passage thus-- - - "These peers of Rome have mark'd - A rash revenging _hammer_ in thy brain;" - -which seemed so decidedly wrong as to warrant the change that, without -much violence, has been made. - -[114] _Guerdon_ is synonymous with _reward_. It is scarcely yet -obsolete. - -[115] Old copy, _hammer_. - -[116] Vengeance. - -[117] Scarce. It is found in Spenser. Robert Greene also uses it-- - - "It was frosty winter season, - And fair Flora's wealth was _geason_." - ---"Philomela," 1592. Again, we find it in the tragical comedy of "Appius -and Virginia," 1575--"Let my counsel at no time lie with you _geason,_" -sig. D. [vol. iv. p. 138]. - -[118] Open them. - -[119] Old copy, _what_. - -[120] The meaning of "would _amate_ me so," is, would daunt or confound -me so. See note to "Tancred and Gismunda" [_suprâ_, p. 79], where -instances are given. - -[121] Mr Steevens, in a note on the "Comedy of Errors," act ii. sc. 1, -has collected a number of quotations to show the meaning of the word -_stale_, and to them the reader is referred. In this place it signifies -a false allurement, bait, or deception on the part of fortune. - -[122] The barbarous jargon put into the mouth of this Frenchman is given -in the orthography of the old copy, since it was vain to attempt -correction. - -[123] "Now when they were agreed upon it, they could not find a man in -the city that durst take upon him to kill him; but a man of armes of the -Gaules, or one of the Cimbres (for we find both the one and the other in -writing) that went thither with his sword drawn in his hand. Now that -place of the chamber where Marius lay was very dark, and, as it is -reported, the man of armes thought he saw two burning flames come out of -Marius's eyes, and heard a voice out of that dark corner, saying unto -him: O fellow, thou, darest thou come to kill Caius Marius? The -barbarous Gaule, hearing these words, ran out of the chamber presently." ---_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[124] "For when he was but very young, and dwelling in the country, he -gathered up in the lap of his gowne the ayrie of an eagle, in the which -were seven young eagles; whereat his father and mother much wondering, -asked the soothsayers what that meant? They answered that their sonne -should one day be one of the greatest men in the world, and that out of -doubt he should obtain seven times in his life the chiefest office of -dignity in his country."--_North's Plutarch, "Life of Caius Marius_." - -[125] The old quarto divides the play very irregularly; for according to -it there are two Acts iii. and two Acts iv. One of the Acts iii. was -made to commence here. - -[126] Necessarily or unavoidably. - -[127] Old copy, _Picaeo_. - -[128] Old copy, metals. - -[129] An early instance of an echo of this kind upon the stage is to be -found in Peele's "Arraignment of Paris," 1584. Mr D'Israeli has an -entertaining essay upon them in his "Curiosities of Literature," second -series. They were carried to a most ridiculous excess afterwards. - -[130] The old spelling of _than_ was _then_, and this must be observed -here. The echo is supposed to encourage Marius again to take up arms-- - - "Nought better fits old Marius' mind than war." - -And the reply of the echo is, "Then war," or then go to war. - -[131] This passage is quoted by Mr Steevens in a note on "Hamlet," -act v. sc. 1, to show that "the winter's _flaw_" there spoken of means -"the winter's _blast_." - -[132] Old copy, Distia. - -[133] _Dreariment_ is not so frequently met in any of our old writers -as Spenser: I do not recollect it in any play before. It requires no -explanation. - -[134] Old copy, _coffer_. - -[135] Old copy, _Marius live_. - -[136] _Lozel_ is always used as a term of contempt, and means a -worthless fellow. - -[137] Old copy, _have_. - -[138] Old copy, _And_. - -[139] Old copy, _consist_. - -[140] We have before had Pedro the Frenchman, or rather the _Gaul_, -according to Plutarch (though why he is called by the Spanish name of -Pedro, we know not), employed to murder Marius, swearing _Par le sang de -Dieu, Notre Dame_, and _Jesu_: and towards the close of the play, where -a couple of ludicrous characters are introduced, "to mollify the -vulgar," the "_Paul's steeple_ of honour" is talked of. Such -anachronisms, however gross, are common to all the dramatists of that -day. Shakespeare is notoriously full of them; and all must remember the -discussion between Hamlet and his friend regarding the children of -Paul's and of the Queen's chapel. - -[141] Shakespeare and many other writers of the time use this form of -_fetch_: thus in "Henry V." act iii. sc. 1-- - - "On, on, you noble English, - Whose blood is _fet_ from fathers of war-proof." - -[142] _Glozing_ and _flattering_ are synonymous: perhaps to _gloze_, or, -as it is sometimes spelt, to _glose_, is the same word as to _gloss_. It -is common in Milton in the sense that it bears in the text. - -[143] [i.e., Pinky eyne or pink (small) eyes.] See Mr Steevens's note -on the song in "Anthony and Cleopatra," beginning-- - - "Come, thou monarch of the vine, - Plumpy Bacchus, with _pink_ eyne." - -[144] This incident is founded upon a passage in Plutarch's "Life of -Caius Marius," only in that author the man with the wine discloses where -Anthony is concealed to the drawer, of whom he gets the wine, and not to -the soldiers. - -[145] The meaning of to _assoil_ is to absolve (see note 4 to "The -Adventurers of Five Hours"), from the Latin _absolvere_; but here it -signifies to _resolve_ or _remove_ doubts. Thus in a passage quoted by -Mr Todd-- - -"For the _assoiling_ of this difficulty, I lay down these three -propositions."--Mede, _Rev. of God's House_. - -The word is frequently to be met with in Spenser in the sense of to -discharge, or set free. - -[146] In _doly_ season is in melancholy or wintry season: an adjective -formed from _dole_, and with the same meaning as _doleful_. - -[147] The death of Anthony is thus related in North's Plutarch, "Life of -Marius"-- - -"But he (Marius) sent Annius one of his captaines thither ... and when -they were come to the house which the drawer had brought them to, Annius -taried beneath at the doore, and the souldiers went up the staiers into -the chamber, and finding Anthonie there, they began to encourage one -another to kill him, not one of them having the heart to lay hands upon -him. For Anthonies tongue was as sweet as a Syrene, and had such an -excellent grace in speaking, that when he began to speake unto the -souldiers and to pray them to save his life, there was not one of them -so hard-hearted as once to touch him, no not onely to looke him in the -face, but looking downewards fell a weeping. Annius perceiving they -taried long and came not downe, went himself up into the chamber and -found Anthonie talking to his souldiers, and them weeping, his sweete -eloquent tongue had so melted their hearts: but he, rating them, ran -furiously upon him and strake off his head with his owne hands." - -[148] Shakespeare's commentators might have added this passage to the -long list of others they have brought forward (see note on "Othello," -act i. sc. 3), to show that _intention_ and _attention_, and _intentive_ -and _attentive_, were once, synonymous. - -[149] This expression is also introduced by Lodge into his "Rosalynde," -1590, though probably this play was written first-- - - "With sad and sorry cheer - About her wond'ring stood - The _citizens of the wood_." - -Shakespeare calls deer in "As You Like It" citizens, and elsewhere, -"native burghers of this desert city." - -The author of "Fuimus Troes" goes farther, and calls the blessed souls -in heaven _citizens_-- - - "Then shall I - Envy no more those _citizens_ above - The ambrosian juncates of the Olympian hall." - -[150] Old copy, _arm_. - -[151] The name of _Carbo_ is accidently omitted before this reply in -the quarto. - -[152] Old copy misplaces the words _break_ and _bend_; the alteration -here made was suggested by Mr Collier. - -[153] i.e., With a _withy_, or twig of willow. - -[154] Old copy, _the ravens_. - -[155] The quarto reads: "Enter Scipio and Norbanus, Publius Lentulus," -but the latter has nothing to do with the scene, while Carinna is -omitted. - -[156] Old copy, _heedless_. - -[157] It is very common for Shakespeare and his contemporaries to use -the word _pretend_ for intend. See notes to "The Two Gentlemen of -Verona," act ii. sc. 6. - -[158] In his "Life of Marius," Plutarch states that this event occurred -at Perusia, and that Young Marius was besieged there by Sylla; but in -his "Life of Sylla" he corrects the error, and informs us that Young -Marius was besieged by Lucretius, and that he slew himself at Praeneste. - -[159] _Jest_ was used by our ancestors in various senses, but here it -means a deed or action only; thus Sir T. Elyot, as Mr Todd notes, speaks -of "the _jests_ or acts of princes and captains." In fact, this is the -general signification of the term, though it has sometimes a more -particular application. _Gest_ and _jest_ are the same word, though now -and then distinguished. - -[160] Old copy, _floats_. - -[161] Old copy, _lo_. - -[162] Old copy, _yea_. By _She_ Sylla must be understood to refer to -Fate, whom he has just mentioned. - -[163] [Old copy, _while_.] - -[164] i.e., _Verse_. - -[165] See vol. iv. p. 80, respecting the _razors of Palermo.--Collier_. -[Mr Collier's suggested retention of _shave_, the reading of the old -copy, I cannot support.] - -[166] "_Phlegon's_ hot breath" is mentioned in "Fuimus Troes;" one of -the horses of the sun was so named. - -[167] [Old copy, _fairs_.] - -[168] From the edition of 1610. It is not in the first 4°. - -[169] In the edition of 1610 the number of performers is raised to ten. -The two additional characters are the _King of Valentia_ and _Anselmo_. - -[170] Perhaps the earliest instance of the use of this expression, as to -which see "Old English Jest-Books," 1864, iii.; "Pleasant Conceits of -Old Hobson," Introd. - -[171] [The 4° of 1610 makes Tremelio enter here; but he does not appear -to come on till afterwards.] - -[172] [Old copies, _Catalone, a_.] - -[173] [Old copies, _Oh_.] - -[174] Old copies, hardly I did oft. - -[175] Old copies, _on_. - -[176] Edit. 1598, _Therefore to_. Edit. 1610, _There for to_. - -[177] Edit. 1598 and 1610, _hath forget_. - -[178] Edits, transpose the two commencing words of this line, and the -first word of the preceding one. - -[179] Edits., _say_. - -[180] Anticipated. Old copies read _we_ for _me_. - -[181] Old copy, _are_ - -[182] Old copies, _her_. - -[183] Edit. 1610, _attend_. - -[184] Edit. 1610, _axe_. - -[185] Old copies, _his_. - -[186] Edit. 1598, _Wily_; edit. 1610, _wilde_. - -[187] Old copies, _his Bremo_. - -[188] Edits., _ah, hermit_! - -[189] Edits., _fair lady_. - -[190] Edits., _this is_. - -[191] In the old copies there is here a direction, _He disguiseth -himself_, which appears wrong, as Mucedorus is already disguised, and -what he next does is, in fact, to discover himself. - -[192] Edits., _none, none, no_. - -[193] Edit. 1620, _sacred_. - -[194] Old copies, _look_. - -[195] Edit. 1598, _paled_; 1106, _pallade_. - -[196] Edit. 1610, _strike_. - -[197] After this line, in the edition of 1610, occurs the following -substitution for the lines in edit. 1598, beginning "Ho, lords," and -concluding with "Exeunt omnes:"-- - - Were but thy father, the Valentia lord, - Present in view of this combining knot. - - _A shout within. Enter a_ MESSENGER. - - What shout was that? - - MESSENGER. My lord, the great Valentia king, - Newly arrived, entreats your presence. - - MUCEDORUS. My father? - - KING OF ARRAGON. Prepared welcomes; give him entertainment. - A happier planet never reigned than that, - Which governs at this hour. - - [_Sound_. - - _Enter the_ KING OF VALENTIA, ANSELMO, RODRIGO, BARCHEUS, - _with others_; _the_ KING _runs and embraces his son_. - - KING OF VALENTIA. Rise, honour of my age, food to my rest: - Condemn not (mighty King of Arragon) - My rude behaviour, so compell'd by Nature, - That manner stood unknowledged. - - KING OF ARRAGON. What we have to recite would tedious prove - By declaration; therefore in and feast. - To-morrow the performance shall explain, - What words conceal; till then, drums, speak, bells, ring: - Give plausive welcomes to our brother king. - - [_Sound drums and trumpets. Exeunt omnes_. - -[198] [In the edition of 1610, the conclusion, from this line, is so -different, that the best mode appeared to be to give it at the foot of -the page:-- - - COMEDY. Envy, spit thy gall; - Plot, work, contrive; create new fallacies; - Team from thy womb each minute a black traitor, - Whose blood and thoughts have twin conception: - Study to act deeds yet unchronicled; - Cast native monsters in the moulds of men; - Case vicious devils under sancted rochets; - Unhasp the wicket, where all perjureds roost, - And swarm this ball with treasons. Do thy worst; - Thou canst not (hell-hound) cross my star[A] to-night. - [A] [Old copy, _steare_.] - Nor blind that glory, where I wish delight. - - ENVY. I can. I will. - - COMEDY. Nefarious hag, begin; - And let us tug, till one the mast'ry win. - - ENVY. Comedy, thou art a shallow goose; - I'll overthrow thee in thine own intent, - And make thy fall my comic merriment. - - COMEDY. Thy policy wants gravity; thou art too weak. - Speak, fiend. As how? - - ENVY. Why thus; - From my foul study will I hoist a wretch, - A lean and hungry negro [Old copy, _neagre_.] cannibal: - Whose jaws swell to his eyes with chawing malice, - And him I'll make a poet. - - COMEDY. What's that to th'purpose? - - ENVY. This scrambling raven, with his needy beard, - Will I whet on to write a comedy, - Wherein shall be compos'd dark sentences, - Pleasing to factious brains: - And every other where place me a jest. - Whose high abuse shall more torment than blows. - Then I myself (quicker than lightning), - Will fly me to a puissant magistrate, - And waiting with a trencher at his back, - In midst of jollity rehearse those galls [Old copy, _gaules_.] - (With some additions) so lately vented in your theatre: - He upon this cannot but make complaint, - To your great danger, or at least restraint. - - COMEDY. Ha, ha, ha! I laugh to hear thy folly; - This is a trap for boys, not men, nor such, - Especially desertful in their doings, - Whose staid discretion rules their purposes. - I and my faction do eschew those vices. - But see, O see, the weary sun for rest - Hath lain his golden compass to the west, - Where he perpetual bide and ever shine, - As David's offspring in his happy clime. - Stoop, Envy, stoop, bow to the earth with me, - Let's beg our pardons on our bended knee. [_They kneel_. - - ENVY. My power has lost her might; Envy's date's expired, - Yon splendant majesty hath fell'd my sting, - And I amazed am. [_Fall down and quake_. - - COMEDY. Glorious and wise Arch-Caesar on this earth, - At whose appearance Envy's stroken dumb, - And all bad things cease operation, - Vouchsafe to pardon our unwilling error, - So late presented to your gracious view, - And we'll endeavour with excess of pain - To please your senses in a choicer strain, - Thus we commit you to the arms of night, - Whose spangled carcase would (for your delight) - Strive to excel the day. Be blessed then: - Who other wishes, let him never speak. - - ENVY. Amen! - To Fame and Honour we commend your rest; - Live still more happy, every hour more blest. - - FINIS.] - -[199] To the edition printed in the Percy Society's Series. - -[200] The old spelling has now been abandoned. - -[201] For these I am indebted to the kindness of Mr J.P. Collier, who is -now editing "Henslowe's Diary" for the Shakespeare Society. The portions -of it which were published by Malone are very incorrectly given. - -[202] _Book_ in these entries means play. - -[203] This entry is struck through, the money having been repaid. - -[204] This entry is in Porter's own handwriting. - -[205] "Spec. of Engl. Dram. Poets," ii. 185, edit. 1835. - -[206] See Hazlitt's "Popular Poetry," iv, 38-40. - -[207] Second edit., _Welcome then_. - -[208] From the second edit. Not in first edit. - -[209] Prospects, views, scenes in sight; a meaning of the word which is -found in much later writers. - -[210] So second edit. First edit. _he_. - -[211] Absolute, perfect, [or rather, perhaps, pure.] - -[212] Read, for the metre, _He will_. - -[213] So second edit. First edit., _to_. - -[214] The audience were to suppose that the stage now represented an -orchard; for be it remembered that there was no movable painted scenery -in the theatres at the time when this play was produced. - -[215] Second edit., _rubber_, but the other form is common in our old -writers. - -[216] [So second edit.] Equivalent to be hanged. - -[217] Second edit., _woman_, which is probably right; see two passages -farther on, in one of which both editions have _woman_. - -[218] Gold coins. The words give occasion to innumerable puns in our -early dramas. - -[219] Read, for the metre, _here is_ - -[220] Second edit., _woman_: see note [217]. - -[221] A term of the game. - -[222] Edits., _better_,--the eye of the original compositor having -caught the word above. - -[223] A term of the game. - -[224] i.e. _Hit_. - -[225] Here, probably, Mistress Goursey should make her exit. - -[226] i.e., We cannot help it. - -[227] So second edit. First edit., _Afford_. - -[228] The author probably wrote, "_I_ do _impart_:" compare the next -line. - -[229] [Old copies, _tick_.] - -[230] i.e., Taught her to tread the ring,--to perform various movements -in different directions within a ring marked out on a piece of ground: -see Markham's "Cheap and Good Husbandry," &c. p. 18, sqq. edit. 1631. - -[231] [_Campagne_.] A form of _campaign_ common in our early writers. - -[232] i.e., Wilt thou wear, &c.: _point_ means one of the tagged laces -which were used in dress to attach the hose or breeches to the doublet, -&c. - -[233] So second edit. First edit., _th'art_. - -[234] [Old copies read _when_.] - -[235] So second edit. First edit., _in the_. - -[236] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[237] [Meaning a tavern of that name.] - -[238] Sheathe your sword. - -[239] Edits., _me_. - -[240] [Old copy, _He's_.] Read, for the metre, _He is_. - -[241] i.e., Quality, disposition. - -[242] [Old copies, _he'll_.] Read, for the metre, _he will_. - -[243] [Fine worsted.] - -[244] [Old copies, _his hat, and all green hat_.] - -[245] [Old copies, _indirect_.] - -[246] Edits., _vassailes_. - -[247] So second edit. First edit., _women's_. - -[248] Qy. _for an_? - -[249] [Old copies, _She's_.] Read, for the metre, _She is_. - -[250] A corruption of God's. - -[251] [Old copies, _pale_.] - -[252] Edits., _apprehend_, but certainly Mall had spoken with sufficient -plainness. - -[253] i.e., Nature. - -[254] So second edit. First edit., _nay_. - -[255] The common dress of a serving-man. - -[256] Edits., _you_, which, perhaps, is the right reading, some word -having dropp'd out after it. Qy. thus-- - - 'MRS BAR. Mistresse flurt, you _mean_, - Foule strumpet, light a loue, short heeles! Mistresse Goursey - Call her,' &c. - ---_Dyce_. [But _yea_ seems to be the more likely word.] - -[257] So second edit. First edit., _tell_. - -[258] i.e., Vile. - -[259] Edits., _forlorn_. - -[260] Qy., _Mother, he loves_? - -[261] So second edit. First edit., _the_. - -[262] So second edit. First edit., _Thaust_. - -[263] i.e., Refuse. - -[264] So second edit. First edit., _Gads_. - -[265] Edits., _His_. - -[266] Qy., _Franke_ he is _young_? Compare the preceding line but one. - -[267] i.e., By our lady. - -[268] i.e., Miserly persons. - -[269] The author probably wrote _neuer was_. - -[270] i.e., Honest men. - -[271] So second edit. First edit., _ma_. - -[272] [See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 128.] - -[273] So second edit. First edit., _faith in_. - -[274] Edits., _some_. - -[275] Edits., _treason_. - -[276] i.e., Vomits: a common pun in old dramas. - -[277] i.e., Easily. - -[278] Edits., _But_. - -[279] So second edit., First edit., _cehape_. - -[280] Read, for the metre, _He is_. - -[281] Equivalent to--poor, contemptible fellow: but I must leave the -reader to determine the exact meaning of this term of reproach. As -_pingle_ signifies a small croft, Nares (citing a passage from Lyly's -"Euphues") says that _pingler_ is "probably a labouring horse, kept by a -farmer in his homestead." "Gloss." in v.--In Brockett's "Gloss, of North -Country Words" is "_Pingle_, to work assiduously but inefficiently,--to -labour until you are almost blind." In Forby's "Vocab. of East Anglia" -we find, "_Pingle_, to pick one's food, to eat squeamishly:" and in -Moor's "Suffolk Words" is a similar explanation. See also Jamieson's -"Et. Dict. of Scott. Lang." - -[282] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[283] So second edit. First edit., _drinke_. - -[284] So second edit. First edit., _Nich_. - -[285] [This is probably intended to run into verse-- - - "For when a man doth to Rome come, - He must do as there is done."] - -[286] [Old copies, _crush_.] - -[287] A form of _digest_, common in our early writers. - -[288] [This emendation was suggested by Dyce.] - -[289] [Old copies, _shape_.] - -[290] So second edit. First edit., _fathers_. - -[291] So second edit. First edit., _than_. - -[292] Edits., _Franke_. - -[293] [Old copies, _boye yee_.] - -[294] [Old copies, _love capable to_.] - -[295] So second edit. First edit., _Maister_. - -[296] Some word most probably has dropped out from the line. -[Perhaps _not_.] - -[297] So second edit. First edit., _craft_. - -[298] A familiar term for the old English broadsword. - -[299] The sharp point in the centre of the buckler. - -[300] So second edit. First edit., _and_. - -[301] [Dyce proposed to read _ont_.] - -[302] i.e., Brave. - -[303] [Old copies, _strukst_.] - -[304] i.e., Manlike, masculine. - -[305] See note [218]. - -[306] i.e., The parson: _Sir_ was a title applied to clergymen. - -[307] See note [255]. - -[308] [A line appears to be lost here, probably ending with _selves_, as -the whole dialogue is in rhyme.] - -[309] i.e., Forester. - -[310] Seems to be used here for herd; an unusual meaning of the word. -[See Halliwell's "Diet." _v. Berry_, No. 3.] - -[311] So second edit. First edit. _me_. - -[312] So second edit. First edit. _th'_. - -[313] Edits. _he_. - -[314] So second edit. First edit. _thee_. - -[315] So second edit. First edit. _thorowly_. - -[316] See note [218]. - -[317] Swoon. - -[318] Read, for the metre, _she is_. - -[319] Edits., _wone_. - -[320] i.e., An _I_ of the Christ-cross row or alphabet. - -[321] A term of endearment, formed, perhaps, from _pink_, to wink, to -contract the eyelids. - -[322] Edits., _sower_. - -[323] i.e., A good whip (_whipstock_ is properly the stock or handle -of a whip). - -[324] A term of endearment, which often occurs in our early dramatists. - -[325] Edits., _patient_. - -[326] [Old copies, _thy_.] - -[327] So second edit. First edit., _cheesse_. - -[328] So second edit. First edit., _to_. - -[329] Read, for the metre, _Shee is_. - -[330] A recollection perhaps of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," -act iii. sc. 5-- - - "If I would the fool were married to her grave!" - -[331] i.e., Honest. - -[332] i.e., Deny. - -[333] Read, for the metre, _is it_. - -[334] So second edit. First edit., _mistrurst_. - -[335] Qy., _now I swear_: - -[336] Edits., _confederates_. - -[337] Occurs somewhat earlier in edits. (to warn the actors to be in -readiness for coming on the stage). - -[338] A well-known part of Oxford. "The principal street is the High -Street, running from Magdalen Bridge to Carfax Church," &c ---New Oxford Guide, p. 3, 8th edit. - -[339] i.e., Fine. - -[340] A common proverbial expression: "Beggars'-bush being a tree -notoriously known, on the left-hand of the London road, from Huntingdon -to Caxton." [Hazlitt'a "Proverbs," 1869, p. 401. See also pp. 82, 199.] - -[341] i.e., Refuse. - -[342] Is a common term for a small dagger, but here it seems to be used -in contempt; see the next speech of Coomes. - -[343] The origin of this corrupted oath is, I believe, unknown. - -[344] i.e., Rabbit-burrow. - -[345] i.e., Call me horse. - -[346] A not uncommon proverbial expression. Nares ("Gloss." in _v_.) -mentions three places which still retain the name--one between Oxford -and Banbury, another close to Stafford, the third near Shrewsbury. - -[347] i.e., Counsel, advice. - -[348] i.e., Vile. - -[349] So second edit. First edit., _upon_. - -[350] i.e., Till. - -[351] i.e., A kind of net for catching rabbits,--usually stretched -before their holes. - -[352] [The name of a popular game.] - -[353] So second edit. First edit., _do_. - -[354] i.e., A sucking, or young rabbit. - -[355] Vile. - -[356] So second edit. First edit., _you'r_. - -[357] Second edit., _wilt not_. - -[358] i.e., Honest. - -[359] Edits. _glimpes_ (the two last letters transposed by mistake.) - -[360] i.e., Gave notice of, discovered. - -[361] So second edit. First edit. _metamorphesie_. - -[362] So second edit. First edit. _these_. - -[363] So second edit. First edit. _'Sbloud_. - -[364] i.e., Nearer. - -[365] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[366] Qy. "_Sir Ralph Smith_, I know." - -[367] So second edit. These words are wanting in first edit. - -[368] This stage direction occurs somewhat earlier in edits. - -[369] I am not sure that this stage direction, which I have added, is -the right one. It would seem, however, that Sir Ralph Smith remains on -the stage, and is supposed not to overhear the dialogue which ensues -between Francis and Will. - -[370] Edits., _Sbloud_. - -[371] So second edit. First edit., _whench_. - -[372] Edits., _ask't_ and _aske_. - -[373] Read, for the metre, _It is_. - -[374] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[375] Qy., _order here_? - -[376] i.e., Nearer. - -[377] Perhaps he ought only to retire. - -[378] So second edit. First edit., _asgoe_. - -[379] [Old copies, _boye_.] - -[380] It would seem that something is wanting after this speech, unless -we are to suppose that here the Boy lies down and falls asleep, and that -he wakens on the second entrance of Hodge,--where, however, the edits. -distinctly mark "Enter Hodge _and Boy_"; see later: _Enter [severally]_ -HODGE _and_ BOY. - -[381] i.e., Excels. - -[382] So second edit. First edit. _clowdes_. - -[383] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[384] Second edit. _ye_. - -[385] Qy. Is this a stage direction crept into the text? - -[386] Second edit. _grope_. - -[387] Second edit. _so_. - -[388] [Old copies, _paint_.] - -[389] So second edit. First edit. _buze_. - -[390] Second edit. _lips_. - -[391] So second edit. First edit. _I have had a Pumpe set up, as good_. - -[392] i.e., (Perhaps) swore by our Lady of Walsingham, in Norfolk. - -[393] [The name of a game, though here used as a bye-word. See "Popular -Antiquities of Gr. Britain," ii. 341.] - -[394] So second edit. First edit., _Tripe-cheeke_. - -[395] i.e., Had I known the consequences; a common proverbial expression -of repentance. - -[396] See note [16]. - -[397] So second edit. First edit., _his_. - -[398] [Edits., _me_.] - -[399] Qy. a proverbial allusion to the famous Brazen-head? - -[400] So second edit. First edit., _breath_. - -[401] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[402] The hero of a popular German jest-book ("Eulenspiegel,") which was -translated into English at a very early period: see Gifford's note on -Jonson's "Works," iv. 60, and Nares' Gloss. in v. - -[403] [First 4º, _silly_.] - -[404] So second edit. First edit., _shew_. - -[405] i.e., Bauble. - -[406] Random. - -[407] [i.e., Coomes and Nicholas both retire to the back of the stage.] - -[408] Edits., _hap_. - -[409] i.e., Ill-will. - -[410] Second edit., _he a_; but _a_ is a common contraction for _he_. - -[411] So second edit. First edit., _tell_, - -[412] i.e., Blind-man's-buff. - -[413] So second edit. Not in first edit. - -[414] [Old copy, _thief_.] - -[415] i.e., (I suppose) Buoys. - -[416] [Old copy, _not envies fellon, not_.] - -[417] [Old copies, _what_.] - -[418] i.e., A dear lean and out of season. - -[419] i.e., The alphabet. - -[420] So second edit. First edit. _wandring_. - -[421] i.e., suffer, endure. Edits. _stole_. - -[422] So second edit. First edit. _Being_. - -[423] Read, for the metre, _it is_. - -[424] So second edit. First edit. _enforc'st_. - -[425] Read, for the metre, _wife is_. - -[426] So second edit. First edit. _same_. - -[427] Second edit. _you_. - -[428] So second edit. First edit. _weere_. - -[429] [Old edits., _carerie_.] - -[430] So second edit. First edit., _shrowdly_. - -[431] Second edit., _me_--wrongly, as appears from what follows. - -[432] Edits., _be_. - -[433] i.e., Ill-will. - -[434] i.e., Satisfy, convince. - -[435] Edits., _mindes_. - -[436] Qy., _you, mother_? - -[437] Read, for the metre, _she is_. - -[438] Something has dropt out here. - -[439] [Edits., _A little_.] - -[440] i.e., Vile. - -[441] i.e., The one. - -[442] [Old copies, _yond may help that come both together_.] - -[443] So second edit. First edit., _fileds_. - -[444] A common, familiar contraction of _mine uncle_. - -[445] Second edit., _fie_. - -[446] So second edit. First edit., _brings_. - -[447] i.e., _Traitor_ or _felon_. - -[448] i.e., Swoon. - -[449] Second edit., _fauours_. - -[450] So read for the metre. Old copies, _here's_. - -[451] See also Collier's "Hist. of Eng. Dramatic Poetry," i. 3. - -[452] See Dyce's "Shakespeare," 1868, ii. 2. - -[453] Not in the old copy. - -[454] [i.e., to Tyburn.] - -[455] [Old copy, _thee_.] - -[456] Old copy, _well a neere_. Well-a-year is an unusual phrase, _well_ -being corrupted from _wail_. "Well-a-day" in the same sense is common -enough. - -[457] Old copy, _otimie_, I conjecture _otomy_ for anatomy, a common -form of _anatomy_. - -[458] Halliwell mentions the words _pubble_ and _puble_ in different -senses, and the old copy reads puble; but here the context seems to -require _bubble_. He has immediately before used the term _froth_. - -[459] Fear. - -[460] Divisions, conflicts. - -[461] Old copy, _Henry_. - -[462] Old copy, _Aveney_. - -[463] But see Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 23. - -[464] Old copy, _where stands in_. - -[465] i.e., Mary, God's mother. - -[466] See Hazlitt's "Proverbs," 1869, p. 289. - -[467] Possibly in reference to a tract, so called, printed by Wynkyn de -Worde, and (after him) by others. - -[468] He means the stammer of Redcap, which he intends to imitate. - -[469] Compare "Damon and Pithias," vol. iv., pp. 67-8. - -[470] Old copy, _excepts_. - -[471] He does not appear, however, to make himself visible, but stands -aside, listening. - -[472] Old copy, _times_. See Halliwell, v. _tine_, where the word is -said to mean "the prong of a fork (second explanation)," thence, as in -the text, a horn. - -[473] [Old copy, _attempt_.] - -[474] Block seems to refer jocularly to Sir Richard's long aside, under -a sort of invisible cap. - -[475] Old copy, _solicitie_. - -[476] Old copy, _say_. - -[477] Old copy, _you_. - -[478] Old copy, _Richard's_. - -[479] [Old copy, _us_.] - -[480] Succeed. - -[481] Perhaps the dance so called is meant. - -[482] [Old copy, _them_.] - -[483] [Old. copy, _ye spoke_.] - -[484] Old copy, _rove_. - -[485] i.e., From the time of the Confessor. - -[486] i.e., Spain; old copy, _Gads_. - -[487] A word or words left blank in the old copy. - -[488] His gown. - -[489] Old copy, _Levarnian_. - -[490] Old copy, _It_. - -[491] Old copy, _ane_. - -[492] The word _search_ is here, and again a little further on used in -the sense of _searchers_. - -[493] Old copy, _another_; but Redcap is evidently accompanied by two -assistants. - -[494] This appears to stand for officers of the peace, as the _watch_ -and the _search_. - -[495] Old copy, _King_. - -[496] A brothel. - -[497] [Old copy, _age_.] - -[498] [Old copy, _Fau_, for _Fauconbridge_.] - -[499] [This might appear to be a corruption of _go out_, or of _God's -gut (God's guts_ is an ejaculation found elsewhere); but from a -subsequent passage we can but conclude that the disease so called is -intended.] - -[500] Old copy, _fill'd_, the compositor's eye, perhaps, having strayed -to the next line. - -[501] Strong. See a long note in Nares, edit. 1859, p. 606. - -[502] Old copy; _here_. - -[503] A room in the Salutation so called. - -[504] Guests. - -[505] Old copy, _at_. - -[506] Old copy, _Raynald_. - -[507] [Old copy, _me of_.] - -[508] i.e., Terms, as mentioned before. Old copy, _then_. - -[509] To _meet with_ is a very common phrase for to _serve_ out, -_requite_. - -[510] Skink issues from the hermit's house in the disguise of the man -whom he is supposed to have cured, and as he leaves, addresses parting -words to the hermit within. - -[511] Breviary. - -[512] Old copy, _them_. - -[513] Brand. - -[514] Old copy, _of_. - -[515] Old copy, _Glo_. - -[516] [Old copy, _last_.] - -[517] [Old copy, _this_.] - -[518] Old copy, _salutes he_. - -[519] Old copy, _you for_. - -[520] Old copy, _in_. - -[521] [Old copy, _we_.] - -[522] [Old copy, _we'll_.] - -[523] [Old copy, _sighs and songs_.] - -[524] In this passage the phrase, _to wear the yellow_, seems hardly to -bear the ordinary construction of, _to be jealous_. - -[525] Old copy, _pining_. - -[526] Old copy gives this line to the lady, i.e., the merchant's wife. - -[527] This seems to be some popular and well-understood allusion--well -understood then, but now obscure enough; nor does Steevens's explanation -help us much. See "Pop. Antiq. of Gr. Britain," 1870, iii. 322. - -[528] An allusion to an old proverb. - -[529] Old copy gives this line to Gloster. - -[530] Old copy, _weak_. - -[531] Halliwell says, "a squall." - -[532] Fear. - -[533] Old copy, _wray_. - -[534] Old copy, _not thou art_. - -[535] i.e., Gloster, disguised also as a hermit. - -[536] Old copy, _he's_. - -[537] Old copy gives as the stage-direction here merely, _Enter John_. - -[538] Old copy, _Lan_. - -[539] Compare "First Part of Jeronimo," vol. iv., p. 349, and the note. - -[540] [Old copy, _breath_.] - -[541] [Compare Courthope's "Historic Peerage," 1857, _v_. Hereford.] - -[542] [In allusion to the proverb, _Threatened men live long_.] - -[543] [Old copy, _William_.] - -[544] Old copy, _them_. - -[545] Something seems to have dropped out of the text. - -[546] I do not find this phrase anywhere. - -[547] Old copy, _may_. - -[548] i.e., Gloster. - -[549] There is an evident corruption here. Query, _Life kneels to -thrones_. - -[550] Old copy, _thy_. - -[551] Old copy, _not_. - -[552] Old copy, _is_. - -[553] Old copy, _set_. - -[554] i.e., _Mort de Dieu_. - -[555] Old copy, _ye_. - -[556] Old copy, _Sarasons_. - -[557] An exclamation of doubtful meaning and origin. See a long note in -Nares, edit. 1859, _v. Rivo_. - -[558] Old copy, _for_. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10336 *** |